Tom Scott

S2026 · E1 · Mar 23, 2026

I Helped Break a 142-year-old Bell, and That's Okay Episode 1

In Leicestershire, at John Taylor's Bell Foundry‬, there's fire, sledgehammer swinging, and metal hotter than a volcano. Also, several questions about cheese.

S2026 · E2 · Mar 30, 2026

They can fly 200 miles with no fuel. Here's how. Episode 2

I try to fit all of Rutland in one camera shot, spot chimneys in the sky, and make a very strange noise.

S2026 · E3 · Apr 6, 2026

I missed the evidence. Can you spot it? Episode 3

At the University of Lincoln's Crime Scene House, where they teach forensic science students in simulated crime scenes, I have a challenge for you.

S2026 · E4 · Apr 13, 2026

These people walk towards mining disasters Episode 4

S2026 · E5 · Apr 20, 2026

These Mannequins Can Bleed Episode 5

At Sheffield Hallam University in Yorkshire, I meet the Clinical Simulation team and deal with some animated patients.

S2026 · E6 · Apr 27, 2026

I finally got to drive Yorkshire’s tiny boats Episode 6

At Peasholm Park in Scarborough, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, I visit the Naval Warfare, ride with the world's smallest crewed navy, and scare at least two seagulls.

S2026 · E7 · May 4, 2026

If you found candy with my name in it, here's why Episode 7

At the John Bull Rock Factory outside Bridlington, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, I watch as boiling sugar becomes an enormous amount of rock. Also, there's 1990s Dutch happy hardcore.

S2026 · E8 · May 11, 2026

Oh No, I Sympathized With a Victorian Arms Dealer Episode 8

In Northumberland, at the National Trust's Cragside mansion, I visit the former home of the Magician of the North.

S2026 · E9 · May 18, 2026

The mist that keeps the Tyne Tunnels safe Episode 9

At the Tyne Tunnels, I get very wet and cold underneath a river... but not how you might expect.

S2026 · E10 · May 25, 2026

This Man Stops People Drowning in Quicksand Episode 10

In Westmorland, at Morecambe Bay, I meet the King's Guide to the Sands and walk across a very dangerous stretch of sand.

S2026 · E11 · Jun 1, 2026

Pulling the Lever Is the Easy Part Episode 11

In Lancashire, at National Rail's Manchester signalling classroom, I learn why it's very, very rare for trains to collide... and then go to an actual, live signal box to see it for real.

S2026 · E12 · Jun 8, 2026

Can a 70-year-old Telescope Still Be Useful? Episode 12

At Jodrell Bank in Cheshire, I get to fulfill a childhood dream: but more importantly, I ask whether a telescope built in the 1950s can still do useful science.

S2026 · E13 · Jun 15, 2026

We Can't Invent a Robot Better Than These Ferrets Episode 13

In Derbyshire, at the National Ferret School, I say "hello" to some smelly thieves, and go on a surprisingly Biblical tangent.

S2026 · E14 · Jun 22, 2026

I Got Hit In the Teeth with 900-year-old Antlers Episode 14

In the village of Abbots Bromley in Staffordshire, I join the oldest village tradition in Britain: the Horn Dance. It ends up being slightly more painful than I expected.

S2026 · E15 · Jun 29, 2026

I Launched the Mighty Trebuchet Episode 15

At Warwick Castle, there's a 22-tonne medieval siege engine. I got to see how it works, meet the person in charge, and -- technically -- help fire it. Technically.

S2026 · E16 · Jul 6, 2026

If I Get This Wrong, 50,000 People Will Hear It Episode 16

At Worcester Cathedral, I finally take on a challenge that hundreds of people have suggested: bell ringing. It's difficult, a little dangerous, and also lets me talk about a lot of weird English words.

