Cardiff chemists bring science safely to life on S4C's BOOM! BANG! TV show

Researchers and lecturers from our School are supporting the latest science-based gameshow, BOOM! BANG!, now available to watch on Stwnsh, S4C’s service for children and young people.

The series combines competitive gameplay with real scientific principles, as two teams from the same school go head-to-head in a fast-paced laboratory setting.

While much of the action takes place in the studio, the more hazardous demonstrations are carried out under expert supervision away from the children, with guidance from Cardiff’s Professor David Willock and postgraduate research student Oliver Wright to ensure accuracy and safety.

Professor Willock shared: “It was great fun to work with the production team on Boom Bang! The types of demonstrations we were able to set up included flashes and explosions that we would normally avoid in a chemistry laboratory. But with the help of the safety team in the School of Chemistry we were able to put on some great examples that show the exciting side of Chemistry to viewers which will hopefully spark their interest in science.”

Our staff worked closely with the production team to design and oversee experiments involving controlled explosions, chemical reactions and high-energy demonstrations. Their role ensures that complex and potentially dangerous science is presented responsibly, while remaining engaging and accessible for young audiences.

The programme builds on the success of the original BOOM! series, hosted by brothers Aled and Rhys Bidder, with Aled returning alongside new co-presenters. Together with university academics, they provide expert insight into experiments that explore topics such as electricity generation, rockets, earthquakes, the human body and structural forces, with the intention to excite young people about science studies and to encourage them to think scientifically about the world around them.

BOOM! BANG! demonstrates how higher education expertise can support public engagement with science, inspiring curiosity while reinforcing the importance of safe practice. By collaborating with broadcasters, academic staff are helping translate complex scientific concepts into exciting visual experiences for young viewers across Wales.

BOOM! BANG! is available now on Stwnsh, S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer.