Tag: Death in Paradise

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 21/01/2017

Call the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 22nd January 2017)

Drama about a group of midwives in 1960s London.The midwives receive a rapturous and warm welcome home from their South African adventure but all is not well at Nonnatus House. In their absence, Sister Ursula has been running a very tight ship and it is quickly announced that she will remain in charge at Nonnatus House, above Sisiter Julienne. The midwives are drawn into helping Trudy, a heavily pregnant mother whose husband has just been released from prison for extortion. Gradually, the problems below the surface of their marriage become clear. Trapped and with no clear way out, Trudy’s suffering sends shock waves through Nonnatus House, most noticeably affecting Sister Mary Cynthia who is experiencing increased anxiety following her recent attack. Elsewhere, Shelagh harbours a secret and struggles to tell Dr Turner, and Patsy receives some distressing news about her father in Hong Kong.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 23rd January 2017)

When an East End father and son are killed in a shocking road accident, Nikki and Jack find themselves working alongside a police officer with a vendetta. Clarissa summons her husband Max, a digital forensics expert, to help crack the case – and uncovers disturbing video evidence.

Martin Clunes: Islands of Australia (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 24th January 2017)

Three-part documentary series in which Martin Clunes explores Australia’s many islands. Martin begins the final part of his journey on Mundoo Island. Located in the mouth of Australia’s longest river, the Murray, it is an island farm. Its unique combination of succulent saltmarsh plants and life-giving fresh water make it ideal for beef cattle. Mundoo Island has provided shelter and a way of life for five generations of one farming family. From the coastline of the state of Victoria, Martin crosses a 2,000 foot-long bridge to Phillip Island, one of Australia’s favourite playgrounds. Then he heads south to King Island, situated in the blustery Bass Strait between Tasmania and the mainland. It bears the brunt of the fearsome trade winds from South America, and its shores are littered with one of the highest concentrations of shipwrecks in the continent. Martin completes his odyssey with a visit to see one of Australia’s most iconic creatures – the Tasmanian devil.

Italy’s Invisible Cities (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 25th January 2017)

Documentary series. Using the latest 3D scanning technology, Alexander Armstrong and Dr Michael Scott explore the romantic city of Florence. They reveal how its wonderful facades and artworks mask a hidden story of intrigue and secrecy, and one powerful dynasty was behind it all – the Medicis, godfathers of the Renaissance. Finally, the scanning team build a virtual reality 3D model to reveal how the city’s secret corridors of power were the foundation of the city’s Renaissance glory.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 26th January 2017)

Detective drama series set on a Caribbean island. The president of the Saint Marie cricket club is found shot dead in the middle of the team’s ground. As the sun rises over the island, suspicion falls on his teammates.

Best Walks with a View with Julia Bradbury (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Friday 27th January 2017)

Julia Bradbury chooses some of her favourite and most accessible family treks from across the UK. This edition sees Julia travel through the rolling plains of Cheshire on one of her favourite countryside walks. With eight counties on show, two castles to explore and spectacular views across to Wales and Liverpool, this is a popular route for dog-walkers and sports folk. Julia’s trek is full of surprises and she certainly packs plenty in.

The Last Leg (CHannel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 27th January 2017)

The award-winning live, satirical comedy show returns for its 10th series. Hosted by Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe they examine the biggest most entertaining news stories via the #isitok twitter handle, where viewers tweet in edgy current affairs questions that other shows might duck. A special celebrity guest join the trio in front of a live audience each week. In the first show much-loved actor David Tennant helps dissect the week’s events.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 14/01/2017

Sherlock (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:30pm | Sunday 15th January 2017)

Contemporary crime drama, based on the stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. In the final episode of this series, long-buried secrets finally catch up with the Baker Street duo. Someone has been playing a very long game indeed and, alone and defenceless, Sherlock and Dr Watson face their greatest ever challenge. Is the game finally over?

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 16th January 2017)

Armed with his Bradshaw’s Handbook, Michael Portillo begins a journey across Ireland. In the port of Wexford, he takes to the seas in a 100-year-old lifeboat and discovers a hero of the American navy. He tunes in to the Meeting of the Waters at the Vale of Avoca, then heads for Wicklow, where he learns of a Victorian project to combat sickness and disease in the capital, Dublin. Embracing the gentler pace of life of a traditional Irish traveller in Victorian times, he ends this leg in a beautiful horse-drawn, barrel-top caravan.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 16th January 2017)

A woman’s body found floating in the Thames leads Nikki and Jack to a riverside community scarred by grief after the disappearance of a teenage girl three years ago.

Britain’s Ancient Capital: Secrets of Orkney (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 16th January 2017)

Three-part series in which Neil Oliver, Chris Packham, Andy Torbet and Dr Shini Somara join hundreds of archaeologists from around the world who have gathered in Orkney to investigate at one of Europe’s biggest digs. Andy Torbet dives below the waves in search of the inspiration for the first stone circle, Chris Packham and Neil Oliver spend the night on an abandoned island as they hunt for clues as to why cultures change, Shini Somara tests the technology behind a Bronze-Age sauna and the archaeologists uncover a remarkable find. e

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Tuesday 17th January 2017)

At Trinity College, Dublin, Michael Portillo discovers one of Ireland’s greatest treasures and learns how it became the symbol of the nation. There is a chance to sample the black stuff in a Dublin pub before Michael learns how Victorian royals were deployed to calm rocky relations between Britain and Ireland. He explores the magnificent house and gardens of Powerscourt in County Wicklow. Finding an angle on triangulation helps Michael to understand how Ireland was put on the map – and why.

The Paper Thistle: 200 Years of the Scotsman (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 17th January 2017)

Documentary telling the story of The Scotsman, one of Britain’s most famous newspapers. The Scotsman has been at the heart of Scotland, uncovering corruption, skewering politicians and celebrating the arts for over two centuries, while both reflecting and shaping the nation.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Wednesday 18th January 2017)

Michael Portillo gets up to speed with modern archaeology in County Meath and uncovers a controversial Victorian dig at the sacred Hill of Tara. He investigates leaping salmon in Leixslip and discovers an electrifying breakthrough at an historic seminary. At Mullingar, Michael bangs the drum for the town’s marching band.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 18th January 2017)

After bereaved mother Ali attacks suspect Aaron, Nikki is under fire for leaking information. Jack and Thomas must bridge internal divisions to track down the killer.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Thursday 19th January 2017)

With his Victorian Bradshaw’s guidebook in hand, Michael Portillo crosses the Emerald Isle uncovering Irish identity, forged at a time of political strife. Travelling through the beautiful landscape, Michael learns how it inspired one of the 20th century’s greatest poets, WB Yeats. In Dromod, Michael learns how to make an Irish staple – a potato pancake, known as boxty. At the home of the father of Irish fiddling, Michael attempts to master a traditional Irish dance.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 19th January 2017)

Detective drama series set on a Caribbean island. Humphrey and Martha’s romantic weekend at the remote Hotel Cecile is disrupted by the murder of the hotel owner on the first night of their stay.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 20th January 2017)

On the last leg of Michael Portillo’s long journey from Wexford to Westport, a fashionable Victorian seaweed bath is followed by a steamy scene in Ballina. On tenterhooks in Foxford, Michael discovers the visionary charity of an entrepreneurial nun. He learns of a double tragedy at Clew Bay and begins a pilgrimage to the summit of Ireland’s holy mountain, Croagh Patrick.

