´óÏó´«Ã½

I think Tomorrow's World should definately be bought back as is one of only a small handful of programs the ´óÏó´«Ã½ has made that have been worth the half hour of my life to watch.

when i first saw this blog i thought it looked ridiculous. and i haven't changed my mind.

the bbc is going to get quite a shock if it persists in thinking that we need to be nannied in the new media world.

I think it should make a come back. I used to enjoy looking at all of the things that are going to hit us soon. And to be fair in the long run the technology will affect us all in one way or another. So yes, bring it back!!

Yes - I remember Tomorrows World clearly and it was a brilliant introduction to new technologies for the less knowledgeable as well as a fascinating starting point for those who knew what was going on.

Yes I think that Tomorrows World should be brought back, it was very interesting and pitched at the right level for everyone to understand and be informed and enlightened.

Certainly, I think some sort of technical awareness program would be a good thing, esp. when you look at how technology is becoming more & more a part of our daily lives.

Speed cameras; security sensors in the stores; computers running our TV-stereo systems, our phones and watches, etc. Even our bodies, with the continued research into nano-technology, aren't/won't be left alone.

Bring Tomorrows World back, its a lot better than the majority of trash on our screens these days, and with technology advances happening at such an amazing rate, the show could be a great success.

One of the few programs I used to watch as a child (along with Dr Who!)
so yes bring it back.

Tomorrow's World is the thing that got me interested in technology as a child and I miss the programme. I can still remember the early demonstrations of fax and CD technology.

TW was a huge driver for home computing in the UK and celebrated invention - even if it did over state things from time to time.

Digital Planet on the World Service fills a big gap, but I think there's still a place for a mainstream TV programme that gets people excited about technology again.

Yes, I think it should come back to our screens. What with all the private space ventures, the proposed lunar programme, plastic chips, face transplants, dual hand transplants... technology has never been so tomorrowish.

Why the series became stale, I think the editors became lazy. The programme ended up focussing on off the shelf technology and not the forefront of science.

I think it could be brought back, BUT, it needs to go back to how it was about 15 years or so ago. The latter series just didn't grab me. The demonstrations had gone, and the show was looking more into theoretical things and less concrete subjects. I lost interest and really didn't miss it at that point. So yes, bring it back, but try and bring back the magic it once had, not the shiny sets and un-interesting subjects.

Tomorrow's World may not have foretold the future we are living in today - but it helped to form it.

Having at least some idea of what the future may hold is of great value.

I miss the old programme, it was informative, entertaining and at best inspirational. Granted it sometimes fell short of perfect - but 'Horizon' has had it's ups and downs too and yet it still lives on - not to mention Doctor Who!

Bring back James Burke say I - if not him, then I am free...

Tomorrow's World would have one big problem if made today - the Internet. If it was going to work it would need to be ahead of the information available to anyone with access to the WWW or it would not be watched by a large section of its potential audience. If it reports what they've already seen on technology news sites then they'll watch a couple of shows then not turn on again.

It could be of value would be if it could get behind the scenes of the story; enhance the debate on issues of science and technology possibly by putting the players into head to head discussion of the issues; and carry out investigative research into the miss use and miss representation of science and technology.

Sure, there is no reason why TW could not return. It just needs moving on from the late Raymond Baxter days which the Beeb did not do. "Just leave the format as it is and it will be fine" Just like Dr Who in the late 80's, and now look at that brand and what it's done for the Beeb.
I am sure Discovery and a few other channels would buy into TW, if the format was right. It just needs someone to stick there head up and say go for it.....

I think Tomorrow's World should be brought back, provided that:

1) It is not "dumbed-down".
2) It treats its viewers as adults.
3) It is not spoilt by crazy camera angles, inappropriate music, and other style-over-content effects.
4) Each topic should be given a decent amount of time - we don't all have ADHD.

Ditto all other factual ´óÏó´«Ã½ programs !

I'm horrified by what's happened to TV science. Year by year its coverage has declined and what's left has been dumbed-down to the most childish level. 'Tomorrow's World' vanished, Channel 4 dropped 'Equinox' and the last series of 'Horizon' was the death knell - it was so vacuous and empty-headed I wanted to scream.

Television nowadays, in the pursuit of ratings, heads straight for the lowest common denominator and instead of trying to educate us or stretch our minds gives us something cosy and unthreatening so that we won't be in danger of switching off.

The only representation of science now is in quasi-reality programmes where scientists have to do something 'fun', inculcating no more knowledge than Key Staqe 3 delivers to children of 14.

I'm not a scientist but I'm interested in science and want to learn about the latest theories and developments. I don't want it to be 'entertaining', I want it to be interesting and informative and above all I want to be treated like an intelligent adult.

Of course 'Tomorrow's World' should return, but only in a format that would make it worthwhile. The way the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s going if it did return we should expect to see Dick 'n' Dom throwing gunge over Stephen Hawking and spouting some innuendo about black holes.

Yes, bring it back. It was not only interesting and informative but fun too!

TW absolutely should be back on our screens. It will need a re-vamp to make it modern and slick and it would also benefit from being lengthened to an hour. This would enable more in-depth coverage of bigger stories. The studio format should be scrapped in favour of location filming and demonstrations by people that understand the technology. School children are not being inspired to aim for careers in science and technology so there is an opportunity to engage them with a high quality programme. TW should not be aimed only at kids but could be tailored to all age groups.

I was a child when Tommorrow's World was on and it really captured my imagination. I don't know if as an adult it would have seemed too "dumbed down". Given most of the drivel that is on television, it would be brilliant to bring it back. It's even harder to keep track of technological advances today, and therefore a program of this nature would be both compelling and invaluable.

It would be great to have tomorrow's world back, it should never have been axed.

When I was young, Tomorrow's World helped inspire me and many of my friends to become interested in Science. It is an interest which has stayed with me for life. I took a science based degree at university and now have a very interesting and rewarding career in cutting-edge computer software. We are told that there is a shortage of home-grown engineers and scientists. I am sure that the resurrection of Tomorrow's world would help inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists to become interested in the pursuing a science based career. I look forward to sitting down with my children to watch the programme.

Tomorrows World was great - especially the live demonstrations that quite often failed to work.

The newer editions of this programme, I think, were trying to be too new and too flash and that this, at least partly, probably led to its downfall. If I recall, as the pace of technology increased, TM's outlook shrank to little more than a review of products-around-the-corner, rather than focussing on the bleeding edge of research and technology, which it had in the past.

There's always room for a programme like this, that explores the bleeding edge. Mostly it would be watched by people who don't normally track this stuff online, or wouldn't know where to look but are vaguely interested.

This is a splendid idea and a great alternative to all those brain-numbing "Reality TV" and Celebrity shows!

It should catch on, there is a whole new audience of gadget fanatics, console gamers, and PC owners who will tune-in

To Pat,
There is a difference between being "nannied" and being "edutained" and I, for one, would much rather be informed about the newest technology than see a bunch of has-been celeb's any day of the week.

Bring back tomorrows world! It was a great show. Technology today is either taken for granted or overlooked.

To be honest I feel that ´óÏó´«Ã½tv doesn't take science seriously any longer. We're doomed to only listening to it on Radio 4.

´óÏó´«Ã½ One and ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two are awash with some wonderful art programmes, but gone is TW, QED etc; all we're left with is a pale imitation of the once great Horizon that now gets batted about the schedules, late at night on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two.

At a time when the populuse seem more ignorant about science than ever before the ´óÏó´«Ã½ has a clear role to play in the education the nation, surely is part of ther charter, and indeed was the idea of Lord Reith.

So, can you not educate us about the work of Copernicus as well as Caravaggio?

With the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s all important understanding of Technology in the modern era, this would be a great contribution to inspire another generation to take us to the next step.

Lets please have a program of this quality return to the forefront and continue to put the UK into driving new technologies.

I agree with David Rickard who said bring it back how it was about 15 years ago. The later series were dumbed down, just as so much ´óÏó´«Ã½ science programming has been. I'm not interested in pretty graphics, presenters chosen for their shiny hair and teeth, and long periods going by with no new information. I'd like to see knowledgable and enthusiastic presenters and live demonstrations - we all loved it when they went wrong!

Now that Horizon has been dumbed down to the point of inanity, SOME kind of worthwhile science program is needed badly.

I grew up watching tomorrows world and loved every minute of it. People need to remember that iy was not just the latest technological devices, it also brought some pretty complex science to the masses in an accessible format.
I could't believe it when the ´óÏó´«Ã½ cancelled it, for a public service broadcaster this programme filled the citeria of some of the required output very neatly but was also a very enjoyable programme.
I'm thinking of having children in a few years and my hope is that the ´óÏó´«Ã½ will have the forethought to bring this wonderful show back to the screens to inspire a whole new generation.

Did the posters above read the same article as me? The TV show is NOT being brought back!

All they're going to do is stick "Tomorrow's World" on all future ´óÏó´«Ã½ articles related to new technology because they have calculated that the name still carries some kind of value.

And that's it.

Perhaps as Pat (reply #2) says, we don't need nannying with new media - but that only applies to a minority I think.

Bringing TW back would be a good move, there's not enough sci/tech programming on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ to appeal to the wider audience as it stands... BUT, dear Auntie would have to make sure the program was interesting but not patronising at the same time.

Bring back TW by all means, but please don't "dumb" it down. There is so little science of any quality left. Apart from the Sky At Night we are left with "tabloid journalism science".

Let our school kids discover (report), what is in their eye is the discovery, worth mentioning this week. To start with less than four minutes will be a good start.

Please don’t waste time with any interviews and additional reporting in the program. People interested will go to your web site to find supplementary information.

Good luck.

Oh, and see if you could broadcast first program without any Bits and Bytes!

Bring it back, it was brilliant.

Bringing back Tomorrow's World with an emphasis on directly applicable technological advances, presenting factual content with a scientific bias would be wonderful.
The technology coverage on TV at the moment tends to fall into the "gadget reviews" niche, or else it is reduced to a level where it isn't helpful.

Having a serious program which is willing to feature the differences between, for example, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD, and explain why it's taken so long for a dual format reader to appear, or which can take a look at the long term and consider what is likely to take over from these next-gen formats (downloads? Fluorescing discs? Solid state memory cards with vastly increased capacities?) without going into the bonus features of three players would be good.

There is a difference between explaining things clearly, and dumbing them down too much. The old TW was good at the former, but drifted to the latter in its final years...

"Tomorrow's World" should definitely be brought back! It was one of the few programmes that had mass appeal as well as being both entertaining and informative. It was a real gem.

I remember tomorrow's world as a kid, and it kept me interested in whatever they managed to drag up,

I think that a return to the airwaves is much deserved and in this new budding world of technophiles and acronym loving technology corporations, we need somone to show us the way to avoid confusion and time consuming research into what is better hd-dvd/bluray/hdtv

most people dont know why they should buy these things, they just do because they want to keep up with the, now more abstract and defunct than ever, Jones'

Very much so. Please bring it back - it was one of the great shows on television. It should become one of the true cornerstones of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ in this digital millenium.

Yes it's a great idea to use a familiar and direct name like TW to use as an umbrella for the proliferation of technology news we're bombarded with online and on tv. I'm a confessed technophobe and I love programs like Click Online, that give me insight into what's coming next. If all of your technology coverage can be found online for example through a single source then I'm guaranteed to be a frequent visitor.

Yes! Bring it back. Make it relevant to today's science needs in this country. Anything that helps to prevent university science departments from closing, that stimulates scientific debates and/or gets scientists discussing ethical issues in science will be doing our country a useful, not to say, vital service. And we need many more young scientifically trained people to enter the public debates on climate change, and also to plump for a career in politics where they may be able to make a difference.

Yes, yes, yes - please do bring back Tomorrow's World!

I was sad to see it go a few years ago, but towards the end it was a shadow of its former self. It was fantastic back in the late 80's and it could be again, as technology is more important and relevant to our everyday lives now than it ever has been before.

I hope the Beeb is listening!

TW should certainly be brought back. Us Brits still think anything with a chip inside needs some kind of 'geek' to make it work. I'd especially like to see more recognition of the amazing British developments in technology, like eInk.

I for one would love to see Tomorrow's World come back. There should be more of an emphasis on technology that is still in the reasonably distant future at the moment - such as nanotechnology, nuclear fusion etc. Otherwise it risks being more of a "Today's World" with the speed of technological change ever increasing all around us.

Its resurrection would be welcome, but in the format of the earlier days of its existence.

hai, AI is the Next world.

This time we are very woriied for the facing problems.

Because all work fully coverted into the machine, so how to control the machine, this area is a confusion one, Because every time the technology and their usessage will be changed.

Yes please, it was an intelligent interesting and well made programme. Only Sky at Night has the same sort of flavour any more, there's nothing else left of the same ilk. It's a shame you can't bring back Raymond Baxter as well. But perhaps James Burke is still around? but PLEASE not Carol Vorderman.

Definitely bring Tomorrow's World back; it was one of the favourite TV programmes of my recent childhood.

Hoorah, i welcome the news that tommorows world is to return , it will be a breath of fresh air , after
celebrity this and celebrity that .
The ´óÏó´«Ã½ have certainly dumbed down
over recent years and they need to concentrate on what they do best, and thats informing and educating.

Please bring it back, for the sake of the nation.

It was something that gives teenagers and adults a genuine interest in science and technology. Something that we desparately need as take up of science in schools has dived scince it was axed.

This is exactly what the ´óÏó´«Ã½ should be doing with our licence fee, informative and entertaining programmes, not wasting it on poorly thought out "commercial ventures" such as ´óÏó´«Ã½ Jam.

I echo what people have said about TW being a catalyst for their own careers or interest in Technolgy. TW is in some way responsible for the diversity and innovation we saw in Britain since the 70's.

In a world where "the sciences" are shrinking in education as people opt for softer options a program like TW will likely allow people to become interested in science as a career.

Britain needs to be able to assert itslef as a leader in something on the world stage, America is falling behind fast and we need to stave of the Chinese and India from taking what little Britain has left of innovation and new technologies.

Well done TW and yes, lets have it (or something like it) back - please!

It is an excellent idea to bring a new inventions programme back to ´óÏó´«Ã½1. TW was a good programme but had got a bit stale in that format. If it could be brought back with a Click online type of presentation that would be excellent. If we are not told about it how can we learn the benefits

My Father appeared twice on Tomorrow's World in the 70's and 80's.

