|  | Richard Hammond presents a new science-based
game show for children |
Richard Hammond's Blast Lab
Time to be confirmed BBC TWO
 Programme copy
Richard Hammond steps up a gear this week as he leaves Jeremy Clarkson and James May behind and blasts his way into the wonderful world of children's TV presenting. In true Willy Wonka fashion, he opens the doors to his fictitious underground laboratory and invites two groups of three friends to take part in his crazy experiments and compete against each other to win prizes. The winning team take their prizes home, while the losers get to blow theirs up – all in the name of science. "It's the first children's programme I've made," Richard tells Programme Information's Sarah Ward, "and it's been fantastic – a real revelation – to see how rigorously everything is researched and how seriously it's taken." And, as Richard says, he absolutely loved the experience and would love to do it again. "Don't forget," he jokes, "I stopped growing up at the age of about 11! "Essentially, Blast Lab is set in my fictional underground laboratory where I do all my science experiments – not all of which go well, obviously, so there are a number of explosions and surprises throughout every show. "I have numerous adults hanging around to help me – they're called my Lab Rats – and they're there generally just to get in the way, be blown up and to annoy the kids!" Along with his Lab Rats, Richard is joined by Ninja Nan, a 70-year-old lady who is in charge of security, as well as his beloved car, Oliver, the Opel Kadett he brought back from a Top Gear filming trip to Botswana. "Taking part in each show are two teams of three, and they take part in anything and everything," explains Richard. "They'll always be asked to build something and conduct a scientific experiment, which will then be taken on to a higher level. "Two of my Lab Rats also volunteered their cars for use in experiments, and we destroyed them in quite entertaining fashion. But there's always a scientific thread running through the programme, so we call it mini science – which is the bit we do in the lab with the children taking part." Cue Mini Miss, Richard's old science teacher from school, who is on hand to help with the experiments in the studio and the lab. "Unfortunately," says Richard, "I've brought her back in a time machine to work in my lab with me, but I overdid it and she's now 10 years old!" Viewers can also try their hand at some of the mini science experiments at home, although the bigger experiments should not be attempted. "With the big science ones, we cut cars in half or drop people 10 metres into a tank of water. So no, you can't try those at home!" As Richard talks about some of the experiments featured throughout the series, he mentions a couple of his favourites. "Oddly enough," says Richard, "when we experimented with balloon surfing we were talking about spreading weight and pressure. We were seeing how we could get the entire team to stand on a surf board on the balloons. That was great and I really enjoyed that! "One of my favourites, bizarrely, was when we were dealing with pressure and we made our own rockets using little canisters and vitamin C tablets and water." So, is there a chance either of his Top Gear colleagues may drop by to take part in the odd experiment or two? "Oh no, I sincerely hope not!" laughs Richard. "Blast Lab has got facts in it, and they'll trip up over them!" Richard is no stranger to presenting science programmes. He used to present Brainiac – the entertainment show with a science motif, in which numerous experiments were carried out in each show. "There's a little bit of that going on in Blast Lab," he says, "and we try to capture a little bit of that flavour." Having always had a passion for science, physics in particular, Richard has a great interest in why things happen and affect people the way they do, and loved watching programmes such as How when he was younger and then Tomorrow's World. "How had a scientific theme going on," he says, "and I was a big fan of the show. I loved anything that explained why things worked the way they did. "I think it's easy for kids to be scared off by science, and for them to think: 'Ooh, I need to be an expert.' And if you're a child, then you can't already be an expert on science, and the last thing I want to do is scare them off the subject. It's all about having fun with it." Richard admits his children are interested in science. "They're interested in why things happen and why things feel the way they do. Explaining things – that's what it's all about." And will he be trying any of the experiments at home with them? "I'm sure I will be," he laughs. "They'll certainly be watching the show." So, if Richard had the chance to blow anything up, what would it be? "I've blown up 87 caravans, I think, in my life, but I'm always happy to add to that figure," he jokes. "And I would like to make it to three figures – that would be good." Richard stepped back in time recently in aid of BBC Children In Need, as Top Gear met Ashes To Ashes in a specially created sketch. Richard received a grilling from Gene Hunt, played by Philip Glenister, who said he looked like a ferret, a hamster and a gerbil, before allowing Richard to fire-up his beloved Quattro. "It was absolutely fabulous," says Richard excitedly. "I love acting anyway, and to get to go on set with that lot was great. They were so welcoming and made it great fun. It was great to work with them and see how they operate and how they work as a team. "We had to squeeze it in as they'd just started filming, as had Top Gear, and we were up against it. But it was good fun and I really enjoyed it!" Aside from blowing things up and racing about in cars, Richard has just landed his first Saturday night show on BBC One. Total Wipeout is the UK's version of the latest global blockbuster Wipeout, in which contestants from all walks of life compete for a grand cash prize in a series of gruelling and hilarious rounds across extreme obstacle courses. "It's going to be interesting," says Richard enthusiastically. "It's a sort of giant obstacle course which competitors go and take part on – it's just tremendous fun!" But for now, it's back to his fictional underground laboratory to test out some more experiments – all in the name of science. | 
