Survival was not the issue for a Brighton physicist filming a TV series on a steamy tropical island.

Dr Jonathan Hare did not join a tribe or win a million pounds and did not have to turn on his companions like contestants in the ITV series Survivor, where two tribes are pitted against each other.

He never considered stabbing the competition in the back, despite having to carry out daunting challenges.

Instead he and four fellow scientists laboured under a scorching sun in a bid to show that science can be fun.

The University of Sussex physicist put up with temperatures above 30C (86F) degrees on the Caribbean island of Carriacou to test his scientific knowledge, resourcefulness, ingenuity and team spirit.

The results will be screened as part of the new series of Rough Science which returns to BBC Two next week.

The six-part Open University series shows the scientists stretching their diverse skills to the limit, swapping their laboratories for a disused lime factory and a kit of only the most basic tools and equipment.

For the first programme, presenter Kate Humble challenged Dr Hare to make a phonograph for recording sound.

Dr Hare, of Princes Crescent, Brighton, devised a method of melting a load of candles then using a needle to cut a groove in the wax.

His second challenge was more daunting - to forecast the weather by making instruments for a weather station.

He said: "It would be hard to make one in three years let alone three days. It was a non-starter.

"In any case, it was easy to forecast the weather - very hot, humid and sunny, with frequent downpours."

The series ended with a bang as the final challenge involved making fireworks for their leaving party.

Dr Hare said: "That was really good fun. It was real Boy's Own stuff, making bombs."

The challenge took place during two months last summer on an island about half the size of the Isle of Wight.

Dr Hare said: "We wanted to show people can enjoy doing science. It is an educational not a survival programme."

The first programme will be broadcast on BBC Two on Tuesday at 7.30pm. Dr Hare will be available for online chat after each programme via the series web site www.Open2.net