The Great Egg Race is a BBC television series, in which problem solving teams are given a challenge to design and build machines using limited resources and time, to solve a problem set by the judges. Sixty-eight episodes were produced and presented by seven presenters over the life of the show which ran for eight series from 1979 to 1986 and was broadcast on BBC 2. The first series consisted of five episodes and series two to eight consisted of nine episodes each.
Programme The show was presented by Brian Cant (1979), Charlotte Allen (1979 and 1982), Johnny Ball (1980), Hilary Henson (1980–81), Professor Heinz Wolff (1983–1986), Lesley Judd (1984), and Howard Stableford as a guest presenter for one episode in 1986. Re-edited 15-minute episodes of the original show were later made for BBC Choice in 2000, under the title The Great Egg Race Rides Again.
Format The series obtained its name from the initial challenge of making a device capable of transporting an egg in a rubber-band-powered vehicle the furthest possible distance without breaking it. After the initial egg-related challenges, other non-egg events were introduced, and after two series, the original egg-racing was dropped. The show usually featured three problem solving teams from academia, industry or friend groups, creating Heath Robinson style mechanical creations. The teams had limited resources, having to use ingenuity and creativity in an attempt to solve a complex problem, set at the start of the show. Each episode featured Heinz Wolff judging, along with a guest judge with expertise in the problem domain; judges included Professor Michael French and Fred Dibnah. Scoring was at the judge's discretion and could be given for categories such as "design", "courage" and "entertainment". Later episodes would see the teams attempt challenges outside of the studio in remote and outdoor locations, and the final series changed the format into a knockout competition. In the first episode, as well as the egg-carrying challenge between several devices, three teams had to precision weigh three items using a reference weight and ordinary domestic items. In the final episode the two teams' challenge was to take an aerial photograph of an offshore oil rig.
Title sequence The theme music was by Richard Denton and Martin Cook and is featured on the BBC Records LP Top BBC-TV Themes - Vol 2 (1979). For series 1 to 3, the cel animation sequence was filmed on a rostrum camera and combined with camera moves. For series 4 to 7, Aardman Animations created the title sequence of the egg on a rollercoaster made of kitchen utensils. The neon effect programme logo was filmed separately backlit on a rostrum camera and composited with the film shoot in a film optical. For the Rides Again series, the title sequence was created using the latest digital technology at the time.
Series overview Not all episodes are available publicly and not all episode names are known. Those listed here have been taken from BBC Genome Project and the BFI Archive. Only one episode, The Egg Poachers is known to be lost. A pilot episode was filmed in May 1978.
Episode list
Series 1 (1979) The opening series features problem-solving teams that have built a machine which can transport a single 70 g (2.5 oz) egg the furthest possible distance, using only a rubber band as a power source. These teams then face an engineering challenge. The local radio Egg Race Champions compete to find the Champion Eggmobile of Great Britain, winning a £250 prize, the Hartman Fibre Trophy, and to compete in the International Great Egg Race.
Series 2 (1980) Once again, teams compete in The Great Egg Race, but this time focusiing on speed, in search of the 'Fastest Eggmobile in the World'. They have a 55 g (1.9 oz) egg, with the fastest machine winning the Hartmann Fibre Trophy, and a prize of £250. First round heats are held locally, such as at Ashton Court and County Hall, Westminster, with second round heats at the London Transport Museum. Problem-solving teams face engineering challenges.
Series 3 (1981) From this series, The Great Egg Race has been dropped, continuing with only the problem solving teams.
Series 4 (1982)
Series 5 (1983)
Series 6 (1984) This series features a short side challenge, hosted by Lesley Judd, called The Incredible Egg Machine, in which teams have to transport a large egg from a nest in a tree to a giant eggcup on a table. This should be accomplished in the most complicated and entertaining way possible, with teams passing the egg from one team to another to achieve the objective.
Series 7 (1985)
Series 8 (1986) This series features a knock-out competition.
References
External links Selected shows from the BBC Archive The Great Egg Race at BBC Online Series information from the BBC Genome Project Series information from the BFI Archive The Great Egg Race at UKGameshows.com The Great Egg Race at IMDb