It has always been my ambition to follow in his footsteps! I am an inventor. I had better come up with a really brilliant invention and beat the competition to feature on the show.

My father, Dr J.A.Jones made fuel logs and loft insulation out of waste paper. He also developed cork which could be scattered onto oil slicks at sea. The cork soaked up the oil before the birds and fish did, and you could squeeze the oil out back out of the cork!

I would be one wishing for this programme to return.

However I would be more inclined for the "Tomorrow's World Tour/Roadshow" to return.

I remember them vividly, Earls Court was a fabulous time. I would visit inventors and inventions every year. Many products that I am still using today.

Nostalgic, but I would love that to return, there has been nothing like that ever since the brand was stopped.

Does anyone know the title of the Tomorrows World theme music?

I liked tommorows world ( of early 80s episodes ) because of the mysterious but dancy sounding theme music which always put you in the mood for anticipating somthing akin to an area51 style revelation about the world ... later on, like most tv, it got dumbed down and crap. The one downside was the lack of younger female presenters, althouh it doesnt need thick ones with a limited grasp of english grammer as usually seen in english soap operas. Maybe im biased because the 80s were my teen years, but bring the 80s format back !

Bring TW back?.....Yes please, it was one of a kind then, and done well it still can be.

Not only bring it back but give it to the hamster to present.Oh what a joy to behold given an inventive (ha- uh!)producer.

Bring it back to TV – it’s not all about MP3 players or G3 phones – there’s science, medicine, space, the future – no, we don’t need a nanny Tomorrows World (well, I don’t, you may not, but perhaps there are others out there that really struggle with all this….) – we do need a TW that brings us the latest and the future in a digestible format

Bring it back! I loved that show as a young boy, and would watch it now!

I would love to see a series of compilations of the many years of tomorrows world, comparing what they predicted and where we are now...

It would be great to see Tomorrows World back - but please let it be presented by people with some technical understanding (like Raymond Baxter had) and not just journalist presenters.

Some time around 1990 I read an article in Radio Times about how the four (sic) flagship TV science/technology programs now all had female editors, and whether that would make a difference to the coverage. Well, I've no idea if their gender was relevant, but Antenna (remember that?) vanished soon after, and QED and TW somewhat later. The name of Horizon lingers on, but is now attached to a program which covers either crank theories or disaster scenarios, or preferably both at once, and has little to do with real science.

I became a scientist partly due to the coverage of science and technology on TV and radio in the 70s. Perhaps it isn't surprising that so few people want to study science any more since essentially none of that remains - I think the only program covering science without any dumbing down is In Our Time on Radio 4, and I doubt that many teenagers (or indeed adults) even know it exists.

I live in hope that the ´óÏó´«Ã½ will one day rediscover the idea of making programs about serious subjects that don't treat the audience as idiots, but I'm not holding my breath.

Yes!

We're going through a revolution. As world and life changing as the industrial revolution. Seems like a good enough time to bring back a programme focused on science technology and the future to me.

Be silly not too really.

The cancelling of Tomorrow's World, like that of Top of the Pops, was a product of ´óÏó´«Ã½ television producers putting their own egos in front of what they should have been doing which is to be the public service broadcaster of "record" and to stimulate debate. The lack of TW and the existence of "Brainiac" on Sky as the only 'mainstream' popular science programme should be something the ´óÏó´«Ã½ should be ashamed off, especially when they owned the flagship programme of the genre (cf: the cancelling of the original Top Gear. At least there they learned from their mistakes).

And as for the arguement that technology news is all the better by being integrated with mainsteam news, ´óÏó´«Ã½ technology reporting seems to be led not by genuine journalism, but by whoever has the best press release out that particular day.

TW ... Those were the good old days! Bring it back. However, the Beeb must not follow the same format as current factual programming, e.g. filling in with repetition, stupid music etc.. The programme needs to be factual, concise but importantly, explain the detail to the public and the scientific community as a whole.

A balance would also need to be struck between, medicine, engineering, computing and the physical sciences (chemistry and physics in particular).

p.s. You've got your 'out of office' reply on, and it's replying to all of these posts.

Cheers
Ben

Well, everyone wants it back in its serious adult form (including me), therefore I don't expect to see it back any time soon :(

'Tomorrow's World' says it all, whichever era we are, whatever age you are. Succinct, unambiguous,it can't be bettered as a title. We're always being told 'keep it short' how much shorter does it need to be?. As for its content,in the past it was marvellous,there's no reason why it shouldn't be again. Ingé

I remember Tomorrow's World showing us the DVD player and the SKy+ Tv box which has recently hit the shops.

I think it is definately worth bringing back in the full. It's a good way for people to keep up to date with the modern world of technology. Not everyone does keep up to date with new developments and Tomorrow's World was always very interesting to watch.

Tomorrow's World was a great show. It had a great influence over me, I used to enjoy the electronics & technology. This eventually influenced my career. I'm now a Software Developer. The ´óÏó´«Ã½ has the opportunity to not only entertain but educate. The influence of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ created the ´óÏó´«Ã½ micro computer, and helped to spawn a large industry in the UK. The future of the economy with rely not on manufacturing, but will rely on our intellectual property. With interest in Science & Technology waning I think it's a great opportunity for the ´óÏó´«Ã½ to step forward and help the nation once more. Bring back Tomorrow's World.

"to young to remember" - I'm old enough to be able to write basic English!

I was just saying the other day that tomorrow's world should be brought back. I think anything that helps people to get more into science is a good thing, especially when we are facing climate change and need people to understand the implications. Tomorrow's world should definitely be brought back, along with how 2.

would love to see tm return to our screens. big fan of the mad inventions, errors that went on. much better than brianic on sky3, which my kids love. as a science teacher i can see a market.
yours d fernley

As a PhD student, I would very much like to see TW, with meaningful presentations of real news and issues in science.

I really want something like Tomorrow's world to come back, and even more than that, I'd like to be a part it, in front of the camera, presenting. My degree is mechanical engineering but even before University I've had a dream and a passion for presenting and would love the opportunity to combine the two.

If anyone involved in the making of any such programmes is reading this, please, i strongly urge you, contact me.

Many thanks.

Alistair

Playschool used to have better science/technology than is mostly shown on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ now. They used to go 'through the round/square/arch/triangle window' and show the inside of a milk bottling plant, or car factory, or some such thing.
So bring back tomorrow's world by all means, but show some of today's world as well! So many 'everyday' things in today's world are not understood or appreciated by most people.

Great idea!
As a yougster, used to watch TW while awaiting start up of'Top of the Pops' and then got hooked. A most interesting and informative programme.
By all means please bring it back especially on the net for the world to share.

I unfortunately never had the chance to see TW, but I suspect that these days it might be difficult to produce a program on cutting-edge science and technology, because no one that's doing the research wants anybody to know about it because they plan to patent it. This includes universities, which are selling off large chunks of knowledge, gained through research using public funds, to the highest bidder. Ayn Rand would be proud.

Tomorrow's World should definitely return. It made science and technology accessible to all kinds of people across all age ranges.

Perhaps the ´óÏó´«Ã½ should consider programming to people with intelligence instead of catering for the lowest common denominator? (Strictly Come Dancing for instance!)
:)

Craig (#32): we all read the same blog, of which the opening words of the second-to-last paragraph were:
"For those of you who remember Tomorrow's World, do you think the programme should be brought back?"

Note: "the programme".

Yes we do need such a programme, and with all the dross being used to fill the multiplicity of channels that 'the world of tomorrow' has given us (itself unimaginable at the time the programme was axed), surely there's room somewhere?

But perhaps not on the ´óÏó´«Ã½, which managed to let slip through its fingers one of the best science broadcasts available anywhere at the moment - the hundred-year-old Christmas Lectures from the Royal Institution.

I'm in my early forties. When I was in my single digit years the ´óÏó´«Ã½ put on an entire evening of ´óÏó´«Ã½1 devoted to quarks and quantum chromo-dynamics. "The Key To The Universe" - It was even on the cover of the Radio Times that week. This programme was hosted by some of the Tomorrow's World regulars and I loved every minute of it. It has stuck in my memory all this time because it was RELEVANT and has given me a lust for more knowledge all through my life. I wonder if the ´óÏó´«Ã½ still has the courage and inspiration to treat all viewers as compus mentis. I dare them to try something like that again rather than sell out to 'ratings'.

Q

Tomorrows World should make a return, I miss it, there is no other show that is quite like it. As alot of other people have said here it was one of the few shows I enjoyed as a child which was related to 'grown up' topics! It got me interested in what was going on in the world, and it was a must watch! Please bring it back!

Definitely bring back Tomorrow's World. With so few students reading engineering subjects at university, we need programmes like this to inspire new generations of engineers. And, don't dumb it down too much - the original shows actually made you think. Spoon feeding of over simplified information does not make you do that!

What a blast from the past. I would definatly watch it again this time with my 7 year old as my parents did with us. Things change so quickly, it would be great to keep up with all the modern technologies.

Bring it back

Great idea!
As a young student, used to watch 'TW' while awaiting start up of 'Top of the Pops' and then got hooked. A most interesting and informative programme.
By all means please bring it back especially on the net for the world to share.

Tomorrow's world was an inspiration to me as a kid. Anything that encourages people to think about how technology will shape their future, and debate the role and extent of that technology, has to be a good thing.

You can't change the past, the present doesn't exist, the future is the only thing worth thinking about.

Given the fact that the UK will soon be at the bottom of the pile in terms of inspiring new science / tech graduates and amassing an insane amount of media muppets - a show like TW (in the right format i.e. not too dumbed down, no weird camera angles, content which the general public can associate with etc..) then this would be a great step to bring back the interest to the younger generations. If the Discovey Channel can manage this, why can't the well funded ´óÏó´«Ã½????

There should be a regular slot on ´óÏó´«Ã½ news programmes for science and technology news. Look at the time that is devoted to Business news. On both the TV news and radio there is half an hour of Business concurrently each day. The Stock market figures are quoted each day without any explanation of their meaning to the audience. It is clear from the excellent ´óÏó´«Ã½ news web pages that there is plenty of Science and Technology news to fill a regular slot in news programmes such as Today and PM and the Six and Ten O'Clock News.

I don't think it'd be a half bad idea to bring TW back. Just in the last few years alone it feels like science, environment, rapid growth in portable technology, genetics, etc, have hurtled up the agenda.

TW didn't just do technology. I remember seeing items about farming practices in the early 80s with that nice Judith Han and Michael Rod, for instance. And farming - or pharming - is fascinating.

Why not add a few ethical science issues in to a new TW, too? Such as the whole Ashley X miniaturisation issue - backed up by doctors but hated by many disabled people.

Fact and comment shows have rather merged in the last few years to the point where getting solid hard facts is now not so easy on network television. A polarisation of comment and fact perhaps needs to happen now. Lets have some darn fine fact / analysis shows back on air.

TW should never have been axed in the first place. Let's have it back.

Tomorrow’s World does make sense, a common thread, but you need to remember for most people technology is just a facilitator for life, work, leisure and pleasure. IVF for some is a miracle, what matters most the science behind it or the end product. It’s not the science that matters it’s what achieve with it.

The ´óÏó´«Ã½ shouldn't pussyfoot around, watering down the name, but should relaunch the brand properly with pride. Okay people slipped away in terms of viewing figures but there's an opportunity here to create a high quality 'future-centred' programme which has no noticable competition. Why spend money and time launching several titbits which spread funding and focus thinly rather than giving it the time and energy it deserves. Do it properly people will come.

YES! Bring back Tomorrow's World. It was an excellent programme, funny at times with some of the items they showcased.

With technology making leaps and bounds into the 21st century, the time is right to bring the programme back to where it belongs.

Growing up, being allowed to watch Tomorrow's World was one of the few arguements my father won, he was an engineer, his opponent was my mother and trust me she was scary...still is.

Tomorrow's world was an amazing programme, we sat up and watched with our father. Asking questions and wanting to replicate what they were doing.

There is nothing that quite replaces it. I appear to be breeding a mad scientist (Trisatan who is 8), I really miss this sort of programme...

I would welcome a programme along the lines of the original Tomorrows World. I think Science and Technology receive very poor exposure on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ and on all other boadcasting channels.
However I wonder why the comment is made that we are bringing back the 'BRAND' If this only means some dumbed down programme on technology/science then earlier comments are fully applicable.
Yes bring back the title but make sure the programme is educational as well as forward looking.
It will be judged in comparison with its namesake and if it is not up to standard then you will very soon hear about it.

I thought Tomorrows World had already been brought back but it is now called 'Click' (formerly 'Click on line').

This programme from ´óÏó´«Ã½ News 24 seems to cover many of the topics that Tomorrow's World presented.

Yes, by all means bring back TW subject to the provisos made by Kevin Urben. And make sure it's on terrestrial TV. Those people up with the latest gadgets and tracking technological developments on the web surely aren't the target audience.

Tomorrow's World during the 80's and 90's is one of the reasons why I'm doing a PhD in Physics!

It's axe has this generation AFRAID and UNWILLING to engage in science! Physics departments are closing and people are flocking to the evils of Business and such!

Revive the education of science by bring Tomorrow's World back to our screens!

Yes,
Please do bring it back. I remember that show as being easy watching, entertaining and informative.

Bring it back before another channel fills the void, thats my advice.

im nearly 22 now and i still remember TW as a kid, it really made me aware that there was more to computers than the PC sat in my house or the sega system under the telly.

Im going into IT now as a graduate but i have to admit im no longer able to find good quality science/technology shows on TV. Brainiac does cover the science part and myth busters is also good at general physic type situations but who is going to tell me about broadband years before it becomes main stream in a way that i could understand?? This was the skill of TW and id gladly pay my license fee for it alone if it was done properly.

I would be a huge fan of bringing back a series like the one described by the people above.

"...to young to remember...?"

No, too old to miss the error.

Yes, bring back Tomorrow's World perhaps covering a different theme in each program rather than the general approach TW had. And not necessarily looking at technological solutions but social, government, diplomatic, resource problems & solutions in the future. Themes could be future internet, future developed & developing world education, transport, international relations, conflicts over oil, water &/or religion, threat of nuclear war, world economic development trends, space travel, medicine etc - There are enough themes for one a week for a year - repeated with updates each year. The tone should not be current media led doom & gloom about current hobby horses - global warming, terrorism etc - but should be measured & honest with no general message or conclusion just the views, ideas, plans & predictions of experts & for contrast the man in the street in each of the fields. The time frame should be trying to predict the world between 20 to 60 years in the future - ie the world most people watching will go on to be involved in experiencing, creating & changing. I work as a software developer & I know that it was the excitement about the future that Tomorrow's world propagated that inspired me to enjoy & be attracted to this line of work - & I thank TW - plus the space race to the moon & a few other things for that. I am already looking forward to TW's return - oh! I just remembered there are no ´óÏó´«Ã½ plans for it's return! Come on ´óÏó´«Ã½ some non dumb down agenda driven ´óÏó´«Ã½ content that tells us something we don't already know could be such fun & informative to watch!

