Brits Who Made the Modern World

Synopsis: Series of six 30-minute programmes in which Peter Snow looks at the untold stories of British scientists and engineers who developed some of the modern world’s most incredible technology. The series covers rockets, the mobile phone, computer games, Formula 1 racing cars, the Harrier jump jet and the tilting train.

1 Very little is known about the invention of Britain’s rocket programme in the 1970’s. Peter Snow aims to find out more about the ‘Black Arrow’.
2 Peter Snow meets the underdog engineers and inventors who succeeded against all odds to set up Britain’s first mobile phone network.
3 Peter Snow meets the visionary inventors of ‘Elite’, the pioneering 3D computer game that they created from their bedrooms.
4 Peter Snow meets the men who helped to mark Britain as a force to be reckoned with when they designed the Lotus 25 Formula 1 car.
5 Peter Snow talks to the two pioneering inventors of the RAF’s Harrier Jump Jet which assisted Britain in the Falklands War.
6 In the 70s engineers revolutionised the train by designing the tilting version that could reach speeds of over 150mph.
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Year of release: 2009
Year of production: 2008
Notes: Broadcast on Five beginning 20/6/2008
Subjects: Engineering; Technology
Keywords: computer games; engineering design; inventions; jet aircraft; mobile phones; racing cars; rockets; technological innovation; tilting train

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