Tag: Alex Polizzi: The Fixer

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 14/02/2015

In the Commons - 17-02-2015 (YouView app)Call the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 15th February 2015)

Sister Julienne’s faith is challenged when a mother refuses medicine for her newborn baby. Dr Turner’s involvement in the case forces him to face his own demons. Meanwhile, Barbara must work out a way to communicate with a pregnant Sylheti woman.

Top Gear (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 15th February 2015)

Jeremy Clarkson tests the new BMW M4 at the track before switching to another BMW, the space-age, hybrid-powered i8, for a revealing trip up the A1 to Whitby. When he gets there, and fuelled by a portion of fish and chips, Clarkson must decide which of the two he would rather take for the drive home. Also in this programme, Richard Hammond marks the imminent demise of the legendary Land Rover Defender with a heart-stopping attempt to drive one straight up the side of a dam. Meanwhile, James May makes a rare trip to the Top Gear track to test the brand new, 500-horsepower Mercedes-AMG GT. The Stars in the Reasonably Priced Car are actress Margot Robbie and Hollywood superstar Will Smith.

The Mountain (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:00pm to 7:30pm | Monday 16th February 2015)

Series charting life around Cairngorm, at the heart of Scotland’s greatest winter wilderness. A tough winter season comes to a close for both the ski resort and Aviemore. Brian and Carol make a decision about the future of their business, Adam carves out a tricks park for snowboarders, and Colin reflects on one of the harshest winters he has experienced in years.

Waterloo Road (BBC 3/HD | 8:30pm to 9:30pm | Monday 16th February 2015)

Dale struggles to come to terms with his failure to make the cycling team and looks to find his adrenalin rush elsewhere. Hassan ties himself in knots when Ronnie comes asking questions, leading to a drastic decision. Kenzie finds herself caught between Scott and Justin, but who will win?

Alex Polizzi: The Fixer (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 17th February 2015)

Alex Polizzi, champion of small businesses, finds fixes for the critical issues that kill so many companies. For Sebastien Latour, owning his own pet shop in the heart of Wimbledon was a dream come true – but the reality is a daily strain on his finances and his relationship with his co-worker boyfriend, Carl. And all of this against a backdrop of the much-heralded ‘death of the high street’. How to survive this nationwide trend? A visit to one of London’s premier grooming parlours, the Pet Spa, opens Seb’s eyes to the financial rewards of a dog parlour. Can Alex help this small high-street shop compete with the out-of-town superstores?

Inside the Commons (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 17th February 2015)

Four-part documentary series about the inner workings of the House of Commons. Presented by Michael Cockerell, this series takes an unprecedented look at the heart of British democracy in the run up to the 2015 general election. In the third episode, Michael sees how the traditional three-party system appears to be falling apart at the seams. Back-bench MPs are becoming increasingly rebellious as they confront the dark arts of the whips – the shadowy figures who seek to impose party discipline. Michael follows Lib Dem MP Jenny Willott as she seeks to balance new parenthood with politics. Plus the clockmakers whose job it is to ensure that all the Commons’ 2000 clocks, from Big Ben downwards, tell exactly the same time.

Planet Oil (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 17th February 2015)

Second of a three-part documentary series in which Professor Iain Stewart explores the importance of oil and how the world has become so reliant on it in little over the span of a human lifetime. In this programme, he looks back to the early 1950s, by which time oil, plastics and fertilisers had transformed the planet. However, once those countries producing oil demanded a greater share in profits from the Western energy companies, the oil and gas fields of the Middle East became a focus for coup d’états and military conflict. In the North Sea as well as in America’s Gulf coast, it became a race against time to find alternative supplies, with the offshore discoveries in the 1970 proving crucial to both Western Europe and the US.

The Restoration Man (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 18th February 2015)

Ian and Jayne Hall Edwards bought a large derelict Victorian school in the valleys of west Wales, with the hope of combining a family home and a new eco-building training business under one roof. Already badly hit by the recession, the finance they had counted on fell through, and they were forced to battle through harsh winters in a caravan, struggling to get the school – and their family business – back on its feet, earning as they went. George returns, one year on, to see how they have not only virtually rebuilt the building from scratch, but have transformed it into a modern family home with energy efficiency to beat even the latest new-builds. Their eco training centre is also fitted out for their new business venture launch – ready to be a source of inspiration to eco friendly builders for years to come.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 8:30pm to 9:30pm | Thursday 19th February 2015)

Detective drama series set on a Caribbean island. DI Goodman is embroiled in the cut-throat world of corporate team building when an entrepreneur is killed, but a surprise revelation from one of the suspects threatens to derail the investigation.