Of course "TW" should be brought back and it would be successful. The popularity of programs like "Click" around the world proves the need for quality programs of this ilk, that the Beeb can do so well.

The ´óÏó´«Ã½ has a duty to educate, inform and entertain. Tomorrow's World ticks all the boxes in my opinion so fits the bill wholeheartedly. It is more essential than ever that we're made aware of the advances in technology and science in a fast paced world.

Please bring back the show.

Tomorrows World used to stimulate all ages, to try and out think the developers of the technology seen on such an interesting program, and in fact led to many future British Developments, it also provided a valuable showcase for British Industry.

There were so many great inventions shown on TW, I remember the Compact Disc, DVD, the Transputer, holographic data storage.

One of my favourites; a TV being dunked into a tank of clear liquid whilst it was on (it did continue to operate!) Anyone remember the keyboard with PCM sampling, a dog barking to a tune !?!

Seriously, though, I stopped watching TW because it became dumbed down to the extent of being painful to watch.

This is a common pattern in broadcasting as a whole - just there to entertain rather than educate, why can't it do both?

Dumbed down programming is why I don't watch Click, the Gadget Show or Brainiac. Those programmes require I remove my brain before watching...

Bring back TW, but please make sure it isn't like Horizon, Equinox et al.

Everyone wants a change for the better in media. Nobody wants this nonsense like Horizon where they keep repeating the same point every five minutes because a committee felt that this would improve ratings.

Here is the thing: committees make these decisions; a lot of people with little talent who thereby control what those who do have talent are allowed to produce. They assume, despite their own stupidity, that everyone else is more stupid than they are, and thus require of programme makers that what is produced is actually more dumb than the committee could actually handle. And because these committees are probably peopled by youngish graduates the problem gets worse and worse (because the standard of literacy among graduates is dropping.)

Committees are good at running countries, but terrible at producing art and/or media. What is needed are truly talented and charismatic figures who are allowed to work without being trammelled by the mediocre. Until this is set in place there is no point even considering the possiblity of making a good programme.

All very good. But, and this is a very big but, I hope this doesn't signal the death knell for Click.

I really enjoy it, and I'm sure there's many others who like it too.

Yes, please bring back 'Tomorrow's World', however change the styling to something similar to the styling of Top Gear. It needs to be exciting and dramatic. It should also feature technologies dealing with climate change (i.e. renewable energy), and real cutting-edge research, not just pie-in-the-sky stuff. It should look at what university researchers are up to. There is so much happening out there, I can't believe there isn't a show like it on tv at the moment.

I agree with the many comments here.

Resurrect Tomorrow's World!

I think Tomorrows World is perhaps more relevant toady than it was when it was axed.

The rate at which technology advances is continuing apace and the public's interest in developments is rapidly increasing.

Who thinks that a new "Tomorrows World" would be great if it were presented by the current Top Gear team who could road test new gadgets..?

Clarkson raving on about the latest telly technology..Hammond trying to break the latest mucic format and May remeniscing about when 78s were all the vogue!

I hope you are taking note ´óÏó´«Ã½: over 100 posts in less than 4 hours mostly requesting you bring back Tomorrows World - as it used to be 15 years ago. I agree with all these people who like me are not watching Saturday night TV but are sufficiently interested to put fingers to keyboard to let you know how much we miss Tomorrows World. It was certainly my inspiration to get a technology based career. Shame you dumbed it down and killed it.

Seems like there's a lot of support for bringing TW back to our screens! It was a great programme in it's day and I think we need it now more than ever. How about an online poll?

I grew up watching TW and it taught me so much about technology and science, even helping me with my studies.

Nowadays, TV is awash with 'Consumer Electronics' programmes, that only deal with showing you shiny things you can never afford. TW represented an accessible medium for families to learn about scientific development.

Please bring the show back!

I can't wait to see the new series of Tomorrows World. I have been watching it since I was about three years old and really miss a solid factual program without any adverts (sorry discovery channel).
Well done ´óÏó´«Ã½, I hope you reserect the theme tune as well.

Tomorrow's World should definitely be brought back. I believe that its degree of accessibility was unrivalled. And still, there exists absolutely no match for it today.

Yes Yes Yes I think it was a really important program, previews of what is coming up is very interesting, and also helps us slightly older techie's not to look to blank when walking into shops etc when new products come out, also I live in New Zealand and hopfully when you have finished watching it, you will send it over to us in the new world

Ruth Tahana-Wood

it was only the other day when i was watching the television and pondering on the idea about whether the ´óÏó´«Ã½ would bring back 'Tomorrow's World'.
I am an 18 year old student who much prefers informative and intellectual programmes as opposed to the reality tv so called entertainment..
I loved tomorrows world.....i always remember being little in front of the fire and being fascinated bu what philippa forester and peter snow had to say.
Bring back Tomorrows World- The Programme!!!!!!

Wahey!

Well done ´óÏó´«Ã½ for deciding to bring TW back!

Bring it back.. please.

The earlier series of Tomorrows World use to be excellent for stimulating interest in scientific developments and new ideas. Part of that interest was to do with the good presenters and the good level of scientific detail which they tried to include in their explanations.

The later series was very weak on explanation and detail and failed to the amazement that comes from beginning to understand the wonder of the inventions and ideas.

I remember TW as a fascinating insight into concepts and inventions that somehow never materialised in the shops. I'm still waiting for the robot that cleans your house. But bring the programme back all the same!

I remember Tomorrows World particulaly when the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Engineering dept gave informed comment. It did raise interest in Science and new techniques. I will look forward to the first edition particulaly the garden shed inventers.

Ok let me get this straight....

Once upon a time ´óÏó´«Ã½ had an excellent show that we all remember well. Tomorrows World.

Short sighted, IQ deprived executives decided to axe the show to concentrate on shows for the intellectually challenged (ie pretty much all the dross on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ right now)

Realising the opinion that anyone with either an IQ over room temperature, a modicum of taste or even just the ability to turn off a TV, now have of the average ´óÏó´«Ã½ content they decided to bring back the name "Tomorrows World" but not as the original show, since there is probably no longer the ability within the ´óÏó´«Ã½ to make quality pogramming, they just intend to use it as a catch all umbrella for a new series of dross in the name of "sceince" that wouldn't challenge an 8 year old.

Well isn't that a surprise!!

I count myself lucky that I am no longer in a position to receive the bbc nor to have to pay for a TV license...

I doubt the ´óÏó´«Ã½ will get any more money out of me - on the other hand if the remaining tom Baker Dr Whos are released on DVD this would be another matter..

Simon

Bring back Tomorrow's World? Definitely. I and many friends I know had enjoied the programme enormously. I certainly have retained an interest in matters relating to science throughout my adult life because of TV programmes like Tomorrow's World.

These days when we haer so much about the low interest in science subjects in school and colleages we should once again have such a TV programme to stimulate the young minds.

Did anyone who posted comments actually read this article?! This isn't about bringing back the programme itself, it's about using "Tomorrow's World" as a branding for technology across the ´óÏó´«Ã½; both on TV and online.

I think it's a good idea because, as you can see from above, it's a name lots of people are familiar with and have an attachment too.

Free science has been killed in the UK by the spin-doctors in search of short-term income, so a new TW is unlikely to be anything better than propaganda on behalf of an America multinational. Let it rest in peace.

TW always had a broad approach to technology. 'Click' is rather more 'computer/Internet' geared. It is very good but we also DO need a programme that covers the wider tech. issues such as new materials, energy sources and general conservation. Any future success will depend upon some really exciting presenters. Let it come soon !

A lot of interesting research is going on in UK universities. Some of this work may become technology in our homes or working lives within the next few years. But where does the average person find out about these exciting new developments today?

Bringing back Tomorrow's World sounds a good idea to me.

There is a dire need for a technology program that discusses the latest gadgets, and industry news, but does not aim at the lowest common denominator.

I am sorry but I personally find Click massively patronising and would love to see the ´óÏó´«Ã½ produce something that is aimed a bit higher.

The Canadian Discovery Channel runs a programme called 'Daily Planet' five times a week at 7pm, repeated at 11pm. It is a slightly updated version of Tomorrow's World and in my view works very well. I try to watch it as often as I can. If you haven't already seen the programme, have a look, it shows that the concept still works well today.

Reg Harford

News articles everywhere about poor attainment in science. Children aspiring to be "TV stars" rather than to have meaningful careers. Government trying to figure out how to make children learn basic maths and science.

A ´óÏó´«Ã½ that produces little real science or technology programming in prime time.

America going back to the moon. China following them. Nanotechnology starting. Genetic and tissue engineering flowering. Information technologies everywhere.

We need a modern, meaningful Tomorrows World, as well as more hard-edge material in Horizon. Please bring it back and blow away the rubbish of reality and celebrity TV we're drowning in.

Of course TW should be brought back as a show - it was one of the only decent things worth watching on the telly!

Tomorrow's world was a fantastic programme (although it was on at a bad time). It's departure left a hole in the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s coverage; I really hope that some replacement can fill that hole.

I for one think it's GREEEEAAAAAT that it's coming back 2 our screens!

However, it should be more up 2 d8 with more gadnets n stuff.

PLEASE BRING BACK TOMORROW'S WORLD !

The overwhelming response to this suggestion is positive - but it is also interesting to see the reaction against the dumbing-down of other science series such as Horizon. Perhaps this indicates that there is a different levels to aim at. Please move away from the 'docudrama' trend. There is a desire both for a programme such as Tomorrow's World which, at it's best, explained new technology, and for an equivalent to the 'old' Horizon to be able to tackle an individual scientific subject in depth, without being condescending, or assuming that most people have no attention span.

Come on ´óÏó´«Ã½ - there are lots of scientifically literate folk out here who can help you - use us!

Please bring back Tomorrows World!

The technology editor asked us: '...has technology stepped out of an imposed ghetto and now deserves integration with the rest of news coverage?' and I would have to answer him in the positive.

Tommorrow's World was an excellent production during it's lifetime, but the half hour spent gawping at conceptions of the future would not have the same effect on today's generation. Members of the public are becoming increasingly exposed to new forms of media such as the internet that allows them to access information on ground-breaking (and sometimes ultimately useless yet shiney looking)technologies faster than any scheduled television programme can deliver.

hey at only 17 i rember 2moro's world it was quite gd from what i remember was it that adam hart or somefin neways it shud or sumfin similar shud b on our tv's it wont b no big bruva bt i mite watch a few episodes even if u did a speshal last episode or sumfin (shudnt cost 2 much)

Tomorrows World was a program that I grew up with, and like many of the other posters grew away from. It changed, got lazy and then lost it's focus. Like one of the other posters I have fond memories of the TV in clear liquid, and the foam that expanded when you pulled it.

I'm all for bringing TW back, but it's a program, not a brand. Not everything has to be a brand these days.

Indeed, bring the program back. Possible one of the most fascinating programs made. Make sure Peter comes back too!

Tomorrows world should definitely be brought back and should focus more on science that will change our lives like Gene therapy and Stem Cell research rather than the latest gadgets or household products of the future.
BTW did TW ever predict MP3 players??

I think that TW should make a return, but show us the leading edge of technology, like it did in its early days. I know some of it never made it into our lives, but it still set out to inspire and amaze us.

I too remember earlier TW as "a fascinating insight into concepts and inventions that somehow never materialised". I also remember the later programmes that were simply "here's another computer". Not the programme's or presenters' fault, just the way technology has progressed.

I think a weekly programme of many snippets would struggle to come up with enough meaningful material to hold interest. It may indeed be better to use the 'brand' as a cover for more in-depth coverage of individual topics, as and when appropriate.

I was disappointed when the ´óÏó´«Ã½ axed Tomorrow's World as it provided me with excitement and inspiration about the future when I was growing up. It was down to programmes like Tomorrow's World that I now work with the latest technology as part of my job.

It would be amazing to see Tomorrow's World return to our screens again!

Today, I find that there's too much jargon being used in business and technology, where the assumption that people should already know certain aspects tends to put them off.

Tomorrow's World was presented in a format that was easily digestible, jargon free and aimed at all ages.

If it were to be presented by hosts from different age generations it would be easier for the viewing public to relate to.

This has all the overtones of the (brief) return of Jackanory. The initial announcement promised much, then the detail turned out to be a hopelessly inadequate exercise.
Why is the ´óÏó´«Ã½ messing with some of its oldest and most venerated brands, especially in these days of harsh competition for a shrinking viewer base?

You'd think, given the pace of change these days, that 'Tomorrows World' as a programme is more vital than ever.
OK, the technology reports on News 24 are useful, but if they were turned into an extension of the original programme, allowing space to cover the bigger and longer-term stories in the core programme, that would work so much better.

Brilliant idea. Bring it back. It was great at getting us ready for new things coming on our shelves and it pinted out how inferior CDs are now compaired to how they were intended to be when first made. Remember spreading them with jam and scratching it with a six inch nail and it still played as good as new. Now it just takes a finger print and it's stuffed.

Tomorrows World rocks.

Bring back Maggie Philbin

Please, please, please bring back tomorrow's world. It was an excellent programme and there's even more going on in the world on technology than there was back then so there's no shortage of material.

Even if it doesn't get brought back, how about a programme that looks back at the show's many predictions and we see which ones were hits and which ones were flops. Even this would make interesting viewing.

AS someone who remembers TW first
time round I think it should definitely be brought back. Not everyone can watch Click and it is a short programme slotted in News 24. More info on new technology will liven up the screen and make a change from hospitals and soaps.

I want to echo what Kevin Urben said in post #16 above.

Please, bring it back.

Don't let the "we're too stupid to understand this so we'll have lots of inappropriate graphics" crew who murdered Horizon get involved.

And maybe even the Royal Institution lectures to go along with it?

But no, we'll get Big Love Survivor or some such trash.

regards,
/alan

"Steve Brereton wrote:
This has all the overtones of the (brief) return of Jackanory. The initial announcement promised much, then the detail turned out to be a hopelessly inadequate exercise."

