Big, Bigger, Biggest

Big, Bigger, Biggest is a British documentary television series which began airing in 2008. A total of 20 episodes have been produced across three series.[5]

Big, Bigger, Biggest
GenreDocumentary
Created byCarlo Massarella
Narrated byJohn Michie
Theme music composerAlasdair Reid
Rohan Stevenson
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series3
No. of episodes20 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerIan Duncan (Series 1 & 2)[1] Carlo Massarella (Series 3)[2]
Running time45-50 minutes 1 hour (inc. commercials)
Production companyWindfall Films
DistributorITV Global Entertainment[3]
SBS
Kompas TV
Release
Original networkFive[4]
National Geographic Channel
Original release1 April 2008 (2008-04-01) –
2 August 2011 (2011-08-02)
Chronology
Related showsMonster Moves
External links
Production website

Format

Each episode explores the engineering breakthroughs that have made it possible to develop the largest structures of today. Episodes describe the landmark inventions that have enabled the engineers of today to construct the world's biggest structures, including computer generated imagery. The imagery shows the size of the object in meters, the various designs that were considered, and what might have happened if the engineers had made a mistake, complete with animated figures running in panic.

It is also available on DVD:[6]

  • Series 1 – 208 minutes - 1 DVD - PAL 16:9 Widescreen
  • Series 2 – 520 minutes[7] - 3 DVDs - PAL
  • Series 3 – 270 minutes - 2 DVDs - PAL 16:9 Widescreen[8]

Episodes
Series Episodes Originally aired (U.S. and E.U.) Originally aired (Australia)
First aired Last aired First aired Last aired
1 4 1 April 2008 (2008-04-01) 28 October 2008 (2008-10-28) 6 November 2010 (2010-11-06) 27 November 2010 (2010-11-27)
2 10 28 July 2009 (2009-07-28) 29 September 2009 (2009-09-29) 4 December 2010 (2010-12-04) 12 February 2011 (2011-02-12)
3 6 5 July 2011 (2011-07-05) 9 August 2011 (2011-08-09) N/A N/A

Series 1 (2008)
# Title Original (Five) air date Alt air date SBS air date
1"Skyscraper"1 April 2008 (2008-04-01)[5]1 April 2008[5]27 November 2010[9]
This episode looks at the history of skyscraper breakthroughs, culminating in the construction of the 828-metre (2,717 ft) tall Burj Dubai (now Burj Khalifa). The other buildings discussed are the Equitable Life Building, the Flatiron Building, the United Nations Headquarters, the original World Trade Center towers, the Sears Tower and Taipei 101.
2"Aircraft Carrier"15 April 2008 (2008-04-15)[10]15 April 2008[5]20 November 2010[11]
One of the largest warships in the world, USS Nimitz (CVN-68), would not have been possible if it weren't for seven landmark inventions. The other aircraft carriers discussed were USS North Carolina, HMS Ark Royal, USS Hornet, USS Midway, USS Forrestal and USS Enterprise.
3"Bridge"8 April 2008 (2008-04-08)[12]17 April 2008[13]6 November 2010[14]
This episode reveals how several suspension bridge breakthroughs (The Iron Bridge, Menai Bridge, Niagara Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge and Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge) made it possible to construct the 2-mile (3.2 km) long Akashi Kaikyō Bridge.
4"Airport"25 March 2008 (2008-03-25)[15]28 October 2008[5]13 November 2010[16]
Heathrow Airport is the busiest international airport in the world. This episode follows the construction of Terminal 5, an additional terminal to cater for an additional 30 million passengers, and contributions of its forerunners - Croydon, Gatwick, Chicago O'Hare, Dallas Love Field, Atlanta International (actually the busiest international airport in the world) and Los Angeles International.