Cucumber (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 19th February 2015)

Henry’s secrets and lies catch up with him, while Lance’s wildest dreams are in danger of coming true, as Daniel makes an extraordinary move. But when Adam and Tomasz’s secret online empire starts running out of control, Henry is set on a collision course with everyone he loves.

Banana (E4 | 10:00pm to 10:30pm | Thursday 19th February 2015)

Josh leaves Freddie’s bed to return home for Sophie’s wedding. Now Josh is out, gay and happy, has he outgrown his best friend?

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:10pm | Friday 20th February 2015)

Adam Hills and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker are joined by a celebrity guest to review the main talking points of the week with irreverence and satire. The show features the all-encompassing question ‘Is It Ok?’ as viewers at home, as well as the studio audience, ask questions about anything from the week, without fear of judgement.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 07/02/2015

Call the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 8th February 2015)

The midwives face one of their busiest nights to date, whilst Sister Winifred concentrates her efforts on the prostitutes of Poplar. Elsewhere, cracks start to appear in Trixie and Tom’s relationship.

Top Gear (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 8th February 2015)

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May conduct a valuable piece of consumer research with their attempts to improve and enhance the ambulance. Starting with a belief that current ambulances, which are usually very big and based on a diesel van, are in need of a rethink, the presenters go their separate ways to focus on the one area they think could be improved. May focuses on passenger comfort, Hammond tries to improve response times by getting other drivers out of the way more effectively, while Clarkson confronts the same issue with the invention of what he calls ‘the sports ambulance’. Their three very different creations are then put to the test with a series of severe and often messy challenges, culminating in a fast reaction to a spectacular emergency. Also in this episode, F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo is the star in the Reasonably Priced Car.

Our Guy in India (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:05pm | Sunday 8th February 2015)

Guy Martin makes a two-week, 1000-mile trip across India, heading to one of the world’s maddest bike races: Rider Mania, the largest gathering of Royal Enfield motorbikes on the planet. Along the way, Guy, with his love of tea, lorry repair, motorbikes and daredevil risk taking, introduces viewers to a rarely-seen side of modern India. In the second episode, Guy visits the boom city of Mumbai, where more skyscrapers are being built than anywhere else in the world. Guy clambers 833 feet solo to the top of India’s tallest building, only to be disappointed by the state of the welding. Back on ground level, Guy visits a slum where a million people are packed into one square mile. What he discovers changes his preconceptions about what a slum is.

The Mountain (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 9th February 2015)

Series charting life around Cairngorm, at the heart of Scotland’s greatest winter wilderness. In this edition, a hard season begins to take its toll on the lifts and P-man struggles to keep it all working. Spud decides to learn how to ski. And Sandra has a tough decision to make.

Waterloo Road (BBC 3/HD | 8:30pm to 9:30pm | Monday 9th February 2015)

It’s mock exam week and the pressure is on for everyone, but for Dale it’s all about a bike trial which could change his life. Kenzie has had it with her mother and makes a drastic life change, while Abdul gets more than he bargained for during a science project.

Alex Polizzi: The Fixer (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 10th February 2015)

Alex looks at businesses which are at the mercy of trends. Events company Balloonin Marvellous is run by husband-and-wife team Jo and Giuseppe. Jo’s lack of business acumen means they are struggling to pay the rent and have been forced to move their showroom into their own family lounge. Meanwhile, their capricious customers are always one step ahead with their desires – and smaller firms can find it harder than most to react quickly. Jo’s flower arranging skills are put to the test at luxury florist Wild At Heart. Can Alex get this small business to stand out from the crowd by tapping into the very crowd they are trying to attract?