Best Walks with a View with Julia Bradbury (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Friday 20th January 2017)

Julia Bradbury chooses some of her favourite and most accessible family treks from across the UK. This episode sees Julia heading to Loch Lomond’s bonnie banks for her favourite lake walk – with two walks in one. Taking in the popular West Highland Way, it is just a quick boat ride to the idyllic island of Inchailloch, a jewel in Loch Lomond’s crown, for stunning views over the Loch.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 07/01/2017

Class (BBC 1/HD | 10:45pm to 11:40pm | Monday 9th January 2017)

Doctor Who spin-off series. When Coal Hill School comes under attack from deadly monsters, four alienated students must form an unlikely alliance to defeat them. But this incursion is only the beginning.

Class (BBC 1/HD | 11:40pm to 12:15am | Monday 9th January 2017)

The Coach with the Dragon Tattoo. Katherine Kelly, Greg Austin, Fady Elsayed, Sophie Hopkins, Vivian Oparah, Jordan Renzo. Doctor Who spin-off series. Ram struggles to cope following events at the prom, isolating himself from the others. But when the school is faced with a dreadful new threat, the gang must unite to fight it.

Sherlock (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:30pm | Sunday 8th January 2017)

Contemporary crime drama, based on the stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock faces perhaps the most chilling enemy of his long career: the powerful and seemingly unassailable Culverton Smith – a man with a very dark secret indeed.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 9th January 2017)

There is terror on the tracks in Blackpool as Michael Portillo embarks on a new journey across Bradshaw’s Britain with his Victorian guidebook. He makes potent new friends in Fleetwood then heads to Manchester, where George Stephenson built the world’s first modern railway line. This epoch-defining achievement is being incorporated into a new multi-million pound rail link between Manchester’s Victoria and Piccadilly stations and Michael lends a hand with the welding. At a moving ceremony in Manchester Piccadilly station, Michael unveils a new monument to 87 railwaymen of the London and North Western Railway, who lost their lives in the Great War.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 9th January 2017)

Forensic crime drama series. When a photogenic young schoolteacher goes missing, Jack and Nikki are called to the scene and quickly find themselves at the centre of a media storm. Meanwhile, Thomas fights a lone crusade for justice for a troubled young woman who was killed in puzzling circumstances.

Britain’s Ancient Capital: Secrets of Orkney (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 9th January 2017)

Three-part series in which Neil Oliver, Chris Packham, Andy Torbet and Dr Shini Somara join hundreds of archaeologists from around the world who have gathered in Orkney to investigate at one of Europe’s biggest digs. Andy Torbet and some local seafaring volunteers build a boat made of just willow and cow hide and set out to cross the dangerous Pentland Firth as the ancient Orcadians would have done. Neil Oliver investigates the extraordinary discovery of some human bones, Chris Packham goes in search of whales and Shini Somara uncovers the powers of the tides.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Tuesday 10th January 2017)

Michael Portillo’s journey from the Irish Sea to the North Sea continues by tram from Manchester. At the imposing town hall of the world’s first industrial city, Michael comes face to face with the Victorian scientist who invented modern atomic theory. He then heads to the city’s National Graphene Institute, where he learns to make the groundbreaking material invented there by two Nobel prize-winning scientists. His Bradshaw’s leads him to an 18th-century settlement built by refugees from Europe. Next, deep underground at Standedge, Michael discovers an ambitious Victorian engineering marvel. At Silkstone Common, he tracks down the forge where a Victorian metallurgist created wrought iron axles strong enough for railway rolling stock and is delighted to discover the works operates its own miniature train.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 10th January 2017)

Forensic crime drama series. Having found a link between the two cases, the team struggles to make sense of it. Nikki visits a disgraced former colleague who may hold the key. Thomas uncovers the bizarre truth about how Tina died.

Sighthill (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 10th January 2017)

Documentary following the day-to-day life of some of the residents of Glasgow’s Sighthill Estate before its last two blocks were demolished. Consisiting of ten huge tower blocks and built in the 1960s, this iconic development was home to thousands of residents before a historic regeneration project swept through the estate demolishing all the high rises. Award-winning film-maker Darren Hercher follows some of the residents as they go about their day-to-day life on the estate.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Wednesday 11th January 2017)

From Chapeltown, Michael heads to Wharncliffe Crags, where he plucks up courage to follow in the terrifying footholds of the Victorian daredevil who made rock climbing a sport. The relative calm of academia beckons at Sheffield University but, face to face with a hagfish, Michael’s visit to the Alfred Denny Collection proves an eye-opener. At Conisbrough, Michael learns how Victorians flocked to visit the castle which inspired Sir Walter Scott’s immensely popular novel, Ivanhoe. This leg of his journey, following what was once known as the North Country Continental service, finishes in the engineering centre of Doncaster, where Bradshaw’s leads him to investigate an enlightened Victorian’s school for deaf children.

Italy’s Invisible Cities (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 11th January 2017)

Venice. Documentary series. Using the latest 3-D scanning technology, Alexander Armstrong and Dr Michael Scott explore the watery wonderland of Venice. They uncover how a city built in a swamp became one of the most powerful in medieval Europe and dive into its canals to experience how the city remains standing. Plus they reveal how the city’s beauty once masked a ruthless secret state and a world of excess and vice.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Thursday 12th January 2017)

Steered by his Bradshaw’s railway handbook to Gainsborough, Michael Portillo wraps his head around an ingenious Victorian machine which changed shopping forever. In Lincoln, he discovers the verse and popularity of 19th-century Poet Laureate Alfred, Lord Tennyson, and finds poetry thrives today in a city pub. In the Cambridgeshire Fens, Michael recycles rails and ballast at what was once the largest freight marshalling yard in Europe. At Ely, Michael discovers that the city’s magnificent cathedral was restored by the Victorian architect George Gilbert Scott.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 12th January 2017)

Detective drama series set on a Caribbean island. Florence finds herself emotionally involved in a case when a former schoolmate is found dead at the foot of a cliff.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 13th January 2017)

Michael Portillo is on the final leg of his journey following the route of the North Country Continental service to Harwich. Along the way, he meets volunteers on the Mid-Suffolk Light railway and is allowed to drive The Middy. In Leiston, Michael uncovers an intriguing industrial pioneer – the world’s first purpose-built assembly line. The work of a young Victorian engineering prodigy impresses Michael in Ipswich. In Harwich, he discovers how the port became a gateway to the continent and was then superseded by a new deep-water port further inland. Michael lends a hand below decks to ensure all is shipshape before one of the vast ferries leaves for the Hook of Holland.

