Category: TV this week

The Canoe Boys: An Adventure Show Special (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 7:00pm to 8:00pm | Sunday 17th April 2016)

This month’s Adventure Show recreates one of the great pioneering journeys of Scottish canoeing. In 1934 two men set out in kayaks made from teak and canvas to paddle up the west coast of Scotland. Their exploits captivated the Scotland’s imagination and they became known as ‘The Canoe Boys’. To recreate this trip, former professional footballer Michael Stewart joins forces with experienced kayaker Brian Wilson. They tackle some of the country’s most notorious stretches of water in replica boats made especially for the trip. Much like the original Canoe Boys, Michael has virtually no experience of the sport.

Hidden Britain by Drone (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm Sunday 17th April 2016)

Presented by Sir Tony Robinson, in this episode the drones fly through a village erased from the maps, a supermarket without any customers, and a platform in the ocean that claims to be an independent nation. The flight starts in Scotland, where just a few miles from the Forth Bridge the largest aircraft carriers ever built for the Royal Navy are under construction. Security in the dockyard is tight, but with each carrier weighing 65,000 tonnes and the flight deck measuring 4.2 acres, it’s hard to keep them under wraps! Then the drones head to Nottinghamshire, to an unmarked building. Inside it looks like a supermarket, but there are no tills, no queues and the public are not allowed in. It’s not on any official list of stores and the only shoppers to be found are professionals working through the night to prepare online shopping orders. From here the drones fly to the Kent coast where a World War II shipwreck looms over the town of Sheerness – packed full of high explosives.

The Tube: Going Underground (Channel 5 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 18th April 2016)

Documentary series following the work of the staff who keep London’s underground train service running smoothly. Tube staff face their busiest and most unusual shift of the year – New Year’s Eve. Firework displays, urinating on the escalators, all-night vomit-mopping and a suspect package at Waterloo Bridge.

Europe: Them or Us (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 19th April 2016)

Nick Robinson explores the troubled history of the UK’s relationship with Europe. The second programme goes behind the closed doors of Whitehall and Brussels to hear from the decision makers about the twists and turns in Britain’s relationship with the EEC, now EU. The film examines the way the first European referendum was fought 40 years ago, and the changes in the European project since then. After the British people gave their consent in 1975, successive governments have battled to maintain that consent, leading eventually to the in-out referendum this June. The film has contributions from four British prime ministers – Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair and David Cameron. Also taking part are Tony Benn, Nick Clegg, Jacques Delors, Iain Duncan Smith, Nigel Farage, Valery Giscard d’Estaing, William Hague, Roy Jenkins, Jack Straw and Norman Tebbit, and the main civil servants and diplomats involved on both sides of the English Channel.

Caravanner of the Year (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 20th April 2016)

Six top caravanning enthusiasts are out to prove they have the skills to be named the Caravan Club’s first Caravanner of the Year. The quirky passions of these motorhomers, caravanners and camper vanners are laid bare over two tough days of competition. Droopy awnings are out and only spirit-level precision works for judge Grenville Chamberlain, while journalist Andy Harris champions a spirit of adventure and more than a little mischief starting with an awning assembly speed trial. Otherwise known as divorce-in-a-bag, this plays out with a variety of approaches to teamwork. But it is the challenging manoeuvres, where even a judge can come unstuck, that push everyone to their limits. Some flourish with humorous and heartfelt results, while others flounder. But with no time to regroup, it is straight onto a caravanning favourite for some competitive polishing and primping before Grenville, Andy and guest judge Lucy-Jayne Grout have to pick the three who have earned a place in the final.

Secret Britain (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 20th April 2016)

Series exploring the hidden corners of the UK and revealing landscape secrets. Ellie Harrison, Chris Hollins and Denise Lewis explore Devon. On a journey from an abandoned island on the south coast to the county’s most hidden and remote surf spots in the north, Ellie Harrison follows in Drake’s footsteps, seeking out Devon’s best-kept secrets. Chris Hollins relives an ancient and long forgotten purification ritual on Dartmoor, and Denise Lewis uncovers the secret history of the county’s most reluctant visitors.

Elizabeth at 90: A Family Tribute (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:10pm | Thursday 21st April 2016)

A unique celebration of the Queen’s ninety years as she reaches her landmark birthday in April. Film-maker John Bridcut has been granted special access to the complete collection of Her Majesty’s personal cine films, shot by the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen herself, as well as by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Much of it has never been seen publicly before. Various members of the Royal Family are filmed watching this private footage and contributing their own personal insights and their memories of the woman they know both as a member of their own close family and as queen. Among those taking part are the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry, the Princess Royal, the Duke of Kent and his sister Princess Alexandra, who has never before given an interview.

Barging Round Britain with John Sergeant (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Friday 22nd April 2016)

John Sergeant returns for a second series as he enjoys some of some of the best canal journeys Britain has to offer. This episode sees him travelling along the impressive Peak Forest Canal from Derbyshire to Tameside. Along the way, he is roped into making Refreshers at the Swizzles sweet factory, joins a team digging up the remains of one of the world’s largest mills and gets into a bit of argy-bargy with boxer Ricky Hatton.

Flying Scotsman with Robson Green (itv/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 22nd April 2016)

Robson Green tells the remarkable story of the Flying Scotsman as he spends a year with the men rebuilding the most famous steam engine in the world. At the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, he meets historian Robert Gwynne who shows him a brilliant invention by the Scotsman’s designer Nigel Gresley which allowed the train to drive from London to Edinburgh without stopping – a world first at the time – and helped turn the Flying Scotsman into a global brand. Robson experiences a taste of the sauna-like heat pouring out of the train’s fire box and is shown how this device would have been operated by the crew. After a year in the workshop, the Flying Scotsman is ready for its first test run and Robson gets the opportunity to live a dream and ride on the footplate.

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

2016

9 April 2016

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TV this week No Comments

Hidden Britain by Drone (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 10th April 2016)

We all think we know Britain, but wherever you turn there are places you’re not allowed to see. Places that are hidden from view, their secrets shielded by high walls and heavy gates. No public access allowed. Until now. This series, presented by Sir Tony Robinson, uses the latest drone technology to see our islands in a different way. Tony dispatches flying cameras across the country, getting access to billionaires’ private estates and incredible stately homes, snooping on military manoeuvres and going over no entry signs and barbed wire fences. In this episode the drones fly through a forest with a deadly secret, across Britain’s newest piece of land and into the hidden stately pile of an unconventional aristocrat.

The Tube: Going Underground (Channel 5 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 11th April 2016)

Documentary series following the work of the staff who keep London’s underground train service running smoothly. Staff face some tricky customers who could bring the entire network to a halt.