Inside the Commons (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 10th February 2015)

Four-part documentary series about the inner workings of the House of Commons. Presented by Michael Cockerell, this series takes an unprecedented look at the heart of British democracy in the run up to the 2015 general election. In the second episode, Cockerell explores the upstairs-downstairs world of the House of Commons. He examines what goes on backstage at the state opening, when the Queen comes to open the parliamentary year. Behind the pomp and pageantry, he meets the army of skilled workers who struggle to keep the Commons show on the road and MPs who want to introduce their own bills in the Commons – and have to play a bizarre form of parliamentary bingo to get the chance. And he looks at how Labour and Conservative MPs conspire together to thwart their party whips. In this episode he meets two very different MPs: Robert Halfon, a campaigning Conservative and thorn in the side of the government, and Thomas Docherty, Labour’s deputy-shadow leader of the house.

The Restoration Man (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 11th February 2015)

When Nik Huddy and Vanessa Ford Robbins stumbled upon an overgrown 19th century gatehouse, they saw an opportunity to express their love of arts and crafts in restoring this tiny cottage to its former glory. They lived onsite in a caravan through two freezing winters. And even when they moved in, the house was too small to install a proper bathroom. George catches up with them one year on now that they have added a sympathetic extension to the house.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 12th February 2015)

Detective drama series set on a Caribbean island. As Saint Marie celebrates getting through to the finals of the Inter-Island Volleyball Championships, DI Goodman and the team are under pressure to solve the murder of a player, while Commissioner Selwyn squares up to an old nemesis.

Cucumber (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 12th February 2015)

Henry goes on a date with a complete stranger, while Lance’s long, dark night leads him to an unexpected bed. Across town, everyone’s searching for love, or sex, or both, as Cleo meets an old flame, Freddie hooks up with Anna, and Dean embarks on a mysterious journey into danger.

Banana (E4 | 10:00pm to 10:30pm | Thursday 12th February 2015)

Helen has to get tough with her ex, Eddie, but her birthday turns into a disaster when Eddie takes revenge.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 13th February 2015)

David Mitchell joins Adam Hills and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker to review the main talking points of the week with irreverence and satire. The show features the all-encompassing question ‘Is It Ok?’ as viewers at home, as well as the studio audience, ask questions about anything from the week, without fear of judgement.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 31/01/2015

Call the Midwife - 01-02-2015 (YouView app)Call the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 1st February 2015)

Drama about a group of midwives in 1950s London. The Nonnatus team rallies to support first-time parents Marie and Tony Amos when Tony is arrested for gross indecency with another male. Elsewhere, as Poplar is gripped by an outbreak of dysentery, Trixie undertakes her first official church duty since her engagement to Tom.

Top Gear (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 1st February 2015)

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May embark on a grand road trip across Australia’s Northern Territory. Tasked with picking a fast, luxurious GT for the trip, Clarkson chooses a BMW M6 Gran Coupe, Hammond a Bentley Continental GT V8 and May a Nissan GT-R, as the trio set out on an adventure that takes in crocodile-infested rivers, a race around a vast open-cast mine, an encounter with the world’s longest lorries and the majestic scenery of one of the world’s least-inhabited landscapes. Their dusty endeavour concludes with an unusual challenge involving a farm, their cars and 4,000 cows. Also in this episode, Hollywood legend Kiefer Sutherland is the star in the Reasonably Priced Car.

Our Guy in India (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:05pm | Sunday 1st February 2015)

Guy Martin has a love for adventure and they don’t come much bigger than an epic 1000-mile trip across India, culminating in one of the world’s maddest bike races. Rider Mania is the largest gathering of Royal Enfield motorbikes on the planet. Guy wants to ride there and win it at the end of his two-week trip. Along the way, Guy, with his love of tea, lorry repair, motorbikes and daredevil risk taking, introduces viewers to a rarely-seen side of modern India. Only Guy would want to visit the largest lorry repair yard in Asia.

The Mountain (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only| 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 2nd February 2015)

Series charting life around Cairngorm, at the heart of Scotland’s greatest winter wilderness. In this edition, the villagers help to dig the mountain out of trouble. Simon decides that, despite it being winter, Aviemore needs a beach party. And following recuperation from an accident that broke both his ankles, barmen Brett gets back to boarding.

