Tag: Beyond Paradise

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 26/04/2025

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 28th April 2025)

Loughton to Audley End. Series 16, episode 16. Michael Portillo embarks on a journey around Essex. He starts out in the ancient woodland of Epping Forest and visits a historic London Transport signal cabin in Epping which has been preserved by enthusiasts. He then visits the home of Harlow’s chief architect Frederic Gibberd, who talks about his plans for the town, before reaching Audley End, where he sees a miniature railway and learns of Audley End House’s role as a secret wartime military school.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Tuesday 29th April 2025)

Romford to the Blackwater Estuary. Series 16, episode 17. Michael Portillo’s exploration of Essex continues in Romford. He arrives on the London Overground’s Liberty Line to visit a state-of-the-art rail operating centre and discovers how signallers and operators control the movements of over 4,000 trains a day. On the River Blackwater, he takes a trip to the Ross Revenge ship, home to Radio Caroline since the 1980’s.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Wednesday 30th April 2025)

Chelmsford to Tollesbury. Series 16, episode 18. Michael Portillo’s exploration of Essex reaches Chelmsford, where the city’s bishop tells her story of escape from Iran after the Islamic revolution of 1979. He visits the historic riverside town of Maldon, where he learns about a medieval battle and handles a rare Viking sword. Michael finishes this leg of his Essex journey in the coastal village of Tollesbury, with its strong maritime heritage and marshy landscape.

Race Across the World (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 30th April 2025) ** PICK OF THE WEEK **

The teams set out on their journey to the second checkpoint in Sanya, one of China’s most southerly cities, located on Hainan Island. To get there, the teams must choose between city-hopping down the coast of the East China Sea or venturing inland on a more rural route that takes in some of China’s most impressive landscapes but it’s a race against time as a fast-approaching typhoon threatens to stop all ferries to the island.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Thursday 1st May 2025)

Witham to Saffron Walden. Series 16, episode 19. Michael Portillo arrives in the Essex market town of Witham, then heads off to country house Terling Place, before visiting two medieval barns that are thought to be the oldest timber framed structures in England. In Braintree, Michael learns about the town’s wool and silk industries, then views a depository of thousands of silk patterns in the Warner and Sons’ archive.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 2nd May 2025)

Colchester to Chappel and Wakes Colne. Series 16, episode 20. Michael Portillo’s exploration of Essex draws to a close as he visits Colchester, first mentioned in AD 77 and proudly claims to be Britain’s oldest recorded town. He learns about the rebellion in AD 60 by warrior queen Boudica against the Romans and visits the Norman castle, which was built on top of the foundations of the Temple of Claudius. He finishes his tour of the county by driving an old Intercity 125 high-speed train through the picturesque countryside.

Beyond Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 2nd May 2025)

When nurse Lucy vanishes on her way to work, suspicion falls on Josh Woods – Kelby’s rival. However, after Josh receives a chilling voicemail, the team starts to suspect that something far more sinister is at play. In the recording, Lucy can be heard shouting ‘devil” followed by a beastly growl. Could the legend of the Devil’s Hump hold a vital clue to solving her disappearance? As the case intensifies, Humphrey finds himself torn between the personal and professional. With Rosie’s birthday fast approaching, he and Martha are determined to throw her the perfect party. Kris Marshall and Sally Bretton star.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 19/04/2025

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 21st April 2025)

Shrewsbury to Telford. Series 16, episode 11. Michael Portillo begins a tour of the Midlands with a journey from Shrewsbury to Telford. Armed with a longbow, Michael re-enacts the Battle of Shrewsbury, where the rebel Harry Hotspur challenged King Henry IV for the throne of England in 1403. He then marvels at the gothic beauty of Shrewsbury Cathedral before riding the Telford Steam Railway’s flagship locomotive along the revived Wellington to Craven Arms line.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Tuesday 22nd April 2025)

Ironbridge to Coseley. Series 16, episode 12. In Ironbridge Gorge on the River Severn, Michael Portillo explores this hotbed of industrial innovation and takes a ride on a replica of the world’s first steam locomotive. He also investigates the rich heritage of the Black Country in Wolverhampton with a lesson in ‘yam yam’. In Coseley, Michael discovers that one of the area’s most successful industries, brickmaking, continues at Ketley Brick.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Wednesday 23rd April 2025)

Dudley to West Bromwich. Series 16, episode 13. Michael Portillo boards a barge on the Dudley Canal and travels through the second longest navigable tunnel in the UK, while marvelling at a vast cave known as the Singing Cavern. At nearby Wren’s Nest, a former limestone quarry that’s now part of Unesco’s Black Country Geopark, he discovers an ancient seabed. In the town of Smethwick, Michael speaks to the son of 1960’s anti-racist activist.

