Mark Thompson

Science broadcaster and author

Mark is known for his tireless enthusiasm for making science accessible, through numerous tv, radio, podcast and theatre appearances, and books.

Tours

In Spring 2024, Mark returned to theatres across the UK with his award-winning Spectacular Science Show, which he performed to sell-out audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe – winning ‘Best Kid’s Show’ in 2019.

Film work

Mark was part of the presenting team for the award-nominated BBC Stargazing Live where he guided viewers around the night sky.

He has also presented films for The One Show (BBC One), on subjects ranging from ‘the strange properties of dark matter in a salt mine’ to ‘the mysteries of Stonehenge’, and appeared on The Alan Titchmarsh Show, This Morning, Good Morning Britain, Celebrity Mastermind and Celebrity Pointless.

Podcast

In 2023 Mark launched The Constellation Station, a weekly podcast that shares astronomical information about what’s happening in the UK skies in the week ahead. It includes details of the Moon’s phases, the visibility of the planets, as well as specific events such as eclipses and meteor showers, International Space Station passages and any other prominent objects that you might see in the sky. 

Speaking

Mark is an accomplished speaker having lectured at the Royal Astronomical Society, The Royal Institution, and the Norwich Science Festival to name a few. In addition to science and space, Mark regularly speaks about sleep, and the impact it has on our mental and physical health.

Books

Mark published his first book A Down to Earth Guide to the Cosmos in 2013. A Space Traveller’s Guide to the Solar System, Philips Stargazing with Mark Thompson and Philips Astrophotography with Mark Thompson and Rocket Science followed.

His most recent book, 101 Facts You Didn’t Know About Space often tops the ‘astronomy lists’ both here in the UK and Canada.

Charitable work

Mark is involved in several charities, most notably Barnardo’s Children’s Charity, which he raised tens of thousands of pounds for when he attempted to perform the ‘longest ever lecture’ in 2021. He lectured for 140 hours and 40 seconds.

He is a patron of the Norwich Science Festival, Youth STEMM Awards and Reach for a Star, and in 2018, Mark received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of East Anglia.

Photos by Steve Ullathorne, JMA Photography and Darren Bell