Britain's Greatest Invention
Trevor McDonald, Angela Rippon, Nick Knowles, Giles Coren, Len Goodman, David Harewood and Angela Scanlon compete to reveal Britain's best invention.
Seven celebrities to battle it out to reveal Britain's Greatest Invention live. Sir Trevor McDonald, Angela Rippon, Giles Coren, Len Goodman, David Harewood, Angela Scanlon and Nick Knowles each champion one object in their bid to persuade the audience to vote for their invention and win the title of Britain's Greatest Invention.
The programme comes live from the Science Museum Group's vast stores, a treasure trove of eight aircraft hangers near Swindon full of the UK and beyond's most cherished inventions. Presented by Dr Hannah Fry and automotive engineer Ant Anstead, they reveal the winning invention that will go on to be celebrated in the Science Museum itself.
Giles Coren champions the humble fridge, an invention that plays a crucial role in how healthy we are. Len Goodman is an ambassador for the stream engine and explores how steam turbines still generate 80 per cent of the world's power. Having had TB when she was a child, Angela Rippon is an ambassador for the invention of antibiotics, whilst for David Harewood, the jet engine that keeps almost one million people in the air at any one time is the most significant revelation of modern technology.
For Angela Scanlon, the mobile phone is the winning invention because it's a fantastic collaboration of multiple technologies, many of which are British. For Trevor McDonald, the television is ultimately the winning invention - when growing up in Trinidad it inspired him to pursue broadcasting. For Nick Knowles, concrete is the unsung hero of the seven inventions. It is the most used man-made substance on the planet.
We also delve behind the scenes in the amazing Science Museum Group's stores to discover a treasure trove of inventions. Discovering items big and small, epic and humble, this is a celebration of our inventing past.
Last on
Clips
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Britain's Greatest Invention: Trailer
Duration: 00:30
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Britain's Greatest Invention
Duration: 02:19
Music Played
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Nina Simone
Sinnerman
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Nina Simone
I Put A Spell On You (Album Version)
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Mary-Ann Rissmann
Shine
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Blondie
Call Me
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µώΒαΓ¶°ω°μ
Alarm Call
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The Meters
Cissy Strut
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James Brown
I Got You (I Feel Good)
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David Holmes
Rodney Yates
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Ludovico Einaudi
Twice
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Ant Anstead |
Presenter | Hannah Fry |
Presenter | Trevor McDonald |
Presenter | Giles Coren |
Presenter | David Harewood |
Presenter | Angela Rippon |
Presenter | Angela Scanlon |
Presenter | Nick Knowles |
Presenter | Len Goodman |
Executive Producer | Jonathan Taylor |
Series Producer | Rebecca Arnold |
Editor | Richard Buss |
Director | Luke Mcloughlin |
Production Company | Thoroughly Modern Media |
Assistant Producer | Gareth Prescott |
Director | Ian Russel |
Broadcast
- Thu 15 Jun 2017 20:30
Featured in...
Britain's Greatest Inventions—Tomorrow's World
Seven celebrities to battle it out to reveal Britain's Greatest Invention live.
Explore further with The Open University about inventions that have changed the way we live today
Visit OpenLearn, the Open University home of free learning, to discover more.