I flunked science at school. What did I care? I never wanted to become a doctor or build rockets for a living. I was going to be a professional footballer!
As a child, the physics of elementary particles were far from sexy; I was way better at drawing pictures (but obviously not at writing words, I hear you say). I've always preferred the "wow!" over the "why?". Even now, I don't really care how things work, I just accept that they do. Which makes it all the more remarkable that I found myself transfixed, without the need to pop the kettle on even once, for the whole glorious hour of Dara O Briain's Science Club (BBC Knowledge, Fridays at 8pm).
Set in what appears to be a posh student bar with a very blokey Top Gear ambience (don't hold that against it), the programme, along with the Irish comedian who hosts it, is aiming to show us that science may be nerdy but it can be cool, too. (And if you want more proof, witness the BBC's other beguiling boffin, Professor Brian Cox, who you may have seen along with O Briain last week in Stargazing. The last episode of that three-part series is on tonight, at 8pm).
Science Club strikes a fine balance between humour and hard facts. Over the next six episodes, a mix of household experiments, guest presenters and renowned scientists will teach us about genetics and that clever fella, Albert Einstein. Although it's still science dumbed down for laddish mass appeal, at least that means it doesn't come across as preachy and know-it-all, and much like Stephen Fry's QI, it educates while entertaining.