Tag: Doctor Who

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 20/12/2014

Doctor Who - 25-12-2014 (YouView app)The Railway: First Great Western (Channel 5 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Monday 22nd December 2014)

Documentary series following the staff of First Great Western. In this episode, as the deadline to re-open the mainline at Dawlish nears, engineers work around the clock to annul the threat of a landslide. At Paddington, onboard a special service with a Pullman silver-service dining car, chef Paul pulls out all the stops to impress a food critic and in the Cotswolds, station manager Theresa illustrates why her ‘firm-with-care’ policy has earned her the nickname ‘the smiling tiger’.

John Bishop’s Christmas (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 22nd December 2014)

John Bishop’s Christmas Show is an all-singing, all-dancing festive comedy spectacular. To help him bring the Christmas cheer, John is joined on stage at the Dominion Theatre in London’s West End by big names in music and comedy. George Ezra and Olly Murs both perform their hits from the year and Jack Whitehall, Jason Byrne, Katherine Ryan and the Horne Section are some of the comedy acts supplying the laughs. There are plenty of other Christmas treats and surprises along the way, including Mr Bishop performing a dance routine with 16 Tiller Girls.

Holby City (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 23rd December 2014)

Hospital drama. Elliot’s plans for a quiet family Christmas are derailed by the arrival of a friend in need. Arthur must step up when those around him are falling apart. Ric returns to AAU and manages to tread on quite a few toes.

The Choir: New Military Wives (BBC 2/HD | 8:30pm to 9:30pm | Wednesday 24th December 2014)

Two-part documentary following choirmaster Gareth Malone, as he forms a special Military Wives choir to perform at a World War I centenary prom at London’s Royal Albert Hall, alongside the cast of War Horse. It’s three years since Gareth formed the first Military Wives choir and since then the organisation has mushroomed with over 2,000 members around the globe. In this episode, Gareth works the wives harder than ever as they prepare to share the stage of the Royal Albert Hall with some of the world’s top professional musicians on the 3rd August – the eve of the day Britain entered World War I. The wives meet the National Theatre’s War Horse team who they will perform alongside, and the planned repertoire forces the wives to confront their own vulnerability. One of the serving wives makes the momentous decision to leave the armed forces. This episode culminates in Gareth and his 100-strong amateur choir giving a professional and emotionally engaged performance at the BBC Proms.

Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 6:15pm to 7:15pm | Thursday 25th December 2014)

The Doctor and Clara face their last Christmas. Trapped on an Arctic base, under attack from terrifying creatures, who are you going to call? Santa Claus!

Miranda (BBC 1/HD | 7:15pm to 7:50pm | Thursday 25th December 2014)

Miranda has received two proposals – one from Gary and one from Mike. Will she choose one of them or will she run away from the pressures of relationships and the fear of not coping with being a wife?

Call the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 7:50pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 25th December 2014)

Drama about a group of midwives in 1950s London, based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth. The episode opens in 2005 with Jennifer Worth at home preparing for Christmas with husband Philip. She reminisces about the friends and colleagues of her youth at Nonnatus House, and as she talks there is a cut back to 1959. Rehearsals are under way for the Sunday School Christmas concert and while Chummy tries to choreograph dancing snowflakes, Trixie sets to work designing a Father Christmas outfit for Fred to wear. Chummy is enlisted to help run a poorly managed mother and baby home and with Patsy’s help succeeds in bringing some Christmas joy into the residents’ lives. Cynthia is drawn deeply into a case concerning two former residents of a Victorian mental hospital who have been left to fend for themselves and are barely coping. This causes Cynthia to make a life-changing decision.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 08/11/2014

Doctor who - 08-11-2014 (YouView app)Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 8th November 2014)

Sci-fi drama. With Cybermen on the streets of London, old friends unite against old enemies and the Doctor takes to the air in a startling new role. Can the mighty UNIT contain Missy? As the Doctor faces his greatest challenge, sacrifices must be made before the day is won.

