Abstract: A method of generating droplets from a liquid sample is described and is characterised by the steps of a) locating the sample at a first electrowetting location and applying an electrowetting force to cause a region of the sample to become elongated in a direction in which the electrowetting force is applied; b) temporarily altering the electrowetting force on the sample and accumulating electrostatic surface charge on the sample to counter surface tension forces between the bulk of the sample and the elongated sample region; c) restoring the electrowetting force; d) further elongating the charged elongated sample region using the electrowetting force and e) severing a droplet from the charged elongated sample region. A corresponding droplet generator is also described.