Waterloo Road (BBC Three/HD | 8:30pm to 9:30pm | Monday 2nd February 2015)

With the PTA visiting Havelock High, Vaughan thinks his only worry is Steph Norton. When Havelock are invited back to Waterloo Road, there are erotic novels, exploding science labs and cyber bullying to try and keep from their sight.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 2nd February 2015)

Rising star of the police, Sergeant Sam Honeywell, is found beaten and shot in his burnt-out car in Essex. The police are up in arms in what is a hugely emotive and political case for them, and DCI Jim Sullivan is determined to nail Honeywell’s killer. But when local drug dealer and son of known crime boss Dean Fallon seems to have his alibi sewn up, suspicion shifts closer to home. Honeywell is discovered to have been in an affair with Kate Parry, wife of his best friend, Sergeant Carl Parry. It looks bad for Parry, and Jack reveals details of Honeywell’s final moments, which hits Sullivan hard – he had been like a father to the murdered cop.

Alex Polizzi: The Fixer (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 3rd February 2015)

Alex Polizzi, champion of small businesses, finds fixes for the critical issues that kill so many companies. In this episode, Alex looks at getting your product right. Big Space is a children’s soft-play centre run by Lester and Sue Adams. Setting the business up from scratch, the couple remortgaged their house and ploughed all their savings into the business. But their product is woeful and, to compound the challenge, they must serve two distinct customers: both parent and child. Privileged access to Pret A Manger’s training academy unearths some groundbreaking philosophies, and a visit to Londons largest family restaurant, the Rainforest Café, reveals the importance of themed fun. Can Alex get this small company to realise the importance of customer satisfaction?

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 3rd February 2015)

Forensic crime drama series. Known Essex criminal Jason Simons is found murdered in too similar a way to Honeywell to be a coincidence – beaten, shot and dumped. But as anomalies in his post mortem start to stack up, it is discovered that Simons was not what he seems. The team find traces of drugs on Simons’s penknife that point to a major importation, but his bereaved girlfriend Tess does not seem to know anything about it. Suspicion turns back to Dean Fallon, but a discovery in his medical records and the death of the Fallon family lawyer Ben Osrin takes the investigation in an unexpected new direction.

Inside the Commons (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 3rd February 2015)

Four-part documentary series about the inner workings of the House of Commons. Presented by Michael Cockerell, this series takes an unprecedented look at the heart of British democracy in the run up to the 2015 general election. Cockerell talks to two relatively new female MPs, Charlotte Leslie and Sarah Champion, learning the ways of the House; he takes a look behind the scenes on budget day; he meets a maintenance team abseiling down the face of Big Ben and the gospel-singing tea lady Gladys who works in the members’ tea room; he learns what life is like for the Commons’ most powerful official, the clerk of the house Sir Robert Rogers, whose job is to keep the whole show on the road; and David Cameron and Ed Miliband reveal what happens at prime minister’s questions.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pn to 10:00pm | Thursday 5th February 2015)

The team is introduced to the crazy world of rock and roll when the lead singer of a band is murdered on Saint Marie. Can DI Goodman keep control of the unruly suspects for long enough to solve the crime?

Cucumber (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 5th February 2015)

In the third episode, Henry stumbles into a dangerous trap when Freddie meets his old school teacher, Gregory, and sets out for revenge. Lance takes action and cuts Henry off completely, while at work, Daniel’s attempts to help seem to hint at something more. Is Lance imagining things, or is Daniel not as straight as he seems?

Banana (E4 | 10:00pm to 10:35pm | Thursday 5th February 2015)

In the third episode, two lives collide when uptight Sian meets wild-at-heart Violet. Opposites might attract for a while, but how long can this couple last?

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 6th February 2015)

Adam Hills and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker are joined by Stephen Mangan to review the main talking points of the week with irreverence and satire. The show features the all-encompassing question ‘Is It Ok?’ as viewers at home, as well as the studio audience, ask questions about anything from the week, without fear of judgement. Once again, the three hosts step into the minefield of sometimes difficult and delicate areas to answer the questions with their own inimitable insight.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 24/01/2015

Top Gear - 25-01-2015 (YouView app) Call the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 25th January 2015)

Drama about a group of midwives in 1950s London, based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth. Barbara faces her most challenging case to date when she treats first-time mother Abigail Bissette and the birth does not go according to plan. As Sister Julienne struggles with the increasing financial pressure on Nonnatus House, a mystery benefactor comes to the rescue. Elsewhere Sister Evangelina is unimpressed by newly arrived nurse Phyllis Crane.