Europe: Them or Us (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 12th April 2016)

Nick Robinson explores the troubled history of the UK’s relationship with Europe. The critical decision Britain’s voters are about to take in the referendum is the culmination of decades of agonising debate about Britain’s place in Europe, and its often lethal effect on British politics. The first episode examines why British governments first shunned the new Common Market then begged to join it. It explores the decisive part played by three British prime ministers – Winston Churchill, Harold Macmillan and Edward Heath. After being humiliated by the French president when Britain first applied to join, Heath triumphantly took the UK into the Common Market ten years later. But the seeds of today’s problems were already being sown. The unfamiliar story emerges from a series of special interviews with Heath and two of his successors, Tony Blair and David Cameron, as well as other key British players and the main civil servants and diplomats involved on both sides of the English Channel.

What British Muslims Really Think (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Wednesday 13th April 2016)

With Europe on heightened terror alert following the attacks in Paris and Brussels and the security services raising the threat posed by hundreds of home-grown jihadists, politicians and Muslim leaders claim that the values of these extremists are shared only by a tiny minority in the UK. To find out if this is the case, Channel 4 has commissioned one of the most extensive and rigorous surveys ever carried out to get a better understanding of the views of British Muslims directly from a representative cross section of Muslim men and women, rather than those who claim to speak on their behalf; and, in particular, to try to understand why young Muslims are being drawn to violence. The survey explores attitudes to being British and British institutions, as well as social issues including gender equality and homosexuality.

How to Stay Young (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 14th April 2016)

Angela Rippon and Dr Chris van Tulleken travel the world in search of the latest science that could help us all stay young and healthy for longer. This episode explores what can give brains a boost. In America, Angela tries out a new treatment that’s proven to help memory and concentration. In Japan, a remarkable 100-year-old reveals the colourful foods that keep minds more active. Plus Chris discovers the best exercise we can do for our brains. At the cutting-edge of science, discover how injections of young people’s blood may help beat dementia.

Best Walks with a View with Julia Bradbury (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Friday 15th April 2016)

Julia Bradbury chooses some of her favourite and most accessible family treks from across the UK, in search of the perfect walk with a view suitable for all experience levels. Julia explores the first five miles of the Pennine Way, where she first began walking as a young girl. Her route takes in the spiritual home of popular walking as she heads up to Kinder Scout on the moor – scene of the famous mass trespass in 1932.

Billy Connolly’s Tracks Across America (itv/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 15th April 2016)

Billy Connolly concludes his travels on the US rail network, taking in the vast and astonishing landscapes that make up America’s backyard. This week’s journey sees Billy arrive in Texas on a Friday night, which can mean only one thing – football. Next up is Louisiana where he meets the frog princesses of Rayne. There is a moving tribute to Hank Williams before he hears the story of the child crusaders who changed history in Birmingham, Alabama. His next stop is Baltimore, where he uncovers the tale of a multi-millionairess who became known as ‘the mother of CSI’, before heading to his final destination of New York City.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 02/04/2016

2 April 2016

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TV this week No Comments

Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 3rd April 2016)

Timothy West and Prunella Scales conclude their latest series of boat journeys with a trip down the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal, one of Britain’s most picturesque waterways. The couple return to some of the scenes of their early lives together and also revisit the start of their acting careers in an episode that also serves as a tribute to William Shakespeare. Accompanied by Tim’s daughter and her family, they travel through the gentle Warwickshire countryside and cross the longest aqueduct in England. When they reach Stratford-upon-Avon, they visit the Royal Shakespeare Company, before putting on a performance at the church where Shakespeare is buried.

The Food Chain (Channel 4/HD | 8:30pm to 9:00pm | Monday 4th April 2016)

This new food series follows the journeys made by Britain’s best-loved foods; from field, farm, and sea, all the way to our supermarket aisles, kitchens, cafes and some of the country’s top restaurants. The series reveals the inner workings and secrets of the UK’s food distribution web, exploring where our food comes from and how what we eat connects us all. The second episode follows two British seasonal delights – succulent cherry tomatoes from the Isle of Wight and Cornish sardines – on a whistle-stop cross-country journey, before arriving at various locations, including the Google office’s lunchtime menu, or as part of a mouth-watering feast for the GB Rowers squad.

The Tube: Going Underground (Channel 5 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 4th April 2016)

Documentary series following the work of the staff who keep London’s underground train service running smoothly. As the network braces itself for the night of the living dead, there is fury as massive engineering works disrupt one of the Tube’s busiest stations, and the emergency response team are sent to St John’s Wood, where passengers have reported hearing gunfire.

James May: The Reassembler (BBC 4/HD | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Monday 4th April 2016)

Series in which James May explores the intricacies and engineering marvels of various objects by putting them back together again from a pile of hundreds of their component parts. Not only must he make sure every piece is put back together in order, and explain the purpose of every single nut and bolt, he also has to hope that the reassembled machine will actually work at the end of the process. In the opening episode, James is faced with the 331 pieces that make up a 1959 petrol lawnmower. The Suffolk Colt helped make mowing accessible to the masses by producing a smaller and affordable machine to keep our nations lawns at regulation height. As this is a petrol lawnmower, James’s first task is to put the engine back together before he gets to grips with the gearing, the clutch and the blades themselves. Armed only with his toolbox and an endless supply of tea, James experiences the highs and lows only possible when attempting to put history back together again, piece by piece.

Inside Obama’s White House (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 5th April 2016)

The story of how Barack Obama tried to reshape America, as told by his inner circle and the president himself. Episode four begins with president Obama’s decision to launch the special operation into Pakistan, to catch Osama Bin Laden. Former CIA director Leon Panetta describes how Obama decides to go ahead despite odds no better than 50:50 and the strong misgivings of top advisors. As his re-election campaign gears up, Obama has to make a tough choice on contraception – whether to side with the Catholic bishops, or health secretary Kathleen Sebelius and feminist activists. Obama chooses the women and they contribute to his convincing election victory. But soon after his re-election, America is shocked by the Sandy Hook massacre. The families of the victims and senior advisor Valerie Jarrett recall the president’s attempts to strengthen gun legislation but they are defeated by the gun lobby. Obama’s other ambitious reforms fared no better.

James May: The Reassembler (BBC 4/HD | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Tuesday 5th April 2016)

Series in which James May explores the intricacies and engineering marvels of various objects by putting them back together again from a pile of hundreds of their component parts. He tackles a 1957 Bakelite dial telephone – 211 pieces, most of them very small indeed, must be reassembled in the correct order if this telephone is ever to ring again. From the receiver with its carbon filings that enable speech to be amplified, to the electrical pulses created by the dial itself that connect the phone to the outside world, James soon discovers that every single piece of the telephone played a crucial role in revolutionising communication around the world.

Secret Britain (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 6th April 2016)

Series exploring the hidden corners of the UK and revealing landscape secrets.