Speed with Guy Martin (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 9th November 2014)

Speed junkie Guy Martin takes on new speed-based challenges in the second series of Speed with Guy Martin. Guy leaves his comfort zone as he takes to the water in a bid to set a new world speed record for a hovercraft. These machines float on a cushion of air and are notoriously difficult to control. Guy has to assemble a world-leading team of engineers and also learn a new set of driving skills. The hovercraft is the unsung hero of many armed forces, so to learn the basic skills Guy is put through his paces by the Royal Marines in a military training operation. To break the record Guy will need to hit over 86mph but at those speeds, because of the machine’s inherent instability, even the finest hovercraft pilots can and do lose control. Guy hopes to refine his skills by entering a round of the British Hovercraft Championship but realises he’s not flexible or well-balanced enough to compete.

Gareth’s All Star Choir (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 10th November 2014)

Choirmaster Gareth Malone brings together an array of untrained voices from the world of television, sport and theatre to release the official 2014 BBC Children in Need single. Actresses Alison Steadman and Linda Robson sing alongside EastEnders actor Nitin Ganatra and Strictly’s Craig Revel Horwood. Also searching for their inner songbird are Countryfile’s John Craven, Blue Peter’s Radzi Chinyanganya, Bake Off co-host Mel Giedroyc and comedian Jo Brand. Fabrice Muamba and Maggie ‘The Machine’ Alphonsi join the choir from the world of football and rugby respectively, and the line-up is completed by Radio 1 DJ Alice Levine and actor Larry Lamb. In the second of this two-part documentary, Gareth and his choir undertake a promotional tour across the country to drum up support for their charity single. Will the choir be able to find their voices in time, and will the single see Gareth Malone return to the top of the charts?

The Adventure Show (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 7:00pm to 8:00pm | Tuesday 11th November 2014)

The Adventure Show joins over 700 competitors for a 50-mile coast-to-coast race, taking in some of Scotland’s most beautiful and remote landscapes. Held annually since 1983, the Highland Cross starts at Kintail on the west with a 20-mile run over the hills to Glen Affric, before finishing with a 30-mile bike ride to Beauly in the east. Also in this programme, professional footballer Michael Stewart trains with a marathon runner and discovers his fitness levels are not quite what he expected. Plus, Deziree Wilson explores one of the Shetland’s most important nature reserves and tackles a dramatic climb.

Waterloo Road (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 12th November 2014)

Lenny is determined to do whatever it takes to get the grades he needs for university, but will the pressure of mock exams prove to be too much? Allie uncovers a secret which forces Vaughan to make a big decision.

Great Continental Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 12th November 2014)

Michael Portillo sets off with his 1913 guide down the spine of Italy from Rome to Sicily. Braving the traffic, Michael begins his Roman holiday by weaving among the capital city’s magnificent landmarks on the back of a 1950s Vespa. Following in the footsteps of early 20th-century British tourists, he pays homage to the romantic poets at the foot of the Spanish Steps before boarding the train south. Arriving in Naples, Michael savours spectacular views across the bay. From Naples, pausing only to pick up a pizza, Michael boards a ferry to travel to the beautiful island of Capri, a magnet for the writers and artists of Europe at the time of his guidebook. Heading south again on the long journey to Reggio Calabria, Michael shares lunch on board with fellow British travellers before their train is loaded onto a ferry for the short sail to Sicily. On the island, Michael finds out about apocalyptic scenes at Messina only five years prior to publication of his guidebook.

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 13th November 2014)

George meets the newlyweds investing their life savings in a dilapidated 1950s yacht. In rural Aberdeenshire, barley farmer Jane wants to build a traditional Scottish Highland bothy on a budget of just £8000. George’s Italian road trip continues as he visits a stunning olive grove that is home to a stunning treehouse. And George and Will’s homemade wilderness lodge starts to take shape, with the roof ready to be installed.

Underground Britain (Channel 5 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 13th November 2014)

Documentary series in which engineer Rob Bell explores the UK’s subterranean wonders. Rob visits Europe’s largest cave system underneath Brecon Beacon national park, the dungeons of Chirk castle and explores the hidden remains of Ruthin castle. He also abseils down a cliff in the Gower Peninsula to a cave reputed to contain the bones of a prehistoric prostitute, and buries into the mountains of Snowdonia to discover the history of the local slate mining industry.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 01/11/2014

Gareth's All Star Choi - 03-11-2014 (YouView app)Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 8:15pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 1st November 2014)

In the mysterious world of the Nethersphere, plans have been drawn. Missy is about to come face to face with the Doctor, and an impossible choice is looming. ‘Death is not an end’, promises the sinister organisation known only as 3W – but, as the Doctor and Clara discover, they might wish it was.

