Not many people know that the “A” in Professor John A Peacock actually stands for “Acker” (i.e. Peacock is aka Bilk), although it’s clear the reason he’s not better known as a clarinettist is his failure to wear the appropriate form of hat.
I’ve also included a recording of the man himself playing a medley of his hit, Stranger on the Shore, accompanied by a selection of photographs of Cardiff Bay:
John A Peacock
Acker Bilk
I recently received an anonymous tipoff (from Haley Gomez) drawing attention to the remarkable similarity in visual appearance between esteemed Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy at the University of Cambridge Rob Kennicutt and the Muppet Show’s resident comedian Fozzie Bear. I hear they sound similar too! I wonder if by any chance they might be related?
Fozzie Bear
At the Royal Astronomical Society on Friday, Prof. Mark Birkinshaw gave a talk about the life of Johannes Hevelius the 400th anniversary of whose birth lies this year. Anyway, he (Mark Birkinshaw, that is, not Johannes Hevelius) reminds me a bit of Graeme Garden of the Goodies, although I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue if anyone agrees with me.
Mark Birkinshaw
Graeme Garden
Now that the results of the STFC Astronomy Grants Panel recommendations have been sent out – to the joy of a few and disappointment of many – I thought I’d honour the Chair by making him the first person to receive a second look-alike. The first one is here.
This one was suggested by another member of the Astronomy Grants Panel, who shall remain nameless but who is called Mike Watson. It might seem a strange coincidence that both these look-alikes are comedians but, then again, perhaps not…
Adrian Edmondson
Andy Lawrence
It appears that Newcastle United Football Club have appointed our own Rob Tucker as their new manager!
Rob Tucker
Alan Pardew
It’s been a while since I posted a lookee-likee, so how about this one?
Has anyone else noticed that astronomer Dave Clements bears a strong resemblance to President Merkin Muffley, a character played by Peter Sellers in the motion picture Dr Strangelove? I wonder if by any chance they might be related?
Dr Dave Clements
Merkin Muffley
Has anyone else noticed that Warrick Couch seems to be turning into Paul O’Grady? Still, it could have been worse. At least Lily Savage has now retired…
Paul O'Grady
Warrick Couch
Not a lot of people know that the late great British astrophysicist Sir Fred Hoyle was in fact born in Royston Vasey and has many famous relatives from the same place.
Edward Tattsyrup
Sir Fred Hoyle
Obviously someone else has already noticed the remarkable similarity between the structure of the human brain and that revealed by computer simulations of the large-scale structure of the Universe.
Does this mean that dark matter is really just all in the mind?
Well, having got the positive discrimination out of my system (at least for today), I’ll add just one more. I’ve always been struck by the similarity between distinguished former Chief Executive of PPARC, current Chief Executive of the Scottish Universities Physics Alliance and President of the European Research Council, Professor Ian Halliday and actor Jim Broadbent.
Ian Halliday
Jim Broadbent
In the Dark 