FameLab was run for the first time in 2005 with regional auditions in Manchester, Bristol, Cardiff, London, Glasgow and Belfast
A total of 336 contestants took part
Number of contestants by venue
Manchester 54
Bristol 42
Cardiff 48
Glasgow 40
London 136
Belfast 16
Gender Split of Contestants
44% female
56%male
Age of Contestants
The majority were aged 25-34 (44%)
69% of contestants were under the age of 35
Scientific Field of Contestants
The most common background for contestants was Biology - 33% of contestants followed by Physics - 15% of entrants
Judges in 2005 included:
Mark Lythgoe (neurophysiologist and broadcaster, University College London), Claire Fox (Director of the Institute of Ideas) Tom Pringle (also known as Dr Bunhead, a science presenter who has appeared on Blue Peter and Sky One's Brainiac), John Holman (Head of the National Science Learning Centre) and Heather Reid (Meteorologist and BBC weather forecaster).
Final Judges in 2005:
Robert Winston (Professor of Fertility Studies at Imperial College London and Director of NHS Research and Development for the Hammersmith Hospitals Trust and regular presenter of BBC science programmes), Simon Singh (Science Writer and Broadcaster), Roger Highfield (Science Editor at the Daily Telegraph), Louisa Bolch (Commissioning Editor for Science at Channel 4) and Hamish Mykura (Head of History, Science and Religion at Channel 4)
Media Coverage:
FameLab attracted a great deal of media coverage both nationally and locally. There were signs that the idea of FameLab had spread into popular culture with references on TV shows The Frank Skinner Show and Ant + Dec's Saturday Night. Coverage abroad spread as far a field as Spain, Australia and New Zealand.
© Cheltenham Festivals 2006/7