The Sky at Night is a monthly documentary television programme on astronomy produced by the BBC.

The show had the same permanent presenter, Patrick Moore, from its first broadcast on 24 April 1957 until 7 January 2013. The latter date was a posthumous broadcast, which followed Moore’s death on 9 December 2012. This made it the longest-running programme with the same presenter in television history. Many early episodes are missing, either because the tapes were wiped, thrown out, or because the episode was broadcast live and never recorded in the first place. Beginning with the 3 February 2013 edition, the show was co-presented by Lucie Green and Chris Lintott. Since December 2013 Maggie Aderin-Pocock has been a presenter. The programme’s opening and closing theme music is “At the Castle Gate”, from the incidental music to Pelléas et Mélisande, written in 1905 by Jean Sibelius, performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham.

This episode:
Do aliens exist, and can we talk to them? What does a black hole sound like? Does the universe look like a doughnut? In a spectacular season finale, The Sky at Night teams up with hit podcast Curious Cases to answer your burning space mysteries, from the strange sounds of the
cosmos to the furthest edges of the observable universe.

Filmed in front of a live studio audience, presenters Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain bring their signature wit and curiosity as they quiz our stellar panel of experts – Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Chris Lintott and George Dransfield. Expect lively debate, surprising revelations, and moments of pure astronomical awe as they explore the weird and wonderful corners of space science.

Meanwhile, Pete Lawrence turns his eyes to the heavens to guide us through the incredible sights currently lighting up the night sky and offering a glimpse into the mysteries that unfold when we simply look up.

Adding another layer of intrigue, a special BBC Ideas animation explores our ongoing search for alien life and the tantalising possibility of making contact with extraterrestrial intelligence.

And for those who want to keep the curiosity flowing, Radio 4 are airing a companion episode of Curious Cases, featuring extra content from the live recording.

Join us for this unforgettable night of cosmic exploration before the programme returns in the spring of 2026 with even more wonders from the final frontier.

Do aliens exist, and can we talk to them? What does a black hole sound like? Does the universe look like a doughnut? In a spectacular season finale, The Sky at Night teams up with hit podcast Curious Cases to answer your burning space mysteries, from the strange sounds of the
cosmos to the furthest edges of the observable universe.

Filmed in front of a live studio audience, presenters Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain bring their signature wit and curiosity as they quiz our stellar panel of experts – Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Chris Lintott and George Dransfield. Expect lively debate, surprising revelations, and moments of pure astronomical awe as they explore the weird and wonderful corners of space science.

Meanwhile, Pete Lawrence turns his eyes to the heavens to guide us through the incredible sights currently lighting up the night sky and offering a glimpse into the mysteries that unfold when we simply look up.

Adding another layer of intrigue, a special BBC Ideas animation explores our ongoing search for alien life and the tantalising possibility of making contact with extraterrestrial intelligence.

And for those who want to keep the curiosity flowing, Radio 4 are airing a companion episode of Curious Cases, featuring extra content from the live recording.

Join us for this unforgettable night of cosmic exploration before the programme returns in the spring of 2026 with even more wonders from the final frontier.

Links:
The Sky at Night