Tag: Bang Goes the Theory

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 26/04/2014

Bang Goes the Theory : Trains  (YouView app screenshot)The Crimson Field (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Sunday 27th April 2014)

Drama series presenting one of the untold stories of World War I. The staff gather at a funeral for some of the patients, and Joan is in agony not knowing whether her fiance is alive or dead. It would be so dangerous if anyone knew her connection to the enemy, but Rosalie has previously seen the ring and now she watches Joan intently. Will the truth come to light? Joan’s spirits are lifted by the arrival of thirteen Tommies from her home town of Liverpool – known as the Lucky 13. Joan has a fondness for these men, whose united spirit has given them a belief that if they all stick together, none of them will die. But when she discovers that one is much sicker than thought, she finds herself the victim of blackmail. Elsewhere, Thomas seizes his opportunity to pursue Kitty, but when she is summoned to meet with a mysterious figure from home it is Miles who comes to her aid. Will Kitty face up to her past? And the return of an old patient causes ripples between Roland, Grace and Margaret.

Bang Goes the Theory (BBC 1/HD | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 28th April 2014)

Series presenting the science behind the headlines. The team look at the many measures engineers are taking to ensure Britain’s ageing rail system stays on track. Liz Bonnin looks at how signals may disappear from the trackside and how hearing impairment could be one of the biggest killers on the railway lines. Meanwhile, Maggie Philbin looks at how a train travelling at 125 mph is set to revolutionise trackside maintenance.

Britain’s Most Extreme Weather (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Monday 28th April 2014)

Weatherman Alex Beresford investigates why Britain’s recent weather has been so severe and asks if the country is facing the worst weather in recorded history. Alex trawls through centuries of British history to compare weather from the past with that of today, and examines the latest scientific discoveries to find out if things are getting worse. The first programme looks at Britain’s most fearsome floods. This winter has been the stormiest for decades, with 13 major rainstorms that caused extensive flooding. Moving personal accounts and astonishing footage from smartphones and cameras combine to tell the story of Britain’s stormy past, including the tidal surges that flooded North Sea coasts and the hurricane-force winds that battered western shores.

Watermen: A Dirty Business (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 29th April 2014)

Series focusing on the men and women who take our calls, come to unblock the drains and keep the sewage flowing. This episode is all about potential disasters, from broken sewers affecting hundreds of homes and polluted rivers. In Liverpool, the company’s only all-female team unblock customer’s drain and see off sewage in Liverpool. In Oldham, apprentice manager Faz deals with a stomach-churning blockage in Oldham. A new six-mile water pipeline near Blackburn upsets customers. The disconnection team also deals with problems as they try to recover an eye-watering £64,000 in unpaid bills.

Parking Mad (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 1st May 2014)

Documentary series about the world of parking, following the work of those in the public and private parking sectors and telling the stories of motorists involved in parking disputes. At a roadside operation, bailiffs use automatic number plate recognition to identify and stop cars with outstanding fines. Bailiff Debbie tries to get payment of over £500 from a man who insists he has already paid the original fine, but has he? Later on, the driver of another car, who is stopped for unpaid fines, soon finds himself in deeper water. In south London, blue badge fraud investigator Steve arranges for a car to be towed away, but the driver arrives just as the car is lifted onto the lorry, and she is not happy. And in Lyme Regis, the car parks are full to bursting as visitors pour into the town to see the Red Arrows.

Heston’s Great British Food (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 1st May 2014)

Britain is home to some of the most iconic dishes in the world. In this new series, Heston Blumenthal delves into the history of some of our favourites – from curry to pies to afternoon tea and chocolate – in order to find inspiration for an amazing culinary salute. The first episode is all about the great British pie, with Heston on a mission to find inspiration for a three-course pie banquet. For his starter, he delves into the history of the ‘surprise’ pies of the 17th century, where some ingredients were sometimes – bizarrely – alive. He learns about Jeffrey Hudson, a dwarf boy who would jump out of a pie at banquets.

