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Robot Wars returns with upgraded House Robots

‘Robot Wars’ is set to return to BBC Two with new look House Robots.
Earlier this year, it was confirmed that the bot battling game show will be making a comeback and now the new versions of the House Robots have been revealed with Sir Killalot, Matilda, Shunt and Dead Metal all returning but "evolved and upgraded to modern-day standards to be even more impressive and even more menacing".
Sir Killalot 2.0 weighs 741kg compared to the 520kg of the first version and each arm can lift up to 300kg and the claws can crush with 2.5 tonnes of force. The robot’s top speed is increased from 5mph to 10mph.
Dead Metal returns with its classic crab pincers and circular saw combo – the saw now spins at 340kph and is 450mm wide. He’s over twice the weight of the old model at 343kg.
Aesthetically Matilda has intimidating new red LED eyes and her weight is increased to 350kg from 116kg, she can move at 14mph and her CO2-powered head can lift 1.5 tonnes.
Finally, Shunt is three times as heavy as the original model and has enough "torque drive" to tow a van.
Dara Ó Briain and Angela Scanlon will present the new-look show.
The comedian and the Irish TV presenter will meet the teams and robots before and after they battle it out in the arena, while commentator Jonathan Pearce – who voiced the original series from 1998 to 2004 – is returning to the programme.
Dara said: "I am thrilled to be presenting ‘Robot Wars’.
"For too long, the schedules have cried out for a show in which dedicated amateurs, toiling day and night, handcraft sophisticated automatons built on the delicate interplay of hand-wired servo motors with custom-built circuit boards and fingertip motion control, just to see them get smashed to pieces by a dustbin carrying a massive hammer. It’s war, and how I love it so."
Angela added: "I’m so excited to be joining such a legendary show that, after all this time, still manages to make people squeal with joy.
"I cannot wait to see the robots in all their metallic glory playfully destroying each other!"