Best Walks with a View with Julia Bradbury (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Friday 13th January 2017)

Julia Bradbury chooses some of her favourite and most accessible family treks from across the UK. This episode features a walk with a wow factor as Julia’s favourite fell walk takes her on the classic ascent of Pen-y-ghent. Although it is the smallest fell on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, this dramatic summit affords far-reaching views above the magnificent Dales, with plenty of surprises en route.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 31/12/2016

Sherlock (BBC 1/HD | 8:30pm to 10:00pm | Sunday 1st January 2017)

Contemporary crime drama, based on the stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock waits to see where Moriarty will make his posthumous move. One mysterious case in particular baffles Scotland Yard, but Sherlock is more interested in a seemingly trivial detail. Why is someone destroying images of the late prime minister Margaret Thatcher? Is there a madman on the loose? Or is there a much darker purpose at work? Something with its roots deep in Mary Watson’s past…

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 2nd January 2017)

Michael Portillo embarks on a journey from London to Edinburgh with the help of his 19th-century guidebook. A once-in-a-lifetime journey aboard the most famous train in history, the Flying Scotsman, begins for Michael before dawn at London’s King’s Cross. Excitement builds on the platform as the world’s media, fans and 300 passengers await the arrival of railway royalty. Boarding a vintage carriage, Michael recaptures the glamour of the 1930s, when the Flying Scotsman’s passengers dined, sipped cocktails and had their hair done en route to Scotland. Among his fellow passengers are a former Flying Scotsman driver and a previous owner of the locomotive. But all does not go to plan, and the historic non-stop service is forced to halt for trespassers on the track. Arriving at York, Michael meets the restoration team and gets his hands on the hallowed controls.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 2nd January 2017)

Forensic crime drama series. When a people smuggler is found dead in the City, Nikki must delve into London’s illegal immigrant community. She meets a vulnerable Syrian teen called Akka who is in need of help, putting Nikki in a moral dilemma – and the killer is still on the loose.

Britain’s Ancient Capital: Secrets of Orkney (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 2nd January 2017)

Three-part series in which Neil Oliver, Chris Packham, Andy Torbet and Dr Shini Somara join hundreds of archaeologists from around the world who have gathered in Orkney to investigate at one of Europe’s biggest digs. Seven miles off the coast of Scotland and cut off by the tumultuous Pentland Firth, Orkney is often viewed as being remote. Yet it is one of the treasure troves of archaeology in Britain. Rather than an outpost at the edge of the world, recent finds suggest an extraordinary theory – that Orkney was the cultural capital of our ancient world and the origin of the stone circle cult which culminated in Stonehenge. Chris Packham uncovers the secrets revealed by the DNA of Orkney’s unique vole, Neil Oliver explores Orkney’s tombs and monuments, Dr Shini Somara experiments to discover how the Orcadians could have moved giant blocks of stone over rough ground and Andy Torbet climbs Orkney’s most challenging sea-stack to unlock the story of Orkney’s unusual geology. episode 1.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Tuesday 3rd January 2017)

Michael Portillo continues his journey from London to Edinburgh with the help of his 19th-century guidebook. After the excitement of his ride on the Flying Scotsman, Michael begins a new journey with his Bradshaw’s guide book north from London, following the historic service’s path at a more leisurely pace. Along the way he is forced to expend more effort than usual on the rails as he pumps a track inspection trolley. A Swiss garden in Bedfordshire delivers an unexpected spectacle of early 20th-century engineering marvels and the chance to drive a ‘locomobile’. Michael then goes back to school at Haileybury, once a training college for the East India Company, where the master is unimpressed by Portillo’s exam performance. At Rothamsted Research, Michael discovers the Victorian origins of the fertiliser industry and a treasure trove of plant and soil samples.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 3rd January 2017)

Forensic crime drama series. When Nikki, Jack and Thomas make a horrific discovery in the van, they are confronted with the work of a killer who preys on illegal immigrants. With the help of Clarissa, they must work out where the killer will strike next before more vulnerable people meet the same fate.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Wednesday 4th January 2017)

Michael Portillo continues his journey from London to Edinburgh with the help of his 19th-century guide book. Following his trip from London to York on board the Flying Scotsman, Michael uses his Bradshaw’s to trace the path of the famous service, beginning in the ‘Key of the North’ Newark-on-Trent and finishing in the cradle of the railways, Stockton-on-Tees. Michael rallies the choristers of a Tudor song school and admires the art of the railways before travelling to Retford, where he discovers a high-tech application for a Victorian rubber technology. A scandalous novel written in Thirsk leads Michael to a wildlife centre, where he is enlisted to feed a hungry young hedgehog named Charles.

Italy’s Invisible Cities (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pn to 10:00pm | Wednesday 4th January 2017)

Documentary series. Using the latest 3-D scanning technology, Alexander Armstrong and Dr Michael Scott uncover 2,500 years of hidden history in Naples from its earliest Greek and Roman origins. They explore how the volcano of Mount Vesuvius both nurtured the region and exacted a terrible price on the local population. Plus, they delve into a labyrinth of fascinating underground spaces that helped build and sustain the city.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Thursday 5th January 2017)

Michael Portillo continues his journey from London to Edinburgh at a leisurely pace up the East Coast Main Line. In Newton Aycliffe, he tests a state-of-the-art passenger train on tracks which follow the route taken by George Stephenson’s steam engine on its historic journey in 1825. Through the looking glass at Croft-on-Tees he discovers a curious potion at the childhood home of Victorian writer Charles Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, and finds the author was also a fan of Bradshaw. In the coastal village of Craster, Michael discovers the Victorian smokehouses of a family firm still active today and learns how to smoke a kipper. Crossing the Scottish border he reaches Dunbar, birthplace of a visionary Scot who made his mark on the landscape of America. Michael ends this leg rocking the boat on the River Tyne in a coracle.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm t0 10:00pm | Thursday 5th January 2017)

Detective drama series set on a Caribbean island. The death of a scientist on the side of a live volcano proves a difficult case to crack for Humphrey and his team when everything appears to point to a death from natural causes.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 6th January 2017)

Michael Portillo concludes his journey from London to Edinburgh. Steered by his Bradshaw’s Handbook, Michael helps himself to a ukulele lesson in Haddington, birthplace of Victorian self-improvement guru Samuel Smiles. In Musselburgh, he gets a taste of life as a fishwife before exploring the Scottish capital Edinburgh, where a popular 19th-century mode of transport is making a comeback. The city’s proud medical heritage, highlighted in his guide book, takes Michael to the Royal College of Surgeons, where he discovers the macabre history of body snatchers and murderers who contributed to the science of anatomy. At the University of Edinburgh Medical School, Michael learns from the Queen’s surgeon in Scotland how students use sophisticated technology to study anatomy today.