Race Across the World (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 23rd April 2025) ** PICK OF THE WEEK + NEW SERIES **

Reality game show narrated by John Hannah in which pairs of competitors race across the globe without getting on a plane or being able to use mobile phones and credit cards. The five pairs – Fin and Sioned, Brian and Melvyn, Yin and Gaz, Elizabeth and Letitia and Caroline and Tom – start their race across Asia to the southernmost tip of India, at the Great Wall of China and head to their first check point in the village of Huangling.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Thursday 24th April 2025)

Birmingham New Street to Wednesbury. Series 16, episode 14. Michael Portillo heads to Birmingham’s Curzon Street for a tour of the HS2 terminus, which is still under construction. He also visits Firmin and Sons, the oldest private manufacturing firm in the UK, which dates back to 1655 and is still making buttons for the royal family and the military.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 25th April 2025)

Solihull to Birmingham International. Series 16, episode 15. On the final leg of his tour of the Midlands, Michael Portillo travels to the Land Rover factory in Solihull, which produced the first model in the 1940s. In Hall Green, he visits the childhood neighbourhood of author JRR Tolkien and learns how the peaceful rural setting of Sarehole Mill provided inspiration for the fantasy world of Middle Earth in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

Beyond Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 25th April 2025)

As the harvest ends, Stella and George Ellis follow their long-held tradition of hanging a corn doll to mark its close. However, this simple ritual takes a darker turn when the doll mysteriously falls and a figure dressed as the mythical Cornman strikes. With their milk ruined and their hay set ablaze, the Ellises are pushed to the brink. Meanwhile, Martha and Humphrey embark on a new chapter as foster parents when Rosie begins her first day at Shipton Abbott Primary, while Anne takes a bold step to embrace life fully. Drama, starring Kris Marshall and Sally Bretton, with guest star Caroline Quentin.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 12/04/2025

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 14th April 2025)

Windermere to Sellafield. Series 16, episode 6. Michael Portillo tours the border counties of Cumbria and Dumfriesshire, starting in the Lake District National Park, where he discovers the violent geological history of volcanoes and colliding continents that shaped this landscape. He then meets trainee foresters in Ambleside, visits the heritage Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway and finishes off in Sellafield, a key site in the UK’s nuclear history.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Tuesday 15th April 2025)

St Bees to Grange-over-Sands. Series 16, episode 7. Michael Portillo continues his railway tour, travelling along the Cumbrian Coast Line. Outside of Egremont, he visits Florence Mine, an old iron ore mine transformed into an arts centre and producing vibrant pigments from the haematite. In Ulverston, Michael discovers the cradle of Quakerism at Swarthmoor Hall, where secret meetings were once held by Quaker founder George Fox.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Wednesday 16th April 2025)

Maryport to Penrith. Series 16, episode 8. Michael Portillo’s railway journey through Cumbria and Dumfriesshire heads to the hills as he follows in the footsteps of the Lakeland poets. In Keswick, he retraces the walks of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, discovering how one of his legendary routes has been used as a form of therapy. Michael also visits the ruins of Lowther Castle, once a grand gothic estate, now reborn as a garden.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Thursday 17th April 2025)

Aspatria to Carlisle. Series 16, episode 9. Michael Portillo travels through Cumbria from Aspatria to Carlisle, meeting a couple who swapped their old life for organic dairy farming.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 18th April 2025)

Dumfries to Auchinleck. Series 16, episode 10. Michael concludes his journey from Cumbria to Dumfries and Galloway by crossing the Solway Firth, where he visits the last home of Scotland’s Bard Robert Burns. Further north into the Lowther Hills, Michael strikes gold in the rich geological landscape around Wanlockhead, Scotland’s highest village, and rides a charming heritage industrial railway across the stunning terrain. His journey ends at the spectacular Palladian mansion of Dumfries House, home to a world-class Chippendale furniture collection and the headquarters of the King’s Foundation.

