It's behind you! BBC astronomer complains about lack of activity on Stargazing Live... as meteor shoots across the sky

By GRAHAM SMITH FOR MAILONLINE
Updated:

BBC astronomer Mark Thompson was left red-faced after he missed a meteor during a live broadcast while viewers watched it shooting across the sky behind him.

Adding insult to injury, the Stargazing Live presenter had just turned to camera to express his disappointment at the 'lack' of activity in the skies.

The scientist was stationed in a cloudy Macclesfield hoping to show viewers how to spot our nearest galaxy Andromeda.

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Mark Thompson missed a meteor when he turned to address the camera

Mark Thompson missed a meteor when he turned to address the camera

But as he reported back to the studio cursing the poor visibility and little activity in the sky, viewers caught a glimpse of a meteor shooting across the screen while the clueless presenter's back was turned.

Host duo Dara O'Briain and Brian Cox revisited the gaffe later on in the show  when viewers had emailed and tweeted in to tell show producers what they had missed.

O'Briain confirmed the shooting star was in fact a meteor from the Quadrantid meteor shower.

He then crossed back over to an embarrassed Mr Thompson, who admitted his blunder.

He said: 'I must admit I was oblivious to it, I think I'm probably the only person in the entire country who didn't see it.'

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