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6th June, 2009, 09:21 AM
The BBC is reviving Tomorrow?s World this summer in a bid to bring back science to family audiences - albeit with a 'new' name.
The show, which first started in 1965, ran for 38 years on BBC1 before it was axed because of dwindling audiences.
Now BBC1 controller Jay Hunt wants to reinvent the classic series for modern audiences.
Tomorrow's World presenter Judith Hann interviews inventor Sir Clive Sinclair
Presenter Judith Hann, right, seen here talking to inventor Sir Clive Sinclair, became a household name from Tomorrow's World
The new show, entitled Bang Goes The Theory, will broadcast from late July and will feature four new unknown faces ? Dallas Campbell, Liz Bonnin, Jem Stansfield and Dr Yan Wong.
The team will conduct experiments and test scientific theories in areas such as geology, astrophysics, zoology and neuropsychology in a way that will appeal to family audiences.
Miss Hunt has described it as ?Tomorrow?s World by any other name?.
She told the Broadcasting Press Guild: ?Bang Goes The Theory brings popular science back to the very heart of BBC1. It's a great opportunity with a show like that to re-engage with science.?
In its heyday the programme impressed viewers with its wacky gadgets and serious technological discoveries, making household names of presenters such as Raymond Baxter and Judith Hann.
It introduced its viewers to Breathalyzers in 1967, cash-dispensing machines in 1969 and the personal stereo in 1980.
There was widespread criticism when the corporation axed Tomorrow?s World six years ago, with Miss Hann of accusing the BBC of hastening the popular show?s demise by shunting it around the schedules.
She said at the time: ?It's appalling that there is no weekly programme about science because so much is happening in the world at the moment.?
The programme was first broadcast in 1965, presented by Raymond Baxter, a former Spitfire pilot.
Others to have fronted the show include Anna Ford, Maggie Philbin, Howard Stableford and Carol Vorderman.
In the 1970s, the programme pulled in audiences of more than 10 million.
When Peter Snow and Philippa Forrester fronting the show in1999, it still had a respectable five million viewers.
But by the end of 2003 it was only attracting about three million, despite attempts to modernise the format.
Since it was axed the BBC has faced demands from viewers to bring it back to screens
The show, which first started in 1965, ran for 38 years on BBC1 before it was axed because of dwindling audiences.
Now BBC1 controller Jay Hunt wants to reinvent the classic series for modern audiences.
Tomorrow's World presenter Judith Hann interviews inventor Sir Clive Sinclair
Presenter Judith Hann, right, seen here talking to inventor Sir Clive Sinclair, became a household name from Tomorrow's World
The new show, entitled Bang Goes The Theory, will broadcast from late July and will feature four new unknown faces ? Dallas Campbell, Liz Bonnin, Jem Stansfield and Dr Yan Wong.
The team will conduct experiments and test scientific theories in areas such as geology, astrophysics, zoology and neuropsychology in a way that will appeal to family audiences.
Miss Hunt has described it as ?Tomorrow?s World by any other name?.
She told the Broadcasting Press Guild: ?Bang Goes The Theory brings popular science back to the very heart of BBC1. It's a great opportunity with a show like that to re-engage with science.?
In its heyday the programme impressed viewers with its wacky gadgets and serious technological discoveries, making household names of presenters such as Raymond Baxter and Judith Hann.
It introduced its viewers to Breathalyzers in 1967, cash-dispensing machines in 1969 and the personal stereo in 1980.
There was widespread criticism when the corporation axed Tomorrow?s World six years ago, with Miss Hann of accusing the BBC of hastening the popular show?s demise by shunting it around the schedules.
She said at the time: ?It's appalling that there is no weekly programme about science because so much is happening in the world at the moment.?
The programme was first broadcast in 1965, presented by Raymond Baxter, a former Spitfire pilot.
Others to have fronted the show include Anna Ford, Maggie Philbin, Howard Stableford and Carol Vorderman.
In the 1970s, the programme pulled in audiences of more than 10 million.
When Peter Snow and Philippa Forrester fronting the show in1999, it still had a respectable five million viewers.
But by the end of 2003 it was only attracting about three million, despite attempts to modernise the format.
Since it was axed the BBC has faced demands from viewers to bring it back to screens