Beyond Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 18th April 2025) ** PICK OF THE WEEK **

On the final day of the regatta, rival sailors Francine and Polly are neck and neck for the top spot. However, disaster strikes when Polly collapses and plunges into the sea, throwing the entire race into chaos. When it’s discovered that Polly’s smoothie had been tampered with, all eyes turn to Martha, the smoothie-maker, who finds herself in the spotlight as an unlikely prime suspect. She and Humphrey, already juggling the demands of work and childcare, struggle to stay composed under this new pressure.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 05/04/2025

Beyond Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 11th April 2025) ** PICK OF THE WEEK **

A chocolatier falls under suspicion when three customers are poisoned after sampling her wares and Humphrey must explore every avenue to determine whether she orchestrated the attack or was framed. The mystery deepens as the team finds no trace of poison in the remaining chocolates and wonder how the perpetrator ensured the victims ate the right one. With public panic spreading across Shipton Abbott, the officers must work swiftly to uncover the culprit.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 29/03/2025

Waterloo Road (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 1st April 2025)

Jared goes to new extreme lengths to control Libby as she tries to move on and Stella’s world is rocked when she’s forced to confront her past. When money goes missing from the school, Joe is quick to point the finger at Schuey and Donte worries that Ashton’s bad influence is affecting his children.

Beyond Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 4th April 2025) ** PICK OF THE WEEK **

When Kelby’s old friend Emily becomes the target of threatening texts, the team tries to uncover the identity of the keyboard warrior. With Humphrey busy at home, Kelby steps up to help Esther with the investigation, facing endless potential suspects as they delve into the world of social media and online spats. Meanwhile, Humphrey and Martha have a rocky start as they welcome Rosie – their new foster child – into their home, new relations are formed as Esther finds herself in a surprising romantic entanglement, and Anne is rocked by a potential health scare. Drama, with Kris Marshall and Sally Bretton.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 22/03/2025

Love and Loss: The Pandemic 5 Years On (BBC 1/HD | 8:30pm to 10:00pm | Monday 24th March 2025)

Documentary charting the pandemic through the eyes of those who lost loved ones to Covid-19, including director Catey Sexton, whose mother died in a care home. She and 12 other families across the UK share their stories of loss. Some need answers from the public inquiry, others are trying to accept what happened, and for some, it is too painful to remember that time.

Waterloo Road (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 25th March 2025)

Coral gets an unexpected delivery, Stace tries to get some time alone with Noel, and Libby’s friends worry about the way Jared is treating her. Stella attends a counselling session.

Beyond Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 28th March 2025) ** NEW SERIES **

When a body is found in a river on the county border between Devon and Cornwall, Humphrey and Esther are forced to work alongside their Cornish counterparts. While their rivals are quick to brush off the death as a tragic accident, Humphrey’s instincts tell him there may be more lurking under the surface. Meanwhile, following the success of Ten Mile Kitchen, Martha decides to expand the business. However, just as everything seems settled, she and Humphrey are thrown an unexpected curveball. Death in Paradise spin-off, guest starring Hugh Dennis, with Kris Marshall, Sally Bretton and Barbara Flynn.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 28th March 2025) ** PICK OF THE WEEK **

Just as he is about to fly home, Mervin finds himself at the centre of a murder investigation when a body is discovered in his shack. While he professes his innocence, the team is perplexed with the circumstances – namely how the victim ended up inside a locked building with no sign of forced entry. The woman’s identity remains elusive until they discover she was volunteering at a local turtle conservation charity. Meanwhile, Selwyn delivers some personal news to Mervin that turns everything on its head. Detective drama, starring Don Gilet and Don Warrington.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 21/12/2024

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 8:30pm to 10:00pm | Sunday 22nd December 2024)

A holiday-maker is killed while dressed as Father Christmas but Commissioner Patterson worries about the team’s ability to tackle such a case without the guiding hand of a chief investigator. So he is relieved to learn that a British detective inspector, Mervin Wilson, is currently holidaying on the island and arranges for him to extend his stay – just as reports come in that a second Santa has been shot dead. Don Gilet joins the team as DI Mervin Wilson, with Marcus Brigstocke, Jim Howick, Dex Lee, Elizabeth Carling and Angela Griffin.