Top Gear (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 25th January 2015)

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May are in Russia for an incredible race across the vast and beautiful urban landscape of St Petersburg. With their chosen methods of transportation – a tiny Renault, a bicycle and a hovercraft – they race each other and The Stig, who is silently making his way towards the finish line on public transport, across town. Hammond also heads to the test track to find out if the dramatic new Lamborghini Huracan is as flamboyant and fun as an Italian supercar should be. Plus, another top celebrity guest tests their steely eyed driving skills as the star in the Reasonably Priced Car.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 26th January 2015)

Michael Portillo embarks on a new journey from west Wales to East Anglia. Beginning at Pembroke Dock, Michael visits the dockyard where Queen Victoria’s royal yachts were built. He investigates what caused riotous rebels to dress up as women in Narberth and spends the night at an inn in Carmarthen, where Admiral Lord Nelson once met Lady Emma Hamilton. After flagging down the steam train to ride on the Carmarthen-to-Aberystwyth railway, Michael pitches in with the volunteers who look after the Gwili heritage line. In Swansea, on the estate of one of the pioneers of British photography, Michael learns how to pose for a photograph in Victorian style.

The Mountain (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 26th January 2015)

Series charting life around Cairngorm, at the heart of Scotland’s greatest winter wilderness. In this edition the new year starts with some of the biggest snowstorms for years and the team on the mountain face a major struggle to keep it open. Burns Night means a busy time for Spud the piper and Fraser the butcher. And the mountain men take part in a 24-hour endurance race.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 26th January 2015)

Forensic crime drama series. A shootout at a City hotel leaves young Ukrainian nanny Sofia Teplov dead, along with an unknown hitman. The Russian oligarch target Maksim Bazhanov narrowly escapes. Nikki and Jack work with young City DI Sarah Parks to ascertain the identity of the dead hitman and find out who is trying to kill Bazhanov and why. Jack is drawn to Sarah, impressed by her ability to juggle work and family when he finds out her daughter has a rare childhood cancer. The discovery of the hitmen’s identities as ex-army frustrates the team when they realise they could have been hired by any number of paymasters.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Tuesday 27th January 2015)

Michael Portillo continues his journey from Pembroke Dock to Cambridge. On this leg, he begins in the ruinous gardens at Aberglasney in Llandeilo before riding shotgun in the driver’s cab on the Heart of Wales Line on one of the most scenic routes in Britain. En route, Michael learns about the Victorian signalling system still in place today and struggles with his Welsh pronunciation. Over the border in Leominster, Michael steps out on to the dance floor at the Lion Hotel Ballroom, where a grand ball was held to celebrate the opening of the Ludlow to Hereford railway. He finishes this leg of his journey at a traditional cider house in Hereford, where he is invited to enjoy the fruits of his labour.

Alex Polizzi: The Fixer (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 27th January 2015)

Alex Polizzi, champion of small businesses, finds fixes for the critical issues that kill so many companies. In this episode, Alex helps a seaside business struggling with change. In 2012, Marlene and Ray Messer followed their seaside dream and bought the Singing Kettle tearooms in Torquay. But seaside business has changed enormously over the years and their cafe has taken a turn for the worse. Alex visits luxury bakery Konditor and Cook to investigate what today’s cake-buying customer desires. Can she get the Singing Kettle to brush off the cobwebs of a bygone coastal era and learn to identify a new target market?

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 27th January 2015)

Forensic crime drama series. A young woman working for the Doshi property moguls, Amy Greenwood, is found dead in Maksim Bazhanov’s apartment. Maksim is discovered to have been in a relationship with Yasmin Doshi. Nikki, Jack and Thomas ingeniously prove that foul play was involved in Amy’s death and help the police find the missing Bazhanov. Amy’s mother Justine is a powerful player in the City Assembly and, fuelled by the death of her daughter, she puts pressure on DI Sarah Parks’s investigation. Suspicion soon falls on Adam Lansley of FreeLondon, a violent activist known to target the super-rich. But Maksim is a powerful man with many enemies, and the team find one of them where they least expect it.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Wednesday 28th January 2015)

