Believers petition the BBC

Astrologers are demanding the BBC apologise after Dara O’Briain called their unproven pseudo-science ‘rubbish’.

On Stargazing Live earlier this month, the comedian said: ‘Let's get this straight once and for all, astrology is rubbish.’

His co-host Professor Brian Cox, the particle physicist, added: ‘In the interests of balance on the BBC, yes, astrology is nonsense.’

Now the Astrological Association is getting together a petition against the comments and demanding the corporation distance itself from them.

In what many scientists will see as strangely ironic, the group says that dismissing astrology as nonsense is ‘unsubstantiated’.

It says: ‘The Association will be requesting that the BBC make a public apology and a statement that they do not support the personal views of Professor Brian Cox or Dara O’Briains [sic] on the subject of astrology. We also request that the BBC will commit to making a fair and balanced representation of astrology when aired in the future.’

The group has been complaining about Cox since he was similarly dismissive of their beliefs in Wonders of the Solar System. They said: ‘His justification was fragmentary astronomy and empty of logic. Yet he allowed the total condemnation of astrology.’

Published: 24 Jan 2011