All Creatures Great and Small (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:15pm | Monday 23rd December 2024) ** PICK OF THE WEEK **

All God’s Creatures. Skeldale House prepares for Christmas and Jimmy’s first birthday, but everyone is rocked by news that Edward’s ship HMS Repulse has been sunk. Mrs Hall has to endure an agonising wait, but when a young boy arrives at the surgery with an abandoned fox cub, she can’t help feeling a connection with the animal. Meanwhile, Tristan is given an important Royal Army Veterinary Corps mission to source the best Yorkshire pigeons for a new breeding programme, for which Siegfried sends him to Enoch Sykes, a cantankerous pigeon fancier whose birds are having digestive problems. Festive episode of the drama, starring Samuel West.

Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 5:10pm to 6:10pm | Wednesday 25th December 2024)

Joy to the World. From a war-torn Manchester hotel in 1940 to the Orient Express travelling across Italy in 1962, the Doctor is determined to deliver a toasted sandwich and a pumpkin latte. The base camp at Everest in 1953 is also a wrong turn on his travels, but at the Sandringham Hotel in 2024, he meets a single woman called Joy. When she opens a secret doorway to the Time Hotel, Joy discovers danger and dinosaurs. But a deadly plan is unfolding across the Earth, just in time for Christmas. Festive edition of the fantasy saga, starring Ncuti Gatwa and Nicola Coughlan.

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (BBC 1/HD | 6:10pm to 7:30pm | Wednesday 25th December 2024)

After a recent crime wave hits gardeners across the region, Wallace and his pre-programmed smart gnome, Norbot, are the main suspects. While the inventor proclaims his innocence, it’s up to faithful hound Gromit to battle sinister forces. Despite being locked up for his previous crimes, a certain penguin might have something to do with recent events. Animated adventure, with the voices of Ben Whitehead, Reece Shearsmith and Peter Kay.

Call the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 25th December 2024)

Christmas 2024 (Part 1). The Poplar midwives and medics return for the first of a two-part festive special ahead of a new series next year. It’s Christmas 1969 and the Nonnatus midwives are as busy as ever, although their job is made even more difficult by a new strain of flu. Teddy Turner befriends a little girl whose family are living in abject poverty, learning they have no tree, presents or food for Christmas. The Buckles are excited about Reggie’s homecoming, and the residents are concerned to learn that an escaped prisoner may be in the local area.

Call the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 7:30pm to 8:30pm | Thursday 26th December 2024)

Christmas 2024 (Part 2). Episode 2. The conclusion of a two-part episode. The People of Poplar Choir performance brings festive cheer and romance is in the air for Nancy when she is asked out by Roger Noble. They agree to go to the funfair, but a sudden accident brings their date to an abrupt end before Nancy has had a chance to address the fact she is a single mother. As concern grows for missing Reggie, the residents pull together to try to find him, while escaped prisoner Jock McKechnie has a personal reason for being in Poplar – only for events to escalate when he injures his hand.

Return to Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 27th December 2024)

Oh Mine Papa. Series 1, episode 6. Crabby local Vincent Ogden is found dead in his warehouse, and all signs point to suicide as the door was bolted from the inside and everyone who might have wanted him dead has a solid alibi. However, Mackenzie uncovers some dirty family secrets that put a new spin on the case and soon suspects she’s looking for a killer rather than a motive for suicide. Later, word from London arrives that Mackenzie has been cleared of misconduct and is free to return to the UK once she has wrapped up the case in Dolphin Cove. Detective drama, starring Anna Samson and Lloyd Griffith.