Employable Me (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 6th April 2016)

Ellie has Tourette’s syndrome and Ben has autism. Both are desperate to find work and have strengths that would benefit employers. 23-year-old Ellie lead a perfectly normal life until two years ago when, out of the blue, she started yelling marshmallow in a supermarket. Ellie was forced to leave her job as a youth worker because she can’t control the words that come out of her mouth. Thanks to a neuropsychologist, she discovers that her condition is linked to superior strengths in areas such as empathy and a new career avenue is opened up to her. 27-year-old Ben has a form of autism called Asperger’s syndrome and finds the world an extremely challenging place. Ben has devoted his adult life to studying law and has two degrees under his belt. Despite his credentials, no law firm has ever given him an interview in the three years since he graduated. When Ben meets autism expert Professor Simon Baron Cohen, he realizes that Asperger’s syndrome shouldn’t just be seen as a disability.

James May: The Reassembler (BBC 4/HD | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Wednesday 6th April 2016)

Series in which James May explores the intricacies and engineering marvels of various objects by putting them back together again from a pile of hundreds of their component parts. James concludes his quest with an electric guitar. 147 pieces must be reassembled carefully and in the correct order, which will entail soldering, extensive use of James’s precision Japanese screwdrivers and some fiddly electronics. The electric guitar transformed the music industry and society itself and, channelling his namesake Brian, James will plug in his reassembled guitar and hope he put all the bits together correctly as he gets ready to perform one of most unexpected guitar solos of all time.

How to Stay Young (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 7th April 2016)

In this new two-part series, Angela Rippon and Dr Chris van Tulleken travel the world in search of the latest science that could help us all stay young and healthy for longer. They investigate the best ways to help both our bodies and brains age better. Up first is the body, and Angela travels to Germany to join a groundbreaking study which reveals the exercise that holds off ageing the most. Chris visits America to find out about the unexpected diet that can add years to our lives. And in Ecuador we meet a seventeen-year-old who looks like a child to discover how scientists hope he may hold the key to preventing the diseases of ageing.

Best Walks with a View with Julia Bradbury (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Friday 8th April 2016)

Julia Bradbury chooses some of her favourite and most accessible family treks from across the UK, in search of the perfect walk with a view suitable for all experience levels. Starting in picturesque Winchcombe, Julia takes up the many walking trails on offer to discover an ancient burial mound and a historic castle, before taking in the spectacular views from the top of Cleeve Hill, the highest point in Gloucestershire.

Billy Connolly’s Tracks Across America (itv/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 8th April 2016)

Billy Connolly continues his travels on the US rail network, taking in the vast and astonishing landscapes that make up America’s backyard. This week’s journey kicks off in the north-west city of Portland, where Billy meets farmer Tom, a veg grower turned organic cannabis producer, before heading to California to see some elephant seals. En route he hears some extraordinary real-life hobo tales and visits the unique folk art architectural sprawl that is Nitt Witt Ridge. Next, he visits the deserts of Arizona, including a border control site and a former nuclear missile silo, before finishing this leg of the journey in the Texas border city of El Paso, where he succumbs to the charms of a luche libre wrestler and visits the cowboy boot factory that made his boots.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 26/03/2016

26 March 2016

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TV this week No Comments

Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 27th March 2016)

Timothy West and Prunella Scales continue their Swedish canal odyssey, travelling west to east across the breadth of the country. In the second leg of the voyage they follow the ancient route of the Vikings and visit Stockholm, navigating the city’s canals and heading out into the far-flung islands of the archipelago. They also visit Drottningholm Palace Theatre and meet Wallander actor Krister Henriksson.

The Tube: Going Underground (Channel 5 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 28th March 2016)

Documentary series following the work of the staff who keep London’s underground train service running smoothly. At Victoria, the closure of the ticket office creates problems, Greenford opens a new lift that goes sideways and 72-year-old customer service assistant Philippa calls it a day.

Eddie Izzard: Marathon Man for Sport Relief (BBC 2/HD | 9:40pm to 10:40pm | Monday 28th March 2016)

Eddie Izzard pushes his body and sense of humour to the limit for Sport Relief as he takes on an immense challenge – travelling to South Africa to run 27 marathons in 27 days to mark the 27 years that his hero Nelson Mandela spent in prison. It is a gruelling, uplifting and hilarious journey through baking heat, high roads and hospitals – but can Eddie make it to the final finish line?

Inside Obama’s White House (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 29th March 2016)

The story of how Barack Obama tried to reshape America, as told by his inner circle and the president himself. Episode three explores how Obama set out to end George Bush’s wars in the Middle East. In Cairo he speaks to the Arab world, calling democracy a human right. Two years later when protest erupts in Tahrir Square, the president is torn between Hillary Clinton, who believes Hosni Mubarak provides regional stability, and his young advisors, who are in tune with the promise of the Arab Spring. A similar test arises in Libya and Obama agrees to join allies in airstrikes against Colonel Gaddafi. In Syria, when evidence shows the use of chemical weapons, Obama decides to bomb. But when the British parliament votes against intervention, he decides he needs the backing of Congress. This episode also explores how Obama negotiated a secret deal to end the nuclear threat from Iran. Secretary of state John Kerry tells how he worked through the night to secure the outlines of the deal.

Secret Britain (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 30th March 2016)

Series exploring the hidden corners of the UK and revealing landscape secrets. Ellie Harrison, Chris Hollins and Denise Lewis explore the Lake District. Parachuting in – quite literally – Ellie Harrison gets a unique perspective on England’s most popular national park, and she is also let in on the secret of an ancient and long forgotten part of the Cumbrian landscape. Meanwhile, Denise Lewis gets to the botton of the Lakes’ dark and illicit past, and Chris Hollins is coaxed up a sheer cliff face by one of the world’s best climbers – and rewarded with a spectacular view that only a handful of people ever get to see.

Employable Me (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 30th March 2016)

Tom has Tourette’s syndrome and Ashley has autism. Both want to find work and have strengths that would benefit employers. Due to Tourette’s, Tom has uncontrollable motor tics, and screeches and meows like a cat, a condition which meant he struggled through school and university. Due to the severity of his tics, he has found it impossible to start a career. After meeting an occupational psychologist, he begins to search for a career that he can finally excel in. 29-year-old Ashley has Asperger’s syndrome. Despite being highly intelligent, he’s never had a job, and he has a tendency to obsess. One of his biggest obsessions is the Victorian era – he dresses like a Victorian gentleman, complete with top hat. When he meets autism expert Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, he discovers that some obsessions can be valuable if treated as an area of expertise. If Ashley can find a job that taps into his creativity and obsession with Victoriana, he could turn his job hunt around.