Best Walks with a View with Julia Bradbury (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Friday 6th January 2017)

Julia Bradbury chooses some of her favourite and most accessible family treks from across the UK. In this episode, she sets off on her favourite coastal walk to one of the most famous landmarks on the Jurassic Coast – Old Harry Rocks. Taking in miles of golden sandy beaches and the dramatic history of the bay, Julia’s walk offers a fantastic example of the British coastline at its best.

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

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

Ugly House to Lovely House with George Clarke - 25-02-2016 - YouView appPenelope Keith’s Hidden Villages (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 20th February 2016)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Penelope Keith's Hidden Villages - 08-02-2016 - YouView appPenelope Keith’s Hidden Villages (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 13th February 2016)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 06/02/2016

The X Files - 08-02-2016 - YouView appCall the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 7th February 2016)

As the modern world begins to encroach on traditional Poplar life, everyone is starting to notice the changes. On secondment at a busy local hospital, Sister Julienne is impressed by the medical advances that are saving the lives of mothers and babies. But a traumatic birth raises moral questions for her which she struggles to answer. As the medical world is changing, so is society at large, with opportunities in education increasingly open to all. Despite his working class background, Ian is overjoyed to be accepted into university and embraces his chance to escape Poplar, much to the disappointment of his more traditional mother Sadie. But his plans appear to be in ruins when girlfriend Linda falls pregnant. Trixie and Tom help the family, which begins to break apart under the pressure of this unplanned pregnancy.

Great American Railroad Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 8th February 2016)

Michael heads west through New York State. He has a lightbulb moment in Schenectady, when he discovers how Thomas Edison’s General Electric Company also leads the way in modern rail technology. In Utica, he investigates Lock 20 of 57 along the early 19th-century Erie Canal – 325 miles of waterway which connected the Great Lakes with the Atlantic coast via the Hudson River. A yellow brick road beckons Michael to Chittenango, where a Kansas farm girl introduces him to a lion and a tin man. On a hillside near Palmyra, Michael finds out about a farm boy, Joseph Smith, and his Book of Mormon, from one of the 15 million believers who follow his religion today. Further west in Rochester, Michael discovers the story behind another famous 19th-century name still trading today: George Eastman, who launched mass market photography with his Eastman Kodak company.

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

In this episode, he is in the Lake District where he meets the man who made the longest Cumberland sausage in the world. He also attempts to speed along the steepest road in Britain, crosses the terrifying Infinity Bridge before attempting to break the record for the slowest water ski in history.

The X Files (Channel 5 | 8:30pm to 9:00pm | Monday 8th February 2016)

An exciting look behind the scenes of the thrilling return of the series. Chris Carter, David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson and all the key players reveal secrets from the set and take you on the journey of bringing the beloved series back to TV.

The X Files (Channel 5 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 8th February 2016)

Revival of the classic sci-fi drama. Mulder and Scully are reunited after the collapse of their relationship when a TV host contacts them, believing he has uncovered a significant government conspiracy.

Great American Railroad Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Tuesday 9th February 2016)

Michael braves the awesome power and drenching spray of Niagara Falls on the Maid of the Mist to share what artists, daredevils and millions of tourists have billed as one of the most spectacular experiences on the planet. Reaching Buffalo, he lunches on the city’s famous buffalo wings and discovers it was once the centre of the world’s grain trade. Touring Silo City, Michael learns about the invention which propelled the port of Buffalo into its dominant position – the grain elevator – and how the railroads sealed the deal. Awe-inspiring engineering is revealed at the 12-acre Colonel Ward water-pumping station, the largest construction ever built on the Great Lakes, and capable of delivering 30 million gallons of water per day to the city of Buffalo.

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

The Ashby Hawkins family give up their 21st-century technology and travel back in time to discover the radical transformation of our leisure time since 1950. Guided by presenters Giles Coren and social historian Polly Russell, the family’s entire experience is underpinned by The Family Expenditure Survey, a government study which ran from the 50s right through to 1999. The survey gives us the best clue as to what families were doing with their leisure time across the five decades. As they enter the 60s, they get first-hand experience of the radical spirit of the age as Giles encourages the family to get rid of their piano in smashing 60s style. Special guests help the decade go with a swing. Sir Trevor Brooking joins dad Rob and son Seth for a game of Subbuteo in the dining room, proving that he’s a demon on felt as well as grass. Daisy and mum Steph meet Sandie Shaw to discover how the decade’s daring fashions reflected the growing freedoms and confidence enjoyed by young people.

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

The Secret Life of the Zoo captures in incredible detail the remarkable behaviour of the animals at Chester Zoo and their close relationships with their keepers. Chester’s Penguin Island is home to one of the most enduring love stories in the zoo. Rud, at 22, is the oldest penguin on the island. He has been with his partner, Spike, for over 15 years and they’re inseparable. However, keepers are concerned that Rud’s arthritic hip could be affecting his quality of life, and if an x-ray shows his condition has deteriorated, his future with Spike might be in jeopardy. Meanwhile, one of the zoo’s most dangerous families are on the move. The Sumatran tigers are upgrading to a luxury new enclosure on the other side of the zoo as part of Chester’s huge expansion. But they’ve lived in their home for most of their lives so it’s not going to be an easy move. Little tiger cub Kasarna is especially nervous, and keepers must do all they can to settle the family into their new home.

Great American Railroad Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Wednesday 10th February 2016)

Michael embarks on a new railroad journey from the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia, south to the first permanent English colonial settlement in North America, Jamestown. He feasts on a gargantuan Philly cheesesteak, then looks to work off the calories with a run past the city’s famous landmarks, in homage to one of Philadelphia’s most famous sons, Rocky Balboa. All pumped up, he heads to Pennsylvania cbd shop University to tackle the football team under the instruction of its fearsome coach. In the cradle of American independence, Michael discovers how, in 1776, liberty was proclaimed throughout the land yet millions remained enslaved. Alone in a cell, Michael reflects on the 19th-century Pennsylvania system of incarceration at the Eastern State Penitentiary, before heading to the gambling resort of Atlantic City and its famous boardwalk.

