Beware the exploding caravan

9:15am Friday 21st March 2008

TIME to don your white coats, put on your safety goggles and stand well back from an exploding caravan, as Brainiac Live arrives in High Wycombe next week.

Inspired by Sky One's Brainiac: Science Abuse, the stage show features 22 daredevil experiments involving indoor storms, exploding water bottles and office chairs with rocket power.

"There really is something for everyone, because at the end of the day, science is for everyone."

Joe Rowntree

Taking centre stage is Brainiac Joe, played by 25-year-old actor Joe Rowntree. He joined the popular television series when Brainiac began in 2003 and has since starred alongside both Richard Hammond and Vic Reeves - "one of my childhood heroes", Joe tells me.

The Lincolnshire-born lad says: "I love Brainiac because it's a great laugh and it's fun, but never too ludicrous.

"Neither is it pure violence, abuse or pain, like Jackass - there's actually meaning behind everything we do!"

That said, Joe's role as a "Brainiac" inevitably means he becomes something of a guinea pig for each madcap experiment.

"A guinea pig?", asks Joe lightly. "Yeah, that's exactly what I am, that's where I've come from.

"I think I lost all my dignity and self-respect after the second series, but you get used to it and you never say no to whatever the producers think up next!"

Joe elaborates by telling me he normally gets involved in experiments which are "the least scientific", but are nevertheless entertaining.

One test which Joe remembers particularly well involved discovering the worst place on the body to have a hair pulled out.

"I can still feel that one," says Joe. "It was something of a draw between an eyelash and nose hair. That was pretty painful."

But Joe's also quick to point out that he's never hurt himself physically with any of the experiments, although he jokes that some have left him "emotionally and mentally scarred".

Now in the stage show version, Joe has the chance finally to break away from his guinea pig days and lead the audience on an explosive voyage through the world of science.

So what exactly can the audience expect?

"Well, there's a good balance of sensible and stupid," says Joe. "We do all the stuff like how much ignited oxygen and helium do you need for a really loud bang, as well as all the things you can - and can't - run though, like cling film or wood.

"Then there's all the silly stuff, like blowing up microwaves, and yes, we really do have an exploding caravan as well, but it's all safely within the confines of the theatre stage."

Joe adds: "I think people will love the show because it's interesting and educational, but also quite cheeky. There really is something for everyone, because at the end of the day, science is for everyone."

Brainiac Live arrives at Wycombe Swan on Friday, March 28, at 5.30pm and 8.30pm. Details: 01494 512000 or www.wycombeswan.co.uk

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