Activate! The Robot Wars Podcast

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ACTIVATE! reviews the unique world of classic UK television series Robot Wars. Hear about the wars from the perspective of Rob E. Harmlessly and Benji 'also the Hitman' who grew up tainting their minds with the scraps of once-functioning machines.

Activate! The Robot Wars Podcast


    • Mar 30, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 12m AVG DURATION
    • 49 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Activate! The Robot Wars Podcast

    Robot Wars Series 2 (1999) Heat K: In the darkness of post-nuclear days...

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2022 48:47


    Ever wonder what would happen if you attached some spikes to a wheelchair and made it run into another spike-equipped wheelchair? Does the answer even matter? After all, I hear a Plunderstorm is coming...

    Robot Wars Series 2 (1999) Heat J: Sir Killalot Feeds on the Tears of Children

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2020 62:41


    They say war cares for no man, woman, or child, and Heat J of Robot Wars Series 2 is here to prove that point. This episode features explosive barrels, a tug-of-war, and a 100% fool-proof self-righting mechanism.

    Robot Wars Series 2 (1999) Heat I: The Punishment of Prometheus

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2019 55:54


    Welcome to the first of infinite episodes of Sir K and friends. This week guest starring Prometheus, who is going to show the world what he's best at - stealing fire and getting all hell for it.

    BattleBots 2018 Episode 3: It Only Takes One Shot

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2019 59:54


    In this episode of The Twilight Zone, Benji and Rob are trapped on Gamma 9 - The planet where robots fight each other in identical battles, repeating for all eternity.

    Robot Wars Series 2 (1999) Heat H: That One Where a Wizard Plays Football

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2019 63:18


    This episode features Cassius, the pacifist robot that murders everything. We cried when they killed off Sir Killalot. RIP Sir K, all hail king Groundhog. Also guest starring: Wizard had that screams at you.

    Robot Wars Series 2 (1999) Heat G: Because Robot Wars Hates Children

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2019 63:09


    Racism bad. Crushing children's dreams bad. Fixed results bad. Episode bad. Back to BattleBots next time...

    BattleBots 2018 Episode 2: Exactly What You'd Expect if a Human Fought a Giant Himalayan Monster

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2018 73:10


    Featuring a much anticipated main event in which Voodoo Practitioner faces off against the Abominable Snowman, that goes pretty much as one would imagine. Guest starring 'Kid', the international champion.

    BattleBots 2018 Episode 1: Let's get right into Fight Night

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2018 85:11


    For the first time ever we enter a whole new world. The debut of Activate! Podcast reviewing BattleBots has finally arrived. Did we love it? Did we hate it? Did we spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to view it from the UK? The answer to all those questions can be found in the episode and it is 'maybe'.

    DOUBLE FEATURE: #BringBackRobotWars Special + Series 2 Heat F

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2018 75:36


    For the first time ever we bring you a double feature to Activate! We discuss the cancellation of Robot Wars with YOU, the public, through the magic of Twitter. Do we hate the BBC for axing the wars? No.. but they are dead to us. Just in case the subject matter was getting too depressing, we review a classic episode in Series 2 Heat F. Unfortunately for us, this is somehow even worse.

    Q&A Time Plus Robot Wars Series 10 Overview and Hall of Fame

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2018 75:12


    Three long months after it finished airing - we're finally looking back at the whole of series 10 with a much more simplified Hall of Fame and awards system because nobody really cared about 90% of the awards we were giving out before anyway... To make up the time we've now introduced a Q&A section to the series overview episodes and boy have we got some interesting questions from the world wide robot web!

    Robot Wars (Once Again...) Goes International

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2018 52:54


    The entire rest of the world are back with a vengeance after being humiliated by the UK. Thank God this time they have the absolute greatest the planet has to offer and are in no way in any kind of disadvantaged position going into this totally fair competition.

    Robot Wars Goes International

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2018 54:26


    We're back for 2018, and so is Diotoir. The UK take on the Rest of the World (AKA Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal) with nothing but pride on the line. Which is a good thing because if there was money involved here there would probably be a lawsuit.

    Series 10 (2017) Grand Final: How to win Robot Wars after already losing Robot Wars

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2017 91:26


    That's it. The best episode of Robot Wars ever produced. Now what?... We have to continue this podcast knowing that everything else will pale in comparison. 6/5 Stars would review again.

    Series 10 (2017) Heat E: God of Thunder vs Neutron Star

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2017 88:57


    Whoever wins... we lose... our minds at how awesome these bots are! The final heat for Season X has some heavy hitters (and not so heavy, gentle nudgers)going head to head in the last chance to make it to the grand final for the honour of being annihilated by Carbide!

    Robot Wars 1995: Year of the Paint Bucket

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2017 81:13


    The 2nd annual Robot Wars competition brings with it incredible innovation via bots such as The Master, La Machine and Thor. It also features a challenge for the viewers: who can watch the entirety of the superlightweight (featherweight) division without falling asleep?