Great American Railroad Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Thursday 11th February 2016)

Michael hitches a ride with the Amish in a horse-drawn buggy through rich countryside settled in the 18th century by religiously oppressed Europeans. Charmed by their modest way of life, he watches as they sell their beautiful quilts at auction. In Strasburg, known as Traintown USA, Michael joins the crew of the oldest continuously operated railroad in the United States. After oiling the magnificent engine, he rides on the footplate of the vintage steam locomotive. His last stop on this leg is Gettysburg, the most famous battlefield of the American Civil War, where, in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln made a momentous speech.

Cats v Dogs: Which is Best? (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 11th February 2016)

Chris Packham and Liz Bonnin battle it out to find the definitive answer to the burning question – which are best, cats or dogs? Based at one of Britain’s largest cat and dog veterinary centres, Chris and Liz test different aspects of each animal. Round two looks at communication. Chris knows that humans can understand most dog barks, but how well do cat owners understand cat meows? In round three, Liz runs her version of the ‘stress factor’ where, along with a team of researchers, she finds out which is better at reducing stress, a cat or a dog? Round four is about independence. Liz meets Bob, a cheeky roving cat with several owners. Closer to home, Chris is dismayed to see his own poodles display signs of anxiety when he leaves the house. The final round looks at the big question: do our cats and dogs really love us?

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 11th February 2016)

The team enter the high-pressure world of fine dining when a well-known chef is murdered in his own restaurant. Florence has one final lesson on love for DI Goodman and Dwayne gets a chance to repay an old debt.

Great American Railroad Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 12th February 2016)

Michael reaches a milestone on his American journey: the boundary between the northern and southern states, known as the Mason-Dixon line. He discovers the origins of what became for black Americans the border between slavery and freedom, in an 18th-century English dispute over land. On the Wilmington and Western Railroad, Michael meets the passenger train Phoebe Snow, created by the railroads at the turn of the 20th century to reassure passengers that clean burning coal wouldn’t make their clothes dirty. Michael uncovers the explosive history of gunpowder production in Delaware, begun by a Frenchman, whose chateau still stands. He then takes a boat trip up the Susquehanna River following the route taken by one of the first English settlers, John Smith.

Walks Around Britain (Community Channel | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Friday 12th February 2016)

Series featuring inspirational walks from around Britain. Andrew White treks up The Great Orme in North Wales and beside a railway in West Yorkshire.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 12th February 2016)

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

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 30/01/2016

The Secret Life of the Zoo - 02-02-2016 - YouView appCall the Midwife (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 31st January 2016)

A outbreak of typhoid erupts, and suspicion over who the carrier could be threatens to break apart a closely knit family. Sister Winfred faces a personal dilemma when a local teacher is revealed to be pregnant by a married man. When the woman takes matters into her own hands, Sister Winifred is forced to consider the role her own prejudices may have played. Meanwhile, Barbara inadvertently agrees to go to dinner with Tom, but is wracked with worry about how Trixie will react.

Great American Railroad Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 1st February 2016)

Michael Portillo rides the railroads of America, armed with Appleton’s General Guide to the United States, published in 1879. Michael begins his American odyssey in New York City. Starting at Grand Central Terminal, the ‘gateway to the nation’, he boards the Manhattan subway system, the busiest rail transit system in the US. His first stop is the Rockefeller Centre, where he gets a bird’s eye view of Manhattan Island and learns how about the technology which enabled the city to build up. Portillo heads to the Financial District, where, over a Lobster Newberg, he finds out how the dodgy political dealings of the era’s famous industrialists earned them the nickname ‘Robber Barons’. He observes their better side at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as he learns that philanthropy helped the city’s burgeoning art scene, before finishing his journey midtown, among the bright lights of Broadway.

Griff’s Great Britain (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Monday 1st February 2016)

Griff Rhys Jones sets out to explore some of Britain’s most stunning landscapes. In this episode, Griff looks at the British passion for being beside the sea, visiting a unique stretch of the British coastline. Beginning at the historic North Yorkshire seaside town of Scarborough, he then travels up to the picturesque port of Whitby for some ghostly adventures.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 1st February 2016)

The Lyell team investigate the shooting of a family who were picnicking by the river. DCI Butcher, leading the investigation, soon focuses on the female victim’s estranged husband. However, DS Guillam, a local detective working on the case, is haunted by the death of a young woman near the river ten years ago and sees an opportunity to redeem himself. A medical registrar is reminded of the same death a decade ago – the victim was her friend – and she is forced to confront the high-powered people she has been trying desperately to forget.

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

Michael Portillo rides the railroads of America, armed with Appleton’s General Guide to the United States, published in 1879. Michael continues his American journey in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, where he narrowly avoids a scrap with an historic gang of New York and visits the grim tenement buildings where thousands of the city’s immigrants lived and worked. In the West Side, Michael discovers how a once lethal run of track has been transformed into a public park, raised above the city streets. Forsaking the rails for a ferry, Michael heads for Ellis Island, where some 12 million immigrants entered America. Michael is given a privileged tour of the gleaming new transport hub under construction close to the site of Ground Zero.

The Secret Life of the Zoo (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 2nd February 2016)

This new series reveals the secret life of the animals of Chester Zoo, Britain’s most popular zoo, using new micro-rig technology to capture in incredible detail the remarkable behaviour of the animals and their close relationships with their keepers. In the first episode, the zoo’s Asian elephant family welcome a new arrival. Grumpy matriarch Thi has been pregnant for almost two years and is reaching the end of her tether. She’s given birth to a stillborn baby in the past, so the keepers have a close eye on her. Not everyone in the family is looking forward to the birth. Playful Hari, the youngest member of the herd, is feeling left out. No longer the golden child, he starts acting up, taking his frustrations out on grandmother Sithami.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 2nd February 2016)

As DCI Butcher moves closer to charging the estranged husband of the family killed at the picnic, Jack and Nikki join DS Guillam in search of the truth. The team begin to realise they may have been looking down the wrong end of the telescope, and their lives are thrown into mortal danger. Soon enough, they are thrust into an unexpected and depraved world, and further murders are discovered. Jack and Nikki must fight to escape and bring those responsible to justice. Meanwhile, Amy’s dark past begins to catch up with her and she must decide whether to keep it buried or confront it head-on, risking her medical career and everything else in order to escape her demons. Amy’s nightmare and the Lyell’s investigation begin to converge. And when the crimes are linked to people in very high places, the team experience the difficulty of bringing the rich and powerful to justice.

