James May's Man Lab
James May's Man Lab sees James attempting redeem the reputation of the modern man by teaching them skills that were cherished by their forefathers.
Seasons
1. Defuse an Unexploded Bomb
Air Date: 2010-10-31
The first of a new series that sees James May on a mission to save modern man - from themselves. From his Man Lab HQ, James and his team set out on a series of action-packed challenges that will help modern man relearn some of the vital skills, once cherished by his forefathers, that are now in danger of being lost forever. In this episode, we learn how to defuse an unexploded bomb, build a kitchen out of concrete, how to serenade a woman, transform a fishfinger sandwich, and create the world's first motorised picnic table.
2. Navigate the Seas
Air Date: 2010-11-07
James navigates the high seas the old-fashioned way - instead of SatNav, he must avoid sand banks and shipping lanes using only a compass and a dog as navigational tools. Plus, James engages in a duel over a parking space, starts an orchestra and builds a pub. And in Celebrity Man Skills, John Sergeant changes a tyre.
3. Man Lab Orchestra
Air Date: 2010-11-14
Outnumbered star Hugh Dennis takes on a wallpapering challenge, the Man Lab orchestra prepares for its debut concert at famous London church St Martin-in-the-Fields, and the experts build their own cinema, complete with popcorn and a Wurlitzer organ. The team also constructs a sky rocket, two men settle a 25-year-old quarrel by duelling with sabres, and James uses modern technology to help a man on a first date. Last in the series.
1. Prison Breakout
Air Date: 2011-10-25
James and Oz Clarke break out of Dartmoor Prison, evade a team of trackers and navigate their way across moors using only a map and compass in their latest attempt to re-skill the modern male. James tests his own abilities further as he takes on what he feels is the most threatening challenge facing men today - remembering names at a dinner party.
2. Reunite a Teenage Rock Band
Air Date: 2011-11-01
James and the team reunite a teenage rock band, now middle-aged, and gets them to play their first concert in 20 years - in front of 5,000 unsuspecting festival goers. James also demonstrates his own axe skills as he fells a tree, makes toilet paper out of Richard Hammond's autobiography and learns how to tame his fears by going on a good old-fashioned ghost hunt in one of Britain's most haunted castles.
3. Liberate Men from the Tyranny of Fashion
Air Date: 2011-11-08
James May takes to the catwalk to liberate men from the tyranny of fashion and promote the one item of clothing they'll ever need - a cunningly modified boiler suit. He also does his bit for the British space project by sending the ashes of a cat and a budgie 100,000 feet into the stratosphere, re-forms some impractical kitchen items into the perfect lemon squeezer in his very own foundry, and teaches Man Lab's musically-challenged males how to cheat at playing the guitar.
4. Take a Penalty and Score
Air Date: 2011-11-15
James May attempts to prove the impossible - that an Englishman can take a penalty and score. He will need to keep a cool head as he'll be taking the penalty in front of 20,000 baying German fans on the exact spot where England were knocked out of the 2006 World Cup. Plus, James reinstates an ancient ferry crossing by building a boat from little more than bendy sticks, creates an indoor garden in the ultimate brown field site - the toilet, and builds the world's first multi-functional Swiss Army Bike.
1. The Grand National
Air Date: 2013-03-28
James prepares to commentate live on the Grand National, builds a one tonne pizza oven and helps his helpless sidekick Rory convince a group of experts that he is the BBC's newest wine expert via an earpiece from a van parked outside.
2. How to Capture Lightning
Air Date: 2013-04-04
James attempt to catch a bolt of lightning, enters the Rock Paper Scissors World Championships, creates a neighbourhood watch team made up of cats and makes a bar of soap which involves some dangerous chemistry and a trip to the local coal mine.
3. Bunned Aid
Air Date: 2013-04-11
James helps an Oxfordshire town save their diamond jubilee celebration using ballistics and hot cross buns. James challenges Sim to the most dramatic drinking game you will ever see. James and the team to build a water clock and create a coat that doubles up as a bed.
4. How to Find Lost Things
Air Date: 2013-04-18
James May goes in search of a wedding ring lost in the 1970s. The team also launches its own pirate radio station and there are a couple of amazing inventions on offer too.
5. How to Run a Whelk Stand
Air Date: 2013-04-25
James May continues his epic quest to re-skill the modern male. He attempts Man Lab's most risky stunt to date, which involves an ailing seaside town and a great big monster.
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Rating
7.3/10
Release Date
2010-10-31
Episodes
12 (3 seasons)
Status
Ended