    Series 10 (2017) Heat D: A Lesson in Precision Sniping with Nuts 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2017 96:53


    Craziest episode yet? You may even say it's... nuts...2. Bonus points to whoever can count how many name variants we use to refer to Androne 4000.

    Series 10 (2017) Heat C: Guest Starring Super Meat Boy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2017 122:16


    The age old tale that proves no matter how many children you have, the purity of money always wins in the end. Ever wondered what would happen if giant chattering teeth had to fight a mobile battleaxe?! Then go elsewhere because you don't see that in this episode.

    Series 10 (2017)Heat B: I Dress-up as Will Thomas for Halloween

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2017 115:43


    Spooky, Scary Gabriel 2 battles Eater-Of-Souls Carbide in one of the greatest matches in modern robot combat history. Only 2 episodes into Season X and the carnage is off the charts.

    Series 10 (2017) Heat A: Behemoth's Odyssey

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2017 103:55


    The first episode of Season X has arrived and rewarded our patience with total mayhem. Sleeping giant Behemoth has risen to the occasion and given us one of the greatest battles of their entire roboteering career and one of the most intense flipper vs flipper matches of all time. A whole new format along with polished presentation makes this one of the most enjoyable episodes we've seen so far.

    Robot Wars Series 2 (1999) Heat E: The One Where Shunt Gets Possessed

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2017 81:34


    Beware! A presence haunts the arena this night and takes possession of numerous bots, well... mainly Shunt, and does a pretty Shunt job of it too. Featuring the return of Killertron (now in offensively fluorescent orange) and the very first King of the Castle event (aka Sumo in hard mode).

    Robot Wars Series 2 (1999) Heat D: In Flames, Elvis Resurrects.

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2017 78:09


    The episode the world has been waiting for. Yes, Elvis has returned. The King is back... again... and he lifts (50kg). How will the mighty Elvis perform against the other big returnee: The Bodyhammer. The highly-upgraded runner up has a new, handle-less, pointed hammer working in conjunction with a deadly flat-piece-of-steel-shaped-into-a-disk-with-sharp-edges-hammer. Also, Razer is there.

    TR3 Charity Auction With Alex Brown

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2017 22:40


    We take a few moments to have a chat with Alex Brown (TR3) about his second upcoming charity auction in aid of Ty Cariad Africa. Please follow RobotWarsTR2 on Facebook and @TR2_Robot on Twitter for the full release schedule. Don't miss out!

    Robot Wars 2017: Full Series Overview, Awards and Hall of Fame

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2017 73:33


    How does series two/nine/2017(pt.1) stack up? Already over for another (half) year, it's time to induct some high-performing machines into the prestigious Activate! Hall of Flame. Also featuring the Hall of Fame ceremony and other fantastically named awards, such as 'Most Fun'. Because we're creative.

    Robot Wars 2017 Grand Final: Did Anyone Really Expect Anything Else?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2017 76:02


    Time to crown the champions of 2017! Six bots will fight it out for the grandest prize of them all: an induction into the Activate! Podcast Hall of Fame. Oh, and there's a trophy too.

    Robot Wars 1994: The First Great War

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2017 60:03


    Step into your time machines because it's time to visit the very first Robot Wars. Held in San Francisco in August of 1994, we take a look at the few surviving pieces of video footage from the event.

    Robot Wars 2017 Heat E: Return of the Defending Champions

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2017 94:29


    The rematch of the year. Can Apollo defend their title with the mighty runners up Carbide hot on their tail? ...Probably not.

    Robot Wars 2017 Heat D: There is No Justice Without Spin

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2017 81:31


    Robot Wars 2017 Heat D: There is No Justice Without Spin by Activate! The Robot Wars Podcast

    Robot Wars 2017 Heat C: Ragnarök

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2017 102:59


    Concussion /kənˈkʌʃən/ noun 1. a jarring of the motor, caused by a spinning drum, usually resulting in loss of drive.

    Robot Wars 2017 Heat B: How to Bless Your Robot

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2017 91:52


    Battles of biblical proportion fill this episode of Robot Wars, with floods of controversy to match! What wins, an angel, or a really cool paint job? There's only one way to find out...

    Robot Wars 2017 Heat A: Now With 100% more Jellyfish

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2017 81:55


    Back with an all new series for 2017! New and old bots are ready and waiting to get involved with all out destruction. This episode features a robot made out of money as well as a machine plucked from a 4 year old's art book. Let's review!

    Robot Wars Series 2 (1999) Heat C: Return of the Living Mortis

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2017 46:17


    Third time lucky for series 2 of Robot Wars with the least dodgy episode yet! Four returning robots are joined by 2 newcomers to be systematically annihilated by Mortis. Craig Charles is also there.

    Robot Wars Series 2 (1999) Heat B: The birth of the chaotic Leighgend

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2017 53:49


    Featuring less controversy and a considerably more boring trial, series 2 advances another machine to the semi final which is absolutely not fixed no it is not fixed it is a fair competition mate.

    A Chat with Alex Brown (TR2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2017 28:31


    We sit down with Alex Brown to chat about all things bot!

