Am I alone in thinking that Professor Paul Shellard of Cambridge University looks a bit like Dick Dastardly from the Wacky Races? Failing that, there’s always Terry-Thomas…
Archive for the Astronomy Lookalikes Category
Astronomy Look-alikes, No. 28
Posted in Astronomy Lookalikes with tags Dick Dastardly, Paul Shellard, Terry-Thomas on May 29, 2010 by telescoperAstronomy Look-alikes, No. 27
Posted in Astronomy Lookalikes with tags Austin Powers, Dr Evil, Nick Kaiser on May 28, 2010 by telescoperA few years ago Professor Nick Kaiser mentioned to me that people said he reminded them of Austin Powers. More recently, however, I’ve noticed that Nick looks less like the International Man of Mystery and more like his arch-rival, Dr Evil. He must have been spending too much time using a Mac.
Professor Kaiser
Doctor Evil
Astronomy Look-alikes, No. 26
Posted in Astronomy Lookalikes with tags Mike Edmunds, Seamus Heaney on May 21, 2010 by telescoperI have a theory that erstwhile Professor of Astronomy at Cardiff University Mike Edmunds and celebrated poet Seamus Heaney are in fact the same person. Well, you never see them together, do you?
Astronomy Look-alikes, No. 25
Posted in Astronomy Lookalikes with tags Lembit Opik, Rob Ivison on May 20, 2010 by telescoperOne of the best things about having visiting seminar speakers here in Cardiff is that they often tend to bring ideas for my astronomy look-alike series with them. One of the best I’ve had for a while was suggested last night over dinner with yesterday’s speaker.
I wonder how many of you have noticed the similarity – tonsorial issues apart – between cheeky boy Rob Ivison and former Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament Lembit Opik? I wonder if by any chance they might be related?
Incidentally, it might be worth mentioning that Lembit Opik himself has an interesting family connection with astronomy.
Lembit Opik
Rob Ivison
Astronomy Look-alikes, No. 24
Posted in Astronomy Lookalikes with tags Mr Mackey, Roger Davies, Royal Astronomical Society, South Park on May 19, 2010 by telescoperIn view of the recent installation of Professor Roger Davies as the new President of the Royal Astronomical Society, I feel obliged to do him the honour of adding to my collection of look-alikes. How about Mr Mackey from South Park?
Astronomy Look-alikes, No. 23
Posted in Astronomy Lookalikes with tags Swiss Tony, Walter Gear on May 11, 2010 by telescoperSince my Head of School is currently on his way to a boondoggle in Mexico I thought it might be safe to point out, as many have done to me, that he bears more than a passing resemblance to Swiss Tony from the Fast Show. Doing astronomy, you see, is very like making love to a beautiful woman…
Walter Gear
Swiss Tony
Astronomy Look-alikes, No. 22
Posted in Astronomy Lookalikes with tags Martin Amis, William Herschel on April 26, 2010 by telescoperI’m indebted to Matt Griffin for drawing my attention to the remarkable likeness between Martin Amis, novelist son of a novelist father, and William Herschel, astronomer father of an astronomer son. I wonder if by any chance they might be related?
Martin Amis
William Herschel
Astronomy (and Physics) Look-alikes, No. 21
Posted in Astronomy Lookalikes with tags Andrei Linde, Barney Rubble on April 9, 2010 by telescoperNot a lot of people know that famous cosmologist Andrei Linde provided the inspiration behind the cartoon character Barney Rubble from the Flintstones. Or was it the other way round?
Barney Rubble
Andrei Linde
Astronomy Look-alikes, No. 20
Posted in Astronomy Lookalikes with tags Francois Bouchet, Stephen Fry on April 9, 2010 by telescoperI wonder if anyone else has noticed that Gallic cosmologist extraordinaire and doyen of the French division of the Planck consortium, Francois Bouchet, looks a lot like English National Treasure and fount of all wisdom, Stephen Fry? Perhaps they could be related?
Stephen Fry
Francois Bouchet
Astronomy Look-alikes, No. 19
Posted in Astronomy Lookalikes with tags Kenneth Williams, Martin Rees on April 6, 2010 by telescoperWhile watching Carry on Screaming on the telly tonight, I was reminded of the similarity in visual appearance possessed by the villainous Orlando (played by Kenneth Williams) and the distinguished Astronomer Royal, President of the Royal Society and Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, and the Universe, Lord Rees of Ludlow (who, I hasten to add, is not at all villainous..).
Lord Martin of Rees
Sir Kenneth of Williams
In the Dark 