The Restoration Man (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 31st March 2016)

George Clarke returns to Harrogate to see how Carol and Majid Nadry have finished converting their brick water tower into their dream home. After the huge delays and eye-watering legal costs of sorting planning and access restrictions, the couple have finally built the two-storey extension that was the key to creating a family home with character. George sees h

Best Walks with a View with Julia Bradbury (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Friday 1st April 2016)

Julia Bradbury chooses some of her favourite and most accessible family treks from across the UK, in search of the perfect walk with a view suitable for all experience levels. The series explores coastal, mountain, valley and river walks and features accessible route maps, pub and picnic options and stunning aerial perspectives. Heading off on a round-trip walk from Malham village, Julia takes in the magical Janet’s Foss waterfall, the awe-inspiring Gordale Scar and stunning limestone pavement at Malham Cove with its spectacular views across the Yorkshire Dales.

Billy Connolly’s Tracks Across America (itv/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 1st April 2016)

Billy Connolly starts a journey all round the United States as he travels on America’s rail network from Chicago to New York, taking in the vast and astonishing landscapes that make up America’s backyard. The first episode begins in Chicago, before stopping at Minnesota State Fair and a former oil boom town in North Dakota. He yodels with cowboys and stops off at Montana’s answer to Glasgow, a far cry from the Scottish city of the same name he is so familiar with. Billy ends the first leg of his journey at a tent city in Seattle, a unique answer to homelessness.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 1st April 2016)

The seventh series of the critically acclaimed award-winning show comes to an end. Charlotte Church joins Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker as they tear into the weird and wonderful talking points of the week in front of a live studio audience.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 19/03/2016

19 March 2016

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TV this week No Comments

Coastal Walks with My Dog (more4 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 19th March 2016)

There’s no better way to experience the beauty of Britain’s shorelines than on a coastal walk with your dog. Six celebrities walk Britain’s diverse and dazzling coastline accompanied by their faithful four-legged friends, meeting local experts, enthusiasts and fellow walkers along the way. The celebrities taking part include actor Angela Griffin, Cerys Matthews and property presenter Phil Spencer. In the first episode, Bill Bailey goes on a smugglers’ trail in North Devon, while 6Music broadcaster Cerys Matthews walks Pembrokeshire’s rugged coastline, and actor and impressionist Debra Stephenson is on Dorset’s Jurassic coast.

Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 20th March 2016)

Timothy West and Prunella Scales embark on more spectacular canal journeys. Sweden is a land of deep forests, vast lakes and island-strewn coasts, and linking it all together is a ribbon of blue. Tim and Pru head into uncharted waters as they attempt one of the longest and most beautiful canal journeys in the world, travelling 350 miles, coast to coast across Sweden. The first leg of their voyage begins in Gothenburg, where they link up with the historic Göta Canal, taking them into the heart of the country and onwards to the Baltic Sea. The Göta may be famed for its beauty, but it’s also nicknamed ‘the Divorce Ditch’, with its steep locks that have pushed many a Swedish marriage to breaking point. How do Tim and Pru cope?

Dispatches (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Monday 21st March 2016)

It’s six years since Britain’s beloved confectioner Cadbury was bought by American giant Kraft in one of the most controversial takeovers in recent corporate history. As we prepare for the annual Easter chocolate indulgence, Dispatches lifts the lid on what’s been happening to one of our favourite brands. From Creme Egg controversies to foreign manufacturing, reporter Harry Wallop investigates our favourite chocolate and how far Cadbury has come from its benevolent heritage.

The Food Chain (Channel 4/HD | 8:30pm | 9:00pm | Monday 21st March 2016)

This new food series follows the journeys made by Britain’s best-loved foods; from field, farm, and sea, all the way into delicious dishes in our supermarket aisles, kitchens, cafes and some of the country’s top restaurants. The series reveals the inner workings and secrets of the UK’s food distribution web, exploring where our food comes from and how what we eat connects us all. From lamb to peas, truffles to eggs, and sardines to raspberries, each episode weaves together the shipment of two products. The first episode follows two British staples, sea salt and Bramley apples – from an orchard in Kent, and a family-owned salt works in Maldon, Essex. The two ingredients go cross country before ending up on our plates – be it as handmade chocolates to classic Greek recipes, and finally a dessert masterpiece at the Ritz.

The Tube: Going Underground (Channel 5 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 21st March 2016)

Documentary series following the work of the staff who keep London’s underground train service running smoothly. Charlotte struggles to keep the ageing stock of Piccadilly Line rolling. At Bank station, Naeem’s plan to send passengers to London Bridge during a strike leads to chaos. At Holborn, station supervisor Tony tries to update a decades-old rule on the escalators.

Inside Obama’s White House (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 22nd March 2016)

The story of how Barack Obama tried to reshape America, as told by his inner circle and the president himself. Episode two tells the story of Obama’s greatest legacy: healthcare. When Obama announced his proposals for affordable, accessible healthcare for every American, he sparked a bitter conflict. Within weeks of his launch, members of Congress were confronted by angry ‘Tea Party’ protesters. As opposition grew, Obama’s top advisers asked him to go for a less ambitious bill – he refused. His chief of staff knocked heads together inside his own party, as Democrats in Congress began to fight amongst themselves. The final battle was over abortion – the Catholic bishops tried to kill the bill. The hero who saved him was Sister Carol Keehan. She mobilised 59,000 US nuns and faced down the bishops to get Obama the votes he needed. But in the midterm elections, Obama lost more seats in Congress than any president since 1938.

Ugly House to Lovely House with George Clarke (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 24th March 2016)

In the final episode of the series, Denise and Ali seek a new lease of life for their uninspiring council house in Croydon on a tight budget of £120,000. The award-winning architect Jo Cowen has worked on projects including the British Museum and JP Morgan’s tower at Canary Wharf. Jo plans a striking glazed extension and an exciting plan for the upstairs that requires an extra £40,000. But problems begin to appear, pushing the couple to the brink.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 25th March 2016)

The critically acclaimed award-winning show continues with its unique brand of irreverent satire for a seventh series. Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker tear into the weird and wonderful talking points of the week. A celebrity guest joins the team in front of a live studio audience.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 12/03/2016

12 March 2016

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TV this week No Comments

Steve Backshall’s Extreme Mountain Challenge (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 13th March 2016)

Adventurer Steve Backshall embarks on one of the most dramatic and dangerous expeditions ever filmed by a BBC crew. The second episode picks up where episode one left off with Steve and the climbing team halfway up the unclimbed, sheer-sided face of a remote tepui, about to make one last desperate attempt to reach the summit. It is then on to the second stage of the expedition. Joining up with a team of elite Italian cavers, Steve ventures deep within a tepui – inside a newly discovered cave. Within this dark underworld, the team encounter strange creatures, ancient mysteries and the raw geological forces that give the tepuis their unique shape. But nothing can prepare them for an attempt to forge a path into unexplored areas of the cave – a dangerous mission of intense claustrophobia and nerve-shredding tension. To end the adventure, Steve reunites with the climbing team to abseil alongside the Angel Falls – the highest waterfall on earth.

