Countdown to astronaut Tim Peake's appearance in the city

Tim Peake, who made

Peake, the son of a former Express & Star journalist, briefly lived in Shropshire while training to be a helicopter instructor at RAF Shawbury.

He will be appearing at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre on September 29.

During the show, entitled The Quest To Explore Space, Peake will talk about his own awe-inspiring adventures as well as looking at those who have gone before him.

The show will include archive footage bringing to life the adventures of astronauts in a celebration of the historic human endeavour of space exploration, and he will portray what spaceflight is like, from the wondrous view of Earth, living in weightlessness, and the unique dangers and unexpected moments of humour.

He will also explain the years of training and gruelling psychological and physical pressures an astronaut must endure.

He said :“'It seems like yesterday I was launching to space, and I still hold the very deep honour and excitement of that day very close.

“Being able to tour the country, with a special show like The Quest To Explore Space, where I can share just a small taste of what I experienced as an astronaut, reliving my own journey and sharing stories from those ground-breaking moments in space exploration, is absolutely fantastic.

“I hope the stories I share will give people a special insight into the magic of space and continue to inspire generations of future space explorers.”

Peake joined the European Space Agency in 2009, after an 18-year career in the Army – making history in December 2015 as the first British astronaut to visit the International Space Station.

In his autobiography, Limitless, Peake recalled how moving to the Midlands was a major culture shock after spending four years stationed with Royal Green Jackets in Germany.

But he said the balti houses of Shropshire helped him to acclimatise quickly.

"At the weekly Thursday curry nights in Shrewsbury, I went from being able to manage a mild chicken tikka masala at the beginning of the course, to graduating with honours with a hot jalfrezi by the time it finished," he joked. "It only shows what you can achieve if you apply yourself."

His time at Shawbury was spent with a group of seven other pilots, from the Navy, Army, RAF and Royal Marines, and one of his abiding memories was the infamous 'lemmings day' at the end of the course, where pilots learn how to land when their engines fail.

"You keep the rotor blades turning by using the force from the air as you descend," he said.

He retired from the European Space Agency in 2023 but has continued to work with the organisation, as well as the UK Space Agency, as an ambassador for space to encourage young people to follow careers in science, technology, engineering and maths.

Tickets go on sale on Friday through the website www.nothird.co.uk/live-shows/tim-peake or direct from the theatre.