Over the course of the series James will speak to members of the legendary rock band Status Quo about teenage love of the electric guitar; have his brain photographed while looking at his favourite cars, to see how he reacts to pleasure, and take part in something so exciting, he’s called it “the most amazing thing he’s ever done.” He’ll also explore the glowing world of neon lights, and take a ride with Jay Kay – the lead singer from Jamiroquai – in his replica Luna Rover.

Episode 1 – Honey, I Shrunk the World - Sunday August 24


At the beginning of the 20th Century, long distance travel was for the military-minded, the uprooted and the plain rich, but the pioneers of flight were to change all that. To find out how, James May gets his hands on a Vickers Vimy aircraft that in 1919 carried two intrepid Brits, Alcock and Brown, across the Atlantic for the first time. But it wasn’t just flying that changed our perception of the world. The motor car offered us a new sense of freedom, but when James tries out a 1908 Model T Ford, he discovers driving was once a very tricky business indeed.

Episode 2 – Body Fantastic  - Sunday August 31

James sets out to discover how far he can push his body and finds out about some of the most remarkable medical advances over the last hundred years. He begins by testing himself in a centrifuge – a machine that can make fighter pilots and astronauts break out in a cold sweat. He wants to find out what would happen to his body when it is subjected to high forces.

Episode 3 – Blast Off - Sunday September 7

Like many small boys James May dreamt of becoming an astronaut. Even though he may not have realised his dream he sets off to find out what space exploration has done for him, and the rest of us. And he’s got just the right motor to begin the journey - a moon buggy…

Episode 4– Take Cover - Sunday September 14

In this episode, James looks at how warfare drives ingenuity and gets to fly in the RAF’s latest supersonic jet. It’s an experience that he describes as "the most amazing thing I have ever done".

The episode begins by looking at the early days of air war at the start of the 20th Century. James flies in a biplane to get to grips with how difficult it was for the early aviators to hit any targets. Using flour bombs, he tries to hit a target on the ground. It’s a lot more difficult than he imagined.

He also meets a group of ex-Paras to try some "make up for men", camouflage paint. When he fails to spot the Paras hidden in the woods he turns to modern technology for help.

Episode 5 – Inventing the Teenager - Sunday September 21

In the 20th Century the teenager emerged as a separate species. But how? Was it the promise of sex? The power of pop? Or the pull of a 50cc Japanese two-stroke? James May is on a journey to find out.

First up is fashion. The 20th century introduced fantastic new fabrics in fantastic new colours thanks to synthetic materials like Nylon. James tries his hand at making some for himself with some success.

Close to James’s heart, of course was teenage transport, offering liberation from parents and the home. When he was a teenager he always dreamed of owning a very special motorbike, the Yamaha FS1E. The Fizzy.

Finally he checks out the origins of the electric guitar – that potent symbol of teenage rock music. Who better to explain its power than the oldest teenagers in town Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt of Status Quo.

Episode 6 – Big City, Bright Lights - Sunday September 28

At the start of the 20th Century there was no national grid, no agreed system of voltage and James discovers that in 1922 there were 22 different plugs used across the country. But there’s one light bulb James wants to find out about – one that was invented in the 20th century:

"There’s one form of light that radiates come-hither hues to all those who are looking for some action… This light tempts you to the dark side! You won’t see a neon sign on a Methodist church or a lending library. Some unwritten convention says neon is used to advertise illicit pleasures that happen late into the night…"

He meets master neon-bender Steve, as he attempts to make a neon sign for his favourite restaurant, his local kebab shop.