How the Victorians Built Britain (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Saturday 11th January 2020)

Michael Buerk learns how the Victorians built the biggest, fastest, most technologically advanced ships in the world, which helped the nation to dominate the high seas. In Portsmouth, he boards Queen Victoria’s flagship HMS Warrior to reveal surprising construction secrets and the ways the ship kept the peace in international waters, before following in Brunel’s footsteps aboard his luxury steamer SS Great Britain.

Call the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 12th January 2020)

A woman is caught stealing milk from Nonnatus House, but she pleads for mercy from sisters Julienne and Monica Joan, explaining that she has been stealing milk as she is pregnant. As Sister Julienne learns more about her, she is convinced that this woman needs help becoming the mother she wants to be. Meanwhile, Dr Turner puzzles over a mysterious string of symptoms, and the blossoming romance between Miss Higgins and Sgt Woolf is thrown into jeopardy. Starring Jenny Agutter and Stephen McGann.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 13th January 2020)

Michael Portillo explores the West Country between the wars, setting off from the Cornish seaside resort of St Ives and ending his first in the former mining village of St Day.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 13th January 2020)

Part one of two. When a body is found in a field near the village of Hartford, Nikki and the Lyell team confirm it is that of missing teenager Jason Forbes. Working to the theory that most killers strike close to home, ambitious DCI Claire Ashby is committed to proving the guilt of her main suspect and sets her sights firmly on local locksmith Malcolm Wilde. Forensic crime drama, starring Emilia Fox, Richard Lintern, David Caves and Liz Carr, with Sophia Di Martino, Robert Pugh and Phil Davis.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Tuesday 14th January 2020)

Michael Portillo visits Cornwall’s county town, Truro, heading to the historic estate of Trewithen, whose gardens were stocked from China by professional plant hunters commissioned by its owner. The Atlantic Coast branch line carries Michael north to Newquay, where he discovers a pioneering surfer and braves the waves on a belly board. In the nearby village of St Mawgan, Michael is introduced to the ancient Cornish sport of `wrassling”, which surged in popularity between the wars as part of a Cornish Celtic revival.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Wednesday 15th January 2020)

Michael Portillo reaches Bodmin en route to Totnes, as he explores the West Country from St Ives to Salisbury Plain. Out on the rugged moor, Michael hears how the celebrated author Daphne du Maurier captivated readers between the wars with her tales of smuggling at the Jamaica Inn. In Devon, Michael takes the plunge at Plymouth’s beautiful art deco Tinside Lido, while at Ivybridge, he boards a vehicle like no other to cross the causeway to Burgh Island, where a 1930s playboy built a splendid art deco party palace.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 15th January 2020)

Part two of two. Investigating the murder of missing teenager Jason Forbes, Nikki and the Lyell team are forced to question police methods, as DCI Claire Ashby seems more concerned with building the case against her main suspect. With pressure building on the police to secure a conviction, the team must fight to ensure that inconvenient truths are not overlooked.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Thursday 16th January 2020)

Michael Portillo arrives in Paignton, south Devon, where the Dartmouth Steam Railway takes him to the home of Agatha Christie, in the company of her great-grandson James Prichard.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 16th January 2020)

DI Jack Mooney and the team are called to a workshop where acclaimed artist Donna Harman has been found dead. Suspicion immediately falls on the three people closest to the crime scene, but with no one entering the workshop between the time the victim returned to start on her next painting and being found dead, the scene paints a tricky picture. Only a solitary drink can seems to hold the answer, but matters are complicated when Donna’s art dealer and an art collector enter the fray. Meanwhile, Jack is confused by his blossoming feelings for Anna. Whodunit, starring Ardal O’Hanlon, with Nina Wadia, Barbara Flynn, Louise Brealey and Vivienne Acheampong.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 17th January 2020)

Michael Portillo crosses the county line from Devon into Somerset, seeing first-hand how willow farmers sought to overcome the challenge from the production of synthetic plastics during the 1930s and hearing how tourism has spread across the region, especially amongst the young. In Bath, Michael visits the former home of a refugee emperor, whose country was invaded by the Italian dictator Mussolini, and in whose name a religious movement began that now flourishes worldwide. Travelling east into Wiltshire, he reaches the largest training area of the British Army, Salisbury Plain.

Secret Scotland (Channel 5/HD 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 17th January 2020)

Susan explores the city of Glasgow, and in its oldest building, Glasgow Cathedral, she discovers a seat fit for only a Queen. The comedian learns how centuries of craftsmen left their mark on the building. Donning her hard hat and climbing to the top, she is also given the opportunity to leave her own. Then it’s onto the home of Scottish football to meet the only Scot ever to have won a football world cup, before taking on the pros to score a goal herself at Hampden Park.

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