Beyond Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 27th December 2024)

Christmas Special 2024. Festive instalment of the detective drama. Humphrey and Esther try to unravel whether a widower’s ghostly visions are a manifestation of grief or something more sinister. Meanwhile, a break-in at the church leaves the Nativity scene incomplete. With the Christmas service fast approaching and CS Charlie Woods due to attend, Kelby hopes to solve the mystery of the missing Virgin Mary and impress the Chief Superintendent at the same time. Away from the station, Humphrey and Martha’s fostering journey continues as they open their home to an introverted teenager. Mark Heap guest stars, with Kris Marshall and Sally Bretton.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 20/04/2024

Great Coastal Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 22nd April 2024)

Eastbourne to Rye. Series 3, episode 11. Michael Portillo embarks on a trip to explore the twin shores of the English Channel and the estuaries of the Thames and Medway. Along the way he stops off to visit the Seven Sisters, the site of the Battle of Hastings and the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, before taking take a flying lesson in a Piper Archer.

Great Coastal Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Tuesday 23rd April 2024)

Folkestone to Le Touquet. Series 3, episode 12. Michael Portillo travels on the Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais, where a historian explains to him how Calais became the centre of the French lace industry in the 19th-century. In Boulogne-sur-Mer, he explores France’s biggest fishing port. Upon reaching Etaples-Le Touquet, Michael tours a resort’s beach, hotels and casino in a vintage Jaguar.

Great Coastal Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Wednesday 24th April 2024)

Dover to Margate. Series 3, episode 13. Michael Portillo’s journey continues into Dover, where he hears how, in 1940, over 300,000 soldiers were rescued from Germany’s attack on the beaches of Dunkirk. On a pilgrim route into Canterbury, he learns how the murder of Thomas Becket in 1170 prompted a surge of pilgrimage to the cathedral. In Margate, Michael admires the Turner Contemporary art gallery.

Race Across the World (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 24th April 2024) ** PICK OF THE WEEK **

The teams race over 2,000km from Hanoi, Vietnam into the Kingdom of Cambodia to reach the next checkpoint in Phnom Penh. The competition intensifies as the team in last place face elimination.

Great Coastal Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Thursday 25th April 2024)

Birchington-on-Sea to Whitstable. Series 3, episode 14. Michael Portillo’s railway exploration of the Channel coastline and Thames estuary via Calais has reached the Isle of Thanet. Michael visits the largest greenhouse complex in Britain, Thanet Earth, and later moves onto the fishing port of Whitstable. Famed for its oysters, the town has become a foodie destination.

Great Coastal Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 26th April 2024)

Faversham to Chatham. Series 3, episode 15. Michael Portillo’s railway adventure zig-zagging the coasts of the English Channel and the Thames estuary nears its end on the north Kent coast. The pretty town of Faversham is his first stop and an opportunity to get out on to the water in the last sailing barge to work on the Thames. Later he visits the historic town of Chatham on the Medway River.

Grand Tours of Scotland’s Rivers (BBC 2/HD | 7:00pm to 7:30pm | Friday 26th April 2024)

Tales from the Riverbank. Series 3, episode 3. Paul Murton explores the lower River Tay, following it from the Grandtully Rapids to Dunkeld and its musical oak tree, past the home of Mrs Tiggy-winkle, and on to the sea. He hears a tale of a monster salmon and gets excitingly close to a nest of Osprey chicks. In the city of Perth, Paul listens to the authentic poetic voice of William Soutar, before meeting some rare moustachioed avians.

Beyond Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 26th April 2024)

Humphrey and Martha’s wedding day finally arrives, with the lavish affair organised by Anne – whose plans feel far grander than anything either of them actually wanted. Meanwhile, there’s no rest for the Shipton Abbott team members who have to deal with the theft of a valuable museum piece and a nefarious pair of cyber criminals before they can join in the celebrations. With bride and groom running around and thieves running amok in Shipton Abbott, can the team wrap everything up in time to mark Humphrey and Martha’s long-awaited union – or does fate have other plans? Death in Paradise spin-off, starring Kris Marshall, Sally Bretton and Barbara Flynn.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 13/04/2024

Great Coastal Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 15th April 2024)

Cardigan Bay to Abergynolwyn. Series 3, episode 6. Michael Portillo embarks on a trip along the western coast of Wales, beginning on the Victorian Cliff Railway at Aberystwyth, rising above the historic town to take in views over Cardigan Bay, home to the largest population of bottlenose dolphins in Europe. Michael joins scientists and the founder of the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre out on the water to see how they get to know individual dolphins from the nicks and notches on their dorsal fins and their signature whistles.