Great American Railroad Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Wednesday 3rd February 2016)

Michael Portillo rides the railroads of America, armed with Appleton’s General Guide to the United States, published in 1879. From Manhattan, Michael follows his Appleton’s Guide east, travelling on the Long Island Railroad. He begins in Brooklyn, where he learns the incredible story behind the world’s first steel suspension bridge. Divided by a common language, Michael struggles to order a pizza before continuing to Queens and the site of an ambitious engineering project that will transform New York City’s rail network. Moving east through Long Island, he visits one of the country’s most decadent mansions, owned by an oil tycoon known as Mr Monopoly, where he gets into a flap dancing the Charleston, before ending his journey on Long Island’s eastern most tip at New York’s first lighthouse.

Great American Railroad Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Thursday 4th February 2016)

Michael Portillo rides the railroads of America, armed with Appleton’s General Guide to the United States, published in 1879. Michael follows America’s mighty Hudson River north, riding on the United States’ national rail carrier service, Amtrak. He learns from Amtrak’s police chief about some of the nation’s most infamous train robbers, then upriver at Tarrytown, he is spooked by the stories of one of America’s greatest writers, Washington Irving, author of Sleepy Hollow. On the east bank of the Hudson, he stops at Garrison, site of many guerrilla battles during the Wars of Independence, where he hears about the greatest turncoat in American history and learns about the many famous military leaders who trained at West Point.

Cats v Dogs: Which is Best? (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 4th February 2016)

Chris Packham and Liz Bonnin battle it out to find the definitive answer to the burning question – which are best, cats or dogs? Based at one of Britain’s largest cat and dog veterinary centres, Chris and Liz test different aspects of each animal. Round one tests whether either species can understand numbers. In Vienna, Chris discovers that dogs can discriminate between higher and lower numbers of dots and Liz tries out the test on cats with surprising results. Round two tests which animal has the better vision, sense of smell and hearing. Chris challenges sniffer dog Boris to find him in a busy city. The final round looks at whether cats or dogs are the most physically agile by testing which can jump the highest, which is the fastest sprinter and which the best endurance runner. Chris also comes face to face with a pack of wolves whilst Liz confronts an Arabian wild cat. Together, they put our favourite pets under the microscope to see how they compare.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm 1o 10:00pm | Thursday 4th February 2016)

DI Goodman’s aunt Mary comes to visit him, but things take an unexpected turn when she becomes the only witness to the murder of a tourist. Some unorthodox advice on love from Dwayne leaves JP in a spin.

Great American Railroad Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 5th February 2016)

Michael Portillo rides the railroads of America, armed with Appleton’s General Guide to the United States, published in 1879. Michael Portillo continues his railroad journey through New York State following his Appleton’s Guide. Beginning in the city of Poughkeepsie, he visits a famous all-female university, alma mater of Jane Fonda and Meryl Streep. He discovers the tumultuous history of the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge and follows the train line up to the Catskill Mountains, admiring its picturesque scenery from an altogether different type of line – a zip wire. Back on safe ground, he discovers that the dramatic landscape inspired artists of the Hudson River School. Arriving in New York’s state capital, Albany, he samples a drop of Albany Ale before rubbing shoulders with the State Senator.

Landward Special – The Great Scottish Flood (BBC 1 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Friday 5th February 2016)

A special edition of Scotland’s countryside magazine. Dougie Vipond and the team meet the homeowners, landowners and farmers who bore the brunt of this winter’s extreme flooding. They ask what can be done to protect people from such dramatic damage ever again.

Shetland (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 5th February 2016)

The murder investigation takes Perez and Tosh to Glasgow as they try to uncover the reasons behind Maguire’s brutal death and his connection to Robbie Morton. But old ghosts return to haunt Perez as his enemies try to prevent him from getting to the truth.

Walks Around Britain (Community Channel | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Friday 5th February 2016)

Series featuring inspirational walks from around Britain. Andrew White walks above and alongside 2 large bodies of water – Ladybower Reservoir and Windermere.

The Last Leg Goes Down Under (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:10pm | Friday 5th February 2016)

Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker – hosts of the award-winning The Last Leg – head to the Australian wilderness for the ultimate outback road trip. Adam plots his revenge after four years of verbal abuse from English co-hosts Josh and Alex about his home country, Australia with the help of blind adventure travel guide Amar Latif. In the concluding show, having driven the length of the Northern Territory, the lads have one week to get from the opal mining town of Coober Pedy to Sydney in time to meet Adam’s 97-year-old grandfather. En route they try mining for opals, survive dressing in drag in an edgy town, hunt wild boars and go the full ‘Mad Max’. Josh and Alex are struggling with Adam’s transformation from mildly Aussie suburbanite to the most Australian thing since Mick Dundee and his attempts to Aussie-up the pair of them. Will their matey rapport survive the arduous journey or is this the last straw for The Last Leg?

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 23/01/2016

The Restoration Man - 28-01-2016 - YouView appHorse (BBC 2/HD | 7:20pm to 9:35pm | Saturday 23rd January 2016)

Wartime drama. It is 1914, and struggling Devon farmer Ted Narracott buys a remarkable but unsuitable horse at auction. His son Albert names him Joey and, under pressure from their unscrupulous landlord, somehow trains Joey to work the farm. But when war breaks out, Joey is requisitioned by the army to serve at the front and begins a remarkable adventure that takes him far from Albert and the fields of Devon.

Call the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 24th January 2016)

Barbara experiences the biggest test of her career when a struggling dockworker’s wife is forced into a difficult decision about her impending delivery. Nurse Crane meets a new friend who promises great adventure but conceals a secret. Sister Evangelina is forced to take action when a mistake comes to light.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 25th January 2016)

Michael begins a new journey through the home counties in Ashford, Kent, lending a hand at a state-of-the-art train maintenance plant, home to the High Speed 1 rolling stock – a modern railway hub in a Victorian railway town. A visit to a historic make-up brand reveals the foundations of the Victorian cosmetics industry. Taking the tracks east to Marden, Michael is moved by music played on Queen Victoria’s personal piano before ending his journey in Sevenoaks at Knole House, seat of the Sackville-West family, where he learns of its colourful history.