Speed with Guy Martin (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 2nd November 2014)

Speed junkie, motorcycle racer and lorry mechanic Guy Martin loves pushing the boundaries of speed in search of a buzz. He takes on four new speed-based challenges in the second series of Speed with Guy Martin. Guy wants to find out what makes things go fast by getting his hands dirty in a range of unique engineering projects. To do this, he has to harness cutting-edge science, learn new skills and call on the support of the best of Britain’s design and engineering talent. Guy visits the USA, where he hopes to win at one of America’s oldest races: the Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb. In this annual contest, known as The Race to the Clouds, riders compete against the clock on a gruelling mountainside track that finishes over 4000 metres above sea level.

Gareth’s All Star Choir (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 3rd November 2014)

Choirmaster Gareth Malone brings together an array of untrained voices from the world of television, sport and theatre to release the official 2014 BBC Children in Need single. Actresses Alison Steadman and Linda Robson sing alongside EastEnders actor Nitin Ganatra and Strictly’s Craig Revel Horwood. Also searching for their inner songbird are Countryfile’s John Craven, Blue Peter’s Radzi Chinyanganya, Bake Off co-host Mel Giedroyc and comedian Jo Brand. Fabrice Muamba and Maggie ‘The Machine’ Alphonsi join the choir from the world of football and rugby respectively, and the line-up is completed by Radio 1 DJ Alice Levine and actor Larry Lamb. In the first of this two-part documentary, Gareth assembles his motley choir, and the challenge he faces becomes abundantly clear.

Waterloo Road (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 5th November 2014)

School-based drama. Gabriella Wark returns to school to find some students determined to make her life difficult. Hector finds an ally in Sue, while Allie feels unnerved as Vaughan and the boys get ready to visit Olga on her birthday.

Great Continental Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 5th November 2014)

Michael Portillo sets off with his 1913 guide to journey through Russia. Among the onion domes and icons of Tula, Michael is moved by the sound of a Russian Orthodox choir. He visits the country estate of Yasnaya Polyana, where Tolstoy wrote his masterpieces. Striking north, Michael boards the train which runs from the Caspian Sea to Moscow. In Moscow, Michael hears how thousands of Russians journeyed to the capital in 1913 to mark the Romanov royal family’s tercentenary year. At the Bolshoi Theatre, he performs an important role in one of Russia’s most dramatic operas. Aboard the high speed Sapsan to St Petersburg, Michael discovers the history behind the line, once the longest double-tracked railway in the world, he then explores the beauty and history of St Petersburg and rides the first railway ever built in Russia. Michael meets Martin Sixsmith to discover how the strikes, mutinies and massacres of the Russian Revolution unfolded and the part the railways played in those events.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 5th November 2014)

Kevin McCloud returns to Devon for an update on one of the most inspirational builds Grand Designs has ever witnessed. Marine Captain Jon White and wife Becky were living happily in a small cottage in Devon when in June 2010, while serving in Afghanistan, Jon stepped on an improvised explosive device. He lost both legs and his right arm. Every part of his and Becky’s lives had to change – starting with where they could live. Their architect came up with a cutting edge, semi open plan building with a dramatic wing-like-roof – but crucially it was to be without noticeable adaptations for Jon’s disabilities. It was an ambitious design, and despite the help of a number of military charities and a capable team of builders, Jon was already under severe pressure to finish the house, when news came that Becky was pregnant. Has the new home proved as enabling for Jon, Becky and their expanding family as they’d hoped?

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 6th November 2014)

The series that celebrates ingenious and eccentric small builds continues as George and Will Hardy struggle to bring ancient Roman technology back to life and the build on their log cabin in the wilderness begins in earnest. The road trip around Italy takes in possibly the coolest fire station in the world. George meets David Moreton, a former Paralympic swimmer hoping to transform an old air ambulance into an amazing amphibious crashpad for when he’s on the road for his charity fund raising tours. And DIY enthusiasts Ben and Michelle want to build a summerhouse for free using hundreds of disused shipping pallets.

Underground Britain (Channel 5 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 6th November 2014)

Documentary series in which engineer Rob Bell explores the subterranean world beneath our feet. In this episode, Rob explores two natural wonders in the Yorkshire Dales – a mile of caves and one of Britain’s deepest potholes. In Stockport, Rob learns how its unique geology made it the perfect spot to build the country’s largest air-raid shelter and he discovers the incredible depths that are being plumbed to retrieve agricultural fertiliser.

