Robot Wars attracts more viewers than Top Gear finale – but people want Craig Charles back

Viewers miss Charles' enthusiasm - and fringed leather jacket
New hosts: Dara O'Briain and Angela Scanlon are the new faces
BBC/Mentorn Media Scotland/Alan Peebles
Emma Powell25 July 2016

BBC 2’s Robot Wars reboot attracted 2 million viewers and beat the revamped Top Gear finale – but viewers are still calling for the return of Craig Charles.

Sunday night’s episode, which welcomed back house robots Sir Killalot, Matilda, Dead Metal and Shunt, secured 2 million viewers and had a 10 per cent share of the audience from 8pm.

The Chris Evans fronted Top Gear bowed out with 1.9 million viewers in the same time slot on July 3.

Dara O'Briain and Angela Scanlon made their debut as hosts after replacing Charles and Philippa Forrester.

But fans couldn’t help comparing Charles and O’Briain and called for the Red Dwarf star to be reinstated.

Some viewers felt the reboot was lacking the energy and entusiasm Charles offered while others joked that they missed his leather jacket.

One viewer tweeted: “Big Dara fan, but he's just not got the enthusiasm Craig Charles had. Scream for us Dara, screammmm #RobotWars.”

Another posted: “I miss Craig Charles' dramatic presenting, he made it so much more entertaining. #RobotWars.”

Others praised O'Briain and called on the BBC to scrap Top Gear and instead invest the money into Robot Wars.

Charles voiced his desire to host the reboot in January, but said he had not been asked.

He tweeted: “Okay guys. I've heard the news but as yet have had no contact with anyone involved in the new production of Robot Wars. #lovetodoit.”

The former Coronation Street actor hosted the show - which was broadcast on the BBC from 1998 to 2003, and on Channel 5 until 2004 - from series two until its finish after series seven.

The reboot will see 40 teams battle it out over six episodes to become Robot Wars Champion 2016.

Robot Wars is on BBC Two at 8pm on Sunday.

Robot Wars 2016: the re-designed house bots

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