Great Australian Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 26th October 2019)
Michael Portillo ventures Down Under to explore Australia by train. He begins by riding the legendary Ghan Railway, a train almost a kilometre in length and hauled by two locomotives, which covers nearly 2,000 miles across Australia’s red centre. Michael traces its route from the southern harbour of Port Augusta to Darwin on the north coast, along the way meeting the indigenous people of Alice Springs, visiting a kangaroo sanctuar
Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 27th October 2019)
Timothy West and Prunella Scales share some memories of their canal journeys overseas, including their first trip, which was to France on the Nivernais Canal. Tim is reminded of the time he tried to park his boat in Venice, at St Mark’s Square, and the couple reminisce over a moonlit gondolier trip down the Grand Canal. Having successfully mastered the waterways of Europe, Tim and Pru then set forth on even more ambitious and remote journeys across the world – to India, Canada, Argentina and a trip down the Nile.
Underground Worlds (Yesterday | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 30th October 2019)
An underground city beneath a forest in Northern France built to house 3,000 people, an ice cave under Iceland’s biggest glacier, and a subterranean power station in London.
Steam Train Britain (Yesterday | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 31st October 2019)
At South Devon, engineer Ray Lee is working to bring a loco back in to service. There is also a visit to the SS Kingswear paddle steamer In Dartmouth, the oldest vessel of its kind.
The World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 1st November 2019)
Cameras capture a route through Spain, beginning near Leon, part of the famous north Spanish Pilgrimage, in the Picos de Europa mountains. The railway then runs through the Basque country before the famous Guggenheim Museum greets travellers in Bilbao. In Galicia, the gorges, coastline and sea bridges are a sight for sore eyes, and a speciality cider tour refreshes the train’s guests. The journey ends in Ferrol, a spectacular harbour that has been a major shipbuilding centre for most of its history and has been a key city in many wars. Narrated by Bill Nighy.
Caravanning with Shane Richie (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 1st November 2019)
The presenter visits a vast campsite in North Yorkshire, which has its own theme park and zoo. The place is so big that guests can call for a golf-buggy taxi just to take them to their room. Once, settled in, Shane hops on the cable cars for an aerial view of the park’s rollercoasters and wild animal enclosures. He also explores the local area, taking in a steam train trip from inside the driver’s cabin and a fishing trip out of Whitby. Following in his father’s footsteps as an performer, Shane’s son arrives with his band to perform as the site’s entertainment.
All TV guide information taken from DigiGuide — www.getdigiguide.tv/?p=1&r=15119.