Have I Got News for You (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Friday 7th November 2014)

The popular satirical news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Jo Brand and guest panellists including Richard Osman.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 25/10/2014

Speed with Guy Martin - 26-10-2014 (YouView app)Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 8:20pm to 9:05pm | Saturday 25th October 2014)

One morning in every city and town in the world, the human race wakes up to face the most surprising invasion yet. Everywhere, in every land, a forest has grown overnight and taken back the Earth. It doesn’t take the Doctor long to discover that the final days of humanity have arrived.

Speed with Guy Martin (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 26th October 2014)

Speed junkie, motorcycle racer and lorry mechanic Guy Martin loves pushing the boundaries of speed in search of a buzz. He returns with a second series of Speed with Guy Martin, taking on four new speed-based challenges. From racing a motorbike at altitude to trying to break the speed record for a hovercraft, Guy wants to find out what makes things go fast by getting his hands dirty in a range of unique engineering projects.

Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands (BBC 1 Scotland/HD | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 27th October 2014)

Paul Murton sets out to experience island life on the myriad of islands that lie off the Scottish coast. In this final episode, he visits the ‘Atlantic Twin’ islands of Coll and Tiree. Paul begins his journey on Coll, where he meets the charismatic owner of Breachacha Castle, who runs a charity on the island encouraging young volunteers to work there. Paul then heads for Tiree, which boasts one of the best sunshine records in the UK but is also one of the stormiest places in Europe. Paul discovers some of the interesting ways in which resourceful locals harness the island’s assets, before taking a boat trip out to the lighthouse on the rocky outcrop of Skerryvore.

Waterloo Road (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 29th October 2014)

Rhiannon takes pride in the virtual-baby project, but Darren can’t understand why she is taking it so seriously. Carol spots an opportunity to exploit the school when she fakes an injury, but will Vaughan see through her scheming ways?

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 29th October 2014)

Kevin McCloud returns to a unique Japanese-Welsh fusion home in the Wye Valley, completely transformed from a damp old forester’s house in 2013. Tamayo Hussey has missed Japan ever since she moved to the UK 15 years ago with her husband Nigel. To stave off the homesickness they decided to transform a tired old 60s forester’s lodge into a one-of-a-kind Japanese house – complete with Japanese roof bath, tatami room and paper sliding walls. Kevin finds out how this somewhat improvised building weathered one of the wettest winters on record and if it has brought the calm and tranquillity Tamayo remembers from her childhood in Japan to Wales.

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 30th October 2014)

George meets the man trying to build the first UFO-styled pre-fabricated Futuro house seen in this country for half a century, but with the kit in 16 pieces, he struggles to bring this retro vision of the future back to life. George meets a woman trying to build a magical garden room using techniques hundreds of years old, including earth, sand, straw and even human hair. George’s Italian road trip takes him to a traditional old village, where he discovers the most modern of houses with an extraordinary design featuring a floating swimming pool. And, as George and Will get down to work on their wilderness retreat, there’s a close shave for George as a 50-year-old oak is felled a little bit too close for comfort.

Underground Britain (Channel 5 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 30th October 2014)

Documentary series in which engineer Rob Bell explores the subterranean world beneath our feet. In this episode, Rob explores beneath the green and pleasant land of central England from Mansfield to Buckinghamshire, with a diversion over to East Anglia. Under the city of Nottingham Rob explores the largest system of man-made caves in the country, before uncovering a bloody secret below a humble back garden. In Norfolk he learns about Britain’s first industry that was established 5,000 years ago and he also explores an 18th Century den of debauchery below ground level in Buckhamshire.

Life Story (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 30th October 2014)

David Attenborough explores how animals attempt to overcome the challenges that face them at each of the six crucial stages of life as they strive towards ultimate success – passing on their genes. This episode follows animals as they grow up in the adult world, developing new skills and learning how to survive on their own. A tiger cub grows up in a dangerous society. She needs the support of both parents if she is to become an independent adult, but the appearance of a rival to her father may change everything. The veined octopus spends almost all of its time feeding as it races towards adulthood, but this leaves it exposed to predators. In order to protect itself it searches for bits of discarded coconut shell that fit neatly together. Then it uses them as protective armor. A pair of young cheetah siblings are in a race against starvation. They can only survive by working together to bring down big prey for the first time – an impala weighing more than both cheetahs put together.

