Unprecedentedly odd: The Entire Universe reviewed

As you've probably noticed, TV critics spend a lot of their time trying to identify which other programmes the one they're reviewing most resembles. Sadly, in the case of BBC2's The Entire Universe, this noble quest proved futile.

Review: The Entire Universe

Both the sense of wonder and sense of humour are undimmed here.

This is, approximately, Monty Python's Galaxy Song extrapolated into an hour-long special. It's a collaboration between Eric Idle and Brian Cox, hung on the somewhat laboured conceit that Cox thinks he is presenting an academic lecture but has, in fact, been roped into a glitzy musical. It has its moments and, naturally, there's a "hilarious" Uranus pun. Robin Ince, Warwick Davis and Noel Fielding also star.

Eric Idle on The Entire Universe

The Monty Python man has written the story of our universe, all 100 trillion years of it from start to finish - told in 60 minutes. Who said the licence fee wasn't value for money?

TV review: The Entire Universe

Noel Fielding as a shiny gold Bee Gee singing about gravity? That's just one of the many delights of this truly odd programme which mixes music, comedy and science in a way that has rarely been done before. The Sky At Night this ain't.

The Entire Universe review

With Eric Idle, Prof. Brian Cox and guests, The Entire Universe is a rare programme that manages to inform, educate and entertain...

Brian Cox on The Entire Universe

The physics whiz offers some clever clogs answers to your most burning festive questions.

Preview: The Entire Universe

The Entire Universe, featuring Noel Fielding - with Eric Idle, Professor Brian Cox, Warwick Davis and Hannah Waddingham - tells the story of the birth of the universe in just one hour. Although social media is already buzzing with anticipation about the show, it airs on TV on 26th December.