Event Year: 2002

Live Final

The Look Around You Invention of the Year Award comes to you live from BBC Television Centre in Shepherd's Bush, London. Six leading inventors are in the studio hoping to take the big trophy. The finalists include the team behind a machine which can change your sex in minutes, and it will be tested live on the show. … Continue readingLive Final

Computers

The team looks at the hottest new computer technology and meets an e-boffin who has officially changed his name to Computer Jones (Paul Jerrico). Computer introduces the UK's most powerful computer, called Bournemouth. In this week's Challenge, can Bournemouth escape from a reinforced steel cage? … Continue readingComputers

Food

The team looks at advances in food science and technology, and the world's one and only vegetable orchestra, led by Teddy Clarke, gives us a live performance in the studio. We meet Andy Gough, Slimmer of the Year, a fellow who lost fifty-two stone [for American viewers: one stone is sixteen pounds] in six weeks, thanks to a controversial slimming powder. We also visit the food industry's annual show and see some inspiring hi-tech developments. A special report looks at the growth of fast food casserole joints, stepping into the world's only computer-run casserole cafe where the menu features four types of casserole – beef, chicken, ham and porcupine. Lastly, the gang throws a futuristic birthday party for Pam – with a surprise guest. … Continue readingFood

Sport

This week, the team looks at advances in sporting technology. The world 400,000-metre champion, Ros Lamb, demonstrates a new serum (based on caramel-flavoured rocket fuel) which is said to help her to run at up to 3,500 miles per hour. And Ros faces this week's Challenge – can she run the 524 miles from London to Aberdeen in under five minutes? (But it was not foreseen that she would arrive in Scotland half her original size.) We meet two of the clones of the late Sebastian Jackson, the world's most famous football designer. The Invention of the Week is a betting system – based on a machine made of straw and designed by a race-horse. Finally, the team visits the U.S. to investigate the new sport of Gonnis – which is an inspired cross between golf and tennis. … Continue readingSport

Reelin' in the Years

Joel and Fearless solve the 26-year-old cold case of the murder of Paul Turcotte's partner during a bank robbery, forcing Tom to relive his childhood memories of the shooting and the effect it had on his father, and validating Andrea's five year struggle to free the unwitting accomplice originally convicted for the slaying. … Continue readingReelin' in the Years