Series 2 (2009)
# Title Original air date SBS air date
1"Tunnel"28 July 2009 (2009-07-28)[5]15 January 2011[17]
The world's longest tunnel at 57 kilometres (35 mi) in length is the Gotthard Base Tunnel in the Swiss Alps. The episode lists Thames Tunnel, Box Tunnel, Mersey Railway Tunnel, Simplon Tunnel and Channel Tunnel as its predecessors.
2"Submarine"4 August 2009 (2009-08-04)[5]4 December 2010[18]
The biggest submarine in the U.S. Navy is the USS Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) at 171 metres (561 ft) in length. Her predecessors explored in the episode are Turtle, H. L. Hunley, U-66, USS Nautilus (SSN-571) and USS George Washington (SSBN-598).
3"Aircraft"11 August 2009 (2009-08-11)[5]29 January 2011[19]
The Antonov An-124 is one of the largest aircraft in the world with the ability to carry 50 family-sized cars. The episode also discusses Sikorsky Ilya Muromets, Junkers G.38, Boeing Clipper, Messerschmitt Gigant and Lockheed C-5 Galaxy.
4"Oil Rig"18 August 2009 (2009-08-18)[5]5 February 2011[20]
The Perdido oil platform is located in an area of water that is 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) deep. From first offshore drilling at Grand Lake through Grand Isle platform and Beryl Alpha platform to Cognac platform and Auger, the episode follows the evolution of oil-drilling platforms.
5"Ferris Wheel"25 August 2009 (2009-08-25)[5]19 February 2011[21]
The tallest Ferris wheel in the world was the Singapore Flyer (at the time of this airing), standing 165 metres (541 ft) high. From the original Ferris Wheel, followed by Earls Court Gigantic, London Eye and Star of Nanchang, the episode explores technical breakthroughs related to growth of Ferris wheels.
6"Space Station"1 September 2009 (2009-09-01)[5]18 December 2010[22]
This episode reveals the technological inventions – Salyut 1, Skylab, Apollo–Soyuz, Mir – that made the construction of the International Space Station possible.
7"Dam"8 September 2009 (2009-09-08)[5]11 December 2010[23]
The world's first hydroelectric power station, Debdon Dam, followed by Marèges Dam, Hoover Dam, Grand Coulee Dam and Krasnoyarsk Dam, led to construction of the largest hydroelectric dam – the Three Gorges Dam in China.
8"Cruise Liner"15 September 2009 (2009-09-15)[5]8 January 2011[24]
Independence of the Seas is a 160,000-metric-ton (160,000-long-ton; 180,000-short-ton) cruise liner, succeeding Great Western, SS Great Britain, Conte di Savoia, SS Normandie and Queen Mary.
9"Dome"22 September 2009 (2009-09-22)[5]12 February 2011[25]
The dome roof evolution is explored via Pantheon, Florence Cathedral, West Baden Hotel, Astrodome, Georgia Dome and the Ōita Stadium.
10"Telescope"29 September 2009 (2009-09-29)[5]22 January 2011[26]
The Large Binocular Telescope would not have been possible if it weren't for a variety of breakthroughs in the construction of telescope: Newton's reflector, Parsons' telescope, Hooker telescope, Hale Telescope and Bolshoi telescope.

Series 3 (2011)
# Title Original air date
1"Canal"5 July 2011 (2011-07-05)[5]
Features the Panama Canal expansion project. Explores the technological development of canals including the Briare Canal, Bridgewater Canal and Manchester Ship Canal
2"Icebreaker"12 July 2011 (2011-07-12)[5]
Starting from Eisbrecher I, through Lenin and Polarstern to building the Timofey Guzhenko.
3"Metro"19 July 2011 (2011-07-19)[5]
From City and South London Railway to New York City Subway, Paris Métro and finally London Underground again.
4"Prison"26 July 2011 (2011-07-26)[5]
From Tower of London to Eastern State Penitentiary, Alcatraz and building the most advanced prison in the USA - the North Branch Correctional Institution
5"Tower"2 August 2011 (2011-08-02)[5]
Washington Monument, Eiffel Tower and CN Tower made possible building of Canton Tower, the world's tallest tower (currently 2nd tallest).
6"Train"9 August 2011 (2011-08-09)[5]
From Rocket and Mallard to Shinkansen and building the fastest wheeled train, the SNCF TGV

References
  1. Big Bigger Biggest - Series 2 - Windfall Films
  2. Big Bigger Biggest - Series 3 - Windfall Films
  3. "ITV Global unveils ATF slate". C21media. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  4. "Five reveals secrets of T5 in superstructure series". Broadcast. 22 February 2008. p. 6. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  5. ""Big, Bigger, Biggest" (2008) - Episode list". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  6. Madman Entertainment
  7. Big, Bigger, Biggest - Series 2 - DVD - Madman Entertainment
  8. SBS TV | SBS Radio | SBS On Demand, news, sport, food, movies
  9. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  10. Chater, David (12 April 2008). "TV Choice;Main Channels;Tuesday 15;Television;TV & Radio". The Times. pp. –49. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  11. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 20 November 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  12. Chater, David (5 April 2008). "TV Choice;Tuesday 8 Main channels;Television;TV & Radio". The Times. pp. –49. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  13. SHATTUCK, KATHRYN (17 April 2008). "WHAT'S ON TONIGHT". The New York Times (Late Edition - Final ed.). p. 10. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  14. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 6 November 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  15. Pratt, Steve (25 March 2008). "Plane sailing?". The Northern Echo. p. 21. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  16. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 13 November 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  17. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 15 January 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  18. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 4 December 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  19. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 29 January 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  20. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 5 February 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  21. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 19 February 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  22. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 18 December 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  23. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 11 December 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  24. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 8 January 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  25. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 12 February 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  26. "SBS Schedule". SBS. 22 January 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
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