Armed with his Bradshaw’s guidebook, Michael Portillo makes his way from west Wales across Britain to Cambridge. On this leg, he begins underground at Big Pit coal mine in Blaenavon, where he learns how Victorians toiled night and day to power the industrial revolution. On the River Usk, Michael casts a line and learns about nineteenth-century developments in angling. On rebellious turf in Ascott-under-Wychwood, Michael discovers the Ascott Martyrs and lends a hand ploughing on the farm where they struck their early blow for labourers’ rights. Michael’s last stop today is Hanborough and Blenheim Palace, where he investigates a fire described in his Bradshaw’s which is said to have claimed some risque art.

The Restoration Man (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 28th January 2015)

After living in a bungalow for 25 years, Yorkshire couple Carol and Majid Nadry embark on an ambitious mid-life adventure: buying an empty brick water tower to turn into a five-storey home. As they battle with the huge rusting water tank on top of the building, they encounter devastating legal problems. Unexpected costs hit their budget, but the couple refuse to give up on turning the faceless brick monolith into a one-off design. George encourages and advises Carol and Majid to see their daunting challenge through, and details the seismic changes in architectural history that this building’s humble appearance conceals.

Churchill: The Nation’s Farewell (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 28th January 2015)

On the 50th anniversary of Winston Churchill’s death, Jeremy Paxman tells the story of his state funeral and examines whether Churchill’s immense legacy still has resonance today. He meets a wide range of people who were involved in the events of that day, from soldiers who bore the coffin, to members of Churchill’s close family. He hears from Boris Johnson, author of a new book on Churchill, and from a London docker who remembers that some of the dock workers had misgivings about saluting the passing coffin with their cranes as it passed down the Thames on a launch after the ceremony at St Paul’s. The funeral ended at the village churchyard of Bladon where Churchill was laid to rest alongside his father, Randolph. At the close of the film, Paxman reflects that no statesman has come close to rivalling Winston Churchill in the half a century since the nation mourned his passing.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 29th January 2015)

When a bride-to-be is killed on the last night of her hen party, DI Goodman tries to unravel a seemingly impossible murder. Meanwhile Camille has a big decision to make.

Cucumber (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 29th January 2015)

Sixteen years after Queer as Folk exploded on to the screen, award-winning writer Russell T Davies returns with Cucumber, Banana and Tofu; three new interlinked shows for Channel 4, E4 and online. Cucumber and Banana are two original drama series exploring the passions and pitfalls of 21st century gay life, while Tofu is an online documentary series that explores all facets of contemporary sex culture. In the second episode, Henry begins his new life, but Freddie marks out the battle lines – can they ever be friends, let alone anything more? Lance tries to work out where Henry’s gone, and enlists Cleo’s help, but only Cliff is devious enough to work out the truth – and when Henry’s workplace becomes a battleground, the stakes are raised higher than ever.

Banana (E4 | 10:00pm to 10:35pm | Thursday 29th January 2015)

Sixteen years after Queer as Folk exploded on to the screen, award-winning writer Russell T Davies returns with Cucumber, Banana and Tofu; three new interlinked shows for Channel 4, E4 and online. Cucumber and Banana are two original drama series exploring the passions and pitfalls of 21st century gay life, while Tofu is an online documentary series that explores all facets of contemporary sex culture. On E4, Banana is a series of eight witty, heartfelt and unique stand-alone stories covering different aspects of LGBT life. This series, which features exciting and emerging talent from the fields of acting, writing and directing, offers an intriguing and often unexpected peek into the individual lives, loves and losses of a range of diverse characters. In the second episode, when Scotty sees Yvonne, it’s love at first sight. But as love turns to obsession, Scotty’s life spirals out of control…

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 30th January 2015)

On the final leg of his journey from west Wales to East Anglia, Michael Portillo begins in Oakham, where he learns of a noble tradition dating back to the Middle Ages. Following in the footsteps of peers over the centuries, he determines to take part. Heading east to Stamford, Michael discovers why the town is such an attractive location for period dramas and takes part in a Victorian melodrama. A ghoulish scene awaits in Peterborough as Michael visits a Victorian operating theatre where railwaymen were treated. Michael’s last stop on this final journey is Christ’s College at Cambridge University, where he learns about the student days of the father of evolution, Charles Darwin.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 30th January 2015)

