Dara O Briain to host Channel 5 series Secrets Of Our Moon
Dara O Briain's first TV format since the cancellation of Mock The Week will be new Channel 5 documentary series Secrets Of Our Moon.
The two hour-long episodes produced by BBC Studios Science Unit will aim to "explore all aspects of the moon".
The producers say: "The moon has been the source of myths, legends and wonder across time. In this series, Dara takes viewers on a journey to explore the ways in which the moon shapes just about everything - from who we are, to the world we live in.
"Across the series Dara will be speaking to some of the world's top lunar experts, scientists, researchers and geologists, as well as experts in other fields such as biology, to get a sense of how widely the moon influences every aspect of our lives."
Dara O Briain comments: "I love everything about space, but the moon in particular holds a special kind of magic. It's inspired countless myths and legends through human history but it's a place full of genuine cutting-edge scientific mystery - and one which we are gearing up to visit again, over the next decade. All of which made the offer to present this series irresistible. I'll be sharing everything you need to know about our closest celestial neighbour - as well as uncovering some real surprises along the way, including for me too!"
Mock The Week ended in October after 21 series on air. The comedian appeared on Desert Island Discs at the weekend, and in the interview he said of the cancelled BBC Two show: "It had been very good to me and it could have gone on, but - equally - you don't get that kind of innings normally. But it was kind of bittersweet. After years of people [commenting] 'oh it's rubbish, it's rubbish', the minute it got axed they were like, 'I've always been very fond of it'. Nobody told us that, all we got was the grief off people, we never got the impression that people were liking it!".