The X Files (Channel 5 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 14th March 2016)

Revival of the classic sci-fi drama. As a mysterious and fatal pandemic sweeps across the USA and other parts of the globe, Scully desperately tries to find a cure using her own altered DNA. Meanwhile, a desperately ill Mulder confronts the Cigarette Smoking Man who is behind it all, but another figure from Mulder and Scully’s past may prove to be the key to their salvation.

Inside Obama’s White House (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 15th March 2016)

100 Days. The story of how Barack Obama tried to reshape America, as told by his inner circle and the president himself. A month after his victory, Obama discovered America was on the verge of a great depression. He puts his plans for change on hold to pass the largest stimulus in history. Obama promises to close Guantanamo within a year – and it is still open. His attorney general admits that evidence against many of the prisoners could not be used to prosecute because they had been tortured. And at the Copenhagen summit, the president crashes a meeting between three fellow heads of government in his desperation to do something about climate change.

Ugly House to Lovely House with George Clarke (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 17th March 2016)

Tammy and Stuart live in an outdated bungalow in a pretty village in West Sussex. The bungalow’s main living rooms are completely starved of light. Tammy and Stuart are desperate to create a family home but with a budget of just £50,000, their options are severely limited. Will Alsop is arguably one of the country’s most renowned architects. Will designs a dramatic barrel-vaulted extension to the rear of Tammy and Stuart’s bungalow, complete with specially constructed exposed curved beams, a shiny aluminium roof and four porthole windows. It’s an audacious, unique design. In such a sleepy part of the country, what will the neighbours think?

Jo Brand’s Hell of a Walk for Sport Relief (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 17th March 2016)

A raw and revealing documentary following comedian Jo Brand as she attempts to walk across the width of England for Sport Relief in just seven days. Jo admits she is not athletic, but she has decided to take up the walking challenge to inspire all the overweight middle-aged women across the nation and to raise money for a range of causes funded by Sport Relief that matter to her personally. Suffering from extreme fatigue, she battles through the biting cold, gale-force winds of over 70mph and torrential rain. It is a hellish week where Jo is tested to the limit, both physically and mentally. But she still summons the energy to share a joke or two with friends Davina McCall, Bill Bailey, Lee Mack, Alan Davies, John Bishop and Gabby Logan.

Best Walks with a View with Julia Bradbury (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Friday 18th March 2016)

Julia Bradbury chooses some of her favourite and most accessible family treks from across the UK, in search of the perfect walk with a view suitable for all experience levels. The series explores coastal, mountain, valley and river walks and features accessible route maps, pub and picnic options and stunning aerial perspectives. Julia follows in the footsteps of Sherlock Holmes in a classic English walk on the South Downs, taking in the white cliffs of Seven Sisters, Beachy Head and the seaside charm of Birling Gap, where the sea is eroding the cliffs at an alarming rate. Her walk ends at the Belle Tout lighthouse which had to be moved away from the cliff edge at the cost of a quarter-of-a-million pounds.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:05pm to 11:10pm | Friday 18th March 2016)

The critically acclaimed award-winning show continues with its unique brand of irreverent satire for a seventh series. Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker tear into the weird and wonderful talking points of the week. In this edition, filmmaker and broadcaster Louis Theroux joins the team in front of a live studio audience.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 05/03/2016

5 March 2016

gsvalentine

TV this week 1 Comment

Penelope Keith’s Hidden Villages (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 5th March 2016)

Penelope returns to a landscape she knows and loves, as she travels across the South Downs and The Weald of Sussex and Kent. Going in search of quintessential village scenes such as the country garden, the timeless war memorial and cricket on the green, Penelope’s journey starts in Sussex, where she spent her school days. She relives the marvellously eccentric Cuckfield Donkey Races. At Burwash and Batemans she sheds light on the life and times of Rudyard Kipling, and his role in the war memorial movement. Penelope visits the village workshop that’s made cricket bats for the greats of the game, from WG Grace to the current England captain. She boards a steam train into Kent through the former hop fields of the Rother Valley and uncovers the remarkable tale of the Biddenden maids.

Call the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 6th March 2016)

As Poplar moves towards the season of goodwill, the time has come to accept the things that have passed and look to the future. Dr Turner is forced to do so when the cause of the recent spate of infant limb deformities is finally uncovered. Realising that his own prescriptions could have exacerbated the tragedy, he jumps into action in an attempt to prevent further damage. Meanwhile, Nonnatus House is thrown into disarray by a tragedy even closer to home. Although Sister Evangelina is back at work it is clear that her recent stroke has affected her badly, and that her health problems are not over. Elsewhere, Poplar matriarch Tessie is forced to accept that her grandchild has been conceived out of wedlock, but there’s joy all round when the baby is born at the couple’s wedding reception.

The X Files (Channel 5 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 7th March 2016)

A younger version of Mulder and Scully apply to our heroes for help in an effort to communicate with a terrorist in a coma in an effort to prevent other members of his cell from carrying out a future attack. Mulder’s suggestion involves magic mushrooms.

The Secret Life of the Zoo (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 8th March 2016)

Chester Zoo is home to ten critically endangered black rhinos. With numbers in the wild dwindling rapidly, the zoo’s breeding programme is a key part of preserving the species. In the final episode of the series, female rhino Kitani is introduced to her new mate Magadi. But with injury a high risk during mating, keeper Babs is concerned that Kitani may struggle to defend herself, since she lost her horn after the death of her calf earlier in the year. When there’s a surprise birth in the orangutan house, older sibling Tuti has to fend for herself and set out on the road to independence. There’s a glimpse into the complex and fascinating courtship behaviours of Rodrigues fruit bats. A new male Sulawesi macaque is introduced to 30 eager females. And young jaguars Napo and Goshi go head to head in a battle of wills.

Dunblane: Our Story (BBC 1 Scotlannd/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 9th March 2016)

Documentary commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Dunblane shooting, the worst firearms atrocity to date in the UK, when a gunman shot and killed 16 primary schoolchildren and their teacher in the school gym. The film features testimony from people who have never spoken about the event before, including a young woman who was shot as a five-year-old, Ron Taylor, the headmaster of Dunblane primary at the time of the shooting, and Debbie Mayor, whose mother Gwen Mayor was the teacher who was shot dead. Other contributors include two girls who speak about the sisters they never knew and parents of the survivors and the deceased.