After promising to appear on the show during a previous episode, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is a special guest, along with Miranda Hart, who joins Adam Hills and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker to review the main talking points of the week with irreverence and satire. The show sees the return of the all-encompassing question: Is It Ok? Viewers at home and the studio audience are encouraged to ask questions about anything from the week, without fear of judgement. Once again, our three hosts step into the minefield of sometimes difficult and delicate areas to answer the questions with their own inimitable insight.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 06/09/2014

Our Zoo | 10-09-2014 (YouView app)Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 7:30pm to 8:20pm | Saturday 6th September 2014)

Sci-fi drama. In a sun-dappled Sherwood Forest, the Doctor discovers an evil plan from beyond the stars and strikes up an unlikely alliance with Robin Hood. With all of Nottingham at stake, the Doctor must decide who is real and who is fake. Can impossible heroes actually exist?

Alex Polizzi: The Fixer (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 8th September 2014)

Alex Polizzi, champion of small businesses, finds fixes for the critical issues that kill so many companies. In this episode, Alex looks at trading with the big boys as she meets the Keebles, a family of farmers turned sausage producers whose survival relies heavily on the supermarkets that sell their goods. Like many small producers, however, they often feel powerless in that relationship. Privileged access to Morrisons’ food-development kitchens reveals some interesting results, and Alex uncovers some secrets behind the layout of Tesco shelves. Can Alex get a small company like Heck to survive on the shelves of the supermarket and realise their dream of being the UK’s number one premium brand?

The Motorway: Life in the Fast Lane (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 9th September 2014)

Documentary series following the workers who keep the traffic flowing on one of the busiest stretches of road in Britain, where the country’s longest motorway, the M6, meets four other major routes. An army of workers oversee and make repairs to the M6, the UK’s major arterial motorway. With the need to keep the heavy traffic flowing at all times competing with the constant need for maintenance, it is a battle to stop it all grinding to a halt. Roadworks are often scheduled during the night when the motorway is at its quietest, to the ire of local residents Jim and Alan who live just 20 metres from a stretch of road where repairs are taking place. Meanwhile, safety inspectors working the graveyard shift go on the lookout for heavy-freight truckers breaking the rules.

Our Zoo (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 10th September 2014)

Drama series based on the true story of the Mottershead family who, in the face of staunch opposition and huge personal sacrifice, founded Chester Zoo in the 1930s. Against the family’s wishes George and Billy attempt to coax two malnourished bears out of a cave in Matlock, abandoning Lizzie to organise the building of the zoo. But with the zoo expanding beyond their control and Lucy proving obstinate, Lizzie takes matters into her own hands. In Upton, Reverend Webb conspires to find out what George is up to.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 10th September 2014)

Product designer Rebecca Sturrock has returned to her family home in Cornwall, with her partner Gregory Kewish and a highly ambitious plan. Together they will transform a small, damp, single-storey bungalow into a cutting edge home to share with their twin three-year-old daughters – all for just £80,000. The design is radical, to reinforce the walls of the old bungalow and put an entirely new living space on top to take advantage of the views. The extra floor will be built entirely of super thick wooden panels engineered in Germany. The two-ton panels are normally assembled by a crew of specialist installers, but remarkably, due to their miniscule budget, Rebecca and Gregory are determined to do it all themselves. With rain and wind hammering the site however, it soon becomes dangerously clear that Gregory and Rebecca have bitten off more than they can chew.

Big School (BBC 1/HD | 9:30pm to 10:00pm | Friday 12th September 2014)

Comedy series set in a secondary school. Mr Gunn views the impending parents’ evening at Greybridge in a whole new light when he discovers that one of his pupils may well be his son. Desperate to be the father the boy never had (apart from his current father), Gunn sets about trying to make his boy’s school days as joyous as possible, while Mr Church and Mr Martin battle to make sure Gunn’s hot gossip is spread far and wide. A meeting with their pupils’ parents also presents challenges for the rest of the Greybridge staff: Miss Postern is struggling to stop everyone eyeing her cleavage, Ms Baron is attempting to dodge the event altogether, Mr Barber is desperate to master his errant leaf blower and everyone is trying to avoid missing the final of The Great British Bake Off.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 30/08/2014

Grand Designs | 03-09-2014 (YouView app)Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 7:30pm to 8:15pm | Saturday 30th August 2014)

Sci-fi drama. A Dalek fleet surrounds a lone rebel ship, and only the Doctor can help them. As he faces his greatest enemy, he needs Clara by his side. Confronted with a decision that could change the Daleks forever, he is forced to examine his conscience. Ser. 54, Ep. 2.