Have I Got News for You (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Friday 31st October 2014)

The popular satirical news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Damian Lewis and guest panellists Andy Hamilton and Roisin Conaty.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 18/10/2014

Gunpowder 5/11: The Greatest Terror Plot (YouView app)Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 8:25pm to 9:10pm | Saturday 18th October 2014)

Separated from the Doctor, Clara discovers a new menace from another dimension. But how do you hide when even the walls are no protection? With people to save and the Doctor trapped, Clara goes against an enemy that exists beyond human perception.

Casualty (BBC 1/HD | 9:10pm to 10:00pm | Saturday 18th October 2014)

A man dies from a mysterious injury, leaving Connie wondering whether she missed something, and Cal and Ethan discover a rare virus that connects two patients.

Bad Education (BBC 3/HD | 10:00pm to 10:30pm | Tuesday 21st October 2014)

It is the summer term and Alfie Wickers is back as the self-styled maverick of Abbey Grove. With exams over it’s careers advice day for Form K, but it is Alfie who makes the biggest decision of all when he realises he can’t go on teaching without his beloved class and quits Abbey Grove. Fraser is devastated to lose his best friend and takes the news badly. Alfie reveals he has landed himself a job at the Playstation factory and cannot be tempted back despite Gulliver and his class begging him to return. But will the truth about Alfie’s new job be exposed and will they manage to convince him to return to Abbey Grove? And who will be crowned prom king and queen?

Waterloo Road (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 22nd October 2014)

Nicola Stephenson, Neil Pearson, Max Bowden, Zebb Dempster, Leo Flanagan, Sammy Oliver. School-based drama. It’s the launch of Waterloo Road’s big community initiative and Vaughan is desperate for the day to go without a hitch. But with Lisa and Shaznay causing mischief and tensions with George at boiling point, can the new head pull it off?

Gunpowder 5/11: The Greatest Terror Plot (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 22nd October 2014)

For the first time, the inner secrets of the gunpowder plotters are dramatised using the actual words of their most senior captured leader Thomas Wintour, Guy Fawkes and state interrogators investigating the 18-month conspiracy in which a family circle of militant Catholic gentlemen tried to blow up King and Parliament. Wintour’s insider account of this epic tale of faith, fanaticism, persecution and betrayal is told in detail, from his recruitment of both Fawkes and his own brother, to his capture in a dramatic siege and bloody shoot out on November 8th. The hopes, fears and plans for a Midlands rebellion, royal kidnap, the plotters’ penetration of the King’s bodyguard and Fawkes’ attendance, sword in hand, at a wedding attended by the King in December 1604 are shown, as well as a dramatisation of the thrilling, forgotten story of the final days after 5/11 as the conspirators are hunted down and then face the terrible punishments reserved for traitors.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 22nd October 2014)

Kevin McCloud returns to an astonishing restoration project in the heart of France. Back in 2003, when Denise Daniel and Doug Ibbs gave up everything in the UK to start a new life in a remote part of central France, they couldn’t have known what was ahead of them. Most people would have regretted falling in love with a massive, dilapidated manor house with just four crumbling walls and half a roof, but not Doug and Deni. This impressive, extraordinary and utterly determined couple rolled up their sleeves and slogged away day and night, doing everything themselves, year after year, until slowly but surely they created a magnificent edifice out of the ruins they bought off the internet. It’s now the 70th anniversary of the destruction of the original 19th century manor house by the German army and the house is finally finished. Kevin returns to find out how Denise and Doug have got on, and how they’ve written the next chapter for a house with a remarkable history.

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 23rd October 2014)

The series celebrating ingenious and eccentric small builds returns. In this opening episode, George meets a man who bought the wreck of a £20 million private jet for just £4,000 and plans to transform it into the ultimate crash pad for him and his wife. There’s also a gypsy tattoo artist who swapped his truck for an old railway carriage, which he hopes to turn into a home for him and his two children for only £7000. George teams up once again with master craftsman Will Hardie to hand build a woodland retreat for less than the price of a family holiday. And he heads to Italy to see some incredible spaces, starting with one so high up in the mountains that it’s only accessible by helicopter and features one of the best views in the world.

