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Monkman & Seagull's Genius Guide to Britain facts for kids
| Monkman & Seagull's Genius Guide to Britain | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | Road trip |
| Directed by | Samuel Palmer |
| Presented by | Bobby Seagull, Eric Monkman |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 4 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Simon Dickson, Lorraine Charker-Phillips |
| Producer(s) | Merle Currie |
| Production company(s) | Label1 Television Ltd |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC 2 |
| Original release | 17 September – 8 October 2018 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows |
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Monkman & Seagull's Genius Guide to Britain is an exciting BBC TV show. It features Eric Monkman and Bobby Seagull. They first met as rivals on the quiz show University Challenge. But they became good friends, wrote books together, and even hosted a radio show!
This TV series is like a road trip across the United Kingdom. Eric and Bobby explore amazing British inventions and discoveries in science and technology. The show also has a voiceover by the famous actor Simon Callow. The first series aired in September and October 2018. Because it was so popular, a second series was made. It was called Monkman & Seagull’s Genius Adventures and aired in May 2020.
Contents
What Amazing Places Did They Visit?
The show has four episodes. Each episode explores a different part of the UK. Eric and Bobby visit many interesting places. They learn about cool inventions and clever ideas.
Episode 1: Exploring England's Genius
In the first episode, Eric and Bobby travel around England. They discover some truly unique spots.
- Blackpool Pleasure Beach: They check out Sir Hiram Maxim's 1904 Captive Flying Machines. This is one of the oldest amusement rides in Europe!
- British Lawnmower Museum: Yes, a museum just for lawnmowers! It's in Southport.
- Emley Moor transmitting station: This is a very tall tower near Huddersfield. It sends out TV and radio signals.
- Smallest Museum in the World: They visit a tiny museum in Warley Town, West Yorkshire.
- Jodrell Bank Observatory: This famous place near Macclesfield has huge radio telescopes. Scientists use them to study space.
Episode 2: Discovering Wales's Innovations
Next, the duo heads to Wales. They find more incredible examples of British genius.
- Pontcysyllte Aqueduct: This is an amazing bridge that carries a canal over a valley. It's the highest navigable aqueduct in the world!
- Gladstone's Library: They visit this special library in Hawarden.
- Mount Snowdon quarry hospital: They explore an old hospital in Llanberis. It was built for workers in the slate quarries.
- Snowdon Mountain Railway: This train takes you up Mount Snowdon, Wales's highest mountain.
Episode 3: Northern Ireland's Clever Inventions
The third episode takes Eric and Bobby to Northern Ireland. They uncover more fascinating stories.
- Ejector Seat: They learn about the development of the ejector seat by Martin-Baker. This invention helps pilots escape planes in an emergency.
- Armagh Observatory: They see the Grub ten-inch refracting telescope here. It's a powerful tool for looking at the stars.
- Headhunters Barber Shop & Railway Museum: This unique place in Enniskillen combines a barber shop with a railway museum!
- Belfast Harbour: They visit the SS Nomadic. This ship was the "little sister" to the famous Titanic.
- DMC DeLorean: They check out the famous DeLorean car. It was made in Northern Ireland.
Episode 4: Scotland's Scientific Wonders
Finally, Eric and Bobby explore Scotland. They discover more amazing scientific and engineering feats.
- James Clerk Maxwell: They learn about this brilliant scientist. He developed a theory about electromagnetism. This helped us understand electricity and magnetism.
- Deep-fried Mars bar: They even try this unusual Scottish treat!
- Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery: They visit this museum and learn about Lord Kelvin. He was a famous scientist who worked on temperature and electricity.
- Loch Lomond: They explore the science behind stone skimming on this beautiful loch.
- Inveraray Jail: They visit this old, well-preserved 19th-century jail.
- Cruachan Power Station: They go inside Ben Cruachan mountain to see this huge hydroelectric power station. It uses water to make electricity.