UK TV programmes to watch this week : 27/05/2017

Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 7:45pm to 8:30pm | Saturday 27th May 2017)

When a pyramid appears overnight, every clock in the world begins counting down to the Earth’s destruction. As three opposing armies lie ready to annihilate each other, an alien race stands ready to offer humanity a deal that could save them. Will the Doctor be forced to accept their help?

The Fifteen Billion Pound Railway (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 29th May 2017)

This final episode follows the men and women racing to build London’s brand new underground railway – the Elizabeth Line – in time for the first train launch in May 2017. Engineers must construct and fit out a new station at Paddington, erect a 130m-long great glass canopy to soar above the structure and plug directly into Brunel’s original grade one listed station – a nerve-wracking feat. At Tottenham Court Road, workers are building underground platforms and concourses the size of an aircraft carrier in the heart of the world’s busiest shopping district. The team must carefully remove enormous props that hold apart the station walls, as convoys of concrete trucks drive down Oxford Street where half a million shoppers and tourists visit, every day. In Derby, a father and son team race to construct 66 trains to ferry passengers across the 30 miles of Crossrail line. Every site and engineer must pull together as they race to deliver this new fifteen billion pound railway.

The Great Fire: In Real Time (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 31st May 2017)

History series revealing what actually happened during the Great Fire of London of 1666, hour by hour, and street by street. Dan Jones visits the exact location of the bakery where it started, Suzannah Lipscomb reveals how Londoners tried to save their belongings, and Rob Bell investigates 17th-century building materials and the prevailing weather conditions.

The Great Fire: In Real Time (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 1st June 2017)

History series. Dan Jones follows the path of the fire on the worst day of its rampage as it swept through some of London’s iconic buildings. Suzannah Lipscomb finds evidence in the archives of who was blamed and who escaped scot free. Rob Bell visits Imperial College London for more information about the spread of the fire and to re-create the intense heat it generated.

The Great Fire: In Real Time (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 2nd June 2017)

History series. Dan Jones reveals why Londoners were desperate to stop the fire reach the Tower, Rob Bell looks at the bizarre 17-century methods of treating burns and Suzannah Lipscomb examines a controversial new theory about how many people died. They also examine how the authorities dealt with the 100,000 people who had lost everything and how a new city was built from the ashes.

The Secret Life of the Long-Haul Flight (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:30pm | Friday 2nd June 2017)

Documentary with unprecedented access to Qantas and their long-haul service out of London to Sydney, revealing passengers’ touching stories and reasons for travel, confessions of the cabin crew, secret areas of the plane that are off-limits to passengers, technological wizardry that launches tons of metal into the air, and the army of staff that keeps every aspect of the airline running.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 2nd June 2017)

The double Bafta-nominated series returns live to Friday nights for the 11th series with its unique brand of irreverent satire and sharp topical comedy. The live, joyous, topical comedy extravaganza hosted by Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe examines the biggest and most entertaining news stories and rounds up the main talking points of the week, including the latest general election news. The team reunites at this crucial time with their upbeat, honest, and award-winning brand of satirical comedy. In this edition they are joined by presenter and comedian Sue Perkins who helps dissect the week’s events.

All TV guide information taken from DigiGuide — www.getdigiguide.tv/?p=1&r=15119.