Have I Got News for You (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Friday 2nd May 2014)

The popular news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Jack Dee and guest panellists Charlie Brooker and Bridget Christie.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 12/04/2014

Parking Mad: episode 1 (YouView app screenshot)The Crimson Field (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Sunday 13th April 2014)

Drama series presenting one of the untold stories of World War I. The volunteers settle into life at the hospital but Kitty keeps herself at a distance and its clear to Grace that something is deeply troubling her. Despite this, Kitty throws herself into her work, helping new patients Major Crecy and Private Byeford. Crecy awakens from the brink of death but still badly wounded to find his troops have been decimated. As the world closes in around him he clings to his friendship with Byeford, but when his wife Adelinde visits he finds himself torn between the old life back home and a new one with his men. Meanwhile, the hospital readies for a convoy of new patients. With resources stretched, Joan views it as a chance for the volunteers’ skills to be put to good use but Margaret does not think they are ready. Will the girls live up to Joan’s expectations?

Bang Goes the Theory (BBC 1/HD | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 14th April 2014)

Series presenting the science behind the headlines, and looking at the issues that have a real impact on all our lives. With the waters receding, Bang Goes the Theory takes a more considered look at the recent floods. Did global warming play a part, or is this simply the extreme end of the natural cycle? Maggie investigates the real threat of storm surge as water levels rise, Liz Bonnin looks at how to use nature to ‘slow the flow’ and the team are joined by Charlie Dimmock who wants to know if her love for patios and decking might have played a part in creating urban flash floods.

Real Storage Wars: Business Boomers (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 14th April 2014)

Four-part series on businesses that have boomed despite tough economic times. This episode discovers why Britain came to have the biggest self-storage industry in Europe, when just three decades ago the industry didn’t even exist in this country. It is the entertaining tale of canny entrepreneurs who grew rich selling empty space, of the garish multicoloured monster sheds that have sprung up around towns and cities and – above all – of Britain’s national predilection for buying stuff and hoarding it.

Clydebuilt: The Ships That Made the Commonwealth (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 14th April 2014)

Documentary series exploring the stories of four ships built on the river Clyde. This programme tells the story of the Robert E. Lee, one of the most famous Clydebuilt blockade running paddle steamers. During the American Civil War, Glasgow shipbuilders and captains made a fortune transporting war supplies to the Confederate South and returning with valuable cotton. To run the blockade of Union warships these paddle steamers had to be fast and their crews fearless.

Shetland (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 15th April 2014)

Crime drama set on the remote Scottish islands. Time is running out for Detective Inspector Perez as prime suspect Peter Latimer lies critically ill in hospital. Was the fire a drunken accident, or was Peter Latimer the second victim of a murderer still free on Fair Isle?

Watermen: A Dirty Business (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 15th April 2014)

Getting clean water can be a dirty business; whether it is a blocked drain or faulty faucet, people only notice when something goes wrong. For the men and women who run and work for one of Britain’s biggest water companies no job is too big or too small, too messy or too revolting. Episode one sees the workers of United Utilities face the effects of Britain’s hottest summer in seven years. As temperatures rise so do the often smelly and revolting jobs that customer service technicians Adrian and Wes have to handle. It takes a strong stomach to do what these boys do and as long people continue to flush wet wipes and nappies there will always be a drain to unblock. However, it’s the out of town reservoirs, where sun seekers put their lives at risk by not paying attention to warning signs, that are one of the biggest worry during the heat wave; and we see the devastating impact that death can have on the team charged with patrolling the area.

Parking Mad (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 17th April 2014)

Documentary series about the world of parking, following the work of those in the public and private parking sectors and telling the stories of motorists involved in parking disputes. The series also follows the tribunals that adjudicate parking disputes between motorists and councils, and the bailiffs who pursue unpaid fines. In this episode, parking campaigner Mr Mustard helps a 93-year-old man appeal against a fine he has been given by Barnet Council. At a roadside operation run jointly with the police, bailiff Debbie is confronted by a very angry man – will she be able to confiscate his van? In Lincoln, we meet the team dealing with parking in an increasingly busy city centre. Residents in a quiet Sussex village take direct action to stop commuters to London from parking on their road, which happens to be right next to the station. And in Devon, a businessman has developed a talking parking ticket.

Inside Edinburgh Airport (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 17th April 2014)

The first of a two-part documentary charting how Edinburgh Airport is adapting to change under a new management team. In this edition, new boarding pass security scanners cause confusion when passengers misinterpret the meaning of ‘face down’. Management are called in to help on the busiest day of the year, as 40,000 passengers pass through the airport, but things start to go wrong when the main baggage belt fails. Plus, the launch Virgin’s Little Red and the arrival of BA’s Dreamliner.

