{"id":60332,"date":"2024-06-11T12:39:07","date_gmt":"2024-06-11T12:39:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/d1d19fe7-1b82-4d34-bebe-a737035e61d3"},"modified":"2024-06-11T13:39:44","modified_gmt":"2024-06-11T13:39:44","slug":"behind-the-scenes-on-one-of-the-worlds-longest-running-tv-shows-bbcs-the-sky-at-night","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/behind-the-scenes-on-one-of-the-worlds-longest-running-tv-shows-bbcs-the-sky-at-night\/","title":{"rendered":"Behind the scenes on one of the world\u2019s longest running TV shows, BBC\u2019s The Sky at Night"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Ezzy Pearson\n <\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 11 June 2024 at 12:39 PM<\/p>

\n\n
Hannah Wakeford and Maggie Aderin-Pocock (from left) behind the scenes on The Sky at Night.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

BBC\u2019s The Sky at Night is one of the world\u2019s longest running TV shows. <\/p>

Since 24 April 1957, the show has been keeping viewers at home up to date with all the latest space science, as well as giving a monthly report on all the best things to see in the night sky that month.<\/p>

\u201cThe Sky at Night and shows like it are important because many people look up at the night sky and wonder what\u2019s going on,\u201d says Maggie Aderin-Pocock<\/a>, who co-presents the monthly show with Chris Lintott<\/a>. \u201cWith shows like this, we can actually give people the latest cutting-edge information in an accessible way, just so they can be a part of that journey.\u201d<\/p>

The pair took over presenting the show from British broadcasting legend, Patrick Moore<\/a>, who created and then led the show until his death in December 2012.<\/p>

Yesterday, Maggie and the team were filming the show\u2019s latest episode at the University of Bristol<\/a>, so we visited the show to take a behind the scenes look at how The Sky at Night gets made.<\/p>

\"Magazine
Magazine features editor Ezzy Pearson and presenter Maggie Aderin-Pocock (from left) behind the scenes of The Sky at Night.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The latest science from JWST<\/h2>

The July 2024 instalment of The Sky at Night will follow up on a previous episode that aired in August 2022, \u201cThe James Webb Road Trip\u201d, where the team spoke to UK researchers who had just received the first ever data from the world\u2019s premier new observatory, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)<\/a>.<\/p>

JWST is an infrared observatory with a 6.5m, gold plated mirror that can study all aspects of the cosmos \u2013 from our Solar System<\/a> to galaxies on the edge of the observable Universe<\/a> \u2013 in incredible detail.<\/p>

In this episode, the team were revisiting those researchers to find out what they\u2019ve learned in the two years since.<\/p>

\"A
Hannah Wakeford shows her observations of exoplanet WASP 17b with JWST.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

\u201cAs a space scientist and astronomer I have a general knowledge of quite a few things, but when we meet the experts they go into deep depth,\u201d says Maggie. \u201cThey talk about the latest information, and it enhances my knowledge. Then we can share those with other people. It\u2019s a real joy.\u201d<\/p>

Maggie was speaking to Hannah Wakeford<\/a>, who uses JWST to investigate exoplanet atmospheres. In this episode, she highlighted one specific hot Jupiter, WASP 17b.<\/p>

Using JWST, Wakeford and her colleagues have been able to discover that the planet\u2019s atmosphere is filled with crystals of silica, most commonly found here on Earth as sand or quartz.<\/p>

Behind the scenes on The Sky at Night<\/h2>

When I arrived at the university building where the recording was taking place, I was greeted by the two-person crew who would be filming that day: series producer Amena Hasan and assistant producer Lily Shepherd.<\/p>

The pair were responsible for every aspect of filming, beginning with carting all the equipment up the four stories to Wakeford\u2019s office.<\/p>

Artfully using the very limited room on offer, they set up their lights and cameras ready to film Maggie interviewing Wakeford on her research, which would run as a segment on the final show.<\/p>

During filming, the two women managed both sound and video across three different cameras, while Hasan simultaneously directed, keeping an eye out for any sections that would need to be rerecorded, or visuals which would need a close-up shot later.<\/p>

\"Series
Series producer Amena Hasan manages the filming behind the scenes on The Sky at Night.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

(The impressiveness of The Sky at Night managing all this with such a modest crew was particularly highlighted by the fact a TV-drama was filming across the road, which had a behind the scenes crew of at least 20 people that we could see!)<\/p>

\u201cIt is a monthly programme, which means we\u2019re always up against a deadline,\u201d says Hasan, speaking on other challenges the show faces. \u201cWe always want to be as current and recent as possible, so it is quite frantic at times, but really enjoyable.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cMy favourite thing about working on the show are the people \u2013 from the presenters to the scientists and the team that I work with. There is so much passion and love of the subject that shines through, and that\u2019s always a joy to try and capture.”<\/p>

Making science understandable on the Sky at Night<\/h2>

To turn this passion for space into good TV, Maggie, Wakeford and the production crew all worked together to map out how they would flow from topic to topic.<\/p>

\u201cThe Sky at Night has this really nice way of summarising what you\u2019ve been working on for over a year into this nice, neat little storyline,\u201d says Wakeford. \u201cIt\u2019s actually quite nice to have people working with you on creating that narrative.\u201d<\/p>

\"\"<\/figure>

Though the structure of the conversation was planned, the actual content of the interview is completely off the cuff.<\/p>

The enthusiasm of both interviewer and interviewee is clear, as they excitedly look through spectra charts of WASP 17b, discussing exactly how JWST\u2019s observations reveals the presence of quartz crystals flying about the exoplanet\u2019s atmosphere.<\/p>

\u201cI love to be able to tell a story,\u201d says Wakeford. \u201cThese are planets are remote. They\u2019re completely alien to us. Being able to explain what we\u2019re seeing so that people are as excited as we are is important to me. And that\u2019s something I love doing.\u201d<\/p>

Putting the show together<\/h2>
\"Maggie
Maggie rehearses her script before filming a piece to camera for The Sky at Night.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

After the interview, Maggie ventured outside to film a few pieces to camera, which help glue the various segments of the show together and before long the team had everything they needed in Bristol.<\/p>

But the episode was far from done. Later that week the crew would be heading to Leicester to meet up with Chris Lintott to speak with Leigh Fletcher, who uses JWST to examine a planet a little closer to home, Jupiter.<\/p>

Then, once all the filming is in the bag, it\u2019s back to the BBC\u2019s Science Unit in Glasgow to edit the show together, ready to add another chapter to The Sky at Night.<\/p>

“The Sky at Night is an incredible series to work on. It comes with such a heritage<\/a> that it feels quite special to be a part of it for a short time,” says Hasan.<\/p>

\"\"
Maggie films one of her pieces to camera at the University of Bristol.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

You can watch the episode for yourself on 8 July, at 10pm on BBC Four.<\/p>

To find out more about Hannah Wakeford\u2019s research on WASP 17b, pick up the August 2024 issue of Sky at Night Magazine.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

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