Brian Cox says BBC bosses banned him from listening to a distant planet on live TV – in case aliens breached editorial guidelines.
His BBC2 show, Stargazing Live, featured a planet called Threapleton Holmes B, recently discovered by two amateur astronomers.
But Cox said the idea of listening to the new planet live on air was blocked by BBC health and safety regulations.
He told BBC 6 Music radio: “The BBC actually said, ‘But you can’t do that because we need to go through the regulations and health and safety and everything in case we discover a signal from an alien civilisation’.
“You mean we would discover the first hint that there is other intelligent life in the universe beyond Earth, live on air, and you’re worried about the health and safety of it? It was incredible.”
Breakfast host Shaun Keaveny added: “The idea that intelligent life could be discovered and it might swear and that’s why we wouldn’t broadcast it – it’s such a brilliant BBC thing, isn’t it.”
Cox also told of another bizarre run-in with BBC managers while making Stargazing Live.
He said: “We were thinking of looking for signs of geological activity which might point to life on Mars.
“Someone from the BBC said to me, ‘Would there have to be a prize if someone discovered it?’.
“You’re going to say to someone, you discovered the first evidence for alien life beyond Earth – and here’s a book voucher as well?”
Cop wore skeleton suit to steal bikes
A police officer stole bicycles in broad daylight while wearing a skeleton suit to show “just how easy” it is for a thief.
PCSO Neil Spiring, of Avon and Somerset Police, used bolt croppers and brute force to ‘steal’ four bikes in Bristol city centre, reports the BBC.
One time, he even wore an attention-grabbing skeleton outfit yet more than 50 people walked past and saw him, but nobody called 999.
The force filmed his ‘crimes’ and posted the footage on YouTube to encourage members of the public to call 999 if they see a crime.
Insp Keith Rundle said: “We’re not suggesting that anyone become a ‘have-a-go hero’ but we’re asking people to call 999 and report bike theft as soon as they see it happening so we can catch the bike thieves in the act.
“We are constantly on the lookout for bike thieves but we also need the community to be vigilant and to call us if they see a crime happening.
“The faster you let us know the more likely we are to be able to catch the thief.”
The stunt was conducted as part of Operation Relentless which is being run by the force this autumn.
Sentenced to cook Thanksgiving dinner
A US judge has ordered a woman who knocked over a police officer to make a Thanksgiving dinner as part of her punishment.
Valerie Rodgers, 46, of Canton, Ohio, will have to make a roast turkey dinner, and all the trimmings, for three police officers who are unable to work.
Judge Frank Forchione also placed her on probation for a year and said she would be jailed if she did not comply, reports CantonRep.com.
The court heard that police officer Eric Martzolf was directing traffic during the Canton Marathon when he ordered Rodgers to stop and not make a left turn.
She ignored the order and Martzolf was thrown on to his back as she drove past.
Rodgers pleaded guilty to assault, failing to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, failure to stop after an accident and not obeying traffic control.
Boy, 3, fined £1,500 for urinating in garden
A US mum was fined $2,500 after her three-year-old son urinated outside – in his own front yard.
A police officer saw Dillan Warden pull down his pants and issued the ticket, which will cost the family the equivalent of £1,560.
Ashley Warden, the little boy’s mother, said he was being potty trained but answered the call of nature outside as he wasn’t near a toilet.
Warden, of Piedmont, Oklahoma, said: “Dillan pulled down his pants to pee outside… and the cop pulled up and asked for my license and told me he was going to give me a ticket for public urination.”
Grandmother Jennifer Warden added: “I said: ‘Really? He is three years old’, and he said: ‘It doesn’t matter. It is public urination.’
“I said: ‘We are on our property’, and he said: ‘It’s in public view’.” The family, which lives on two-and-a-half acres of land, have complained that the officer which issued the ticket parks at the end of their street daily.
They hope a judge will throw out the case when it comes before a court next month.
Vampire seeks blood donor
A US man who describes himself as a ‘vampire’ is advertising online for a blood donor. The 21-year-old Seattle man says he doesnt want to harm anyone – other than “taking a bit of their blood from time to time”.
Describing himself as a “male sanguinarian, 21 years old age (on the exterior), with hazel gray eyes and auburn hair”, he has posted an ad on craigslist.
“Greetings to everyone who is reading this,” he begins, “I am unable to give my name for obvious reason, but all you do need to know is that I am a vampire.
“I am in need of a blood donor for my personal use. Being a donor is not all fun and games, mixed with mysticism and sex; but it can be if that is what we wish.
“I am looking for either men or women, but I would prefer men since I lean more towards them in terms of blood and sex.
“It would also be great if you were either AB- or O-, for those are the blood types that I am used to.
“This would be an intimate, one-on-one, experience. I use a wide range of techniques, in case you would care for something other than myself biting you.”
Appropriately enough, the ad coincides with the 165th birthday of Dracula author Bram Stoker on 8 November.
Post published in: News