Have I Got News for You (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Friday 24th October 2014)

The popular satirical news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Victoria Coren Mitchell and panellists including Katherine Ryan.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 11/10/2014

Waterloo Road - 15-10-2014 (YouView app)Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 8:35pm to 9:20pm | Saturday 11th October 2014)

The Doctor is on the most beautiful train in history, speeding among the stars of the future. But a deadly creature is stalking the passengers. Once you see the horrifying mummy, you only have 66 seconds to live. No exceptions, no reprieve. As the Doctor races against the clock, he is seen at his deadliest and most ruthless.

Guy Martin’s Spitfire (Channel 4/HD | 7:30pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 12th October 2014)

The Supermarine Spitfire was Britain’s most successful fighter plane and remains an iconic symbol of Britain’s resistance during the Second World War. In May 1940, while covering the retreat from Dunkirk, a Mark 1 Spitfire flown by RAF ace Squadron Leader Geoffrey Stephenson was shot down and crash-landed on a beach in northern France, where it slowly sank into the sand. The wreckage was finally recovered in the 1980s and stored anonymously in France for more than 20 years. In this special documentary, Guy Martin – speed junkie, motorcycle racer, lorry mechanic and Spitfire fanatic – joins a restoration team as it embarks on a two-year rebuild of this Spitfire. This extraordinary project provides a look at the amazing engineering and skills involved in building the aircraft, and is also a fitting homage to the bravery of everyone involved in its service: the male and female factory workers, the ground crews and the pilots.

Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 13th October 2014)

Paul Murton sets out to experience island life on the myriad of islands that lie off the Scottish coast. In this edition, he visits a little-known string of islands off the west coast of Oban, starting with island of Kerrera. Paul learns of Kerrera’s vital part as a base for the RAF’s Seaplane Squadron during WWII, where the Sunderland seaplanes took off from to provide air cover to convoys during the Battle of the Atlantic. He then crosses the renowed ‘Bridge over the Atlantic’ on the mainland to get to Easdale. Here he discovers the role that this island’s quarries, and those of its neighbours Luing and Belnahua, played in building Britain’s empire and reviews how little life has changed on the island. His final destination is Eileach an Naoimh, one of the Garvallach islands, home to the oldest Christian burial site in Scotland, and believed to be the final resting place of Saint Columba’s mother.

Bad Education (BBC 3/HD | 10:00pm to 10:30pm | Tuesday 14th October 2014)

It is the summer term and Alfie Wickers is back as the self-styled maverick of Abbey Grove. Fraser discovers that Alfie never passed his biology GCSE, so Alfie must go back to school himself to be taught by Gulliver and sit the exam with his own class. It should be the perfect opportunity to prove to Gulliver that he can motivate his class and lead by example, but Alfie decides there is only one real option: cheating. But, with the revelation that the notorious invigilator Mr Hewston will be overseeing the exam, it becomes clear that this is going to be a battle of wits. Meanwhile Martin Wickers is babysitting his girlfriend’s dog and Fraser is organising the end-of-exam skip party.

Waterloo Road (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 15th October 2014)

A new family arrive at Waterloo Road and immediately shake things up both in and out of the classroom. Dominant and forward-thinking, Vaughan Fitzgerald has all the makings of the dynamic headteacher the school needs, while his confident partner Allie takes the reins of the art department. But their professional veneer just might be tested as their warring children’s behaviour threatens to spill out into the classroom. Christine vows to help Darren with his desperate situation at home but neither are prepared for the shocking scene that awaits when they try to confront his mother. George has been bled dry by Carol over the summer and pledges to make a change. He soon finds out why no one messes with a Barry and gets away with it.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 15th October 2014)

Andy and Nicki Bruce are desperate to live on the River Thames, but worried about the ever-present dangers of flooding. They want to build an amphibious or ‘floating’ house, the first of its kind in the UK. Their architect has come up with an ambitious, experimental design that will see the whole house magically rise up with the flood waters. This clever engineering solution has never been tried on a river bank in Britain and no one knows whether it will work. The Bruces decide to build on a site on a small island in the river. Budgeted at £1.2m, the bold, if slightly bonkers, plan is to dig down deep below the water line to create a concrete dock in which a three-storey concrete-hulled home can rest. But it’s not long before the project becomes bogged down in the logistical challenges of building such a complex design on a small island that is only accessible via a narrow footbridge.