The Bridge: Fifty Years across the Forth (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:00pm to 8:00pm | Sunday 31st August 2014)

Documentary celebrating the 50th anniversary of one of Scotland’s great landmarks, the Forth Road Bridge. The programme charts the memories of the people who built the bridge, the biggest of its kind in Europe at the time, as well as those who ran the Forth ferries that stopped running when it opened in 1964.

Alex Polizzi: The Fixer (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 1st September 2014)

Alex Polizzi, champion of small businesses, returns with a new series. This time she is finding fixes for the critical issues that kill so many companies. In this episode, Alex looks at exporting. Six years ago it was Paul Walker’s dream to set up his very own microbrewery in the heart of the Devon countryside. But his dream has turned into a nightmare; finances are spiralling out of control and family life is suffering. A taste test at Sharp’s Brewery ruffles some feathers and a trip to Paris reveals interesting opportunities inherent within brand Britain. Can Alex capitalise on the growing popularity of British real ales and show a small firm how to shape up in order to ship out?

Dogs: Their Secret Lives (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 2nd September 2014)

It’s not common to associate dogs with mental health issues but some of our pooches are displaying symptoms, from compulsive behaviours and chronic fears to unusual behaviour like traffic-chasing. Applying the latest technology, using surveillance filming and working with the UK’s top behaviourists, Dogs: Their Secret Lives looks into the minds of our dogs and meets three troubled pets – Max, the spinning German shepherd, compulsive bus-chasing collie Biscuit, and Roxy the Staffordshire bull terrier, who’s terrified of the great outdoors – to find out what could be at the root of their problems and how to help them. Mark Evans, the former chief vet at the RSCPA, explores the latest brain scanning experiments, meets dogs with incredible learning abilities and finds out about the latest medications as he investigates the challenges facing the 21st-century dog.

Our Zoo (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 3rd September 2014)

Drama series based on the true story of the Mottershead family who, in the face of staunch opposition and huge personal sacrifice, founded Chester Zoo in the 1930s. Frustrated by living with his wife and two daughters under his parents’ roof and tormented by his war trauma, George decides to change his life and put a bit of beauty back into the world. Driven by his unique love of animals and unable to stand by while an unwanted squirrel monkey and a camel are put down in the quarantine bay at the docks, George houses the animals in his parents’ backyard. His youngest daughter, June, immediately falls in love with them, but Lucy, his mother, quickly loses patience with George’s state of mind.

Grand Designs (Channel 4 | HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 3rd September 2014)

Designer and writer Kevin McCloud follows Britain’s most ambitious and astonishing house-building or rebuilding projects.

Scrappers (BBC 1/HD | 8:30pm to 9:00pm | Friday 5th September 2014)

Documentary following straight-talking Terry and glamorous Lyndsay, who run a multimillion-pound scrap empire from Bolton’s Metro Salvage, the biggest scrap metal yard in the north west. The yard is running smoothly, and Terry is getting bored. His plan to get the lads to take part in a semi-naked calendar might keep him amused, but it is not clear whether anyone else will join in. When Terry tries to make a quick profit selling grit salt, Lyndsay realises she needs to keep her eye on him. She would love to get him to slow down, but as the team gathers for the staff Christmas party, it is clear that retirement is the last thing on his mind.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 10:50pm | Friday 5th September 2014)

Adam Hills and regular co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker consider the weird and wonderful talking points of the week in the company of a studio audience and guest Nick Frost. The show also features the all-encompassing question: Is It OK? Viewers at home and the studio audience are encouraged to ask this question about anything from the week, without fear of judgement, and the three hosts attempt to step into the minefield of sometimes difficult and delicate areas and answer the questions with their own unique insight.

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