Sky unveils first look at new documentary, Hawking: Can You Hear Me?

31 August 2021

Sky has recently revealed that they will be the host of a documentary, titled Hawking: Can You Hear Me?, that will explore the incredible story of Professor Stephen Hawking, through the unmatched access to his family and their private archives.

California 1974. Family photograph / Copyright Hawking Estate

Hawking was born on January 8th, 1942 in Oxford, England. By his own account, Hawking didn't put much time into his studies. He calculated that he averaged around an hour a day focusing on school. However, he really didn’t have to do much more than that; in 1962, he graduated from the University of Oxford with honors in Natural Science.

Hawking’s extraordinary story has been told many times, even appearing in popular culture; such as a 2012 episode of The Big Bang Theory, alongside Jim Parsons who plays Sheldon Cooper. Perhaps the most notable retelling was The Theory of Everything from 2014, staring Eddie Redmayne in the role of Hawking.

The world-famous cosmologist passed away in March, 2018. Now, his family, friends and colleagues speak truthfully, for the first time, about the world the public never got to see.

They speak about Hawking’s rise to the well-deserved status genius and genuine icon. The documentary is set to figure out if there was a cost, to himself or others, of his genius, as well as unravelling the man behind such brilliant work.

Hawking: Can You Hear Me? will look deep into the life of this incredible physicist, but will also seek to root out the untold human story of his life.

This documentary should stand apart from the rest, as his story will not ne told by biographers, historians or commentators, but by those who were with him at the time.

Scenes from significant moments in Hawking’s life will be told by people who were present when they occurred, and who were there when defining moments and discoveries unfolded.

The 90-minute documentary will also be told by those who were deeply impacted by his triumphs, successes, and also tragedies; it seems that no stone will be left unturned.

Contributors include Stephen’s children Robert, Lucy and Tim, his first wife Jane, as well as a collection of renowned scientists who consider him an inspiration, a role-model, a peer, and a friend, for a fascinatingly well-rounded portrait of the scientist and the family man.

Hawking: Can You Hear Me? is a Sky Original documentary, and will land on the platform on September 20th, 2021.

Written by Melissa, who you can follow on Twitter @melissajournal