Look Around You

In the first series, the episodes satirise and pay homage to late 1970s and early 1980s educational films and school programmes such as ITV's "Experiment" series and BBC's "For Schools and Colleges". A different scientific subject is covered in each episode.

Look Around You Series 1 release dates →

1. E8

   8. The Brain

   Finale 23 years ago

   The team investigates the human brain and meets a man who is addicted to Electronic Brain Enhancements. What happens if you probe the brobe? How many nuts are there in a jar? And what are brain flakes? All of these questions are addressed, if not answered.

2. E7

   7. Iron

   23 years ago

   Iron (Fe) is not quite all it's cut up to be... The use of magnets is strictly prohibited during this episode.

3. E6

   6. Music

   23 years ago

   A brief investigation of the world of music, from its Neolithic beginnings...

4. E5

   5. Sulphur

   24 years ago

   Sulphur is revealed, and the story is not really about brimstone.

5. E4

   4. Ghosts

   24 years ago

   Why can't ghosts whistle? Well, let's hear from a ghost.

6. E3

   3. Germs

   24 years ago

   You need to know something about Germs. You really do. And Professor Miles can help you...

7. E2

   2. Water

   24 years ago

   In this episode we learn about the amazing igloo-building skills of ants and the surprising ability of water to boil eggs.

8. E1

   1. Maths

   24 years ago

   Maths can help us in our daily lives - for example, in cooking pasta, in calculating the correct moment for starting a conversation, or (if you can fly) in working out where to land. Queen Elizabeth III and Queen Elizabeth IV are going to a party given by Queen Elizabeth V. QE3 has forty dresses to choose from, QE4 has four thousand, and QE5 has only one dress, but it can take the form of many dresses. Then, during the night, QE3's servant steals the plans for QE4's party dress and, working till dawn, makes four thousand exact copies... So can we reckon what the chance is that all of the Queens will be wearing the same dress at the party?

The second series of Look Around You is presented in the pop-science vein of programmes such as Tomorrow's World.

Look Around You Series 2 release dates →

1. E6

   6. Live Final

   Finale 21 years ago

   The Look Around You Invention of the Year Award comes to you live from BBC Television Centre in Shepherd's Bush, London. Six leading inventors are in the studio hoping to take the big trophy. The finalists include the team behind a machine which can change your sex in minutes, and it will be tested live on the show.

2. E5

   5. Computers

   21 years ago

   The team looks at the hottest new computer technology and meets an e-boffin who has officially changed his name to Computer Jones (Paul Jerrico). Computer introduces the UK's most powerful computer, called Bournemouth. In this week's Challenge, can Bournemouth escape from a reinforced steel cage?

3. E4

   4. Food

   21 years ago

   The team looks at advances in food science and technology, and the world's one and only vegetable orchestra, led by Teddy Clarke, gives us a live performance in the studio. We meet Andy Gough, Slimmer of the Year, a fellow who lost fifty-two stone [for American viewers: one stone is sixteen pounds] in six weeks, thanks to a controversial slimming powder. We also visit the food industry's annual show and see some inspiring hi-tech developments. A special report looks at the growth of fast food casserole joints, stepping into the world's only computer-run casserole cafe where the menu features four types of casserole - beef, chicken, ham and porcupine. Lastly, the gang throws a futuristic birthday party for Pam - with a surprise guest.

4. E3

   3. Sport

   21 years ago

   This week, the team looks at advances in sporting technology. The world 400,000-metre champion, Ros Lamb, demonstrates a new serum (based on caramel-flavoured rocket fuel) which is said to help her to run at up to 3,500 miles per hour. And Ros faces this week's Challenge - can she run the 524 miles from London to Aberdeen in under five minutes? (But it was not foreseen that she would arrive in Scotland half her original size.) We meet two of the clones of the late Sebastian Jackson, the world's most famous football designer. The Invention of the Week is a betting system - based on a machine made of straw and designed by a race-horse. Finally, the team visits the U.S. to investigate the new sport of Gonnis - which is an inspired cross between golf and tennis.

5. E2

   2. Health

   21 years ago

   The team looks at advances in healthcare, and Jack Morgan goes under the knife as Dr Fu supervizes the efforts of a robot-surgeon called Medibot to create the perfect face. Other presenters try out a new toothbrush that burns away plaque - though with one rather serious side effect... And in a special report, the team visits a Sleep Institute and meets its director, Professor Craven, a man with some cutting-edge ideas.

6. E1

   1. Music 2000

   21 years ago

   We visit the Look Around You Music 2000 Competition, a search for the sounds people will be listening to in the year 2000. Three contestants have half a minute each to perform what they think will be the music of tomorrow. Contestant Anthony Carmichael gives us England's first ever performance of rap music. The contest is judged by Look Around You's resident music expert, the Ghost of the composer Tchaikovsky, who speaks through an interpreter. We also meet the chairman of the Royal Pop and Rock Association, Sir Alan Rees, who coincidentally is the reigning French-kissing champion.