Tomorrow's World | How television tried to predict the future of science
Tomorrow's World | Hissing Sid
Kieran Prendiville takes on a snooker-playing robot.
CHANNEL | BBC 1
FIRST BROADCAST | 08 January 1981
DURATION | 24 minutes 59 seconds
FIRSTBROADCAST
1981
Synopsis
Kieran Prendiville (pictured above) introduces Hissing Sid, a versatile robot that suffers an unfortunate attack of 'live TV nerves'. Judith Hann reveals a surprising link between baked Alaska and a light-weight metal tennis racquet. Michael Rodd tests a new technique to update microfiche and travels to South Africa to investigate 'jumbo hail stones', while Su Ingle brings encouraging news for diabetics.
Did you know?
The robot Hissing Sid that features in this programme takes its name from a villainous snake who was a national obsession in 1980 thanks to a novelty single by Keith Michell. 'Captain Beaky' (which also features briefly in the programme) was the title track from an album of musical poems with lyrics by Jeremy Lloyd and music by Jim Parker. It told the tale of a brave band of animals (including Timid Toad and Reckless Rat) and their battles with Hissing Sid. A follow-up album, 'The Trial of Hissing Sid', coincided with an outbreak of graffiti slogans across the UK declaring 'Hissing Sid is innocent'.
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