Irish comic and television presenter Dara O’Briain’s new BBC show ‘Science Club’ is going global, with BBC Knowledge and BBC HD taking it to Asia, Africa and Latin America in 2013.
O’Briain, from Co Wicklow, will present the six-part panel show for the BBC, which also marks the first new co-production by BBC Worldwide Channels with BBC Two for BBC Knowledge and BBC Lifestyle.
The show will explore all types of science subjects, from bicycles improving the human immune system to the impact of technology on society.
Each show will feature reporters and science experts, such as materials scientist and engineer Mark Miodownik, neuroscientist Tali Sharot, physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski and science writer Alok Jha.
Among the guests on the show are ‘Top Gear’ presenter James May, English comedians Marcus Brigstocke, Mark Steel and Josh Widdecombe, ‘The Office’ actress Jessica Hynes, and Irish comedian Ed Byrne.
O’Briain said he was “very excited” to be part of the BBC show, adding: “It’s for anyone, who like me, is curious about space, brains, extinction and sex and all the great ideas about how the universe works. And if that doesn’t grab you, we’ll show you how to measure the speed of light using cheese on toast or find your DNA with strong Polish vodka.”
‘Science Club’ is the first co-production to come out of BBC Worldwide Channels’ plan to increase its number of original hours for stations BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle and UKTV. The aim of the new plan is to create global productions which could air in a number of international territories.
‘Science Club’ was commissioned by controller of BBC Two Janice Hadlow and Kim Shillinglaw, and co-produced with BBC Knowledge. It will air on BBC Two in early November, followed by BBC Knowledge and BBC HD in 2013, airing to territories in Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Italy, Poland and the Nordic region (BBC Knowledge), Latin America, Poland, Turkey and the Nordic Region (BBCHD).