S2026 · E17 · Jul 13, 2026

I Have a Weird Conspiracy Theory About This Bridge Episode 17

In Shropshire, I visit the Iron Bridge in the village of Ironbridge. And then I have a corkboard, pins, string, and a frankly-unhinged conspiracy theory about what an architect was actually planning.

S2026 · E18 · Jul 20, 2026

I Get Excited About an Ampersand. Episode 18

At Hereford Cathedral, I visit a library where the books are chained to the shelves -- and see two of those books, to help understand just how quickly one technology can change the world.

S2026 · E19 · Jul 27, 2026

I'm So Glad This Hidden Monorail Broke Down Episode 19

At the English end of the Prince of Wales Bridge, in Gloucestershire, I get to visit the Rapid Access Train, the RAT, a hidden suspended monorail. Except... that's only half the story.

S2026 · E20 · Aug 3, 2026

Two Nerds Try to Build a Wall Episode 20

In Oxfordshire, at the Dry Stone Academy, I'm joined by Dr Becky. We have until our camera batteries run out to try one of the oldest surviving crafts in Britain: dry stone walling.

S2026 · E21 · Aug 10, 2026

This 100-Year-Old Ride Must Never Change Again Episode 21

At Wicksteed Park, there's a 100-year-old water chute, and I took a ride. Also, I make a fool of myself on a slide.

S2026 · E22 · Aug 17, 2026

How do you keep 8,995 codebreakers secret? Episode 22

At Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire, I don't want to know how a few boffins broke the Enigma code, because it wasn't a few boffins. I want to know: how on earth did they keep the "intelligence factory" secret when there were thousands and thousands of people involved?

S2026 · E23 · Aug 24, 2026

I didn't need to drive this Mars rover, but I did. Episode 23

In Stevenage, Hertfordshire, there's a simulation of Mars: at Airbus' facilities, I got to meet some Mars rovers, take a test drive, and discover the most incredible wheel I've ever seen.

S2026 · E24 · Aug 31, 2026

Flying a plane badly, on purpose Episode 24

At Cranfield University in Bedfordshire, I'm going aboard the National Flying Laboratory, and trying to keep my sense of direction, and my stomach, as the plane goes through some very non-standard manoeuvres.

S2026 · E25 · Sep 7, 2026

Thomas, a tank engine, is not Thomas the Tank Engine. Episode 25

At the Nene Valley Railway in Huntingdonshire, I meet a tank engine called Thomas that is, for legal reasons, not Thomas the Tank Engine... and, to my surprise, I find out why, in the early days of steam, Victorians might have found trains terrifying.

S2026 · E26 · Sep 14, 2026

Can I get into the Top 100 of tiddlywinks in one day? Episode 26

At the University of Cambridge, I try to recover some childhood muscle memory, and see if I can get good enough at a Victorian parlour game to break the world top 100 in just one day.

S2026 · E27 · Sep 21, 2026

When I Blow This Whistle, a Swimming Pool Appears Episode 27

S2026 · E28 · Sep 28, 2026

This Arcade Game Makes You Climb a Ladder Episode 28

At Southwold Pier, I visit a collection of automata and arcade games that offer something a bit more interesting than prizes.

S2026 · E29 · Oct 5, 2026

Why robots can't pick strawberries yet Episode 29

In Tiptree in Essex, at the headquarters of famous jam and preserve manufacturer Wilkin & Sons, this city boy gets impressed by agricultural infrastructure, and meets some robots that work better than others.

S2026 · E30 · Oct 12, 2026

Tom gets excited about a pendulum. Episode 30

At the Cumbria Clock Company, I close up a hole in my map, meet the team that manage and restore more than a thousand public clocks across the UK and wider afield, and discover that I knew far less about pendulum clocks than I thought.

S2026 · E31 · Oct 19, 2026

TBA Episode 31

S2026 · E32 · Oct 26, 2026

It's getting harder to balance the power grid. Here's why. Episode 32

The team at Britain's National Energy System Operator have a job that's quite different to just a few years ago.