Brian Cox says astronauts should be more famous than X-Factor stars

And he’s praying the pioneering Brit will be such a hit he’s more famous than tonight’s X Factor champ.

Tim, 43, will blast off in Kazakhstan, becoming the first Briton to undertake a mission on the International Space Station.

Millions will watch the rocket’s launch and its docking with the ISS on two live BBC shows hosted by Brian and Dara O’Briain.

“Tim’s the one person who won’t be nervous,” said Brian, 47. “Every astronaut and test pilot I’ve met – and I’ve flown with some of them – just don’t do nervous.

“They always say nerves make it more likely you’ll make a mistake. I know I don’t have the right stuff to go into space but these people have it.

“I’ve met legends like Buzz Aldrin, who is hewn out of granite. And I interviewed John Young, who flew the first Space Shuttle. His pulse rate never got above 60 during the whole thing.

“But it’s not without risks and live exploration in a rocket means there is a real excitement.”

Brian has been space mad since he was a kid, inspired by the Apollo-Soyuz mission.

He hopes the nation will get hooked on astronaut Tim’s six-month stint. As well as the scientific work he’ll be hoping to engage with the public, including running the London Marathon, on race day, on an on-board treadmill.

“I know he’ll come back and talk to schools and go on TV and really inspire,” said Brian.

“In the 1960s, astronauts like Neil Armstrong were more famous than rock stars. I think that’s the way it should be and I hope Tim becomes a bigger name than whoever wins something like X Factor.

“When we did Stargazing for the eclipse last year half the viewing public watched. If it captures the imagination again this could be a springboard.”

Former musician Brian has become known as the sexy face of science, making a heavyweight subject seem accessible.

But he shrugs off the heartthrob tag. “When I was a student I used to think science didn’t have the profile it deserved,” he says.

“Sometimes when I go to the shops I don’t want my picture taken or be asked about black holes. But if it’s good for science I can’t complain.”

Brian’s one regret about this week’s mission is that it’s not a lot deeper in space. “We’re not where we wanted to be when it comes to manned space flight,” he adds.

“All the Apollo astronauts I’ve met say they thought we’d have been on Mars by now.

“We haven’t pushed the frontier of exploration beyond the moon since 1972.

“It’s extremely disappointing and a real regret.

“We’d know how to do things better if we’d gone on to Mars.

“I think we’d have better air travel, at the least, and just a more advanced society.”

Live Blast Off: A Stargazing Special 10.30am BBC1 and Stargazing Live: Brit in Space 7pm BBC2 Tuesday.