IT’S an unusual gig, a night of cosmology and physics, interspersed with science jokes and Brian Blessed imitations from Brian Cox’s comedian sidekick, but one that me and my 14-year-old daughter thoroughly enjoyed.

Over two hours, Professor Cox gave a tour of the main ideas in current cosmology, with reference to their supporting theories, such as Einstein’s general relativity. His famed passionate delivery, 1980s' jacket and constant smile was accompanied by a huge video screen with, as Cox says, “beautiful pictures” and impressive graphics, such as a 3D fly through a bunch of galaxies.

His memory for staggeringly large and small numbers was astonishing and he used a variety of devices to convey the truly immense size of our observable universe, which is now thought to contain around two trillion galaxies.

An important part of the message is how small and insignificant planet Earth can seem in this vast cosmos. He points out, however, that like the fleeting life of an individual within our planet’s population, the fleeting life of our planet and civilization is precious and to be cared for.

Before the interval, the audience is asked to tweet any questions they have to Brian, and half a dozen are answered in the second half, in a double act with Robin Ince, the comedian from BBC Radio 4’s Infinite Monkey Cage.

As a keen reader of popular science, I felt that the level was about right – sometimes challenging and leaving me wanting to read more. My daughter now wants a cosmology book for Christmas. Well done, Professor Cox.

Review by Nick Pears