Don’t miss this new show, Richard Hammond’s Blast Lab, that’s “a science-based game show for CBBC” but as Richard’s in it, I’ll be watching, kids programme or not!

It’s set in a fictitious underground laboratory in the grounds of his supposed stately home in which Richard invites two groups of three friends into his lab to take part in his crazy experiments and compete against each other to win prizes.

The winning team take their prizes home, but the losers get to blow their prizes up … all in the name of science, of course! In reality, though, there are no losers on this show, because getting the opportunity to push the plunger is a treat in itself, even if it means sacrificing your prize.

Each show focuses on a different scientific theme or principle; in the mini science round, Richard’s former science teacher, Mini Miss (she is 65 years old but, due to a failed Hammond time-travel experiment, she has returned to the present-day as a 10-year-old) asks the teams to compete as they take part in an experiment.

Each experiment – which ranges from building rockets that demonstrate Newton’s third law to exploring the properties of water tension – is designed to have true “take away” value, so children can seek to replicate these at home if they wish.

After each mini science round, Richard expands on the theory by sending his lab technicians (Lab Rats) into the field to test the same principles to the max with some spectacular results.

These films have genuine “wow” factor and will bring the excitement of science to a broad audience. However, these are experiments to watch and admire from afar – they’re definitely not to be tried at home!

Richard is joined in his secret lab by Ninja Nan, who’s in charge of security. She is a 70-year-old woman who may look frail but she is a fully trained Ninja. Richard is also joined by the Lab Rats (a team of poor, beleaguered technicians at his beck and call), and his beloved car, Oliver, the Opel Kadett he brought back from a Top Gear filming trip to Botswana.

I can’t wait!