Ugly House to Lovely House with George Clarke (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 10th March 2016)

George Clarke shows that even the ugliest house can be transformed into a home to be proud of. Sue and Simon believe that their Hertfordshire house is the ugliest on their street. The couple bought the four-bedroom property in 2014 for £440,000, but a bizarre fake-Victorian extension means the bad layout is a nightmare. Architect Laura Jane Clark specialises in breathing new life into unlovely spaces, but Sue and Simon have a tight budget of just £50,000. Can Laura unlock the property’s internal space by moving the staircase, introducing an innovative revolving wall, and putting in some skylights? And what about the brash exterior? And can she do all of this on budget and on schedule?

Best Walks with a View with Julia Bradbury (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Friday 11th March 2016)

Julia Bradbury chooses some of her favourite and most accessible family treks from across the UK, in search of the perfect walk with a view suitable for all experience levels. The series explores coastal, mountain, valley and river walks and features accessible route maps, pub and picnic options and stunning aerial perspectives. Julia sets off from the ancient village of Dufton in search of one of Britain’s best kept secrets. Hidden beneath the hulking mass of the Pennines is High Cup Nick, a remarkable natural formation known as the Grand Canyon of the North. Part of the Pennine Way, this hanging valley was 500 million years in the making and commands a magnificent view not to be missed.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:10pm | Friday 11th March 2016)

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 27/02/2016

27 February 2016

gsvalentine

TV this week No Comments

Penelope Keith’s Hidden Villages (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 27th February 2016)

Penelope travels through Royal Deeside, a remote and mountainous part of Aberdeenshire. It’s a land of enormous estates served by tiny communities, with just five people for every square kilometre. Penelope explores how important Queen Victoria was in shaping modern Deeside. Her journey largely runs alongside the River Dee. The first stop is the village of Aboyne, where she takes to the sky in a glider. She then explores the royal link by visiting Ballater station, the terminus of the railway built for Queen Victoria in the 1860s. She then moves on to Balmoral, where she discovers the secrets of the present Queen’s vegetable patch. Penelope then heads to Finzean, where she’s out amongst the gorse and heather with the local gamekeeper. Her final village is Braemar, nestled deep in the Highlands, where she experiences the Highland Games.

Call the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 28th February 2016)

Drama about a group of midwives in 1960s London. With autumn on its way, the appetite for change is rife across Poplar. As Dr Turner shares his excitement about the impending release of the contraceptive pill, not all of his counterparts at Nonnatus House are as keen for the social change it may bring. Meanwhile, Patsy realises that change isn’t always for the best as she struggles to help a transient Bargee woman, who is determined to give birth among her own community, rather than the modern comforts of the maternity home. As a huge storm threatens Poplar, Nurse Crane is called upon to assist a new mother in a post-natal emergency, the danger bringing a once-distant young couple closer as a result. As the storm subsides, it brings with it the welcome return of Sister Evangelina, herself changed by the time she has spent away from Nonnatus House.

The X Files (Channel 5 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 29th February 2016)

Drama series about two FBI agents who investigate UFOs and the supernatural. While Scully sits by her dying mother’s bedside in Washington, Mulder investigates one of the most repulsive creatures he has ever encountered – a giant garbage monster who tears apart enemies of the homeless with his bare hands.

The Secret Life of the Zoo (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 1st March 2016)

Chester Zoo’s four new fledgling Humboldt penguins are being brought up apart from the main colony until they’re old enough to compete for fish in the main pool. They’re keen to make a break for it and join the adults, but when they’re finally free to go they have other ideas. Niall the chimp keeper has known chimp Boris for 44 years and has developed a special relationship with him. When Boris captures a moorhen chick Niall must use all his powers of persuasion to negotiate the safe release of his hostage. Sunda gharial crocodile François recently arrived at Chester from France along with his partner Françoise.

Inside Buckingham Palace (Channel 5 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 2nd March 2016)

This two-part series explores one of the most famous buildings in the world, and its roles as a family home, the official office of the Queen as Head of State and a stage for pomp and ceremony. With the help of previously unseen documents including secret letters to the former Edward VIII, personal memoirs and first-hand accounts from people such as Margaret Rhodes, the Queen’s cousin, this episode looks at some of the stormier years experienced at the Palace including the war years.

Ugly House to Lovely House with George Clarke (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 3rd March 2016)

In this new Channel 4 series, George Clarke shows that even the ugliest house can be transformed into a home to be proud of. Rachel and James bought their Berkshire home nine years ago for £220,000 – but with two young sons, they’re fast outgrowing the property and can’t afford to move. What’s more, the classic 60s kitchen diner layout doesn’t work for family living and there’s no direct access from the hallway to the kitchen, meaning the living room has become a corridor. The couple tried to rectify the situation by extending to the side of the house but this addition failed to alleviate their problems.

Best Walks with a View with Julia Bradbury (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Friday 4th March 2016)

Julia Bradbury chooses some of her favourite and most accessible family treks from across the UK, in search of the perfect walk with a view suitable for all experience levels. The series explores coastal, mountain, valley and river walks and features accessible route maps, pub and picnic options and stunning aerial perspectives. Julia goes on a three-hill walk that starts with the distinctive Colmer’s Hill in Symondsbury, a near-conical sandstone ridge topped by pine trees. The walk ends at the top of Golden Cap – the highest point on England’s south coast – where there are spectacular views of the Jurassic Coast, itself a World Heritage Site.

Shetland (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 4th March 2016)

As the investigation reaches its final stages, Detective Inspector Perez and his team discover the person responsible for the deaths of Robbie Morton and Michael Thompson is closer to home than any of them thought.

Walks Around Britain (Community Channel | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Friday 4th March 2016)

Series featuring inspirational walks from around Britain. Andrew White walks from Banavie to Gairlocky and around the Ribblehead Viaduct.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 4th March 2016)

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 20/02/2016

20 February 2016

gsvalentine

TV this week No Comments

Penelope Keith’s Hidden Villages (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 20th February 2016)

Penelope Keith explores the world of our smallest communities. In this episode Penelope learns about life amid the renowned landscape of Cumbria. The wonder of the Lake District can’t be ignored, but from Morecambe Bay to the Pennines, Penny finds there’s much more to life in a Cumbrian village than tourists and tea shops. Penny starts in Coniston, a village that has seen everything from copper mining to hill farming, high-class Victorian tourism and the speed records of Donald Campbell. Further north, Penny meets the community buying its local mountain, before indulging in the unique Cumbrian pursuit of hound trailing.

The Adventure Show (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 6:20pm to 7:20pm | Sunday 21st February 2016)

In this month’s Adventure Show, Dougie Vipond and Deziree Wilson are in the Borders for the Jedburgh Three Peaks Ultra Marathon. 250 racers face almost 3,000 feet of ascent and descent over the three extinct volcanoes that make up the Eildon hills. With 38 miles of running in total, this demanding race attracts the UK’s top endurance athletes. Plus the Adventure Show explores the psychology of extreme sport and finds out if one runner can increase both performance and enjoyment at the Glencoe Skyline.