Great Coastal Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Tuesday 16th April 2024)

Harlech to Abedaron. Series 3, episode 7. Michael Portillo continues his railway journey through north Wales on the sands of Morfa Harlech, where he finds a team of conservationists felling and grubbing out trees. In Porthmadog, he discovers how an early 19th-century sea wall was key to the town’s success in the slate trading industry. Upon reaching Aberdaron, Michael discovers poet RS Thomas’s history as a vicar at St Hywyn’s Church.

Saving Lives at Sea (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 16th April 2024)

Trust. Series 9, episode 6. The Humber crew works closely together to pull off the risky evacuation of a fisherman with a spinal injury. On the southwest coast of Ireland, the Castletownbere team race to rescue a fishing trawler that’s run aground near Dursey Island, and is in danger of breaking up on the rocks. The village of Clovelly’s crew assist a yacht that has lost all power – a rescue made all the more difficult by severe weather.

Great Coastal Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Wednesday 17th April 2024)

Porthmadog to Anglesey. Series 3, episode 8. Michael Portillo continues his journey on the Welsh Highland Railway. He stops off at Beddgelert, taking in the geology that inspired Victorian scientist Charles Darwin. On the coast of Caernarfon, Michael joins a fisherman to understand how mussel farmers are exploring new methods of cultivating shellfish. He also visits Anglesey’s Sea Zoo, where he helps release a conger eel back into the wild.

Race Across the World (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 17th April 2024) ** PICK OF THE WEEK **

With less than five hours separating the teams, they leave Nara City and head to the second checkpoint in the seaside town of Sokcho, South Korea. The pairs must navigate another stretch of budget-busting Japan to reach the ferry port before they race across the length of South Korea.

Great Coastal Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Thursday 18th April 2024)

The Isle of Anglesey. Series 3, episode 9. Michael Portillo resumes his exploration of North Wales on the Isle of Anglesey, where the briny waters of the Menai Strait are being used to create a Welsh gastronomic delight. Michael meets the team producing salt favoured by royalty and a former US President.

Great Coastal Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 19th April 2024)

Conwy to Colwyn Bay. Series 3, episode 10. Michael Portillo takes the train to the medieval walled town of Conwy on the last leg of his exploration of the shores of North Wales. He later presses east on the final stretch of his journey to reach Colwyn Bay.

Wetherspoons vs Toby Carvery: Which Is Better (Channel 5/HD | 7:00pm to 7:55pm | Friday 19th April 202)

Over four rounds – breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks – chef and taste-tester Phillippa Davis reviews some of Wetherspoons’ and Toby’s most popular meals. From a full English breakfast to mac ‘n’ cheese wrapped in a Yorkshire pudding, fish and chips to a roast dinner, Phillippa tastes her way through dishes on both menus giving her expert verdict.

Beyond Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 19th April 2024)

On a moor outside of Shipton Abbott, a woman is found face down on the ground, with an arrow through her shoulder. The victim, Niamh Kirby, didn’t see her attacker, and there’s no trace of their presence or weapon at the scene. As the team digs deeper, a feud between Niamh and her brother-in-law is uncovered, which may or may not be relevant. Meanwhile, Anne dives into the planning of the wedding, but Humphrey and Martha worry that she might be a little too invested in their fairy-tale ceremony after her recent romantic entanglements. Drama, starring Kris Marshall, Sally Bretton and Barbara Flynn.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 06/04/2024

Great Coastal Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 8th April 2024) ** NEW SERIES **

Axminster to Budleigh Salterton. Series 3, episode 1. Michael Portillo explores the shores of Britain, with his first week’s journey taking him from the Jurassic Coast to the tip of the Lizard Peninsula and beyond to the Isles of Scilly. In Lyme Regis, Michael traces the discoveries of palaeontologist Mary Anning as he walks along a limestone ledge known as the Ammonite Pavement. He then visits the HQ of the Meteorological Office in Exeter to present the weather forecast, before watching flour being ground at a 1,000-year-old water mill on the banks of the River Otter.

