The aim is to discover how we measure in our heads forty years after the metric system was introduced. And to find what has been lost since we abandoned ‘God’s measurement,’ which related to the size of an adult frame. Mark will measure a piece of string from his finger tips to his elbow – the length of his forearm. The true length of Mark’s piece of string –will be revealed at the end of the programme, as well as the reactions and abilities of his contributors.

As well as challenging architects and engineers to measure his length of string, Mark will explain the history of measurement dating from the first cubit – the length of Noah’s forearm, through the double pace which the Romans used to measure their march across Europe , to the Metric system first introduced in France by Napoleon and then in Britain in May 1965 – with a target date of conversion of ten years.