Call the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 21st February 2016)

A spate of violent attacks on women brings a state of fear to Poplar, and impacts directly on the residents of Nonnatus House. A secret pregnancy threatens the life of a young girl, after her mother takes matters into her own hands. Meanwhile, a long-overdue holiday for the Turner family fails to live up to expectations.

Griff’s Great Britain (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Monday 22nd February 2016)

Griff Rhys Jones sets out to explore some of Britain’s most stunning landscapes. In this episode, he travels to the beautiful borderlands of the Shropshire countryside where he takes to the air to survey the landscape in all its glory. He explores medieval Ludlow, and revels in the engineering marvel that is Chirk Aqueduct. In his challenge to ‘catch a dragon’, he travels around the region the Victorians called Little Switzerland, taking in the historic Llangollen Canal.

The X Files (Channel 5 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 22nd February 2016)

Revived sci-fi drama series about two FBI agents who investigate the paranormal. Mulder and Scully travel to Oregon to follow up on accounts of a slaying by a bizarre lizard-human hybrid during a full moon.

The Secret Life of the Zoo (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 23rd February 2016)

There’s a tragedy in Chester Zoo’s elephant house. The Hi Way elephant family have been hit with a potentially deadly virus affecting animals in captivity and in the wild. With the youngest members of the family most at risk, the keepers and the zoo’s veterinary team do all they can to combat the mysterious illness. Mac the stallion zebra is introduced to the zoo’s three mares in the hope that they will produce much needed offspring for this endangered species. But the reaction from the mares isn’t quite what the keepers had hoped for and Mac must try to earn his stripes among the herd. There’s also a fascinating look into the bizarre world of the naked mole rat. Matriarch Janet rules her empire with an iron paw. She’s the head of a 38-strong colony of worker rats and is expecting her next litter.

Inside Buckingham Palace (Channel 5 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 24th February 2016)

This two-part series explores one of the most famous buildings in the world, and its roles as a family home, the official office of the Queen as Head of State and a stage for pomp and ceremony. This episode looks back over the more than sixty years since the Queen ascended to the throne and looks ahead to ask what might happen to the Palace when Charles becomes King.

Ugly House to Lovely House with George Clarke (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 25th February 2016)

We are a nation obsessed with property. But many of us are stuck with houses which we feel embarrassed to call home. Sky high prices mean that the drabbest, most outdated property on the street is often all we can afford. But rather than waste time dreaming of the perfect home, the solution could be right under your nose. In this new series, George Clarke shows that even the ugliest house can be transformed into something to be proud of. George matches some of Britain’s most unloved houses with some of the country’s leading architects, who join cutting-edge conception to a tight budget, proving that great design doesn’t have to cost the earth. In the first episode, Tony and Sarah feel uninspired by their 70s house in the Vale of Glamorgan, including its dirty pebbledash facade, small windows and dated décor.

Winter Road Rescue (Channel 5 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 25th February 2016)

Series following patrols who make sure the UK does not grind to a halt when winter weather hits. In the Highlands, snow plough driver Chris has his work cut out keeping Applecross Pass open, patrolman Steve has to help a driver stuck in the mud without getting trapped himself and the heavies are called in to deal with a serious accident involving a lorry.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 25th February 2016)

Detective drama series set on a Caribbean island. The team is faced with an impossible murder when a young backpacker is shot inside a sealed room. DI Goodman has a date, plus it is the day of JP’s wedding – but will he make it to the altar?

Best Walks with a View with Julia Bradbury (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Friday 26th February 2016)

Julia Bradbury chooses some of her favourite and most accessible family treks from across the UK, in search of the perfect walk with a view which anyone can manage. The series explores coastal, mountain, valley and river walks and includes accessible route maps, pub and picnic options and stunning aerial perspectives. Episode two sees Julia in the Lake District, on the Borrowdale Walk – a haven for the adventurous and many a Viking sheep. She heads for one of her favourite fells – the much-loved and rugged little peak of Castle Crag. From the lush green valley floor to magnificent views over Derwent Water, it is an unforgettable walk.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 26th February 2016)

The critically acclaimed award-winning show continues with its unique brand of irreverent satire for a seventh series. Adam Hills hosts alongside co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker, who tear into the weird and wonderful talking points of the week. A celebrity guest will join the team each week in front of a live studio audience.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 13/02/2016

13 February 2016

gsvalentine

TV this week No Comments

Penelope Keith’s Hidden Villages (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 13th February 2016)

Penelope Keith takes to the road once again for a second series, exploring the world of the nation’s smallest communities. Thatched cottages, the local shop, quaint church spires and games on the green – are just some of the things to be found amongst the 10,000 villages up and down the country. A proud villager in the home-counties for nearly 40 years, Penelope heads to four very different regions: Devon and Cornwall; Sussex and Kent; the stunning Cumbrian landscape of the Lake District; and Deeside in Scotland. In this first episode Penelope is in Devon and Cornwall – a land of rugged coastal communities and distinct identities forged over centuries, but also a region visited by five million people each year. Penelope travels to a former silver mining village, a cliff-edge fishing village, the most exposed theatre in the country, and the small communities near Fowey Harbour.

Countryfile (BBC 1/HD | 7:00pm to 8:00pm | Sunday 14th February 2016)

Matt Baker and Ellie Harrison are in Norfolk. Matt joins students training to be gamekeepers on a clay pigeon shoot – however, he discovers that conservation is also a big part their education. Matt sees how to butcher a haunch of venison and sits down with the students to enjoy some home-made venison stew. Ellie reveals how cranes have returned to Norfolk after an absence of four hundred years from the UK countryside. It is thanks to the efforts of naturalist John Buxton, who kept their presence secret, that the birds have made a comeback. On Hickling Broad, Ellie sees cranes beginning their courtship rituals, and she also visits Berney Marshes to find out how the RSPB has teamed up with local land owners and farmers to help manage water levels for wetland birds. Meanwhile, Adam Henson is in Scotland at the world-famous Stirling bull sales, and Olympic boxer Nicola Adams talks about her favourite part of the British countryside.

Call the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 14th February 2016)

New mother Roseanne’s past continues to haunt her, wreaking havoc on her family life, and a back injury forces Violet to put her beloved shop in the care of Fred with unforeseen consequences. When Dr Turner sets up a new chest clinic, he and Shelagh are forced to consider whether their own lifestyles are as healthy as they could be.

Great American Railroad Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 15th February 2016)

In Baltimore, home of the first railroad in the United States – the Baltimore and Ohio – he discovers how the first American steam engine, the Tom Thumb, owed much to pioneering British technology. He investigates race relations in the troubled city, taking a drive downtown with a former drug dealer, now a teacher. On the city’s beautiful east coast, Michael discovers the impressive star-shaped Fort McHenry and learns how the Star-Spangled Banner national anthem was born. Medics at the city’s Johns Hopkins Hospital show Michael how their institution has grown from its 19th-century foundation by the railroad magnate into a world-leading centre for healthcare. And at the city’s Lexington Market, Michael learns what gives a Maryland crab cake the edge.