Great Coastal Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Tuesday 9th April 2024)

Exeter to Plymouth. Series 3, episode 2. Michael Portillo arrives in Exeter, where he joins the stonemasons charged with conserving the cathedral’s medieval stonework from Beery Quarry. On the rooftop he watches the team restore the 14th-century South Quire Clerestory. His final stop is the city of Plymouth, which has a rich maritime and military history.

Saving Lives at Sea (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 9th April 2024)

Caught Out. Series 7, episode 3. In Queensferry, near Glasgow, an American visitor is caught out by the tide – and is barely conscious when the RNLI crew drag him out of the water. In Portishead, on the Severn estuary, a man’s leap from a party boat lands him in serious trouble. On the south coast of Cornwall, the Lizard crew race to the rescue of four people who are stranded on rapidly submerging rocks.

Great Coastal Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Wednesday 10th April 2024)

Tintagel to St Austell. Series 3, episode 3. Michael Portillo discovers the archaeological history of an important trading site at Tintagel Castle, and then visits the landscaped park of Boconnoc, where he meets an artist who paints Cornwall’s natural wonders, striving to protect them from environmental damage. Michael also hears about the discovery of a thunderbox at the Lost Gardens of Heligan, which led the gardens to be uncovered and restored.

Race Across the World (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 10th April 2024) ** NEW SERIES + PICK OF THE WEEK **

Five teams race from Hokkaido, the most northerly island of Japan, to the Indonesian island of Lombok, crossing six seas and eight borders and skirting the path of the volcanic ring of fire without being able to use phones or credit cards. The teams face a 1,600km journey to the first checkpoint in Nara City where only a small percentage of the population speak English.

Great Coastal Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Thursday 11th April 2024)

St Mawes to Porthcurno. Series 3, episode 4. Michael Portillo stops off in the Cornish fishing village of St Mawes, from where he takes to the waves in a 1938 racing yacht. He also joins a seaweed company on a harvesting mission and enjoys a ride on the footplate of a steam engine on the Helston Railway. From Penzance, he heads for the rugged coastline at Porthcurno, where he visits the Minack Theatre – a spectacular amphitheatre that has been built into the cliffs.

Great Coastal Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 12th April 2024)

Isles of Scilly. Series 3, episode 5. Michael Portillo ends his railway adventure around south-west England in the Isles of Scilly. From Penzance railway station he boards a helicopter to the island of Tresco, two and a half miles long and with a population of 150 – a tiny slice of paradise with sandy beaches and a magnificent abbey – and where he enjoys watching the traditional gig racing. He also visits St Mary’s, where an archaeologist teaches him about the rich prehistory of the islands.

Beyond Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 12th April 2024)

When a priest from a Catholic boarding school suddenly disappears, Humphrey and Esther find that the case bears uncanny similarities to local myth The Devil on the Rocks. With a large sum of money missing from the school safe, the headmistress reluctant to aid the investigation and the priest nowhere to be found, the team members have their work cut out trying to pin down the truth. Meanwhile, Zoe helps Martha clean up Ten Mile Kitchen after a break-in, Anne’s new flame helps her move onto the Lily Bond, as Humphrey and Martha take over her house. Drama, starring Kris Marshall, Sally Bretton and Zahra Ahmadi.

The Coastal Map of Britain (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 12th April 2024)

Documentary examining the rise and fall of the UK’s greatest ports. The programme spans the first international traders arriving on the coasts of Devon and Cornwall, through the arrival of the Romans, Elizabeth I’s extension of British territory, and the huge impact of the tea trade and the Industrial Revolution.

Great British Cities with Susan Calman (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 12th April 2024)

Bath. Series 1, episode 6. The presenter is in Bath, starting her journey at the famous Roman Baths, where she peels back 2,000 years of history. Susan then meets author Jem Roberts, who reveals the origin story of the city, set centuries before the Romans arrived. She also visits the Royal Crescent, Herschel Museum of Astronomy, and learns about a 1950s racing scandal, and the impact of Nazi air raids.

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