Parents' Guide to

Bang Goes the Theory

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Hip British science show is informative and fun.

TV BBC America Educational 2009
Bang Goes the Theory Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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What's the Story?

BANG GOES THE THEORY is a British television science magazine series designed to make science both interesting and entertaining. Starring biochemist Liz Bonnin, Planet Mechanics' engineer Jem Stansfield, biologist Yan Wong, and actor/science lover Dallas Campbell, who explain the fundamentals of scientific thinking, conduct experiments, and even create challenges designed to teach viewers how things work and to illustrate various ways science can be used to find better, safer, and healthier ways to live. Interviews with scientists and engineers help the hosts find answers to questions about a wide-variety of issues, too. From understanding the reasons for rising fuel costs and exploring fuel alternatives, to understanding the dangers of getting sunburned, the series offers a fun and energetic look at how science plays a role in our everyday lives.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This popular British import demystifies the science that goes into the ways bridges and other infrastructures are built to withstand natural and man-made disasters, how wheels work, and the unique approaches to curing medical conditions like asthma. Bang Goes the Theory also takes an objective look at some of the scientific community's more contentious issues, like fracking (a controversial way of extracting natural gas from the ground) and genetic modification of fruits and vegetables.



Bang Goes the Theory is family friendly, and science fans will certainly find it interesting. But the show's hip and dynamic hosts, along with the simplified explanations about a wide-range of phenomena from around the world, make the series compelling enough to appeal to a wider audience. Those who tune in will be pleasantly surprised by the the different things they will learn here.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about using media as an academic teaching tool. Do you think TV shows like this one encourage viewers to become more interested in the subjects like math and science? Or is this really meant to be more entertaining than educational? How can you apply what you learn here to your everyday life?

  • If you created your own science show, what kind of scientific questions would you like to answer? Are there ways that you can find out the answers without relying on an expert to tell you? How would you balance the show so that it is both interesting and informative for your audience?

TV Details

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