Errr...Jackanory is coming back in a least two versions, one on C´óÏó´«Ã½ and a "junior" version on CBeebies so it's far from a flop!

Bring back TW, but in an updated format, I say!

Yes, we all laughed at some of the ridiculous ideas, like the robots and different fads that TW said would be commonplace today, but it was like many programs in those days.... It tried to guess what the future would hold (And got it right on several occasions). That sort of thing in those days made fantastic entertainment and was the epitome of the sort of programming that only the ´óÏó´«Ã½ could get away with airing. Whether it would be appropriate in this day and age would remain to be be seen. If the politically correct age could stomach it, then I think that some sort of comeback could be launched.... even if it only ended up on some satellite-only documentary channel.

I haven't had the opportunity to watch TW. However it sounds to me like the kind of approach to technology issues that is so much needed in the mass media. In a world where we tend so easily to forget that the purpose of technology is making our life more comfortable (and not the opposite!) in an easy way, TW will be certainly a plus. Technology goes from a simply pen to a space shuttle, understanding both should be accesible to everyone.

Bring back Tomorrow's World. Put a vote on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ web page and see what the response is!
I don't know who you will get to fill Philippa Forrester's place though - she was one of the reasons I used to watch!

I used to watch Tomorrow's World faithfully -- one of the best programmes ever!!!
Nowdays science has so much impact on our lives -- and it's getting politicized. Look how the Americans are trying to deny global warming and evolution.
The public NEEDS to understand how science works so they aren't taken in by demagogues. A popular programme like "Tomorrow's World" is worth its weight in Au (gold).
And besides all that, "Tomorrow's World" was just plain enjoyable.
I don't actually like the idea of using the logo and name for little news bites. If the logo and name have that much appeal, BRING BACK THE WHOLE PROGRAMME!!!!

Bring it back. And not as Celebrity Tomorrows World. So many 'normal' people really miss it.

What's in a name ? Call it Tomorrow's World, QED, Horizon, Science Now, Medicine Now, e.t.c. What we should yearn for is the intelligent quality content the ´óÏó´«Ã½ used to produce - not the trend for trivia and "pop science" that the ´óÏó´«Ã½ gave into years ago. As a public service broadcaster be brave enough to educate, not just entertain. I am sure many would applaud such a change.

I think a show like tomorrows world should be on tv the uk is getting just like america, meaningless unfunny boring tv. so do people a favor and start making something worth watching.

Given that this is the ´óÏó´«Ã½ site i think the best thing they can do is take the viewers posts here into consideration. Supply and demand..

The demand is obviously here and as many of you have stated the technology programmes today are dumbed down, but this reflects the time it was aired. Bringing back the show i believe will boost ratings.. i for one would definately tune in.. considering that i havent watched the tube in nearly 2 years (aside from the odd xmas special of the vicar of dibley) because of the content.

Reality tv shows, celebrity reality tv shows, diy makeover shows, chat-shows.. please.. the only thing informative is the news (and that can be got online or in the newspaper).

back to my initial point.. if they have any sense they would consider putting it back on the air..

As a technologist, of course I want Tomorrows World brought back. But to convince a TV station that it would sell - that takes more than a feeling. It needs numbers.

Well, here are a few numbers the ´óÏó´«Ã½ might want to chew on. Slashdot - probably the premiere geek news source - has over a hundred thousand regulars and the mere mention of a major event on that site routinely brings down entire networks as the readers dive in. Others have tried the same for non-science/technology news yet none have come remotely close. Why? Because science/tech - when presented well - sells.

Any other examples of sci/tech fetish amongst viewers and readers? Well, March of the Penguins did rather better than OK, and whilst Sky at Night is unlikely to ever be the most popular series in Britain, the audience it commands has been loyal and dedicated. Even with Blue Peter, people remember the stuff that is made. Nor is it any coincidence that Doctor Who and Star Trek fascinate so many people precisely because of the technobabble and gadgetry.

It is time to face the facts. The British are born geeks. We thrive on science and technology. We eat, drink and breath ideas. Leave the bread and circuses to the Romans, much good it did them. It's time to stop telling the British what habits they should have, and plug straight into the psyche instead.

If you're worried about ratings, then why feed junk programs that'll give the viewer indigestion? Give the mind the nutrition it really wants and you'll have all the ratings you want for life.

Fantastic,bring it back I used to watch this years ago in black & white .It was predicted then we would be able to hang flat tv's on our walls,I am a woman of 71 I have my lcd on the wall and I make my own cd's and watch films from pc to tv,I love technology even though it can be frustrating at times,so bring it on I want to learn more.
Vi.

Everything is driven by "brand" and profit margins these days.

Bringing back TW properly will prove that the ´óÏó´«Ã½ is not just a vehicle for wasting licence money on house buying shows, antique shows, reality TV and repeats.

Yes, bring back Tomorrow's World! Technology is such a massive part of our world and lives now, I feel the ´óÏó´«Ã½ doesn't have enough coverage of current and future technology.

I'm old enough to remember the Raymond Baxter years, and remained interested enough to watch through the Maggie Philbin years. During Raymond Baxter's time it just seemed more 'out there' (but maybe that's because I was younger). Anyway - it should definitely come back. It was the perfect way to stay up to date - and it didn't dumb down too much (a little is necessary). I follow Digital Planet, as the previous correspondent mentioned, but not all technology is digital. BRING BACK TOMORROW'S WORLD. (Please?) (P.S. - just watched the TW article about Kraftwerk on YouTube - Brilliant!)

"there is NO plan to bring back the programme itself" Well there ought to be instead of this dumbed down dross that we are expected to pay for through our TV licences.

Even if it's just a blog / web-page, it should be a condition of using the title that the original John Dankworth theme tune plays whenever you open the page. Dankworth points out that it was only after the theme tune changed that the show got cancelled.

Loved it - bring it back!

I grew up in Malaysia and came to the UK at 18 to attend university. I remember watching Tomorrow's World during my school days in Malaysia and it was the one show that my parents actively encouraged us to watch.
Please bring it back! It just might encourage the younger generation to be interested in science once again.

Yes, I would like a topical technology program on the lines of "Tomorrow's World". Not science-oriented, but on technology arriving in the next 5 years or so, with a look ahead at longer but far-reaching ideas, like nanotechnology, drugs that link with the immune system, and occasionally a look at what microprocessor-based things might be coming in 10 years' time.

Tomorrows world would be a good program to bring back and I think it would be popular. It needs a good enthusiastic presenter who can explain without dumbing down and without the need for stupid and pointless graphics. The ´óÏó´«Ã½ can produce good science programs (witness David Attenborough's series) - but I think that is because David faces down any attempt by the production team to dumb down or use stupid camera angles etc. Maybe Paxman should present it - at least he will get to the point. There is a lot of interesting and good science out there which should be aired, its a shame Horizon seems to have been taken over by morons - maybe the ´óÏó´«Ã½ could address this as well...

I just saw the link & it invokes good memories for me from my early days.The whole family sat and watched TW in amazment in the late seventies,
This and the News were never missed.

TW was a window on the future which lay ahead. It was forward thinking from the ´óÏó´«Ã½ I hope they do it justice.

This one programme inspired me from an early age to look at Technology in the early 80's our school had a suite of "Commodore Pet 8032's" 1Mhz PC with 32K of Ram. On which we typed lines of code to play Space Invaders on a "Green Screen", This took a long time as then we had to debug the errors.

How things have changed, I look forward to TW return

A 39
Tahir / West Sussex

As a Scientist I would say that the ´óÏó´«Ã½ is total failure where science is concerned. Programmes about furry animals being rescued in Africa are fine but they seem to have replaced real science. I mean, just take the week ahead as an example. The only science programmes I can see all week on ´óÏó´«Ã½ 1 and 2 are the Sky At Night and two repeats of Horizon (one of which is about furry animals!). So in the whole week you have 20 minutes of new science programmes (the Sky At Night). Of all your programmes on ´óÏó´«Ã½ 1 and 2 next week, new science programmes make up just 0.2 % of the schedule.

So I would say yes, bring back tomorrows world (even though you have no intention of doing so) and if you make it an hour long, you can drive the level of new science programmes up to a wonderful 0.8% of the schedule!

I think that 'Tomorrow's World' should be brought back as it was originally, which was broadcast live. It loses its magic if recorded so if you are going to record it - forget it.

I stopped watching T.W. when all the medical innovations came on. Like most men, I'm a gadgets bloke.

How about a gadget programme for boys and a separate health/medical one for girlies?
As it was, both stopped watching T.W..

TW inspired me and my generation (now 40 somethings!) to have careers in science and technology.

Has anyione considered the link between the dumbing down and canceling of TW and the decline of applications to science courses at university? As other posters have noted there is nothiing to inspire young people anymore.

The "Tomorrow's World" name may sound dated to some but it still has brand loyalty (as marketing types like to say). Even if it's not called TW, a similar programme would be very welcome and ideally it would be made by people who are interested in the topics being presented. Most current programmes seem to be made by producers and directors who are so bored by science, they feel they have to sit scientists in front of moodily-lit laboratories and move the cameras around the presenter/interviewee to provide some "visual excitement". Some enthusiasm and confidence in this area would be most welcome.

I used to enjoy watching Tomorrows World immensly. In fact I think it was quite possibly the best programme ever. The only extra it needs is a time machine.

It was only a few weeks ago I mentioned to a friend that Tomorrows World would do really well if it was on the telly again.

From what I can see this blog entry has been on for 5 hours and got 156 comments! If thats not a clue then I don't know what is.

Here is an idea, Have a network production centre in Nations and Regions make the programme!

Oh yes please, just so I can see all the inventions and ideas that never really take off!

And definately not the dumbed down version of the programme's latter years. But who could ever replace Raymond Baxter?

Bring it back. It will make a refreshing change to all the celebrity reality shows that seem to dominate our TV's at the moment.

I’m still spreading jam on my CD today. Works a treat. Seriously, I’m sure that if it was launched again it would draw in the ratings and let the new generations enjoy so great TV..

I didn't think it was that good when it was on in the first place. I would have been about 10 when it was on in the first place and it bored the pants of me. Sometimes there would be something good on but the rest of it was dull, dull dull.

I think that alot of you are suffering from nostalgitus and should stop watching all these "Top 20 Kids TV" shows and go out and do something less boring instead.

There are plenty of Tech shows on TV/Radio/Internet. Go find em.

Bring Tomorrows World back. Even better, bring back the real Horizon. While the 1970s was a dire period in many ways, when you look back at the level of viewer thought demanded by TW, Horizon and other series (the Ascent of Man springs to mind) its clear that the generation of producers at the ´óÏó´«Ã½ after the war gave the country a very special legacy. Here's a thought; some of the programmes that stimulated me most at the time were those I *didn't* understand. Please give me some stuff I don't - quite - understand!

Another vote for bringing Tomorrow's World back, albeit perhaps with a slightly harder science edge.

We live in an age of perpetual discovery, and the secrets of the universe and the life that inhabits it are there waiting to be unlocked, and it should be in the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s remit to educate people as to the studies and advances being made, without resorting to 'dumbed down' CGI visual sequences complete with 'atmospheric' music, and sheer dramatisations that are repeated a dozen times throughout a very American-style one hour program to try and retain a viewer's attention, like some 'science' programs of recent years, naming no names.

*cough* Horizon *cough*

The reason the audiences slumped on TW was because of the old guy who did the Tax adverts.

Who wanted to watch the patronising silver haired old sod telling you about the latest gadgets when twenty minutes later he'd be on the next channel telling you to pay your taxes.

It's his fault...... Not that this was in debate...

Bring it back, please, it was always interesting, but I for one can do without the flashy presentation which afflicted it towards the end of its run.

Even though I am a technologist by career, I find that there is constant aprehension about new technology, often largely based on misunderstanding of what the technology really is. I like the idea of a dedicated program like this, in addition to leaders in new, so that people understand what the terms that are flying about are based on. It is frequent that the people pushing technoligy advance espouse a science fiction level set of goals that are often frightening to those unfamiliar with the reality of the technology.

As a child (and later teenager) this program was one of the few highlights that one would look forward to watching. When the program was shelved to allow other programs to be broadcast in its place, such as East Enders, I was rather annoyed, after all who really wants to watch some depressing and unrealistic soap.

Please bring back this program.

Bring back Tomorrow's World! I grew up on TW and it's part of what made me want to be a physicist when I grew up. I now save kives every day at work, and the current national shortage of scientist sneeds to be addressed! TW definitely has a place on today's TV.

With technology moving ever faster, it is hard to believe TW was ever taken off! Perhaps it moves too quickly for the ´óÏó´«Ã½ and the researchers to keep up!

Certainly it needs to move with the times from a presentation point of view but if they could do it for Top Gear, they can do it for TW (not that I'm suggesting for one second that Messrs Hammond, Clarkson et al be allowed to play fast and loose with it! Hurry, ´óÏó´«Ã½, or one of your competitors will beat you to it!

Science,technology and engineering are the key to our future. As a teenager,TW ignited my interest in science....I'm now a doctor. I clearly remember early demonstrations of CD, cellphone and computer technology which gives you some idea of the power of the original format. Please bring the programme back! Even yesterday, Tony Blair was effectively asking for information on biotechnogy. Such a programme could go a long way in informing the public (and politicians!)on these issues. It's time for some intelligent, informative programming rather than the 'dumbed down' rubbish that has been on recently.

Please, please bring TW back. You've brought Doctor Who back. A success. Blakes 7 is touted to return - why not TW too?

Absolutely, bring it back! The ´óÏó´«Ã½ will not regret it, that’s for sure.

"Tomorrow's World" was far more than just a moniker and I'm rather disappointed that the ´óÏó´«Ã½ should see it as such.

It was something of an institution for us technology-lovers. Technology was then and is even more so now such a broad subject that it is impossible to keep up with it all, and while Tomorrow's World didn't cover everything, it certainly covered a lot - from things that are now facts of everyday life like CD players and mobile phones to the downright quirky that never quite worked.

I realise that times change and so must TV shows, but with technology playing such an important part in life today I think the ´óÏó´«Ã½ needs to be more proactive in the area. Technology gets some coverage from the likes of 'Click' (News 24) and 'The Gadget Show' (C5), but there's no general Technology show that I know about. So yes, bring back "Tomorrow's World", please.

What a fantastic idea- ´óÏó´«Ã½ PLEASE bring back Tomorrow's World!

As a child it was a programme that always got watched as regular as clockwork. What a great idea if MY children can now wonder at what might be in the next few years.

In this 21st century technological world, how can we not have a programme that embraces technology as a fascinating way forward? Tomorrow's World WAS that programme and we should have it back and replace some of the cheap repeats and singing/acting/dancing shows that the ´óÏó´«Ã½ seem to be revelling in at the moment. A few years ago it was fly on the wall documenturies and now it is these 'so called' talent shows that dominate. Get them off- get TW back on!

I grew up watching Tomorrow's World. I learnt a lot about technology and the world just by watching it. They should never have axed it. I remember when I was 5 or so and asking if the baby was drowning, then I learnt that babies can hold their breath underwater and that's only what I learnt from the opening credits! The ´óÏó´«Ã½ seem to wreck everything, no wonder the U.K is getting a reputation for having one of the dumbest populations.

Obviously a Tomorrow's World of the Baxter era would be an oasis in the banality of current 'prime time' broadcasting.

Equally obviously this won't be a published comment!

With the massive influx of reality tv shows and "I'm a Z-list celebrity, help me hang on to my career" programmes, we desperately need this kind of show back. The ´óÏó´«Ã½ and most networks are gradually turning what was once a fantastic form of communication into a Sh_t pump that sits in the corner, spewing us useless information.

It sounds harsh, but many people WOULD benefit from shows like "Tomorrow's World". In a world that's ever changing, it's almost imperative that people of all ages are in touch with technology. Not only was it interesting, it was fun.

It would be widely welcomed.. Go on, take a risk for once. If I see another desperate half-baked pseudo-celeb hanging from their curlies in a circus act, I swear I'll put my foot through the screen and resign myself to the internet forever... which would be sad.

Please please please bring back informative programmes such as Tomorrow's World. TV today is starved of such interesting content, replaced with trash like BB and other 'social' TV. It's not surprising this country has large reductions in people taking sciences in schools and developing new ideas given the lack of inspiration. Tomorrow's World provided that when i was younger. The ´óÏó´«Ã½ should really bring this programme back and produce others to provide a much needed balance between educational/informative viewing and entertainment programmes.

Yes, bring back Tomorrow's World. Yes it should not be needed now, but in practice equivalent coverage is not well integrated into 'normal' news, so let's have some more dedicated science & technology news time.

What a wonderful idea to bring back Tomorrow's World. This idea should definitely be considered. It is one of the programs that stands out most of the TV I watched in my youth.

These days TV is dire; there is almost no well-made TV anymore, just celebrity trash and daft low-budget gameshows. Recently the schedules have been terrible and all I've watched in recent weeks has been David Attenborough DVDs because there's been nothing decent on TV whatsoever.

Why not create a petiton online (for example at

We just then need to pass the word around (especially to schools).

We are all ´óÏó´«Ã½ shareholders. Let's order them what to do !!!

Bring it back.
Please.
We still need to know about new technologies, and of course to see in the future how wide of the mark the program was. Important advances are being made daily, and we need a "Tomorrows World" to inform us.
Thanks
David H

Cant agree more with all the other comments made already. Yes it was a really INTERESTING program. Now we have so many more strands and avenues of technology, more complicated of course, but tell us all about them cant you. Who cares whether its really understood - just give us the excitement of knowing the clever scientists are up to something. It would inspire the youngsters of today.There are millions of things you could tackle. YES WE NEED IT BACK AGAIN.

I agree it is a good idea to re-introduce the name Tomorrow's World for a programme that makes our society aware of future innovations. Of course there is the nostalgic aspect of seeing it back on the air, but also, retrospectively, I remember the excitement when seeing the inventions that were about to go into production in the future, such as cd's, airbags, computer downloads thru the TV Speaker (remember the Spectrum experiment?). All exciting stuff in days gone by and no doubt there will be just as exciting things to come for later generations. Bring it on! P.S. Can Maggie Philbin be on it too??? Schoolboy crush and all that....

The ´óÏó´«Ã½'s coverage of Science and technology on TV is woeful (check out the Science TV listings on this site). So bringing back Tommorrow's World or something similar is the minimum they should be doing.

I would actually love to watch some replays of previous Tmorrow's World programmes to see how far we have advanced technologically. I think most people of today take for granted such items as a 'lap-top', an 'í-pod' The Tomorrow's World series makes us value the time and effort spent on making our lives so extremely easy!

TM used to be one of my favourite programs when I was young, informative, accessible and occassionally awe inspiring, it should be re-vamped for the noughties and brought back to life. Maybe you could call it Focus, ahem.

Please bring back Tomorrow's World. There is far too little of this type of television at the moment. It spawned my interest in science as a child and I was sad to see it go.
And give us a new series of Horizon while you're at it.

Tomorrow's World was a great laugh. It was produced by people who graduated in everything apart from science, and was aimed at viewers who could barely tell a test-tube from a chimpanzee. It was fun looking out for the inevitable mistakes, but tedious sitting through the fluff which they added to keep their readers, whose attention spans were inevitably measured in seconds rather than minutes, from turning over to a channel with even less intellectual content.

On the other hand, I have heard that UK television has completely gone down the plughole over the last fifteen years, so maybe they are right to bring it back.

I watched Tomorrow’s World from the age of 4 and until it was cancelled I saw it every week. I am now 34 and would love to see it make a comeback.

I think it should definatly be brought back. It was a program that not only showcased ideas from big business that would definatly be in our lives in the coming years but also some of the more whacky ideas that you'd be hard up to find on the internet. I know of no programs like in on TV anymore, it seems to be a format that no-ones interested in. I remember .tv on sky and NTL, a channel devoted simply to technology, alas it was axed due to lack of interest. I think any program of this sort needs to appeal to the masses to survive which means not only doing bits on serious technology e.g: I remember a sensor gate that was to be put in airports to sniff out bombs (What ever happened to that?) but also bits that are more fun. I think Top Gear has done a good job of this sort of thing, they've gone from a show devoted to talking about torque and BHP to a show that has peices made for a bit of a laugh, even my girlfriend enjoys watching it!

Certainly bring back TW. However, it will need somebody of the ilk of Raymond Baxter, Peter Bellamy, Sir Lawrence Bragg. These were people with knowledge, enthusiasm and a natural ability to present science and technology in an intereting way, mixing the very serious with the lighthearted. A difficult act.
(On the light-hearted side, TW featured my pedal car in 1974 and again in the last programme!)
(Anybody remember Raymond Baxter & Peter Dymmock driving in the Monte Carlo Rally in a London taxi; a test of technology if ever there was - needless to say it didn't make it !).

Tomorrow's World should definitely be brought back

Little of the coverage in the news explains anything other than the social implications of technology.

It would do the spineless individuals who pronounce on technology good to learn about what they talk about.

Tell us the how, why and when of technology - not just rants from coffee-morning based pressure groups.

I used to watch Tomorrow's World and pretend to be interested in it simply so that I didn't have to go to bed until 8pm, when it finished. However when it vanished from the screen I really did seem to miss it; I was often intrigued by the number of inventions and developments I'm still yet to see in the shops. It's almost like the Gadget Show, but for the more discerning television viewer.

I was really young when Tomorrow's World was axed, so I can't really remember much. Just that it was one of the few reasons to watch the ´óÏó´«Ã½ over Channel 4. I think it was Gail Porter? and some old dude who presented the programme which made it incredibly accessible for young and old. I do think that technology deserves a spot beyond standard news coverage due to the real depth involved with so many developments, so that those interested in a certain product or service may hear about it in the news or some radio show and in place of researching it on their own they can simply flick on the TV and watch Tomorrow's World. People are interested in science, which is why wildlife films do so well, just look at March of the Penguins! Even the Lion King was a blockbuster and that was an animation! Obviously a film based the internal workings of an Ipod wouldn't do anywhere near as well, but the beauty of a show like Tomorrow's World is that it allows room for all sciences. It's not limited in any capacity, personally I'd like to see it back on TV.

No question, bring it back !

More than once a week as well...

I think Kevin Urben got it broadly right.

Yes it should be brought back, but it needs to be improved. I remember the programme fondly, but it was fairly patronising (and I was about 10 at the time)!

Oh, and Hayley the ´óÏó´«Ã½ doesn't wreck everything! However, Technology and Science does get too little attention across the ´óÏó´«Ã½.

I have never seen the referred program, but the concept sounds interesting. Many of today's truly new technologies for me are uneasy to place.
I want to see a visual network of where technologie is evolving to and where it came from. I wanna know what discoveries made nanotubes possible, then on to application, and further into what nanotubes allow us to discover next. Check out the technology chapters for games like "Civilization".

News on Tech is easy to find, but it's pattern is harder to follow.

Yes. Who wouldn't like to see tomorrow's world. The future is happening all around us and it is very easy to get left behind. I agree this program should be brought back as i like to think i am up-to-date with technology and know how but i have a fear of falling behind!! Definatly be something i would programme my sky to remind me to watch!!!

Bring Back Tomorrows World!!!
PS lol i dont remember it but sounds awesome!!!

Tomorrow's World was an excellent refuge from the mind-numbing drivel that is Coronation Street. I would bring it back purely for this reason alone.

YES!!! Yes, oh please, dear God, yes, a thousand times YES!
Something that involves some brains and about the real world of science, instead of this so-called 'reality tv' rubbish.
Please, pretty please BRING BACK TOMORROW'S WORLD today!

Loved the show when I was younger. It was a great science fiction show supported by new "realistic" technology. Love to see the show back returning to our screens.

I would like see the return of Tomorrows World, especially nowadays, as there will be a lot more going on in space, I think there will be very shortly a return to the Moon, pending maybe in the 2030's a manned mission to Mars. Tomorrows World would be good at covering these events, not forgetting climate change here on Earth.

I well remember the live demonstration of the body armour (which of course would never be allowed today: H&S would have kittens) and a shaped explosive charge for cutting holes.

The programme should certainly return, broadly in the original format, and with a presenter of a similar calibre to Raymond Baxter (but not, alas, Philippa Forester or Peter Snow, who for me represent the dumbing-down era).

And while we are putting the world to rights, could this forum's spell-checker be linked to an English dictionary, please, and not an American one? The site is ´óÏó´«Ã½, not ABC. Armor and caliber, indeed!

Without doubt Tomorrow's World should be brought back. Not everyone has the internet. (HONEST!!) Some people lead really busy, interesting lives and don't have time to waste browsing the internet to find out about what's new in the world. I'm sure they would enjoy spending half an hour a week watching Tomorrow's World!! I know I would!

I support bringing a program like "Tomorrows World" back to the TV screen. The emphasis should be to enthuse people to learn and enjoy science, technology and the art of invention, because we need them to keep abreast of research and development in UK. The whole subject can be presented in an exciting way especially if it is controlled be people who know science and engineering: leaving out deliberate dumbing down and inappropriate sound effects (eg. sometimes used in "Horizon"). Since "Tomorrows World" left our screens, the number of people studying Physics, Chemistry, Maths and engineering has declined seriously so many capable people are missing the fun and sense of fulfillment, working in these fields and we in UK are losing our place in the world.

Given the way ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales have brought back Doctor Who, give it to them to reinvigorate Tomorrow's World!

Tomorrow's World was my favourite programme when I was a child in the 1980s. It lost its cutting edge in the last few years of its run when format changes lost the excitement of the live studio.

I would certainly be in favour of a return, as long as it followed the 'eighties format.

Might make British TV watching again, for the first time in about 8 years. OK, that and storyfix from the Beeb site =)

Beh, I get my techno-fix from revision3 (https://revision3.com/) these days anyways, if click is anything to go by, the ´óÏó´«Ã½ can't hope to compete anyways.

Yes bring it back, I enjoyed it years ago and with the pace of change now there would be lots of material for the program.I agree with the comments made in post No 16

I think that 'Tomorrows World' should deffinetely brought back to grace our screens once more...When you look around us today at some of the technology that we now take for granted; please don't forget that most of us had our first look at it in it's most humble form on this programme...Come back Tomorrows World

I'm all for bringing back Tomorrow's World (I wrote a post about is on my site as it happens). Unfortunately, in later years, it became basically a technology and gadget show, I remember it being more of a cutting edge show, showing stuff that was still years away from full production, sometimes ideas that were looking for development money.

Definitely bring it back in it's original format, the world can certainly live without another gadget show, lets get back to some proper science, invention and innovation.

I think that Tomorrows World should be brought back as soon as possible.

The Divine Comedy theme tune is excellent as well.

Yes bring it back.

Also for fun have some re-runs of the early episodes! I remember how funny some of the predictions were like us all wearing paper clothes...

Bring it back. It was the best science programme ever.

As a friend remineded me recently, where else could you have seen Raymond Baxter with a squarial on his head sitting in a hovercraft telling us that this was how we would all be getting to work in the future.

Pure genius.

Bring it back, it's better than a lot of the rubbish the ´óÏó´«Ã½ serve up nowadays...click for example.

Need a mainstream prime time fun tech programme :)

I hope someone at the Beeb in a position to do somthing, takes note of all the comments in favour of bringing back TW.

Yes certainly bring back Tomorrow's World. At the present time the ´óÏó´«Ã½ do not have sufficient coverage of technology, and would find a huge audience for a quality programme. Just look at the success of the Channel 5 offering. I think that the ´óÏó´«Ã½ could do much better, and with the wind of change at the Beeb, the time is certainly right. The subject matter is enormous and would provide material with no problems at all. Yes, please do it.

of course it should be brought back - never have we needed a meaningful unerstanding of science and technology as much as we do now, with problems such as climate change upon us.

But all we get is dumbed-down, populist rubbish. Just using the name for that rubbish will be as successful as BL re-using the MG name - if it is crap, it will soon damage the brand.

Given that just one evening has generated over 200 posts almost all asking for the same - we can assume that the ´óÏó´«Ã½ will ignore it. Instead we'll get some good-looking young woman who plainly knows nothing about the subject, walking endlessly around a studio in some vain attempt to appeal to the people who will never watch the ´óÏó´«Ã½ anyway...

Tomorrow's World was a fantastic program! It sparked my childhood interest in science.
Please bring it back!

This is definitely a step in the right direction. I really enjoyed the Tomorrow's World program as a child but I am not sure I would have time or be bothered to watch it today unless it was streamed over the internet via the ´óÏó´«Ã½ website. That way I could watch it whenever I wanted.

Technology has always been part of human development.