Griff’s Great Britain (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Monday 15th February 2016)

Griff Rhys Jones sets out to explore some of Britain’s most stunning landscapes. This week he visits the breathtaking vistas and butterscotch-coloured villages of the Cotswolds, exploring the region by horse-drawn dray. Griff’s latest challenge is to exhibit a giant vegetable, and the Winchcombe Country Fair seems like the ideal venue to do just that.

The Not So Secret Life of the Manic Depressive: 10 Years on (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 15th February 2016)

In 2006, in an award-winning series, Stephen Fry first spoke about living with manic depression and began a national conversation about mental health. A decade later, this film returns to the subject to understand where he and thousands of others diagnosed with bipolar (as it is now called) are now. As a society, do we need to do more for those with the illness? Is the treatment better? Has the stigma reduced?

The X Files (Channel 5 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 15th February 2016)

During an investigation into the strange suicide of a scientist specialising in biochemical engineering, FBI special agents Mulder and Scully contend with memories of their missing son William.

Great American Railroad Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Tuesday 16th February 2016)

Michael arrives in the nation’s capital, Washington DC. He admires its fine public buildings, including the largest library in the world, and discovers how the capital was built from scratch after a political compromise between north and south. At the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Michael meets the man responsible for engraving the portrait of President Abraham Lincoln on the current five-dollar bill and gets his hands on more money than he has ever held in his life. In the offices of the Washington Post, Michael learns about corruption in the corridors of power and how the newspaper toppled a president. He finishes this leg of his journey in the auditorium of the theatre where, in 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.

Back in Time for the Weekend (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 16th February 2016)

The Ashby-Hawkins family give up their 21st-century technology and travel back in time to discover the radical transformation of our leisure time since 1950. Guided by presenters Giles Coren and social historian Polly Russell, the family’s entire experience is underpinned by the Family Expenditure Survey, a government study which ran from the 1950s right through to 1999. The survey gives us the best clue as to what families were doing with their leisure time across the five decades. The family strut into the 70s and discover some unexpected upsides to the economic and political turmoil the decade is often remembered for. Rob and Steph share more time together, playing darts with Eric Bristow and taking on some period-appropriate home improvement – cork tiles, anyone? Daughter Daisy lets her hair down at a roller disco with DJ Trevor Nelson and the family receive a visit from Top Gear’s original presenter Angela Rippon, who brings them a brand new Renault 5.

The Secret Life of the Zoo (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 16th February 2016)

Rothschild giraffe Orla has got the keepers guessing. She’s about to give birth to her second calf but is three weeks overdue. This episode captures the astonishing arrival of the giraffe family’s youngest member and its introduction to the rest of the herd. Chester Zoo is home to nine of some of the world’s most endangered frogs. With only two mountain chicken frogs left on the island of Montserrat, the dedicated team at Chester must do all they can to save the species. Frog keeper Pip sets out to create a state-of-the-art love den for the giant amphibians in the hope that one of the seven females will lay eggs. But getting frogs in the mood for love is trickier than Pip thought… The programme also discovers the secret world of the aardvark.

Great American Railroad Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Wednesday 17th February 2016)

Michael Portillo continues his American railroad journey. On this leg, Michael soaks up some old-school jazz in Washington’s U Street neighbourhood, where the big band jazz king Duke Ellington was born and began his career. He also grabs a bite at Ben’s Chili Bowl, the legendary diner chosen by President Obama for a snack before his inauguration. He follows his guidebook to the United States Naval Observatory, the nation’s timekeeper, where he discovers how and why the railroads established four time zones across the continent in 1883. Heading south to Alexandria in Virginia, Michael explores a former slave market and hears how African-Americans were bought and sold. He ends this leg in Mount Vernon, the palladian home of the nation’s first president George Washington, where he gets into a spot of bother at an archaeological dig.

Great American Railroad Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Thursday 18th February 2016)

Michael Portillo arrives in Manassas, scene of two crucial battles during the American Civil War – the first railroad battles in US history. In Fredericksburg, Virginia, he tries his hand at bottling bourbon corn whisky and learns how it became the nation’s spirit. In Richmond, a plate of ham and eggs with southern grits sets Michael up for a tour of the Virginia State Capitol building, where he learns about the terrible dilemma faced by one of its most famous sons, General Robert E Lee. Charmed by the English heritage of this former colony, Michael puts on his dancing shoes and heads for a cotillion ball, where it seems manners are the name of the game.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 18th February 2016)

When a marine salvage hunter is killed, the evidence seems to point to one man. It would be an open-and-shut case for the team if it wasn’t for the suspect’s solid alibi. Meanwhile, it is JP’s stag do – and with Dwayne as best man, what could possibly go wrong?

Great American Railroad Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 19th February 2016)

In Petersburg, Virginia, the choir of the First Baptist Church is in fine voice as Michael discovers how, during the 19th century, coded messages were delivered to slaves who hoped to escape via the so-called Underground Railroad. Michael ploughs his own furrow in a field in colonial Williamsburg, a living history park, where he learns from costumed re-enactors what life was like for both master and slave. It’s battle stations in Norfolk, home to the United States Atlantic Fleet, where Michael is invited on board the USS Wisconsin to hear about the first duel fought between iron-clad vessels in 1862 and Britain’s role in it. Michael reaches the end of this American journey in Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America, where he finds out about the settlers’ grim struggle for survival led by Captain John Smith and Pocahontas.

Best Walks with a View with Julia Bradbury (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Friday 19th February 2016)

Series in which Julia Bradbury shares some of her favourite walks from around the UK. Heading out on the Welsh island of Anglesey beside the Menai Strait and overlooking Snowdonia, Julia’s coastal walk in this programme uncovers the birth place of the Land Rover and ends on the romantic Llanddwyn Island, the home of Wales’s own female St Valentine which offers stunning sea views.

Shetland (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 19th February 2016)

Perez struggles to deal with what has happened to Tosh as he continues to investigate the murders of Robbie Morton and Michael Thompson, but a shocking discovery finally leads him to the identity of who Thompson was going to testify against.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 19th February 2016)

The critically acclaimed award-winning show returns with its unique brand of irreverent satire for a seventh series. Adam Hills hosts alongside co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker, who tear into the weird and wonderful talking points of the week. This week Catherine Tate joins the team in front of a live studio audience.

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

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UK TV programmes to watch this week : 05/03/2016

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UK TV programmes to watch this week : 27/02/2016

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UK TV programmes to watch this week : 20/02/2016

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UK TV programmes to watch this week : 13/02/2016

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