The engineering entertainment show that pits teams of madcap mechanics against each other returns with 10 more bodging and bashing trials for junkyard geniuses.
Every week, two teams must each construct a machine for a specific task using only the junk they can scavenge from the post-apocalyptic salvage yard around them. And they have just 10 hours to build their contraption before it is put to the test. Whichever creation performs the best advances the team that made it to the next round and towards the ultimate prize - the Scrapheap Challenge Trophy.
The series is again presented by comedy actor and novelist Robert Llewellyn (best known as Red Dwarf's Kryten) and scientist, documentary film-maker and keyboard player Cathy Rogers.
This year’s competitors include three trainee vicars, a 71-year-old granny who's mad on engines, and the series' first team from the USA. Last year's Scrapheap favourite Bowser Munson is back with The Filth – a team of fellow motorbike police officers – and this series' winners will battle against last year's triumphant trio, The Megalomaniacs, in the grand final.
Scrapheap Challenge is exciting, dirty and dangerous. It also has a sneaky way of painlessly passing on lots about science and engineering. If that's your thing, check out each challenge on this website – you'll find a section on 'Scrapheap Science' that explains exactly what was happening beneath all that metal, noise and dust.
The challenges.
Click on a date for info on the teams, experts, judge, challenge and the science behind it. The results will be available the day after each programme.
Preliminary heats.
17 September 2000: Demolition.
24 September 2000: Aerial bomber.
Quarter finals.
1 October 2000: mini-sub.
8 October 2000: Windmill.
15 October 2000: Missile launcher.
22 October 2000: Bridging machine.
Semi-finals.
29 October 2000: Steam car.
5 November 2000: Giant mower.
Series final.
12 November 2000: Fireboat.
Grand final.
19 November 2000: Dragster.
Xmas special.
17 December 2000 at 5.30pm.
The remaining broadcasts are on Sunday at 6pm.
If you are interested in being a contestant on a future series of Scrapheap Challenge, click here.
The winners of the Scrapheap 'world final' were the Long Brothers of the US of A - click here for a blow-by-blow account of how the Yanks ultimately triumphed over the Brits.
And that's it for another year of Scrapheap Challenge. The heap has been dismantled, the teams' jumpsuits have all been washed, pressed and tucked away and Robert's throne has been put in mothballs.
But fear not – at this very moment, another series is in the works, with the great minds of RDF and Channel 4 trying to come up with even more spectacular challenges for teams from throughout the UK and – who knows? – the world.
So keep checking your TV listings – and the Channel 4 website – in the months to come for news of when the bodgers will be back!
If you can't manage to stay home on a Sunday evening, don't despair. This fabulous challenge is being repeated on Christmas Day at 11.35am!
Webchat!
Right after the programme on 17 December – at 8pm – you can take part in a webchat with Nosher of the Megalomaniacs, Brian of the Long Brothers and hydraulics expert Steve Garfirth. Congratulate the winner, commiserate with the loser and ask anything you can think of.
FAQ.
Lots of people want to know more about Scrapheap Challenge. To help, we've put together some 'Frequently Asked Questions' (FAQs) in Find Out More. Check here first before posting a question in Scraptalk.
Webchats.
You can now read Robert Llewellyn's latest chat with viewers by clicking *here*.
The Queen of the Heap herself, Cathy Rogers has also webchatted to viewers.
Been there, seen that, see it again.
For those of you with fond memories of series 1 and 2 – and those who are Scrapheap johnny-come-latelies - Channel 4 has produced a new video: The Best of Scrapheap Challenge. Available now, it features the tastiest bits from the first two series plus out-takes that never made it to the screen.
The Best of Scrapheap Challenge is available – for £12.99 – in the shops now or by calling the Channel 4 Shop on 0870 1234 3 44.
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