Robot Wars 2016: Dara O Briain and Angela Scanlon to host

'As part of hosting the new Robot Wars on BBC2, I'll also be hosting the coverage of our actual war against the Robots in 2021.'

Yes: Dara Ó Briain £20,000 plus (BBC)

The new series of Robot Wars has found its presenter, and hardcore fans are a little pissed that it isn’t Craig Charles.

Mock the Week’s Dara Ó Briain will take over from the famously leather trenchoated Red Dwarf star, joined by Irish presenter Angela Scanlon.

Angela Scanlon/Instagram (Angela Scanlon/Instagram)

Nostalgists will enjoy the fact however, than Jonathan Pearce is returning to commentate on the battles.

"I am thrilled to be presenting Robot Wars," Ó Briain said in a statement.

"For too long, the schedules have cried out for a show in which dedicated amateurs toiling day and night, handcraft sophisticated automatons built on the delicate interplay of hand-wired servo motors with custom-built circuit boards and fingertip motion control, just to see them get smashed to pieces by a dustbin carrying a massive hammer. It's war, and how I love it so."

On Twitter, he light-heartedly addressed outraged fans who were upset about the absence of Craig Charles, who previously expressed interest in returning.

Former host Craig Charles (Pic: BBC)

Scanlan, who is best known as the digital host for The Voice UK, commented: "I'm so excited to be joining such a legendary show that, after all this time, still manages to make people squeal with joy.

"I cannot wait to see the robots in all their metallic glory playfully destroying each other!"

Jeremy Clarkson was the very first Robot Wars host (yes, I’d forgotten that too), helped by Philippa Forrestor and Jayne Middlemiss.