The Big Idea is an exciting prime-time series on Sky One, in partnership with Vodafone, which ran throughout October and November 2006. The programme aimed to discover the next great British invention or business idea.

The show’s three mentors conducted the UK’s biggest ever search for big ideas, holding regional auditions across the summer and they each chose 12 contestants to champion.

We then followed these everyday inventors and entrepreneurs as they battled their way through the nerves of the audition to the final challenge - the public vote.

One contestant every week was chosen by the studio audience to go through to the final. And the most popular runner up, as voted online, was guaranteed a special Wildcard place alongside the six finalists.

On the night of the final there was only room for one Big Idea and only one inventor could walk away with the £100,000 prize.