Footlights stories on the Graham Norton couch

On the New Year’s Eve special of The Graham Norton Show, comedian Tim Key brought Cambridge into the spotlight when he reminisced about the start of his career in the Cambridge Footlights. Key admitted that he only became part of the group after lying about being a Cambridge student. The actor and Cambridge alumnus Tom Hiddleston replied that “it finally makes sense,” as he had often wondered why he never saw Key around. Key did once get busted after being cast in the Footlights’ Edinburgh Fringe show. He told the audience: “I got a phone call from my friend Phil, saying ‘We know you’re not at Cambridge’.” Key was then told: “We’ll meet at the Maypole at 4:30,” referencing the student-favourite Cambridge pub. At the Maypole, Key explained, the group told him: “We know, don’t tell anyone else, you’re in.” So Key was not busted after all, and his fans are certainly glad for it!

Jesus Green lido gets a makeover

A green and blue mural has been unveiled on fences around Jesus Green, in an attempt to protect the area from graffiti. The mural, stretching along 65 metres of fencing and concrete walls, is believed to be the longest in the city. Artist and Anglia Ruskin alumnus Anugrah Mishra explained that he hoped the art would “capture the joy and energy of swimming while reflecting the city’s heritage”. The mural features King’s College as well as people cycling, walking, and swimming. The idea for the project came from the pool’s assistant manager, Annabel Wright, who commented: “We thought, ‘why not turn it into a space for art that everyone can enjoy? ’.”

‘Children must see themselves in literature’

A new version of the Listen to This Story! exhibition has been inaugurated at Cambridge’s main library. The exhibition focuses on how black people have been represented in UK children’s literature over the last 200 years. The curator, Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor, explained that her inspiration for the exhibition came after she met her husband – the son of Jamaican immigrants. She said: “When he grew up, he didn’t read and told me he didn’t see himself in books, so why should he?” While acknowledging that black representation in children’s books is improving, Sands-O’Connor warned: “If pressure is not kept on publishers, we could lose ground again, so it’s not a done deal.”

Cambridge system to assess astronauts’ eyesight earns medal

A Cambridge University academic has been awarded the Royal Aeronautical Society Bronze Medal for developing a head-mounted system that will evaluate the vision of astronauts on board the International Space Station (ISS). The project was led by Dr Ethan Waisberg, an academic foundation doctor at the University of Cambridge and a member of NASA’s Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Working Group. Dr Waisberg commented: “The project I have been working on involves the assessment of changes in the eyes of astronauts over the course of long-duration space missions, which are over 150 days in duration.” The system is set to be deployed on the ISS in 2026.