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In celebration of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s ongoing commitment to science, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Archive is releasing a small selection of programmes from the 1979-1986 ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Two science-based series The Great Egg Race. The series paved the way for many popular DIY-invention programmes, including today's Bang Goes The Theory and the upcoming Wallace And Gromit's World Of Inventions.

The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Archive collection showcases the challenges that teams of would-be inventors turned their hands to, from creating a rubber band-powered device to transporting a raw egg the furthest distance, to an ingenious tea-making device made from humble household materials.

The collection also recalls the memorable programme judge and presenter, celebrated scientist Professor Heinz Wolff, whose unique blend of enthusiasm and skill made him a household name.

Julie Rowbotham, executive producer for ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Archive, says: "These fantastic archive programmes show that you don't need to be hi-tech to be ingenious."

The collection will be available online from 14 October on the website.

Throughout 2010 the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ has been celebrating its ongoing commitment to science, bringing together a wealth of TV and radio science programmes, online initiatives, regional roadshows and learning campaigns to inspire a love of science across the nation. It is hoped that the Archive collection will provide inspiration for a new generation of enthusiastic inventors to head into the shed and start creating.

Would-be inventors are invited by renowned gadget-maestro Wallace and trusty sidekick Gromit to create their best invention for an opportunity to see themselves and their contraption immortalised in a future Aardman production. For details of how to take part, visit the website.

About ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Archive

The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Archive is one of the largest multimedia archives in the world, held in 27 locations across the UK. As well as close to a million hours of TV and radio programmes it also holds six million still photographs, over four million items of sheet music, and over half-a-million documents and records.

The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Archive website allows you to explore over 80 years of UK and ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ history. Programmes, documents and images bring the past to life and reveal forgotten stories, available to UK audiences. For more information, visit: bbc.co.uk/archive.

Notes to Editors

Images are available on request.

Supporting information

There are 13 original programmes in the collection.

This first episode of the series was devoted to finding a machine that could transport a single egg the furthest possible distance, using only a rubber band as a power source.

Brian Cant presented the first series of The Great Egg Race in 1979, but is probably better known for his time fronting Play School and Play Away. He was also the narrator on Trumpton and Camberwick Green.

Johnny Ball and Hilary Henson presented the series in 1980. Hilary did the job alone in 1981 and Charlotte Allen took over in 1982.

In 1983, series judge Professor Heinz Wolff became the main presenter until the final series in 1986.

In addition to his broadcasting exploits, Professor Wolff studied physiology. During his career, he invented and designed medical machinery, including a dust-sampling device that worked like an artificial lung.

Wolff has made various appearances on other ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ programmes, including Tomorrow's World, Young Scientists of the Year (from 1974 until 1981), QED (in which he looks back at 1948 from the brink of 1984), Great Experiments, The Adventure Game, Wogan, Horizon, numerous medical documentaries and The Great Egg Race Rides Again (2000), re-edited versions of episodes from the original series.

Lesley Judd, who presented the Incredible Egg Machine interludes, is perhaps best known for hosting Blue Peter between 1972 and 1979. After she left Blue Peter, she worked for a variety of programmes, including ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4's Woman's Hour.

The electronic-style theme tune to The Great Egg Race was written by Richard Denton and Martin Cook. The duo also provided music for Hong Kong Beat, Quiller and Tomorrow's World.

The opening title sequence, which accompanies the theme tune, was created by Aardman, the animation company behind the renowned inventors Wallace and Gromit.

NI