The Gadget Show

2004–2006: Beginnings

The show previews and reviews the latest gadgets, and broadcasts the latest technology news. The show is aimed at giving the mass consumer an insight into the gadget world and in addition, it aims to give enough information for the more "geeky" or knowledgeable audience, but still making it accessible to the more casual viewer. The show has featured Blu-ray Discs, video cameras, MP3 players, Internet multi media tablets and other technologies. A segment showing viewers how to get the most out of their technology was also often included along with a competition to win anything from £5,000 to £45,000 worth of new gadgets. Each series usually contained a special episode focusing on a particular technology conference or expo. Past conferences include CeBIT and the NextFest.

2007–2010: Studio and time increase

Series 5 saw a slight tweak in the format, with the three presenters hosting from a studio base, although a lot of the show still took place outside of the studio. The studio sections were filmed at The Custard Factory on Gibb Street in Digbeth, Birmingham, England. This was until a new set was introduced and the studio was then moved to inside The Gadget Show's offices located inside North One Television in Digbeth. A recurring theme in the updated format was a regular challenge between Jason and Suzi (and occasionally Jon and/or Ortis), typically set around particular gadget(s) and their testing or use based around it. Another addition was that now the week's main featured gadget(s), typically reviewed by Jon, was given a 'G rating' from one to five. The seventh series, which started on 29 October 2007, saw the programme promoted to a 20:00 start time (previously 19:15), and running increased from forty-five minutes to one hour.

From series 8, there was also a new "Top 5" feature which consists of the Top 5 gadgets in a certain category. At the start of the eleventh series, a new item was introduced, called the "Wall of Fame" where Ortis or Suzi and Jason picked their favourite gadget from a particular category that they think changed the face of modern gadgetry, and then Jon picked the one to win and go up on the wall. There were also several other recurring features (such as aforementioned "Top 5", and 'The Focus Group' - testing products with various groups of people, who voted for their best one) which were featured in episodes on a semi-regular basis.

The show also offers a competition, (answering a multiple choice question, by phone, SMS or postal entry) that gives the winner on some occasions up to 250 prizes.

For 2010, the programme received a rebrand centred on the Museo typeface. This included refreshed titles and break bumpers. Also in 2010, the show saw the release of a supporting magazine called 'The Gadget Show Magazine'. Despite advocating HD content and reviewing high definition television sets, cameras and other devices, the show continued to be produced and broadcast in standard definition, being upscaled on the Channel 5 HD simulcast channel. It would take until the World Tour series for the show to begin broadcasting in native HD.

In August 2011, it was announced a new series of The Gadget Show would be shown on Fridays. However, from 26 September 2011, the show reverted to Mondays, due to strong competition on Friday nights.

2012–2013: World Tour revamp

In February 2012, it was announced that the show would be in a new, revamped format. It was called The Gadget Show: World Tour, and it started airing on 23 April 2012. The new version of the show saw presenters Jason Bradbury and Pollyanna Woodward travelling the world to test the latest gadgets and partake in a number of challenges. The reception of the show from fans, after the first few broadcasts were generally negative, questioning Jon, Ortis and Suzi's drop from the show.^[2]

The next series, under the name The All New Gadget Show, began airing on 5 November 2012. It followed the same format as the previous series known as The Gadget Show: World Tour.^[3] Guests in this series included musical-comedy group Jonny & The Baptists^[4] as well as popular YouTube star Ali-A.^[5][6] Two specials aired in Spring 2013, a 'future' special and a 'Bank Holiday' special.

2013–2016: Back to origins, presenter changes

For the 17th series, Jason Bradbury and Pollyanna Woodward were joined by Countdown co-presenter Rachel Riley and former Gadget Show presenter Jon Bentley who re-joined the show as chief gadget tester.^[7] It was announced that The Gadget Show would return to its more traditional format, with a new studio. On 30 January 2014, it was announced that Ortis Deley would be returning to the show, replacing Pollyanna Woodward.^[8] On 25 April 2014, it was announced that Riley would be leaving the show and would be replaced by Olympic skeleton gold medallist, Amy Williams.^[9]

From the 22nd series, in-studio presenter links were scrapped; so, the filmed inserts were linked by graphics and countdown clips with voiceover from Bradbury, Deley, Williams and Bentley. A new logo and graphics were also introduced. New features included profiles of YouTube creators and vloggers and a section called Gadget Help where viewers of the show can get tech help to solve their problems. For the 23rd series, the show returned to a Friday night slot for the first time since 2011.

