The Sky at Night

This is now on BBC1.

I'm enjoying it very much, but Sir Patrick Moore seems to be getting very old now, and is barely understandable.

I wonder if the interviews are actually recorded as they seem. Do the interviewees simply respond to Patricks questions, as when he asks them he hardly makes any sense.

The legendary Patrick Moore with the moondust on his shoulders! Who could replace Sir Patrick when he leaves though?

I was under the impression that the ever so slightly weird Chris Lintott is being groomed to takeover when the old monocle himself retires (if ever).

i wouldn't count on it.

Well now that it's started on BBC Wales, can I say how disappointed I am at the lack of moondust this month -- although the trousers are still fantastically high, as I have come to expect.

I understand virtually none of this programme, yet I watch it still. It's very reassuring.

Yes I was going to say perhaps that blond bloke will take over, he's been on it a lot in recent times.

If word round the academic circles is to be believed, an astronomer named Ian Morison, currently operations manager at Jodrell Bank, is a frontrunner to replace Sir Patrick.

http://www.open2.net/digitalplanet/Photos/tv6space/ianmb.jpg

He's worked with Open University and is the director of SETI UK. He's also featured in several documentaries, FHM and BBC radio, and he also appeared in but was cut from The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy film.

Patrick Moore must be about 100 now, surely?

Close. He's 82.

Sir Patrick can no longer do many of the things he loves. Arthritus has left him unable to play the xylophone and typing on his typewriter has become a painful experience. He can only walk short distances with two sticks.

I wouldn't let any of this put me off, but in the past year or so I've noticed he's having real trouble with his speech. It is muttered and slurred and has become very difficult to understand indeed.

I like Patrick a lot but I fear he is no longer up to the job.

http://www.neave.com/rant/2005_01/patrick_moore.jpeg

He must buy his own trousers. I mean, they are a Cowell beater!

He sounds perfect for BBC News 24!

A typewriter? Typewriters are a lot harder to use than computer keyboards. Surely he could use one of those. Perhaps if he got the computer, he could play a virtual xylophone