TW was the best way to see and hear about technology for most people as the web did not exist and many people relied on newspapers. It was also because UK was a leader in technical developmments in its heyday, and still is to a lesser degree. I remember the hovercraft, concorde and the harrier jumpjet on TW.

TW was a great programme with great presenters, early on that is. The early guys were passionate about technology and serious. Not convinced of later presenters.

One might think it is redundant nowadays with the info available on the web. But that's the new problem: there is too much information

Therefore and it would be useful to have a technical team analyse major and complex developments from around the world.

Engineer in Aus.

In a world more reliant on technology than ever before, and with the pace of that technology changing at an ever-increasing pace, I am dumbfounded as to why the ´óÏó´«Ã½ doesn't have a programme dedicated to it. Okay, we all have fond memories of "Tomorrow's World", and it certainly couldn't reappear in exactly the same format - it was a little slow-paced, stilted and patronising in places (I mean, most people's parents and even grandparents have a basic grasp of a lot of reasonably complex technical stuff thesedays - it's a necessity in everyday life) but given a fresh, intelligent approach, it would be absolute 'must-see TV' once again.

Given the near unanimous support for Tomorrow's World to be brought back to our TV schedules, could any of the Controllers/ Executives (paid by our TV licence fees) have the wit or courtesy to engage in this discussion as to the appropriateness of bringing back TW?

Do not underestimate Joe Public: science and technology does not to be dumbed down, just presented clearly and informatively.

It would be be a sad and cynical exercise simply to strip down Tommorow's World to a moniker.

Given that we are paying you, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Executives, please pay attention to your customers and have the courtesy to reply and to commit yourselves to returning Tommorow's World to our schedules or to explain why you cannot or will not.

If you bring back Tomorrows World I promise I'll pay my liscence fee!

Dear ´óÏó´«Ã½... see majority of above comments. Question answered, don't you think...

Without a doubt Tomorrows World should be brought back - it should NEVER have been axed in the first place!!!As a Mathematics teacher I belive it is essential that EVERYONE in society is kept up to speed with new technology not JUST the younger generation!!!Please bring it back otherwise the ´óÏó´«Ã½ will be neglecting its duty to educate young and old alike!!!!

Definately bring it back!

It was one of the shows that developed kids minds into developing the technology we have today. Where will we be in 10 years if we don't excite the minds of the future?

Tomorrow's World was Blue Peter for adults. Although there were some interesting areas it looked at, the content was dumbed down to a juvenile extent, as is the case with all the "science" output of the ´óÏó´«Ã½. If you want to know about science and technology you need to learn to understand German, as their TV output at least presumes the viewers who are interested in such subjects have an IQ greater than 100. The ´óÏó´«Ã½ only seems interested in making programmes that are accessible to the lowest common denominator, leaving the more intelligent viewers starved of worthwhile programming.

Bring it back.

Everyone else has already said everything that needs to be said, so I'd just like to add my voice to the debate: please bring TW back as a full show!

I'm old enough to just remember the tail of the Baxter era and liked the programme most when presented by Hann and Rodd. However I think I became bored of TW sometime by the mid-eighties and slowly lost interest. It seems to me the time is now passed for such a programme - most innovations belong to large corporations who are secretive and protective of their patents - and the TV can never keep pace with the internet. We now all live in 'Tomorrow's world' and it would be impossible to recapture the spirit of the original show. For technology stories I read slashdot and theregister and am quite happy with that.

If it does come back, please no distracting music tracks (in case people get bored in three seconds) and no silly graphics either. And certainly no celebrity presenters! (And now over to Jade Goody who's been looking at some of the implications of superstring theory.....)

I'd rather the ´óÏó´«Ã½ brought back the programme........

Most of the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s current programming is not a patch on the previous generations of broadcasting.

That's not nostalgia either; just sit them side by side, compare like for like, and you'll see how much you've 'stupidised' your entire output.

I could not believe when i heard originally that TW was to be axed it was one of the very few programs i really watched on tv, i believe it should be brought back, there is distinct lack of any real educational/documentary programs on in primetime only senseless make believe soaps bring back TW for its awesome insight into tommorrows science possibilities and also bring back Peter Snow if he's still about!!

Tomorrow's World used to be one of the best programs on ´óÏó´«Ã½, bring it back. We need a suitable program that is more science/technology based rather than the excellent Click on News 24 which is more computer based.

If the bbc doesn't listen to all these comments then who do they listen to?

Bring it back!

Whatever happened to Tomorrows world? It seems to me that we need this factual show brought back to our screens now, at a time when technology has never developed at a faster pace in all of history. Not only was the show interesting, educational and well presented but its in depth analysis helped to bring many of us out of the stone age and into the recolutionary 21st century world of technology. why does the beeb reject iconic shows like top of the pops and tomorrows world in favour of celebrity dancing, singing and reality shows that are neither entertaining nor interesting.

Of course Tomorrow's World should be brought back - does the ´óÏó´«Ã½ broadcast a single serious science programme on tv these days?

Agree with post 16. Just about all science on TV has been dumbed down, bring back Horizon, Equinox and TW complete with the decent in depth coverage of real science stories and devlopments. Not the Key Stage II grade of current documentaries.

I can remember being totally confused by Horizon and endless space/astronomy programmes in the late 70's early 80's - quarks, black holes etc - brilliant stuff.

'Tomorrows World' was class.

Bring it back, prime time, scrap 'EastEnders', 5 days of 'Tomorrows world' with 'Click' on the weekend...

plz

I agree with the some of the other people, its one of very few programs worth watching on the ´óÏó´«Ã½. At the minute, it has OneClick which is a programme about online stuff but its "stereotypically" ´óÏó´«Ã½, noticeably out of touch and restrained in delivery and content even when its trying to be in touch. Everything that is happening at the moment seems to be aimed at having more "commercial" value, like having more frequent updates on ´óÏó´«Ã½ 24, 4 times an hour rather than 3 times. Who cares about most of the programmes the ´óÏó´«Ã½ makes. It should focus on making less and quality programmes, even if that means less channels to watch them on. Otherwise nobody will bother and we'll start DEMANDING our money back!

So I read the bit about it definately not coming back on the air... but I still vote yes for it.

Although todays producers need to create a show that assumes the viewers do have some intelligence. I think the point has been well made about Horizon by many of the previous posters.

The ´óÏó´«Ã½ was set up with to "inform, educate and entertain" - Tomorrows World achieved all three in one format - very few modern programmes manage to do that.

I agree that TW should return, provided that it is properly produced. Lengthening the time slot to enable ideas to be explained properly is an excellent suggestion - and it should be transmitted in peak time, to encourage children to watch it. There's plenty of rubbish cluttering up the schedules which could be axed to make way for the new TW.

Even more interesting are the numerous comments on Horizon. I remember when I was about 10 years old, in the days before video recorders, abandoning summer holiday football with my mates and running home to watch Horizon. I was absolutely transfixed by this brilliant programme, which explained some very complex ideas in a way that I could understand, even while I was still at primary school. No stupid camera angles, repeated shots or mood music were required, the quality of the content rendered these props quite unnecessary; I often wondered if Paul Vaughan wrote his own scripts. I stopped watching it when the quality nosedived. I can only assume that a Birtist-speaking alliance of accountants, focus groups and management consultants hastened it's demise.

i have never heard of this show as i am too young, also i barely watch t.v because of all the rubbish show's it well... shows. however, i would commit half an hour, or even an hour, to see this show, as it seems interesting

Excellent idea, bring it back, and definitely don't dumb it down.

A few posts have said TW would struggle to compete with the internet, but the same could surely be said of the news. A huge number of people regularly watch the news on TV, even though they may also read news on the net or in newspapers or wherever else. As long as its informative and digestible, why should this be any different?

Tomorrows World and the Horizon series was the ´óÏó´«Ã½ for me, oh and Red Dwarf. These days the only things I watch on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ are Top Gear and the news (sometimes). The ´óÏó´«Ã½ could disappear and I doubt if I would notice. Come on ´óÏó´«Ã½ give air-head TV the elbow and bring back intelligent shows, we are British for goodness sake we can understand them. Durr! For now I will continue to surf the net and watch Discovery type channels in search of technology info. I would love to see the ´óÏó´«Ã½ take a leading role, amongst the transmitted mass media, in educating the population, not simply filling in time. The ´óÏó´«Ã½ could make a real difference inspiring our future science visionaries, please stop squandering the opportunity. Bring to us the reality of the ways of the world and perhaps a glimpse of the future.

Bring back Tomorrows World.
I pay my license fee.
Bring it back.

Stop the mind numbing reality slop.

Yep bring it back, 2 notable memories for me talk of mobile phones how we laughed when this was mentioned and music on a chip as opposed to an LP would never catch on.

it seems that there is definately a market out there for popular science and technology programmes aimed at an intellegent audience. in my honest opinion the esciallation of celebrity culture TV and popularist trash has seen the ´óÏó´«Ã½ rapidly descend in to a frenzy of "strictly ballroom" and "just the two of us" when the bbc realise that there are still intellectually minded people out there who want to learn about science and technology. I increasingly find my self watching ´óÏó´«Ã½ news 24 because its the only show that doesnt blatently treat me like an imbecile.

I don't have a problem with 'the brand' being used but I'm wary of its use by ´óÏó´«Ã½ news.
Just what is your 'agenda'? My perception of ´óÏó´«Ã½ news is that it has become so dumbed down, particularly breakfast news on News24, that it is reduced to a series of headlines with no depth or detail. Surely the true identity of the brand lies in its informed presentation of detail? If the time constraints and lack of technical expertise of presenters isn't addressed, then the brand is destroyed. Your audience for this type of news is already technically aware, so aiming it at 'the masses' would be an error.

Definitely bring back TW to mainstream - or even ´óÏó´«Ã½3 / ´óÏó´«Ã½4 - it was a great programme and for most of us was our only 'outlet'! (or should that be 'inlet'). I think it's just as relevant now as it ever was - sure, there are more ways to access information now, but it's about the way it's presented. the Beeb have the potential to recreate something great here - go on, give it a go!

Don't expect the ´óÏó´«Ã½ to show any science programme with intelligent presenters for an intelligent audience at peak time. Look at what time the 650th edition of the Sky At Night is being shown this week!

I used to watch Tomorrows World as a kid. It had a great influence on me, because guess what, i'm now an Electrical engineer. What is there to influence kids today to become Engineers, and actually have the power to MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

All there is is crap reality shows sapping them of their IQ!.

Like many others I was brought up on a diet including TW - back in the days when William Woolard gave it that combination of knowledge and enthusiasm. Like many other posters I think the last series or two were just not the same program.

Perhaps some day the people in charge will realise what the ´óÏó´«Ã½ is supposed to be there for and bring it back (along with the old Horizon) as a proper science/technology program - aimed at people with an attention span longer than that of a goldfish (yes they do still exist). But in these days of makeovers and such I'm not holding my breath.

Yes, absolutely, bring it back but get the researchers to spend more time with smaller companies, otherwise you may as well just call it the Apple Microsoft Show.

Definitely bring back Tomorrow's World as a programme, not a brand.

The ´óÏó´«Ã½ currently has no science programming worth its share of the license fee (and that includes Horizon).

No - it should be kept as a warm and fuzzy memory for the nostalgics. The ironic thing about TW was that for a programme about the cutting edge, it lacked one itself. It was too speculative, focussing on what "might" happen rather than what would. My view is that the current ´óÏó´«Ã½ approach of integrating technology into regular news bulletins (albeit on News24) is better.

However, this doesn't absolve the ´óÏó´«Ã½ of it's marginalisation and trivialisation of serious factual science and technology.

A few hundred requests for TW to return is unlikely to carry much favour with programme planners who need to see viewing figures of several million in a prime time slot. TW was axed because the viewing figures fell. Unless someone can come up with a plan that guarantees a few million viewers, no-one will be interested.

The original axing of TW was symptomatic of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Television's abdication of the remit to educate as well as to inform. Once ´óÏó´«Ã½ series like Tomorrow's World, QED and Horizon were the pinacle of the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s output, now they and the 'dumbin-down' of Horizon are illustratative of its decline.

I'm sorry, but I must disagree with Clive (number 279). Surely the fact that nearly 300 people have clicked on the link to read about the topic AND been bothered to comment on it means that there is a demand out there for a return of this sort of programme. I guess we're all tired of relentless 'reality tv' programmes and want to be stimulated with information for a change. For an insight into the future in the meantime, have a look at Ian Pearson's page, he is a futurologist with interesting ideas of the future and what it holds.

I don't remember TW, but would certainly like to see more science programming on the ´óÏó´«Ã½. There's no need to dumb down science and technology for TV - one of my favourite programmes is Rough Science which was originally made for the Open University but was eventually shown in primetime (on ´óÏó´«Ã½ 2). Definitely not dumbed down, featuring proper scientists instead of TV presenters and still entertaining. I was introduced to it via a talk by one of the presenters while I was in sixth form and it was certainly inspiring (particularly compared to the dumbed down science A-level syllabuses!).

I feel that there is a huge appeal for bringing a regular science show back.

Maybe not the exact same format as Tomorrow's World, but certainly something similar.

I thought that shows like Doctor Who and Robin Hood have shown the ´óÏó´«Ã½ that we are in fact not obsessed with "reality" tv or quiz shows?!

Stick a series on ´óÏó´«Ã½4 and see how it does!

It is frankly underhand and that the ´óÏó´«Ã½ is prepared to play on the good name of Tomorrows World, but not prepared to invest in that name by comissioning a new series.

TW was for many THE program to watch every week. Programs like 'The Gadget Show' on C5 are just not up to the same level.

The ´óÏó´«Ã½ thinks that 'Planet Earth' is all the science they need to do. Horizon is a shadow of its former self - and The Sky at Night is hidden so randomly and deeply within TV listings that people just can't find it any more.

The ´óÏó´«Ã½ saw fit to scrap the TV series, but now deploy it's good name as leverage to gather interest in articles that frankly, hold NOTHING to the quality of the TV series.

I am only 17, but remember tomorrows world well. Although I am one of the many geek-speakers, I always enjoyed its friendly way of presenting new advances, and I know that many of my less "geeky" friends also thoroughly enjoyed it. Bring back tomorrow's world! :)

P.S. to post #221.
When you bring back TW, why not try a new concept: "smartening up" as opposed to "dumbing down"?
To see what I mean, look at many of the earlier posts, e.g.#16, #17, #27, #28, #32... (i.e. about a quarter of all of them.)

