A new world premiere exhibition from the hit children’s TV show Operation Ouch! is coming to Manchester.
Following the success of last year’s Food, Poo and You exhibition, the Science and Industry Museum is set to host Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You.
The well-loved presenters of the hit BBC Children’s and Education show, twins Dr Chris and Dr Xand, as well as Dr Ronx, will be the virtual guides as visitors become a tiny brain explorer – setting out to investigate Dr Chris’ senses before being sneezed out of his giant nose.
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Families are told to prepare for ‘a deep dive into the functions of the brain, as you travel through an ear canal covered in gooey wax, squeeze past sticky snot and investigate some of the body’s funniest functions through exciting interactives’.
Dr Chris, Dr Xand and Dr Ronx will be virtual guides at the exhibition, appearing in pop up in videos and interactive features -Credit:Science and Industry Museum
The doctors will pop up in videos and interactive features throughout the journey to help visitors understand more about the science of our brains.
More than 30 fun-filled interactives will be packed into what’s being billed as an ‘epic romp through the senses’. Mini medics can explore their brilliant brains by banging on an eardrum, venturing into a massive eyeball and even taking a whiff of a ‘smell library’ during ‘a lively, interactive and playful adventure’ at the museum.
Last year’s Food, Poo and You exhibition was a big success -Credit:Getty Images
Steven Leech, curator of exhibitions at the Science and Industry Museum, said: “From sight and sound to some lesser-known senses, our bodies are truly sensational. Our brains rely on our senses to help us understand and explore the world around us. In this exhibition you will take part in an epic experiment that is bursting with brilliant brain science.
“Just like our previous Operation Ouch! exhibition, Brains, Bogies and You will offer a playful experience that builds confidence in young people who want to explore science. An interactive journey through each of the senses will give visitors the chance to explore what makes our brains work through play and experimentation.”
Dr Chris said: “Get ready to go on the adventure of a lifetime to find out all about our incredible senses and take a dive into the brain as we explore what makes our bodies so amazing.
Dr Xand, Dr Ronx and Dr Chris at the Food, Poo and You exhibition -Credit:Manchester Evening News
“From earwax and bogies to brains and snot, make a date to be enjoyably disgusted and fascinated by this brand-new exhibition. It’s going to be absolutely gross.”
The job of each of the key senses – hearing, touch, sight, taste and smell – will be explored from inside Dr Chris’ brain. You can even start your own chain reaction with dominoes to simulate how our nerves send messages, before chilling out in the relaxing Mindboosters zone to recharge and reconnect.
Visitors can test what they see, hear and feel in a series of illusions and find out if they can believe everything they sense. They can get creative with colourful light beams and compete with their friends and families to identify all kinds of sounds. From Dr Chris’ brain, they can cheekily test his reactions to stinky smells, raucous sounds and even a giant tickly feather.
The science of our senses will also be showcased through fascinating objects from the Science Museum Group’s collection, including a brain scanning ‘Jedi’ helmet worn by children over 40 years ago, ear trumpets used to improve hearing before hearing aids came along, and even coins that were touched by Henry VIII and given to sick people, in the days when it was thought the touch of a king or queen could cure the sick.
The doctors at last year’s Food, Poo and You exhibition -Credit:Getty Images
Dr Ronx said: “I can’t wait for everyone to have a good poke around inside Dr Chris’ brain with Dr Xand and I. It’s going to be epic, discovering how our senses work in the most fun and gross ways possible with hands-on experiments and all kinds of adventures. Science has never been this fun, or this sticky.”
The exhibition is being produced by the Science and Industry Museum and developed in collaboration with BBC Children’s and Education and Objective Media Group.
It opens on February 14, just in time for half term, and tickets, costing £10 each, can be booked on the website here. It’s recommended for children aged five and above. Kids three and under go free. The exhibition will be at the Science and Industry Museum until January 4, 2026.