In the series, "Wallace will take a light hearted and humorous look at the real-life inventors, contraptions, gadgets and inventions, with the silent help of Gromit. The series aims to inspire a whole new generation of innovative minds by showing them real, but mind-boggling, machines and inventions from around the world that have influenced his illustrious inventing career" (the BBC press statement). Peter Sallis reprised his role as the voice of Wallace. The filmed inserts are mostly narrated by Ashley Jensen, with one in each episode presented in-vision by Jem Stansfield. John Sparkes also voices a portion in the unseen character of archivist Goronwy.
3.3 / 5
Episode 1
A light-hearted and humorous look at real-life inventors, contraptions and gadgets with the much-loved duo, beginning with inventions inspired by nature. Wallace and Gromit learn about flying penguins, German robots, and Dutch sculptor Theo Jansen. Plus, Jem Stansfield meets a man who has created gills that could allow humans to breathe under water. Narrated by Ashley Jensen.
Episode 2
Wallace and Gromit explore the mysteries behind man's fascination with flight, from 'homemade' space rockets in Manchester to jetpacks in the UK. There is also a look at some planes that unfortunately don't fly in another Contraption Countdown.
Episode 3
The duo examine the world of domestic novelties, including a makeshift mill constructed by a young inventor from Malawi. There is a visit to inventor Trevor Baylis, a look at a collection of vintage tea-makers, former engineer and code breaker Tony Sale revives George the Robot, and science reporter Jem Stansfield meets an A-level student with a home-made fridge built out of scrap metal originally designed by Einstein.
Episode 4
Wallace and Gromit experience the world through the five senses, exploring the fact and fiction behind invisibility cloaks, bomb-detecting bees and the top sensory inventions.
Episode 5
Wallace and Gromit have always taken their safety into their own hands, and in this episode of the science series they consider other inventors with the same philosophy. They tell the tale of 1940s Hollywood starlet Hedy Lamarr, who had a side-line in inventing, and who devised a radio-controlled 'secret-communication' system for steering torpedoes to help allied forces in the war, the technology of which is featured in all modern bluetooth systems.
Episode 6
In this episode of the science series, Wallace and Gromit explore incredible transportation inventions from around the globe. In the 'Contraption Countdown' the focus is on peculiar transport devices, and the duo find out how to cross the River Thames in a plastic bag. They discover the intention behind laser propulsion in the creation of flying saucer technology, and meet Cedric Lynch, an illustrious engineer who invented electric tricycles.