If the ´óÏó´«Ã½ don't bring back TW then I'n sure Sky or the discovery channel will do their own version, given the response on here..

Of course it should be brought back! It's even more relevant today than it ever was. The handy thing now is that we have the internet so if you wanted more detail you could go online and find out.
I'm 42 and younger folk haven't had the privilege of having any technology explained to them in a clear, concise way like my generation has. This really shows. It really annoys me that marketing has overtaken technical merit and companies are getting away with lowering the quality of their offerings, raising the prices of them and claiming that they are the "latest" technology.
I obviously haven't managed to read all comments here but if folk could post up their ideas for things to be covered it might help those at the top to decide and realise there's enough material for a nightly episode 5 days a week!
My ideas are the new video formats, especially video cameras which are more costly than the older ones but with less features and lower resolutions. Then there is the International Space Station project which the ´óÏó´«Ã½ seems allergic to - I can't understand why Space Shuttle launches/landing just attract a couple of minutes of NASA TV feed on News 24 with newsreaders babbling over the NASA commentary - not even a regular Science Correspondent.
At the end of the day whatever the unfathomable reasons for keeping TW of air are those responsible at the ´óÏó´«Ã½ should respect the fact the WE the licence payers (and it ain't cheap) WANT IT BACK!
[Dedicated to the memory of Raymond Baxter]

The solution was simple in the end but still took an hour of messing around with proxy servers.

If the technological editor of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ needs that amount of time to configure his connection to use a proxy server, then it sounds like we need Tomorrow's World back again to offer--much needed-practical advice.

I was only saying the other day that tomorrows world should be brought back. Its amazing how much of the show has come true since it stopped being shown.. shame my CDs still get scratched and ruined by a knife of jam though.

Surely it would be worth bringing back, even if it was squeezed into the full up scheduling of ´óÏó´«Ã½ 4...hmm.

I think it should return. When you say "technology has come out of a ghetto" I think you are making the same mistake as the Victorian who said "there is nothing left to invent". Certainly computers are now commonplace and part of everyone's day to day experience, but who said that computers are the final end of technology?

In the 1950s it might have seemed that with the widespread adoption of television and cars, that technology has "come out of the ghetto" and that the future had arrived.

But of course it hasn't - and never will.

What about nano-technology? The ability to one day photocopy any object and create an exact copy of it, in the same way that computers can currently copy software and data. Quantum computing? Gene therapy?

Tomorrow's World definitely needed and overhaul. Sadly science seems out of favour. It sometimes feels that the only way a major science series could be given the go-ahead is if it was done as one more lame talent contest or reality TV show.

One of the few decent science programmes - Sky at Night - gets by apparently on a budget of pennies, in a time slot from hell, and yet it is still one of the most programmes.

God help us when David Attenborough is no longer with us.

...oh - and one more thing. If it does come back, *please* don't let it turn into a computer show. They are no longer (for the most part) new technology. Only include a computer story if it represents a genuine advance in science or engineering. We really don't need a gadget show.

Yes! Please bring back Tomorrow's World.

It must be possible to present this sort of material in a dynamic, exciting manner.

Top Gear works for cars. Let's have something similar for Technological and Scientific developments.

The average person now spends more with their varied personal technology than they ever do with their car!

Easy to answer, yes please as a nation we need to profile science and technology evenmore so now than in the past.

People just dont have the attention span they once used to or their perception.. :) so its understandable why they wouldnt bring the programme back. But I guess the folks who remember the show, would definitely benefit, because familiarity calls for understanding.

Tomoroow's World should be brought back. If nothing else it enthused younger viewers about the possibilities for the future andhelped showcase small, innovative companies largely in the UK who most often desperately needed publicity to help finance their work. If UK Plc is to have any future it is these very same two groups that need all the help they can get and the ´óÏó´«Ã½ were doing a rare thing with TW in promoting a positive approach to innovation, business and entrepreneurship. With programs like Dragon's Den being so popular, a return of Tomorrow's World would be a sure success. However not if the Beeb decided to do its all too common pc dumbing down approach.

"There is a whole series of features..."

should read

"There ARE a whole series of features..."

Most of the comments seem to be in favour of bringing back Tomorrow's World and I agree. Sadly, however, the vast majority of respondents are male. We still have a strong male gender bias in science and technology.

What is "broadcasting"?

I haven't read EVERY response here, but there's clearly a common theme - bring back Tomorrow's World as it WAS before it fell victim to the 'style over substance' mentality of programme-making.

I agree completely - the likes of Raymond Baxter, James Burke, William Woollard, Michael Rodd etc made you believe that they understood and had an interest in their subjects. We know of course, that (at least) Baxter and Burke were passionate about their subjects, and that the ´óÏó´«Ã½ scandalously lost Baxter because of that passion. And apart from 'Connections' - which certainly deserves a repeat showing - the ´óÏó´«Ã½ dismally failed to give Burke the airtime he deserved (for example, we never saw his excellent 'After the Warming' series in the UK).

There must still be plenty of serious scientist / engineer / technologist / academic candiates who could be used as presenters - people like Chris Wise (architecture & structural engineering), Iain Stewart (geology) and others have all been used to tremendous effect in specialist programmes or series by the ´óÏó´«Ã½ or others. These people would be infinitely better than the 'personality / celebrity' presenters so much in favour nowadays.

In response to post #295 'People just dont have the attention span they once used to' - isn't that the myth that so many TV producers like to perpetuate because it cuts down on the need for original material? I'm so fed up of 27-minute programmes which have to jump around between 6 different stories, using up a third of the whole programme with 'meanwhile, back at...', recaps, looks forward etc. Programmes like 'Grand Designs' on C4 are now the exception, still apparently believing that we can follow a single documentary theme for a whole hour. I certainly can, and so can my 10-year old son.

So, let's please have some serious treatment in the fields of science and technology, not just the fluff that passes for it on programmes like 'Click' on News 24.

Hi,

Tomorrow's World should definately be brought back. Perhaps not in the same format, the live experiments which always went wrong did the program and technology a great diservice. (Rain sensitive windscreen wipers comically failed on the show, but now appear commonly on higher specification cars)

If let's say it were done with a live audience, the more comical side of gadgets and invention could lend a more light hearted and punchy edge, with the possible more immediate opinion of the audience of more serious matters.

Certainly non-live demonstrations should be a feature, but in depth coverage of topical stories, methods behind science, (e.g. How did they make Dolly the sheep?), and interviews with resarchers must be a feature.

Giving new technology to the public to try out, or interviews with those on medical trial would feedback opinion, not just to the scientific and technology community, but help allay fears, or give warnings on their uses.

Historic comparisons and reasons why they failed or suceeded would allow the beeb to dig into archive footage, and an annual TW awards show for contributions to science and technology and it's wider understanding and use.

Presenters are another thing though. A combination of a "Professor", a "Heavyweight" and a "couple who keep being experimented on".

If it sounds a bit like a Technological "Top Gear" ... you'd be right.

I'm excited already ...

Yes bring it back.
I am a retired carpenter and Tomorrows World gave me an insight to the many things outside my building site environment

As post 301 said, make it a technological Top Gear.

Anyone who has seen Richard hammond presenting Brainiac on Sky will know that he is more than up to the job and is passionate about science.

Tomorrows World coming back - great.
Will they be showing it before or after the 01:55 slot allocated to The Sky At Night?

I think Tomorrows world should come back I used to watch it all the time from a very young age, I remember waiting for eastenders to finish just so I could watch tomorrows world.

Unlike some of the comments here I think the show was educational and just what people needed, I'm a professional electrical engineer and so am well up on all the technology and I still find it interesting and even surprised by some of the content that I didn't know.

I have yet to see a better scinece program for the 'average man' than this. I watched it in the '50s and it was practically the highlight of the week. No one has yet bettered it although the Royal Institute Scinece Lectures at Christmas time are near it.

We certainly don't need Tomorrow's World back. The ´óÏó´«Ã½ should be producing a serious, challenging, informative and educational science and technology programme. The last thing we need is the return of "Blue Peter for technocrats"!

I now view less than 2 hours television a week. Almost every programme consists of endless repetition, presenters sharing sentences, intrusive "music" and absurd graphics and camera angles.

The problem with so many aspects of technology, it seems to me, is that it has created a generation of child adults - their lives devoted to playing with one device after another. And the most indoctrinated seem to become TV producers and journalists.

Re #297
No, "There is a whole series of futures" is correct, I'm afraid. "Series" is singular, as in "2: a sequence of related television or radio programmes." (https://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/series?view=uk)
Sorry to be pedantic, but as a fan of science, one has to be precise!

Bring it back, BRING IT BACK!
TW was my favourite TV programme as a boy and I kept watching it right up until it was cancelled. It had the right mix of information that science-minded people could appreciate, but the layman could understand.
I know there are no plans, but if these comments reach the programming peeps, please seriously consider it or a programme of very similar nature. I promise you it will be a winner.

Yes - absolutely bring it back. Something like science and technology is a thing that interests many, and I think it's fair to say an area in which has markedly declined on the ´óÏó´«Ã½.

Tomorrow's World was only 30 minutes in the schedules, and would be very welcome to have back on.

Yep bring it on.

When i was a child i was fasinated by TW. I can recall watching them demonstate an early fax machine (i think that was one of the few live demos that did work!) and being amazed when i started work a few years later and there it was, a live fax machine.
Nowadays you do get the odd science programme on satellite tv that is a bit informative but nothing compared to the standard of TW and nothing worth setting the Sky plus box for. Sky plus i think i first saw that on TW years ago too....

Of course TW should come back. However, the reality is that there is now competition out there that is very similar - the Gadget Show, for example - so it needs to take a more adult approach. However, as a useful magazine-style technology show it was more fun and had a wider remit than gadgets; it looked at science as well as technology.

Given the internet, why not develop a version that focused on the latest 'happenings' as well as the in-depth behid the scenes?

I used to love Tomorrow's World and I would definately watch if it made a come-back.

But, like many other people have said, the dificulty will be how it is pitched. A perfect example of how not to do it is 'Click' on ´óÏó´«Ã½ News. I have no idea who it is aimed at - it's patronising old news to anyone under 35, and surely completely uniteresting to anyone older. The website reviews are cringe-worthingly outdated and the whole thing feels like it's trying too hard.

Tomorrow's World, if it comes back, should be a 'New Scientist' kind of programme, not a channel five gadget show.

Yes, please bring it back but as has been said, make it a technological Top Gear. The Gadget Show on five is one step towards something that fills the Tomorrow's World remit, but Tomorrow's World should concentrate on the consumer and consumer products (iPods, Gaming consoles, Internet and computing in general), as well as the fantastic things that won't be here for another 30 years. Now more than ever a show to help showcase and explain some of this technology will help guide the future, and stop technically able people from being asked stupid questions.

New world, new opportunity.

You are right to suggest that technology has moved out of the ghetto. Most people have mobile phones now, access to computers and the like. But they don't understand it all.

I see a few groups of people: Those that want to know about technology, but don't; those that want to use technology, but aren't interested in the details; and those that know and want to know the latest.

Thus a better model than a single Tomorrow's World program is a set of several programs which run under the moniker. Some people (older, or just out of touch) want to learn about it all - they would be happiest with an upbeat program which explains things to them without confusing them or patronising them. Audience: 40-elderly, interested, likely to be regular viewers.

Next up is a program about which products are best, and highlighting potential problems (eg iTunes and non-iPods). You're not interested in technical details, just what works, and how to do things more quickly and more easily. So: "broadband is a type of faster internet connection, but you need a virus program ." Include cool websites, useful programs, compare products etc.
Audience: 20-40+, more likely female, likely to watch the programs most relevant to them because they saw something advertised.

Finally the tech-head program. This is just the latest information on everything, and may even be better served as a blog, podcast or vidcast. From places like CES, short audio or video pieces about a technology from someone who really understands. This is high-jargon. Possibly include more interactive elements as these are people capable of responding - competitions, opinions, feedback, debate. Would absolutely thrive if given a forum which the program makers actually read. This way they feel involved and part-owners of the whole thing.
Audience: Teen-30+, more likely male, staunch followers if engaged, willing to interact.

With several avenues, no one is patronised, people don't switch off because it's gone all geeky, and the tech-heads get their breaking news fix from a balanced source with real journalists. A new age? Tomorrow's world.

I've written to Newswatch a couple of times on this, suggesting that the TW brand could be resurrected for segements on News 24 and ´óÏó´«Ã½ World in the same way that Click is. Glad to see they eventually listened although I'm disappointed to see that although Click is still listed as a programme in its own right on News 24 that TW is not. I'd like to set my PVR to catch TW when it is on but I can't do that, so yet bring it back as a proper programe with a proper timeslot even if it is on the news channel.

please bring it back! A great suggestion about it being a Top Gear format!

YES PLEASE BRING IT BACK! Why do we have 100,000,000 reality shows about "celebrities" prancing around and nothing about the technology that is at the centre of our world. If I am asked to vote for David Seaman to "keep him safe for another week" I will screeeaaaam!!!

Bringing back Tomorrow's World as a proper programme in some format or other is a good idea. The ´óÏó´«Ã½ has no technology shows (apart from the godawful Click Online), and since Horizon got it's lobotomy it has no science shows either.

I don't mind populist science shows that lightly cover areas, but we need more involved shows too. We're not idiots! Don't treat us as ones.

Using the name 'Tomorrow's World' as a banner headline for tech and science stories is just and embarrasingly bad idea though.

I agree with the majority of other peoples comments, please bring Tomorrows World back to ´óÏó´«Ã½ TV.

I have been interested in technology and computing since before I left school, about the past 30 years as I am now 44 years old.

The only good technology programme to watch recently on television is "The Gadget Show" series of programmes on Channel Five.

I would love to watch "Tomorrows World" again, if it was on at a prime time weekday evening time, between 7.00 pm and 10.00 pm.
It would be more interesting for me than soaps such as "Eastenders" and the some of the other reality type programmes which are currently being broadcast.

Daniel McIntyre

Yes, Bringing back Tomorrows World sounds like a great idea to me .. I'd certainly watch it!

This program had a well-liked format...sometimes the inventions were hair-brained and some were obviously just marketing hype. However, the core idea seemed to educate and tickle the viewer and keep their brains alert to technology. It was a "must watch" next episode program for me.

I met the team when one of my products was shown live. The enthusiasm and program skill in putting the technology across was both professional and brilliant.

