Engineering innovation

Back on the judging panel is Professor Noel Sharkey, a robotics expert who featured on the programme for five years. Sharing memories of his time on the show, he told the BBC he was initially hesitant to take part... I was a very reluctant judge for the first series of Robot Wars. I was concerned that being on a popular TV show might damage my reputation as a university professor and as an educator. Even after the first series, I thought that I should opt out - but then something quite remarkable happened.