BOATY McBoatface’s rise to fame will see members of the Natural Environment Research Council quizzed by MPs.

The Science and Technology select committee has announced it will conduct an inquiry into the naming of NERC’s £200million vessel after more than 120,000 people voted for the comical name in the council’s Name Our Ship campaign.

But despite the name being the run-away success – with 124,109 votes of support, compared with 34,371 of its nearest rival – science minister Jo Johnson has said that the name of the ship should fit the mission and “capture the spirit of public endeavour”.

Fears that Boaty will be completely ruled out have seen culture minister Ed Vaizey wade into the matter, stating that the government should respect the will of the people.

Now Professor Duncan Wingham, the chief executive of the NERC, has been called upon to give evidence on Tuesday.

Nicola Blackwood, the chairman of the committee, said: "Hundreds of thousands of people took part in NERC’s competition to name a new polar research vessel.

"And they’ll want to know whether there’s going to be a ‘Boaty McVolte-face’ on the name. My committee wants to explore this as an example of science communication.

"Was it a triumph of public engagement or a PR disaster? We’ll also want to know how NERC intends to build on the mass coverage they’ve attracted and engage people with the vital polar science that Boaty will be enabling.”