Griff’s Great Britain (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Monday 25th January 2016)

Griff explores Dartmoor National Park, the largest and wildest area of open country in the south of England. The park is home to ancient woodlands, high granite tors, vast tracts of rolling moorland as well as churches, cream teas, llamas and legends.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 25th January 2016)

The accidental fatal shooting of a Polish teenager in an armed police operation puts the firearms division responsible under immense public scrutiny. After the inquest delivers a lawful killing verdict, the mutilated body of a Turkish man is found in close proximity to the original incident, leading IPCC investigator Vicky Sharpe to question whether there is a link. Sharpe approaches the Lyell to seek their help in reviewing the armed police shooting evidence. As revelations about the shooting threaten to emerge, further bodies are discovered and the team are drawn into the world of Turkish gangsters, a grieving Polish family hell bent on justice and a fractured firearms unit attempting to put a year of accusations and interrogations behind them.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Tuesday 26th January 2016)

At East Grinstead, Michael dons a boiler suit and takes to the footplate of a loco on the Bluebell Railway, Britain’s first passenger carrying heritage line. Travelling north to Merstham, Surrey, Michael experiences an explosive encounter as he witnesses the power of dynamite first-hand. Moving east through Surrey countryside, he visits the stunningly situated Leith Hill Place to explore the compositions of the great British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. The journey ends near Guildford with the story of a giant of Victorian art – GF Watts.

Tricks of the Restaurant Trade (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Tuesday 26th January 2016)

In the fourth episode of the series that lifts the lid on the restaurant industry, Kate Quilton and Simon Rimmer chow down on fried chicken, focusing on the two big players: KFC and Nando’s. KFC has over 890 outlets in the UK, but Simon’s never eaten there. As well as sampling his first ever KFC, he attempts to recreate Colonel Sanders’ famous secret recipe; can a KFC superfan tell the difference? Peri-peri chicken chain Nando’s inspires cult-like devotion among its customers. Celebrities like Ed Sheeran, JLS and Dizzee Rascal have all raved about it, which may have something to do with their celebrity High Five card. Apparently you’ll never get one if you ask; nonetheless Simon tries to procure one of these mysterious cards.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 26th January 2016)

When the body of an armed police officer is found, the team join the manhunt for supposed cop killer Bruno, hoping to apprehend him before more officers can be killed. Jack hopes to reach the suspect first and talk him into handing himself in before more damage is done. In doing so, he uncovers links to London’s small but devastating gun trade. Meanwhile, the murder of their colleague forces the other armed police officers to question their safety, and soon their paranoia leads them to scrutinise each other’s behaviour. As further victims fall prey to the killer, the pathology and forensics begin to point to a highly trained individual. The team rally round Jack as he searches for the truth. He must put himself in jeopardy in order to discover who is responsible for the murders, and what really happened during the armed police operation.

The Mad World of Donald Trump (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 26th January 2016)

Matt Frei enters the colourful and mad world of presidential hopeful Donald Trump, whose meteoric political rise comes amid one of the most controversial political campaigns America has ever seen. Trump’s plans to ban all Muslims from entering the States and to build a wall to keep Mexican immigrants out have outraged many in the States and beyond. Discover the man behind the brand, from the multiple divorces, the bankruptcies and the public insults aimed at women who crossed him to claims of bullying Scottish residents who stood in the way of his golf resort. It’s the all-consuming story of a privileged multi-billionaire tycoon who has now decided to use his considerable resource to become the most powerful person on the planet. Frei is also on the campaign trail, meeting those who oppose Trump as well as his fervent supporters who believe he is the epitome of American success and will deliver on his promise to ‘Make America great again’.
(High Definition, Subtitles)

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Wednesday 27th January 2016)

Michael’s journey through the home counties continues at Woking, Surrey, where Michael uncovers the story of Britain’s first purpose-built crematorium, a response to overcrowded cemeteries and London’s ever-expanding population. A trip to world-famous Wisley Gardens sheds light on the work of the Royal Horticultural Society, as Michael gets green fingered. Swapping trees and tranquillity for the roar of a motor car, at Weybridge Michael visits Brooklands the birthplace of motor racing and gets behind the wheel of a vintage Bentley racing car. As this journey leg draws to a close, Portillo goes camping at Walton-on-Thames and learns about the unlikely origins of a leisure pursuit that is going strong today.

Children Saved from the Nazis: The Story of Sir Nicholas Winton (BBC 1/HD | 10:45pm to 11:45pm | Wednesday 27th January 2016)

Documentary telling the extraordinary story of how Nicholas Winton rescued 669 children from the clutches of the Nazis, bringing them by train to Britain. In 1939 Europe was on the brink of war, and with Hitler invading Czechoslovakia, the lives of the Jewish population was threatened. Winton, a young British stockbroker, decided to do everything possible to save the lives of as many Jewish children as he could. In order to provide a degree of credibility with both the British and Nazi governments of the day, Winton single-handedly established the British Committee for Refugees from Czechoslovakia – Children’s Section, using it to obtain passports and visas for the children. He then organised for each child to be adopted by families throughout the country and their safe passage across Europe and into Britain. For nearly fifty years, Nicholas told no-one of his heroic deeds.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Thursday 28th January 2016)

A royal residence beckons for Michael as he is treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the world’s longest vine at Hampton Court Palace. Maintaining a royal theme, Michael is drawn to Esher to visit stately Claremont House, where tragic circumstances led directly to the birth of the Victorian era. Moving up the line to Wimbledon, Michael is challenged to a duel on the common, the site of a historic and memorable duelling event. This journey ends in Teddington, where the story of a Victorian reformer whose work revolutionised the care for those living with learning disabilities is uncovered.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 28th January 2016)

The team must solve a deeply personal case when Dwayne’s old mentor is found dead and a text message indicates it was murder. DI Goodman tries to unleash his inner gourmand.

The Restoration Man (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 28th January 2016)

Restoration novices Mark Hinchcliffe and Laura Rushton have hatched a risky plan to convert two beautiful but crumbling church buildings into family homes in Harrogate. The project hangs on them successfully transforming the listed Sunday school building – as all the profits from its sale are needed to turn the cavernous Victorian church into Mark and Laura’s own home. The stunning Sunday school conversion shows they are born restorers, but can they keep up their high standards as the hidden costs of modernising these neglected structures start to spiral?

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 29th January 2016)

Michael begins the final leg of this journey through the home counties at Egham, where a perfectly preserved, historic steam fair offers the original white-knuckle ride. Across town lies the palatial Royal Holloway College, now part of the University of London, where Michael discovers the institution’s philanthropic roots. Moving on to Berkshire, Michael drops in at a factory that manufactures a famously sleep-inducing beverage with historic roots. This journey ends riverside at Henley-on-Thames, where Michael takes to the water and learns that rowing in an eight is a challenging business.