    Robot Wars Battle of the Stars 2016: Slightly After Christmas Special

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2017 91:18


    Ah, December 28th/29th, the days that celebrities and robots celebrate Christmas, a magical time of year. It's time to find out which celebrity would make the best roboteer! As long as being a roboteer requires not having to build a robot yourself.

    Robot Wars Series 2 (1999) Heat A: Introducing Sir Killalot, Destroyer of Rules

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2016 83:21


    Now offering a whopping 15 episode season, Robot Wars came back for another series bigger and better than before (not that that's a difficult task to begin with). Rob and Benji take a look at the first heat with the debuting Sir Killalot and the all new totally-not-fixed-100%-fair-competition system made specially for this new series!

    Robot Wars 1998 Overview: Thoughts and Hall of Fame

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2016 50:05


    The end of the brief but certainly noteworthy (if not for all the right reasons) Clarkson Era of Robot Wars. Benji and Rob look at the original 1998 season as a whole and who'd have thought? It turns out Robot Wars improved drastically over the years!

    Robot Wars Series 1 (1998) Heat F: Featuring the Bonus Match of the Grand Final

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2016 54:21


    Also known as that one episode where all the robots start playing Hungry Hungry Hippos and nobody is quite sure why. Ends with a totally fair and completely thrilling Grand Final to decide the very first champion of Robot Wars.

    Robot Wars Series 1 (1998) Heat E: Attack of the Killer Sprout

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2016 50:19


    Featuring the classic Cone-Head from Silent Hill along with star of 50s sci-fi B-movie Psychosprout, this episode has one of the oddest line-ups of any heat.

    Robot Wars Series 1 (1998) Heat D: Back up Matilda! The Featherweights have arrived...

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2016 55:07


    An audio guide on how to absolutely not stand a chance in the grand final of Robot Wars. 6 tiny robots compete for a chance to be completely destroyed by machines 5 times their size, what an amazing prize!

    Robot Wars 2016: Whole Season Overview, Awards Ceremony and Hall of Fame

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2016 54:22


    Robot Wars 2016, the big return... is no longer a part of the present or future. It's over, it's done, war is over (for a year). Rob and Benji take a look at the series as a whole and give out a number of awards, including the coveted John Cena Never Give Up Award all the bots were brutally fighting for this year!

    Robot Wars 2016 Episode 6: The Grandest Final

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2016 76:30


    The end of the road for Robot Wars 2016! With the grand prize of a giant drill bit on the line, you know each and every team will be giving it their all!

    Robot Wars 2016 Episode 5: And so, Gabriel slayeth the Beast

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2016 85:28


    The penultimate episode of the new series has arrived and we now discover who our finalists are (with the exception of the Thor. Sorry, I meant 'wildcard' ;) ;) ). Possibly the most controversial episode of the series so far, Rob and Benji try to make sense of the insanity before them. Also Pulsar is scary sound. Big loud scary sound.

    Robot Wars 2016 Episode 4: Houston, we've hit a Storm 2.

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2016 89:37


    Finally we can be thankful that the production team installed a camera onto the ISS, with all the robots finding their way into orbit this episode. Known as 'Heat D for Death', half of the robots this episode claim to have some of the most powerful bot-weapons in the world... let's see how they do.

    Robot Wars 2016 Episode 3: By the Might of King Buxton's... Axe?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2016 73:21


    The third heat of the new season, marking the halfway point. Ever think it would be a good idea to enter a petrol-driven wooden machine in a flame-heavy, destruction oriented fight to the death? No? Well, Overdozer Orte know by now.

    Robot Wars 2016 Episode 2: By the Might of Thor's Hammer Time

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2016 91:57


    Eight more mighty machines duke it out for a place in the Grand Final. Will Thor's mighty hammer send Shockwaves across the Foxic environment of the arena? Or will something something M.R. Speed Squared pun? There's only one way to find out...

    Robot Wars 2016 Episode 1: So Razer wins... Right?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2016 98:35


    It's back! In new and shiny HD. It's time to find out which competitive robotics team make the best sausage rolls. I'll give you a clue: it's Razor.

    Robot Wars Series 1 (1998) Heat C: What You See Is What You Get

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2016 36:07


    Also known as the episode where robots played football that one time and it wasn't very good. Featuring a robot with no weapons at all, numerous robots that needn't have bothered with weapons in the first place, and a robot that nearly explodes when nervous, which happens to be a lot.

    Robot Wars Series 1 (1998) Heat B: Nice Beard... Mortem Mortisi

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2016 47:24


    The second set of robots go head to head in one of the more feel-good episodes of the series. Featuring robots from Cambridge University's fierce machine Mortis, to the only lightly-prodding weapon featured so far on the most definitely not remotely mighty Leighbot. Who can come out on top?!

    Robot Wars Series 1 (1998) Heat A: The Grand Debut

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2016 61:00


    The first time the nation was gripped by metal things hitting each other, occasionally at great speed. How does the now near two-decade old 'First Great War' stack up in the age of HD and phones doing our thinking for us?

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