2:50pm Thursday 18th June 2009
JODRELL Bank’s Lovell Telescope last week became the star of a National Geographic Channel television programme.
Red Dwarf star Chris Barrie presented an hour-long show about the iconic antenna near Goostrey.
Dr Tim O’Brien, head of outreach at the observatory, said the comedian had enjoyed standing on the surface of the 250ft dish during the filming.
“He coped with it okay,” he said.
“When you step out of the lifts and realise you’re hundreds of feet up in the air, it’s a bit of an experience.”
The National Geographic show was part of a series called Britain’s Greatest Machines.
Mr Barrie, who also starred in the Brittas Empire, presents each of the hour-long programmes at 9pm on Thursdays.
The programme visited Jodrell Bank for an episode that focused on the 1950s.
Dr O’Brien helped the production crew during a day of filming in March this year.
He said the Lovell Telescope became the star of the episode.
“It is one of the great engineering feats,” he said.
“There was nothing like it at the time.”
During the programme Mr Barrie spoke about how Jodrell Bank was facing financial troubles in 1957.
He said the observatory was saved after the Lovell Telescope became involved in tracking space missions.
“Lovell knew he needed a miracle to save the project and himself,” said Mr Barrie.
“That miracle arrived on October 4, 1957. The USSR had launched a 23-inch diameter machine called Sputnik – the world’s first satellite. The space race had begun.”
Mr Barrie filmed the show with production company, The Gamma Project, which also makes his Massive Speed and Massive Machines shows.
Last week Dr O’Brien said he was quite serious when filming the show for National Geographic.
“It’s not like you’re talking to the hologram out of Red Dwarf,” he said.
“He’s not quite the same as that.”
Thursday was not the first time that Jodrell Bank has been in front of the cameras.
The Lovell Telescope appeared in an episode of Dr Who starring Jon Pertwee.
It also appeared briefly in the film version of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
© Copyright 2001-2010 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.knutsfordguardian.co.uk