Dara Ó Briain, the comedian, father of two and self-confessed science nerd talks school, writing for children and meeting Stephen Hawking
Tell us a bit about your new book, Beyond The Sky. 
It?s really a guide to the various ways we can explore space. People have been dreaming about space travel for centuries, but there?s still so much we don?t know. This takes you on a bit of a journey, and aims to show young people that sometimes the most amazing things can be seen when we simply look up once in a while.
You have a degree in maths and theoretical physics, where does your love of science stem from" 
I always loved science as a kid ? I guess it started with a teacher who went off-curriculum and said, ?Look, now let me tell you about the really, really cool stuff.? I loved space too. When I was younger, I?d always be looking out for the Big Dipper and all the constellations, especially when we went away on holidays. I thought I might end up pursuing it as a career but later on I ran away to the circus and fell in love with telling jokes instead. Dara and his wife Susan have two children. Photography: GETTY IMAGES/Alan Weller/Contributor
Is there a book that was particularly special to you when you were younger" 
I asked my parents for a copy of Stephen Hawking?s A Brief History of Time for Christmas when I was 16 and it still stands pride of place on my shelf ? except now it?s been signed by the man himself. I?m looking at it right now!
You interviewed Stephen...