Walks Around Britain (Community Channel | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Friday 29th January 2016)

Come and take a stroll with the Walks Around Britain team as they take us on fun and easily accessible walks from across the British Isles.

The Last Leg Goes Down Under (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 29th January 2016)

Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker – hosts of the award-winning The Last Leg – head to the Australian wilderness for the ultimate outback road trip. Adam plots his revenge after four years of verbal abuse from English co-hosts Josh and Alex about his home country, Australia. He wants to show the lads that Australia isn’t the silly place they thought it was, but in fact a searing hot, unforgiving hell hole, stuffed full of people who are hard as nails. In the first episode, they head from Darwin to Uluru where their fantasies of beaches and sunshine are replaced by camping out with deadly snakes and spiders, confronting hard-faced biker gangs and generally embracing a real-life Crocodile Dundee experience. Adam seems transformed, but Josh and Alex wonder if a nervous breakdown looms. The guys find out a few new things about each other along the journey while turning each encounter into an exciting and richly comedic journey.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 16/01/2016

Call the Midwife - 17-01-2016 - YouView appCall the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 17th January 2016)

Easter approaches, and midwives are shaken by the birth of a baby with severe, unexplained deformities. Meanwhile, Trixie begins teaching her brand new keep-fit classes, but a medical emergency for one of her group makes her question the relationship between women and their bodies.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 18th January 2016)

Every train ride begins with a whistle and Michael Portillo’s new railway journey is no exception, blasting off from Birmingham’s jewellery quarter to the sound of the Acme whistle, manufactured there since 1884. A visit to the city’s town hall reveals a magnificent organ and the location for a celebrated music festival. Travelling south to Kidderminster, Michael reports for duty at the Post Office, where he sorts the letters and discovers more about the great postal innovator Sir Rowland Hill, before heading out to deliver the Royal Mail. 19th-century quack doctors and their bogus remedies are exposed in Worcester, where Michael discovers the origins of the British Medical Association.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 18th January 2016)

When an ex-convict is found brutally murdered in his home, the Lyell team is introduced to Sasha Blackburn, a forensic psychologist who works closely with those released from prison on life licence. The victim was a client of Sasha’s, and so is one of the suspects: Paul Raynott, a vulnerable young man trying to turn his life around with Sasha’s help. Several other members of the life licence community are drawn into the investigation, each at varying stages of rehabilitation having served time for murder. Whilst the team learn how fragile their freedom really is, Sasha’s close relationship with these damaged men is called into question, as is whether she really knows what’s best for them. There are concerns over Paul’s safety in particular, whose fragile state of mind and desperate need for rehabilitation mean he may be just as much a danger to himself as others.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Tuesday 19th January 2016)

He heads for the sharp end of the Victorian industrial revolution at a needle manufactory in Redditch. The Freemasons of Cheltenham invite Michael into their lodge to share the secrets of their society. In Gloucester, he learns how to make Gloucester cheese. Continuing on to Highnam, Michael is glad to discover the beautiful Victorian Gothic church of Thomas Parry and to join the Gloucester Choral Society in a rendition of Jerusalem composed by Thomas’s son Hubert.

Tricks of the Restaurant Trade (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Tuesday 19th January 2016)

There are more than a quarter of a million places to eat out in the UK. Most families eat out a couple of times a week, so how can they ensure that they receive good food, a fair price and a great experience? Consumers may not know much about what goes on behind the scenes in restaurants, but that changes in this episode, which reveals that many restaurants serve pre-prepared meals, desserts and cocktails, ordered in from outside catering suppliers, with some restaurants serving meals that might have been made many miles away. Now that chains make up over 40% of all restaurants, the way they prepare food has changed radically. Would you care if your cocktail came ready-made in a carton?

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 19th January 2016)

After the team discovers that suspect Paul may not be who he says he is, and was involved in an infamous murder in the past, the investigation revisits the fifteen-year-old case. Wounds are re-opened for the family of the victim as Paul’s psychopathic accomplice in the historical murder is visited in the hope that he can shed light on the current investigation. Further victims are killed and a distinctive, sadistic modus operandi begins to become clear. The team turns to forensic psychologist Sasha for advice on the killer, but her proximity to the suspects puts her viewpoint in doubt. As the team move closer to discovering who the killer is, they question whether a murderer can truly be rehabilitated and what that rehabilitation really means.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Wednesday 20th January 2016)

Michael takes pot luck on the snooker table as he investigates the Victorian origins of the game and finds out what it takes to produce the fine green cloth which smoothes the path of the balls. In Cirencester, he ploughs a crooked furrow at the Royal Agricultural College before taking tea with the ladies in Bath, where he also discovers a scandalous novel written by an eccentric recluse, once the wealthiest man in England.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Thursday 21st January 2016)

Armed with his Bradshaw’s guidebook, Michael enters the foul-smelling world of a Victorian tannery. In Nailsea, he discovers how mountains of bird droppings made one of the greatest fortunes of the era for a 19th-century entrepreneur, who spent his wealth building churches and chapels and one of the most luxurious country houses in Britain. Reaching Glastonbury, Michael heads for the mystical abbey, where Victorian tourists flocked to hear stories of King Arthur and the Holy Grail.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 21st January 2016)

DI Goodman finds himself embroiled in the highly strung world of modelling when a young star is strangled in the middle of a fashion show. JP bumps into an old flame.

The Restoration Man (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 21st January 2016)

Thirty years after starting to restore a Georgian gazebo tower built on top of Pembroke’s medieval city walls, retired businessman Bruce Woodall finally takes on the challenge of finishing it. But Bruce discovers that since his architect drew up the plans, conservation laws have changed and the ‘scheduled ancient monument’ beneath the tower threatens to shut down the build for good. As George unravels this local landmark’s 500-hundred year-old secrets, its place in key chapters in English and Welsh history becomes clear. But has the gazebo tower’s story finally come to an end?

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 22nd January 2016)

Following his Bradshaw’s Guidebook, Michael stands trial at the Bloody Assizes in Taunton and feels the full force of the law. He gets to grips with a miracle of Victorian engineering on the Somerset Levels at Westonzoyland and on Dartmoor he embarks on a mid-19th-century treasure hunt still popular today.

Shetland (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 22nd January 2016)

DI Jimmy Perez is convinced that Michael Maguire is somehow implicated in the death of Robbie Morton. But with the investigation seemingly under threat before it’s even started, he faces an uphill battle to uncover the truth behind Maguire’s silence.

Walks Around Britain (Community Channel | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Friday 22nd January 2016)

Come and take a stroll with the Walks Around Britain team as they take us on fun and easily accessible walks from across the British Isles.

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