UK TV programmes to watch this week : 03/02/2018

Village of the Year with Penelope Keith (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 3rd February 2018)

Five villages from the Village of the Year Central Zone compete for a place in the final – and the chance to be crowned Village of the Year. With £10,000 up for grabs, Penelope Keith and her team of expert judges are searching for the very best of what British village life has to offer. From the west of Ireland to the heart of the Midlands, five villages show they have even more strings to their bow as they continue to try to woo the Judges. Which village will be selected to represent the Central Zone in the Village of the Year Grand Finale?

Call the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 4th February 2018)

Drama about a group of midwives in 1960s London. A pregnant mother hears a devastating diagnosis. Fred and Violet organise a beauty contest. Trixie and Christopher’s relationship feels the strain.

The Biggest Little Railway in the World (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 4th February 2018)

The tiny train’s in bad shape, it’s only halfway to Inverness, and the volunteers are due to head home in two and a half days. The train battles bad weather, steep hills, rocky terrain and poor track-laying while, nearer Inverness, the track teams try to insert a rack and pinion solution to steep sections of track. As the weather closes in the security team call off track-laying for safety reasons. But the train battles on, and Dick decide.

Village of the Year with Penelope Keith (Channel 4/HD | 3:00pm to 4:00pm | Monday 5th February 2018)

Penelope Keith and her team of judges weigh up four contenders in this first heat from the Northern Zone, stretching from Scotland to Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Northumberland. In Inverness-shire Penelope discovers Boat of Garten, the village that brought ospreys back to the British Isles. Alex plays king of the castle in Bamburgh, Northumberland. Juliet takes in the beauty of the Lake District in Grasmere and Patrick explores the once independent state of Embo in the Scottish Highlands. Which will be the first village from the Northern Zone to secure a spot in the semi-finals?

The Forest (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 5th February 2018)

Mark Bonnar narrates a new series revealing the hidden world of Galloway Forest, the country’s largest afforested area. When two fishing huts are discovered on remote Forestry Commission harvesting sites, Community Liaison Forester Lyndy Renwick must investigate and decide if the huts should be demolished. Specialist chainsaw contractor Dewi Williams prepares to take part in the UK Logging Competition, but the former champion will be up against his employee Gethin. With Galloway Forest becoming the continent’s first gold tier Dark Sky Park, the observatory near Dalmellington gives the public an open-air, hands-on observing experience, and at a Wednesday evening stargazing event, all they need is clear skies for a perfect view of Saturn.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 5th February 2018)

Forensic crime drama series. Nikki, Jack, Thomas and Clarissa are just settling down for their respective festive celebrations when they are interrupted by a call-out to a tragedy at a family home.

The X Files (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 5th February 2018)

Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny, Lauren Ambrose, Robbie Amell, Naiah Cummins, Annabeth Gish. Revival of the classic sci-fi drama. Scully wakes from a vision that warns her of the end of the world, and that only one who can stop it is her and Mulder’s long-lost son William.

Rocky Mountain Railroad (Quest | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 5th February 2018)

Canadian Pacific Railway crews transport a huge payload of coal across the Rockies. Plus, a hockey team is stranded in the frozen wilderness.

Village of the Year with Penelope Keith (Channel 4/HD | 3:00pm to 4:00pm | Tuesday 6th February 2018)

Searching for the very best of British village life, Penelope and her team explore four more worthy contenders from the Northern Zone. In Aberdeenshire, Penelope discovers the inspiration for great art in Catterline. Alex checks out the North Yorkshire village of Goathland that’s no stranger to the cameras. Juliet Sargeant pops into the Lancashire local that’s reviving the heart of Bolton-by-Bowland. On the Isle of Skye, Patrick Grant explores Tarskavaig, a unique community who are thriving on the edge of the Atlantic.

Impossible Railways (Yesterday | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 6th February 2018)

From the iconic Forth Bridge to a vertigo-inducing viaduct in rural New Zealand, discover how railway engineers have conquered valleys, canyons and waterways.

Village of the Year with Penelope Keith (CHannel 4/HD | 3:00pm to 4:00pm | Wednesday 7th February 2018)

Penelope Keith, Patrick Grant, Alex Langlands and Juliet Sargeant are in the Northern Zone looking to crown one village Village of the Year. Penelope visits a Moray village that was planned to perfection: Fochabers. Alex explores the smuggling stronghold of Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire. Patrick dances to a Scottish tune in Acharacle and Juliet is in hot pot heaven in Croston, Lancashire.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 7th February 2018)

With the conclusion of a challenging Christmas, the team are reunited with their families. Nikki learns that her colleagues have bought her an open return to see Matt.

Village of the Year with Penelope Keith (Channel 4/HD | 3:00pm to 4:00pm | Thursday 8th February 2018)

In the last of the Northern Zone heats, Penelope enjoys going back to the land in Kinloch Rannoch in Scotland. Alex Langlands draws his sword in Great Ayton in Yorkshire. Patrick Grant tries his hand at the local lingo in Avoch in Ross-shire. In Cumbria, Juliet Sargeant immerses herself in the hustle and bustle of Staveley. With stunning landscapes and exceptional traditions.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 8th February 2018)

Detective drama series set on a Caribbean island. The leader of a spiritual retreat is strangled and Jack and his team are baffled by the fact that all their suspects were in a meditation circle at the time of the murder.

Village of the Year with Penelope Keith (Channel 4/HD | 3:00pm to 4:00pm | Friday 9th February 2018)

It’s the Northern Zone semi- final. Four villages compete for a slot in the final and the chance to be crowned Village of the Year. From the north of Scotland to the heart of Lancashire, four villages have made it on to the judge’s shortlist, but only one will be in with a chance to win £10,000. We’ll see a bit more from each of the semi-finalists, including hearing what they would spend the prize money on.

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