From the age of three, Dame Dr Maggie Aderin was inspired by The Clangers, and her dream was to go into space. She became a space scientist, presenter of The Sky at Night, and a bestselling author.

Now she has written Starchild, an emotionally honest and revealing memoir, telling a story of education and prejudice, adversity and ambition, motherhood and the moon – all recounted in her characteristically warm and relatable style.

Determined to become a scientist, she studied physics at Imperial College London, contributed to the work on the James Webb and Gemini telescopes, and founded a company dedicated to inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers.

In 2024 she was knighted in the New Year’s Honours list for her services to science education and diversity.

“I’d toast the moon and look at the sky . . . I think it draws us  to it; we wonder what lies beyond.”