Today we seem to have lost this format and replaced it with formats such as Dragon's Den which the public likes to squirm at. Rarely shown, is technology at its best. Gadget programs are quite popular and TW would bridge the gap that is missing at the moment.

´óÏó´«Ã½...contact me!

I would love to see Tomorrow's World come back, but with one proviso - it has to look at the science and future technology which will change our lives. It would be far too easy to make a program about the latest gadgets and products, and which would certainly be bombarded by those with a commercial interest if it did.

It would be an editorial nightmare: For example - the CD. Although a product, it was truly revolutionary 30 years ago, but there were few competing technologies or products. Five years ago, imagine trying to make the judgement whether to include an MP3 player or not. Its had a huge effect, but it was just one of a thousand gadgets that could have made it.

A TW for the 21st century would have to look harder for what science would bring us in 5, 10 or 20 years, and rather than stay rooted in todays products and gizmo, keep its head in the clouds.

Incidentally, I'm very pleased to see all the negative comments about Horizon. Once, the most interesting of programs, now brain-dead vacuous rubbish with excessively loud music hysterically underlining every second sentence. I wrote to the editor about this and the editor's minion wrote back and basically told me to go and boil my head!

Well done Horizon - judging by all these comments, it would appear you have alienated your core audience.

Please bring it back, but as the comments above mention, don't turn it into a funky-gadget big-brother 8+ school lesson. We need to understand how science works; examples and demonstrations coupled with theory used to make us all feel like mighty geniuses.

Also, pick your presenters carefully.. people with enthusiasm for the progression of science (Maggie, Peter Snow) and not for their ego.

The early TW was a program about inventions and discoveries more than technology. That was fun, all turbo duvets etc. The early series were great but I felt that the latest series with slick presenters felt "over produced" and the presenters although competent were not real technophiles. Today's Tomorrow's World would have to deal with inventions *and* IT technology. There are many progs and blogs (e.g. Click)which do the IT tech part much better. There is however some room for an inventions and discoveries show. There are many new mechanical inventions that could inspire viewers, from basic www.makezine.com style to complex atom smashers in Switzerland. The ´óÏó´«Ã½'s science correspondent could also keep viewers abreast of advances in the fields of Biology, chemistry and physics.

For a inspiring look into a real "tomorrow's world", check out the www.edge.org annual questions. A wealth of predictions and ideas for show content....

go to this stuff trustttt www.911truth.org.uk

As stated TW is back as 'CLICK'

This programme should be more available on BB1,2 or 3.
Not hidden away on NEWS24.

Too much air time can spoil a programme.
Getting a balance and not filling time with fluff is the key.

Yep like the vast majority. TW should be back. I agree with the change of format (as in Top Gear Stylee), I also think that rather than be a weekly roundup that it should be fortnightly or even monthly to allow for a 'jam packed' 1hr programme.

I hope your taking note ´óÏó´«Ã½!

Bring back Tomorrows World !!
Does the ´óÏó´«Ã½ think that the UK viewers are too dumb? In Germany, there are numerous "TW-like" programmes on various channels. These use the original TW formula and are very popular. They certainly do not dumb-down the subjects covered.
One point - please use intelligent science presenters and NOT media graduates ;-)

Bring back Tomorrows World !!
Does the ´óÏó´«Ã½ think that the UK viewers are too dumb? In Germany, there are numerous "TW-like" programmes on various channels. These use the original TW formula and are very popular. They certainly do not dumb-down the subjects covered.
One point - please use intelligent science presenters and NOT media graduates ;-)

Bring back Tomorrow's World! It was a wonderful show and in my opinion is much more relevant today in an increasingly technological based society. Its hard enough keeping up with technology as it comes so an informative program would be a great success I think.

A bit late in the day but hey - Bring back TW! I used to get special dispensation from my Dad to watch it because I was doing 'A' Level Physics! It didn't matter what else was on, TW was what we watched.

One other comment - please don't dumb it down otherwise it just becomes another piece of trash TV.

Yes bring it back. Tomorrow's world covered technology that wasn't going to be for sale any time soon. It wasn't just a gadget show. The middle and distant future gets very little coverage on television.

I'm not sure that using the Tomorrow's World name for news reports is really going to make a difference to the number of people watching. What would be more useful would be to resurrect the programme again - it's clearly fondly remembered, and Channel 5's 'Gadget Show' proves that a technology programme can communicate to the general public successfully without being too bogged down with 'techy' language.

Bring it back, if only so we can laugh at the dubious gadgets a few years later.

I hope the ´óÏó´«Ã½ sit up and take notice of the public's enthusiasm for a programme that feeds our appetite for information about the possibilities that science presents for us to choose from in the future, ie. Tomorrow's World. At the moment anything which is "science" is either hidden away in the small hours or is totally disaster-prone because of the detemination of programmers to terrify the public out of our wits, more fiction than science. What we want to know in these days of global warming and rapid change is what science and technology are offering that can help us to change the way we live in an ecologically sound way that doesn't involve us going back to the dark ages or the developing parts of the world crashing and burning with us. Science can offer solutions as well as creating problems and a weekly prime-time programme aimed at the general public, not just the techo-freaks, is just what the doctor ordered. Before we can take effective actions we need information so we can decide for ourselves, not just respond to tax changes and emotional blackmail.

The Beeb often says IT'S MY ´óÏó´«Ã½ so I say bring TW BACK.

Yes please, bring back Tomorrow's World.

Bring it back please.

If this is part of a petition to bring back the full Tomorrow's World TV programme, then count me in. Over 300 people can't be wrong, and they're just the one's that have read this article and bothered to post.
´óÏó´«Ã½ execs: listen and act - We pay you to make programming we want.

TW shaped my childhood. It was the reason I enjoyed maths and science at school.

However most important, at the interview for my first job, it was talking to the technical manager about TW which got me the job.

The nearest we have these days is Click, which is dumbed down to 15mins at prime time.

Bring back TW and not just as a slot in News 24 but as a prime time program replacing Beastly Benders or Dullby City per week.

Tomorrow's World was a brilliant and informative programme. I was not old enough to remember any episode specifically, however, there is no doubt that it fuelled my interest in science and technology. Whatever it is that now occupies the 5 minute slot in the Breakfast News recently is a shameful attempt at showing viewers that the ´óÏó´«Ã½ is still in touch with technology development. Showing us "the largest LCD TV in the world", and a golf simulator this morning was, frankly, an insult to anyone who had taken 5 minutes to view this in the hope of seeing any forthcoming technologies. Or decent science/ technology news. Until a programme to the calibre of Tomorrow's World returns, I shall stick to reading New Scientist and ploughing though Ray Kurzweil's latest book, instead of wasting 5 minutes each morning to be shown yesterday's world.

It should absolutely positively return. We definitely need a way to navigate through an emerging world of nano and biotech that needs a scientific, ethical and cultural narrative. A new TW could do that and be a signpost to deeper explanations on the web and at longer format programmes like Horizon...

Make it a family experience and it might just push kids back into science.

I don't think there's much I can add to the 300+ comments already posted, but suffice to say.. bring it back!!

as a nipper i used to tune into peter snow and tomorrows world every wednesday, it was an interesting and enjoyable programme. Its return would be greeted with enthusiasm by many.

"Tomorrow's World" should definately return as a television programme.

I have good memories of watching the latest technologies being demonstrated on the programme.

Whoever decided to cancel the series, should be taken outside and shot.

As a public service broadcaster, the ´óÏó´«Ã½ has a duty to broadcast such programmes. What are we paying the license fee for?

If the ´óÏó´«Ã½ will not invest in science programming, then they deserve to lose the license fee!

Maybe the Government could coax them...!

I have the old series of Tomorrow's World on Betamax somewhere. It makes very entertaining viewing. Anyone want a copy?

It's clear from this list of posts that pretty much everyone who cares wants TW back, but there seems to be a disagreement as to what it should be: uncompromising science reports or the latest in gadget testing?

The answer is, of course, somewhere in the middle. The ´óÏó´«Ã½ does have a remit to educate the viewer, however it's important not to go so far that they turn off. The in-depth science factual documentary is, in itself, a different format and rightly belonged to Horizon and programmes like it before they collapsed. Equally, a gadget or IT show does little to actually educate, meaning that the show fails in that capacity.

TW should be the accessible public face of science and technology. Sometimes covering things that will be appearing in households very soon, sometimes covering scientific issues that are highly complex, bleeding edge or have interesting moral quandries. It should be the role of TW to guide the average viewer through all this by the hand. And (and this is important) not just discussing the technology but explaining in simple, easy to understand language how whatever it is works and what the implications are. Without this and TW show is worthless.

In short though, bring it back!

"Perhaps technology needs especial emphasis"

Well yes and no

We all have been using technology for years and years...since the human race began...however as someone said, technology has that name at first when "the artifact or whatever" is new, a novelty, and then well we forget it is technology.

For instance, I read somewhere that the alfabeth is one of the first pieces of technology we had and that because of their use and the fact that it becomes a taken-for-granted, we forgot how it started, we forgot it was technology. And maybe some didnt believe in it then, as now people do not believe in current technological developments.

And for a while, maybe always we become shocked to the word technology, we are resistant to have technology in our lives "I am not into that, I am not a geek".

So yes, technology needs a especial place, yes, but not one in which only geeks can go into, but a friendly place in which everybody can go and get something useful or a couple of very good ideas.

"Perhaps technology needs especial emphasis"

Well yes and no

We all have been using technology for years and years...since the human race began...however as someone said, technology has that name at first when "the artifact or whatever" is new, a novelty, and then well we forget it is technology.

For instance, I read somewhere that the alfabeth is one of the first pieces of technology we had and that because of their use and the fact that it becomes a taken-for-granted, we forgot how it started, we forgot it was technology. And maybe some didnt believe in it then, as now people do not believe in current technological developments.

And for a while, maybe always we become shocked to the word technology, we are resistant to have technology in our lives "I am not into that, I am not a geek".

So yes, technology needs a especial place, yes, but not one in which only geeks can go into, but a friendly place in which everybody can go and get something useful or a couple of very good ideas.

The trouble with the last few years of TW was the dumbing down the programme did.

I soon realised it had become a re-packaged visual version of the New Scientist journal.
I'd buy this weeks issue of NS and then next month TW would do an article on it. Such lack of imagination.

So if the ´óÏó´«Ã½ did bring it back, please don't let it just tell people about new technology coming out next week and stop at that. Any web site can provide that.

But let the ´óÏó´«Ã½ go behind the scenes and give us detail.

There is technology being developed that is coming out in a few years time that will change every British home. I'm talking about LED lighting of course. So why not follow its progress over time?

Most News programmes just want to report on things due out this year.
There are dozens of technology reporting web sites now. But what they can't give us due to their lack of resources is the background detail. The ´óÏó´«Ã½ can provide us this.

Tomorrows world was so informative in Yesterdays world.
In Todays world there are so many topics that could be covered, technology to a large extent is taken for granted and if we were more informed I'm sure we would start to appreciate it more.

In a time of unparalleled change when the public really needs to be informed about the possible future uses and consequences of emerging technologies axing a show like Tomorrows World was always a crazy decision.

Probably the main reason for the decline of the show was the "style over substance" approach. The kind of folks who are really interested in tech issues want to be told the details by presenters who are well informed and who don't treat the audience like dummies. Too much gloss is a turn off.

Government was discussing how little parents understand technology that their kids are using. So, what are the ´óÏó´«Ã½ doing about making technology programs? Most people use some form of IC-based product every day, whether in their car, phone or computer. What programs do the ´óÏó´«Ã½ show in the mainstream about this? None.

'Click'? Don't make me laugh. By geeks for geeks.

hi there.

could someone please tell me, its really bugging me, there was a short programme on about 2 years ago, it had a female presenter, i really would like to remember her name, and what the programme was, basically i think it was tommorrows world or something, it was made in about 1982, and the presenter was predicting internet and mobile phones, it was a massive programme shown in 2004, and shown between news programmes because of its content, i didn't get to see it, but im dying to watch it, the presenter was very well known and the whole advert was weird because it was correct about the predictions. hope someone can help.

I'm not sure we need a new series of TW because this kind of information is so readily available to us since the birth of the internet.
But I would love to see a retrospective of Tomorrow's World: featuring the technology that seemed so sci-fi twenty years ago, but that we take for granted these days.

Anyone remember an invention called 'The Flying Dustbin' from the 1970's? I can't find any evidence of it, but I'm sure my mnd does not deceive me.

I watched Tommorrow's World as a kid, and found it inspiring, I remember in particular Blue Peter doing a special on the house of the future and how that made me fall in love with new technologies. I think that the Tommorrow's World programme brought a valuable contribution to stimulating debate, understanding and vision to the general public about potential developments in technology. It seems to me that we need a programme like this more than ever with the ever increasing rapidity with which new technology is developed. Come on ´óÏó´«Ã½, admit, like with Doctor Who, that some programmes were successful for a reason, and bring back such a postive and useful programme.

Agreed. Tommorows world should definitely be brought back. I went to the exhibition on a school trip a few years ago at Earls court. I was wondering if theres anything like that still on. But i guess that went with the programme.

Yes! More tomorrows world! I don't care if it is up to date, You can read about something in advance on the internet but it's great to actually see a demonstration, or even see someone being as excited as you about a new development!

There is loads more stuff for TM to cover, new p.c hardware developments happen weekly (if not daily), alongside new developments in space travel (maybe the much ignored ion drive, and possible hyperdrive developments), not to mention the constant new consumer products being released every day...

Don't you dare patronise us though...

Yes! More tomorrows world! I don't care if it is up to date, You can read about something in advance on the internet but it's great to actually see a demonstration, or even see someone being as excited as you about a new development!

There is loads more stuff for TM to cover, new p.c hardware developments happen weekly (if not daily), alongside new developments in space travel (maybe the much ignored ion drive, and possible hyperdrive developments), not to mention the constant new consumer products being released every day...

Don't you dare patronise us though...

We have all heard of the problems the ´óÏó´«Ã½ has been having and yet you have produced great shows over many years. What a back catalogue. The ´óÏó´«Ã½ should do a Doctor Who and re introduce those programmes that can be successful again. The world of science and technology has never moved at a quicker pace and the decisions taken in the future will determine if the human race survives in anything like its current form. The programme should be re introduced.

I remember this show from my childhood in England. I watched with my dad all the time. He was even featured on the show for something he invented in the late 70's. If anyone knows how I could find a copy of an old eposode Id love to have it. He died in 81.