A TV personality who came to the public’s attention during University Challenge is helping to inspire children during lockdown.

Eric Monkman will deliver a special online video tutorial to a group of young people taking part in REACT Engineering’s Into Engineering scheme which is going ahead remotely despite the lockdown.

The company runs the Into Engineering programme to give A-Level students experience of a real-life engineering problem.

Monkman, who is known to TV viewers for co-presenting Monkman and Seagull’s Genius Guide To Britain, along with fellow University Challenge contestant Bobby Seagull, said he was delighted to support the scheme.

"In these difficult times, it helps to take a longer view. I look forward to talking to students about some of the great scientific and technological advances that have happened over my and their lifetimes."

REACT Engineering managing director Phil Redfern said: “It was really important to us that despite the lockdown we were able to provide the same opportunities for young people through our Into Engineering programme this year as we have done in previous years.

“Our number one priority during lockdown has been keeping everyone safe and healthy.

“But we also wanted to make sure we did not disrupt what we do and coming up with solutions to difficult problems is exactly what we do.

“Through technology we have found a way to make this work and put on a programme which we hope the students will find interesting and inspiring.

“We know a lot of young people have been missing out on interaction and having lots of things cancelled.

“We were focused on doing something to help, and we hope by making this event happen we can make a positive difference.

“The most successful initiatives we do with young people have collaboration at their heart, whether that’s with schools and colleges, businesses and organisations, or the wider community.

“We are delighted Eric Monkman is able to support us this year. And if any schools or colleges, businesses or organisations, focused on inspiring the next generation would like to be involved in our future programmes we’d love to hear from them.”

REACT’s Into Engineering event will take place from June 29 to July 10.

This year’s engineering problem for the teams of students to solve will involve a real-world decommissioning challenge.