Look up! The Sky at Night examines Jodrell Bank’s Cold War role
'Jodrell Bank: Tuning Into the Universe' examines GCHQ’s Cold War partnership with Jodrell Bank Observatory.
Copyright BBC The Sky at Night 2026
The Sky at Night - the BBC’s flagship and iconic astronomy programme looking at cutting-edge space science - features a segment on Jodrell Bank Observatory, including its unique and previously hidden partnership with GCHQ.
Airing on BBC Four and available on iPlayer, the episode sees Professor Danielle George, GCHQ’s Chief Scientific Adviser for National Security (making her third appearance on the show!) talk to presenter Professor Chris Lintott about the Cheshire observatory’s special role during the Cold War.
During the interview, filmed at the Manchester University Main Library in April 2026, Prof George and Prof Lintott discuss previously classified letters and documents, secure phone lines, audio recordings.
They also discuss GCHQ’s continued presence in the North West, and how Jodrell Bank’s radio astronomy capabilities – including its powerful radio telescope – were used to help the UK build a vital intelligence picture of Soviet space and missile activity during the space race.