Cox makes space for role in kids’ show

Television: Physicist to the rescue as Postman Pat’s van breaks down

It’s not an astronomical role, but Professor Brian Cox has landed a part inthe children’s TV show Postman Pat.

Being among the stars is his stock in trade, but now, Prof Brian Cox will swap the solar system for Greendale. The pop star-turned-TV presenter will appear in an episode of Postman Pat, in a cameo he could only have D:Reamed of.

The physicist will appear in animated form, voicing the role of space expert Professor Farrow in an episode of the show which will air on children’s channel CBeebies today.

In reality, Prof Cox is in far sunnier climes now, filming an episode of Stargazing Live. But back on the postal beat, the iconic character attempts to make a special delivery of a space suit after his trusty red van breaks down.

The new episode will be shown at 7.25am.

Celebrity physicist Prof Cox has been involved with numerous TV shows, including last year’s Forces of Nature and 2014’s Human Universe, as well as making multiple appearances on the hit show QI. He has published more than 950 academic publications and was made an OBE for services to science in 2010.

Prof Cox is also well known as the keyboard player in 1990s dance-pop band, D:Ream, who scored a number one hit with Things Can Only Get Better in 1994. The song was subsequently adopted as the campaign song for Tony Blair and Labour in 1997, when the party swept to power in Westminster.

TO BOLDLY GO: Brian Cox is teaming up with Postman Pat for an outing in space