It Is Rocket Science!. Helen Keen. Copyright: BBC
It Is Rocket Science!

It Is Rocket Science!

  • Radio stand-up
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 2011 - 2014
  • 12 episodes (3 series)

Comic but scientifically accurate look at the science and history of space exploration. Hosted by Helen Keen. Stars Helen Keen, Peter Serafinowicz and Susy Kane.

Episode menu

Series 3, Episode 3 - Overlooked

Why are some space scientists famous and others utterly obscure? Helen Keen is well-placed to ponder this, as she dreams of a spot on The News Quiz (when, Sandi, WHEN??)

Further details

The only factually accurate comedy about the history of space exploration looks at the forgotten and unacknowledged greats of astronomy, the men and (mainly) women who advanced our understanding of the stars but never quite received the fame they deserved. People such as 18th Century disabled genius Caroline Herschel who polished lenses with dung and discovered new stars; and human computer Henrietta Swann Leavitt who taught Hubble a method for working out the distances between the stars and narrowly missed out on a Nobel prize when it turned out she had died some years earlier.

Broadcast details

Date
Wednesday 16th April 2014
Time
11pm
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Length
15 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Wednesday 22nd February 2017 11:15pm Radio 4
Monday 30th April 2018 11:45pm Radio 4 Extra
Tuesday 1st May 2018 9:45am Radio 4 Extra
Tuesday 26th July 2022 11:45pm Radio 4 Extra

Cast & crew

Cast
Helen Keen Host / Presenter
Peter Serafinowicz Ensemble Actor
Susy Kane Ensemble Actor
Writing team
Helen Keen Writer
Miriam Underhill Writer
Production team
Gareth Edwards Producer

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