Have I Got News for You (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Friday 18th April 2014)

The popular news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Jeremy Clarkson and guest panellists Henning Wehn and Baroness Shirley Williams.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 22/03/2014

W1A 26-03-2014 (YouView app screenshot) Alex Against the Rock for Sport Relief (BBC 1/HD | 3:15pm to 3:45pm | Sunday 23rd March 2014)

The full story of Alex Jones’ attempt to climb Utah’s Moonlight Buttress, a sheer sandstone cliff taller than the Shard in London, for Sport Relief. The One Show presenter spends two nights and three days, including her birthday, on the face struggling against fatigue and her fear of heights.

Harry’s South Pole Heroes (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 23rd March 2014)

Conclusion of the two-part documentary about the Walking with the Wounded-organised South Pole Allied Challenge 2013. The three teams of wounded soldiers, representing the United Kingdom – with expedition patron Prince Harry – the United States and the Commonwealth face the challenge of racing more than 200 km across the harsh frozen wastes of the Antarctic Plateau. In the very first hours, the extreme conditions start to take a severe toll on all the teams. Over the next few days, wounded and non-wounded alike succumb to frostbite, altitude sickness and exhaustion. The race element is abandoned and what was a competition becomes a band of comrades, united in their determination to reach the South Pole together.

Bang Goes the Theory (BBC 1/HD | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 24th March 2014)

Series presenting the science behind the headlines, and looking at the issues that have a real impact on all our lives. With the technology we use every day beginning to share, store and analyse our data, the team look at how the use of our information now known as big data will change the world in ways unimaginable. Liz Bonnin looks at how big data monitors Rolls Royce jet engines dozens of times a second wherever they are in the world, and how that same system of analytics can automatically detect secondary brain injury in intensive care units. Jem Stansfield creates a low-tech computer and storage system with hacksaw blades and magnets. And with the government about to allow private companies access to our medical data, Maggie Philbin examines the dark side of big data: privacy. Just how much information on each and every one of us is out there, and how easy is it to find?

Shetland (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 25th March 2014)

Crime drama set on the remote Scottish islands. When an old acquaintance of Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez dies in a suspicious car accident on the island, he wonders whether his journalist friend had uncovered a story that cost him his life.

Keeping Britain Safe 24/7 (BBC 1/HD | 10:35pm to 11:35pm | Tuesday 25th March 2014)

The series following the everyday heroes who keep Britain safe, battling the unexpected challenges that unfold with each passing season, goes behind the scenes with the safety teams at the world’s busiest runway and the world’s busiest shipping lane as they are overrun by holidaymakers. As tented villages the size of towns pop up all over the country, the police as try to control the festival crowds. Plus, when the party’s over in Notting Hill, the country’s biggest street carnival, an army of workers are left to clean up the mess.

W1A (BBC 2/HD | 10:00pm to 10:30pm | Wednesday 26th March 2014)

Comedy sequel to Twenty Twelve. BBC Head of Values Ian Fletcher has only been in the job a few weeks and already finds himself at the centre of a media storm. Spotlight South West presenter Sally Wingate believes she has been discriminated against because of her age, so Ian’s mission is to take the sting out of what has become known as ‘Wingategate’. As he journeys North to Salford for his first big live interview in the job, he finds himself unhelpfully joined by brand consultant Siobhan Sharpe, who is in serious tweeting mode. Meanwhile, things are getting complicated for the Britain’s Tastiest Village production team. Having wooed and won Carol Vorderman as Clare Balding’s replacement, they have discovered at the very last minute that Clare Balding is unexpectedly available and keen to do the show. The problem is that no-one has told Clare that they were moving on and she unhelpfully turns up for her first production meeting at the same time as Carol Vorderman is leaving.

Mayday: The Passenger Who Landed a Plane (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 27th March 2014)

On an early evening last October, 77-year-old great-grandfather John Wildey was being flown home by his pilot friend after a day out in north Lincolnshire. The pilot suddenly started to feel unwell. Ten minutes later he had collapsed at the controls, 1500 feet up in the air. John had no flying experience, and it was starting to get dark. This documentary tells the story of how, against all the odds, he managed to land the plane in pitch darkness, with help from a small team who were scrambled to provide instructions from the ground and air. John’s ordeal lasted for over an hour, and was made far harder because he couldn’t find the switch for the lights inside the cockpit. He made four attempts to land: his first was on a short, unlit runway that was so dark, he had to abort at the last second.

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