A popular science programme which is filmed in Brighton starts a new series on BBC One tonight (Monday 14 March).
Bang Goes The Theory is recorded at the Sussex University campus in Falmer where the programme makers have now established a permanent home for the show.
The production team finished setting up a studio lab inside a former nuclear physics bunker there last week.
The bunker has 3ft thick concrete walls which, from the 1960s until last year, housed the university’s particle accelerator.
As well as housing the studio lab, the accelerator building is also home to Bang’s production workshop, which was previously based elsewhere in Brighton.
The BBC One programme, currently in its fourth series, is fronted by four presenters – Liz Bonnin, Dallas Campbell, Dr Yan Wong and Jem Stansfield.
They aim to put science and technology to the test and place science into an everyday context through some entertaining and unusual experiments.
The arrival of Bang Goes the Theory on the Sussex campus marks the start of a collaboration between the university and BBC TV.
Apart from providing facilities, university academics will also be on hand to advise on experiments and ideas for future programmes.
The series will feature science and technology research taking place at Sussex, while science and media students will help out with various aspects of the production.
Lucy Stewart, a graduate of media practice and theory, and Frances Gilbert, an anthropology student, will serve as runners on the set.
Professor Bob Allison, the pro-vice-chancellor (research) at Sussesx, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for the university and the BBC to bring science to the public in an entertaining and informative format.
“We aim to provide the very best of research and teaching in the sciences at Sussex and welcome the chance to reach a wider audience with the BBC.
“We hope that this new collaboration will add to a greater understanding of the importance of scientific knowledge and discovery.”
Series editor Dermot Caulfield said: “I’m really excited about Bang’s new home.
“It’s a fantastic space and I’m looking forward to being here for a long time.”
The new series of the programme, which has also used the services of Portslade-based Plunge Productions, is due to be shown at 7.30pm tonight on BBC One.
