Engineers attempt to resurrect “Dead Cat” on TV at Eden Project

As the Eden Project celebrates 25 years this week (17 March), one of the educational charity’s earliest and most memorable exhibits – the Plant Takeaway, affectionately known as “The Dead Cat” – is set to feature in an upcoming episode of BBC One’s hit TV show The Repair Shop on the Road. The episode will be broadcast on BBC One at 15:45 on Friday 20 March 2026.

Created as one of Eden’s very first exhibits in 2000, Plant Takeaway is a theatrical, cheeky and thought‑provoking demonstration of humans’ dependence on plants and what would happen to the things we rely on to survive if plants were taken away.

The quirky exhibit, beloved by many visitors, features a kitchen scene with food, fridge, furniture, curtains, books, a family, a dog and the famous cat. One by one, and items that are made of plants disappear. Eventually the mechanical puppets themselves relinquish their natural fibre garments and, with food no longer available…well, viewers will need to tune in to the show to find out how it all ends.

Intended as a temporary exhibit, the popularity of the Plant Takeaway saw it remain in the Visitor Centre arrival hall where it has entertained visitors for more than 25 years. After thousands of performances, the automata had become very tired, with many repairs and a series of breakdowns. It was desperately in need of a major refurbishment. What followed next was a delicate and uncertain process with no guarantee of success.

Andy Jasper, Eden Project CEO, said: “We’re so grateful to The Repair Shop on the Road team for coming to try and help us restore this exhibit. This iconic exhibit was one of the very first ways we used theatre and storytelling to engage visitors with serious scientific ideas. As we celebrate Eden’s 25th this week, revisiting the Plant Takeaway feels like a wonderful full‑circle moment. Two decades on, the importance of this exhibit cannot be understated. Its message about our fundamental dependence on plants is as relevant and as urgent as ever.”

The journey brought together a remarkable intergenerational story. The original installation was created over two decades ago by a team of specialist local engineers and automata makers – Will Jackson, Paul Spooner and Patrick Bond.

Spooner, who moved to Cornwall in 1974 and became a leading figure within Cabaret Mechanical Theatre (incidentally founded by Sue Jackson, Will’s mother), developed the concept after Eden’s early research with a local secondary school. The students came up with the comedic kitchen scene to tell the story of humans’ reliance on plants.

Paul Spooner said: “When we first built the Plant Takeaway back in 2000, we were simply trying to make a complex idea approachable and a bit mischievous. A quarter of a century later, the real question has been: can it be restored so that its humour and message may continue to resonate?”

Now, in a full‑circle moment, the next generation of engineers with ties to the original trio stepped in to attempt the intricate restoration, alongside The Repair Shop on the Road experts Steve Fletcher – master horologist – and Dominic Chinea – an expert in metalwork and mechanics.

Creative engineer, Nick Murdoch, director of Murdoch Design, who led the restoration attempt, said: “Taking on the project was both an honour and a huge undertaking. After more than 25 years and nearly a million performances, almost every part needed attention – from restoration and maintenance to ground-up re-design – all while staying true to the heart of the machine.

“Growing up hearing stories about the original team and their ingenious creations, working with Paul and The Repair Shop experts has been incredibly special. The opportunity to hear so many stories of deep connection with it has been profound, such as inspiring careers in engineering and climate activism to resounding childhood memories. I hope it can bring a smile to people’s faces once more and make them think about our dependence on plants and our relationship with nature.”

Tune into BBC One on Friday 20 March at 15:45, catch-up on iPlayer or visit the Eden Projectyourself to see if the team were successful.