2017–present: Presenter changes, Gadget Show Live axed, and revamp

At the end of the 24th series of The Gadget Show, it was announced that Bradbury had decided to quit the show after 12 years. A day later, it was confirmed that Amy Williams would also leave. Furthermore, it was also announced that The Gadget Show Live had been axed in 2017 in favour of a new technology show taking place at Westfield London. The 25th series saw the show have a revamp. Channel 5 were keeping quiet as to what would happen in the new series.^[10]

On 17 February 2017, it was announced that Craig Charles and Georgie Barrat would replace Amy Williams and Jason Bradbury for the 25th series and would host alongside Ortis Deley and Jon Bentley. It was also announced that the show would return to a studio base in Birmingham and would air from 10 March 2017 for 12 episodes.^[11] The new Gadget Show logo teaser was released on the official Facebook page on 14 February 2017.^[12]

The show in its 26th and 27th series continued with the hosts from the 25th series with all studio filming taking place to the south of Birmingham in the 'Studio 212' complex operated by the privately owned company drp.

Guinness World Records

During the challenge section of The Gadget Show, the team is sometimes asked to set new Guinness World Records. So far, they have set records for:

• The fastest speed reached by a slot car racer achieved by Dallas Campbell while filming for The Gadget Show.^[13]
• The fastest speed reached by an internal combustion powered radio-controlled model car is 137.86 km/h (85.66 mph), controlled by Jason Bradbury (UK) on the set of The Gadget Show in Stratford-upon-Avon, UK, on 29 October 2008.^[14]
• The fastest speed in a water jet–powered car is 26.8 km/h (16.65 mph) and was achieved by Jason Bradbury (UK) on the set of The Gadget Show at Wattisham Airfield, Ipswich, UK, on 15 March 2010.
• The longest ramp jump performed by a remote controlled model car is 26.18 m achieved by an HPI Vorza, controlled by Jason Bradbury (UK) on the set of The Gadget Show in Birmingham, UK, on 25 March 2010. (Since been beaten by Thomas Strobel, Germany on 30 July 2011. Setting a distance of 36.9 m.^[15])
• The largest game of Tetris measured at 105.79 m² and was played on The Gadget Show in Birmingham, UK on 15 September 2010.
• The heaviest machine moved using a brain control interface weighs 56.2 tonnes (61.95 tons), as demonstrated on the set of The Gadget Show, Studley (UK) on 17 March 2011.^[16]
• The fastest speed attained on a jet-powered street luge is 115.83 mph (186.41 km/h), achieved by Jason Bradbury (UK) on the set of The Gadget Show's 200th episode in Bentwaters Parks, Suffolk, UK, on 9 August 2011.^[17]
• The longest loop-de-loop performed by a radio-controlled car at a diameter of 2.3 m.

Failed campaigns

The show launched a campaign for free WiFi access across the country. Viewers were urged to register their support on the show’s website; Jason Bradbury promised to take the issue to 10 Downing Street if the need arose, which it did, but got a reply rejecting his petition after over 30,000 names were sent in.

In 2015, the show (and Worth Capital) also launched a "Future Gadget" competition which gave all budding entrepreneurial tech' inventors a chance to bring their new gadgets to market, with financial backing and advert space on Channel 5 for the overall winner. This competition itself was terminated early on as the show and Worth Capital felt that the initial entries were not to the highest of standards. Another major online media source suggested that a severe lack of investors, the enduring lengthy format processes as well as some of the terms and conditions (such as the equity stakes the entrants would have to give up when signing strict contracts) was the real reasons for the demise of this competition.^{[18][19][20][21]}

Current presenters

• Craig Charles (2017–present)
• Jon Bentley (2004–12, 2013–present)
• Ortis Deley (2009–12, 2014–present)^[22]
• Georgie Barrat (2017–present)

Experts

• Jordan Erica Webber: gaming expert (2017–present)
• Harry Wallop: technology money saving expert (2017–present)

Note: Jon Bentley is the only original presenter left and is the longest running current presenter.

Former presenters

• Jason Bradbury (2004–2016) – 327 episodes
• Tom Dunmore (2004, 2010) – 4 episodes
• Suzi Perry (2004–2012) – 208 episodes
• Dallas Campbell (2008) – 22 episodes
• Gail Porter (2009) – 7 episodes (stand-in for Suzi Perry who was suffering ectopic pregnancy)
• Pollyanna Woodward (2010–2014) – 62 episodes
• Rachel Riley (2013–2014) – 31 episodes
• Amy Williams (2014–2016)
• Yue Xu (2016)

Gadget Show Web TV

• Dionne South: presenter (2008–present)