Have I Got News for You (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Friday 17th October 2014)

The popular satirical news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Frank Skinner and panellists Sara Pascoe and Nick Robinson.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 04/10/2014

Bad Education - 07-10-2014 (YouView app)Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 8:30pm to 9:15pm | Saturday 4th October 2014)

In the near future, the Doctor and Clara find themselves on a space shuttle making a suicide mission to the moon. Crash-landing on the lunar surface, they find a mining base full of corpses, vicious spider-like creatures poised to attack and a terrible dilemma. When Clara turns to the Doctor for help, she gets the shock of her life.

Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 6th October 2014)

Paul Murton sets out to experience island life on the myriad of islands that lie off the Scottish coast. In this edition, he visits two islands of the Inner Hebrides, Gigha and Jura. He begins his journey at the Achamore Gardens on Gigha, which were created by millionaire Colonel Sir James Horlick in the 1930s. Sir James loved Gigha’s mild climate so much that he bought the island and made it his home. Today Gigha is owned by the community and many of its residents are incomers attracted by the opportunity to begin a new island life on this small and fertile place. His next destination is the rugged Jura, which, despite being one of Scotland’s largest islands, houses just 200 people alongside thousands of deer. He takes a boat trip to the north of the island to experience the infamous Corryvreckan whirlpool, which nearly claimed the life of George Orwell, before visiting the remote Glen Garrisdale Bay and getting a lesson in how to cut peat.

Bad Education (BBC 3/HD | 10:00pm to 10:30pm | Tuesday 7th October 2014)

It is the summer term and Alfie Wickers is back as the self-styled maverick of Abbey Grove. Martin Wickers’s attempts to teach Alfie to drive end in disaster when they run over the school caretaker. Alfie and his class start fundraising for the caretaker’s urgent surgery. However, when the school bully Grayson is transferred to Alfie’s class, it soon becomes clear that their noble intentions might be difficult with him around. Soon Alfie and his class find themselves no longer leading a charitable enterprise, but being taken on a joyride in a stolen ambulance. Fraser has taken up pole dancing and sees the fundraiser as the perfect opportunity to demonstrate his skills.

Our Zoo (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 8th October 2014)

Drama series based on the true story of the Mottershead family who, in the face of staunch opposition and huge personal sacrifice, founded Chester Zoo in the 1930s. The family’s last chance is to convince a visiting inspector from the Ministry of Health to overturn the council ban on a zoo at Oakfield. But when the nets of the aviary are slashed, George begins to lose his grip on the case – and his self-control. Concerned he might throw their last chance away, Lizzie reaches out for legal help, which comes at a cost. The high emotion of the hearing sees a hidden truth tumbling out for Reverend Webb, which helps tip the balance. An inspection of the zoo is held but the final decision could take weeks.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 8th October 2014)

Natasha Cargill wants to build a home shaped like two enormous periscopes in rural Norfolk. To get planning permission, she has to ensure not only that the materials used are sustainable, but also agree to measure the transportation used to deliver them. The planning controls are so rigid in fact that even details like the type of portaloos the builders use and the size of her bath have to be monitored. If the strict criteria are not met, Natasha won’t be allowed to live there. Natasha has just £330k to spend on construction and just six months to complete. It’s not long before the pressure to not just complete the house, but meet the numerous planning constraints, starts to take its toll.

Danny MacAskill – Riding the Ridge (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only |7:30pm to 8:00pm | Friday 10th October 2014)

Documentary following Scottish cyclist Danny MacAskill as he attempts to capture his performance on and around the dramatic Black Cuillin mountain range on Skye, where he and his crew endured long treks and tricky terrain over the 10-day shoot.

Have I Got News for You (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Friday 10th October 2014)

The popular news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Sue Perkins and guest panellists.

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

Comedy series set in a secondary school. Unnatural disaster strikes Miss Postern’s classroom when Mr Barber spends the night there. Fortunately Mr Church is more than happy to come to her aid. With Barber now homeless, it falls on the reluctant Mr Gunn to put a roof over his head, but how will his mum react to her new house guest? Mr Church and Miss Postern discover that sharing does not come naturally to either of them, while Mr Gunn learns that sometimes people can share too much.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 27/09/2014

Our Zoo - 01-10-2014 (YouView app)Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 8:30pm to 9:15pm | Saturday 27th September 2014)

Science fiction series about the adventures of an alien time-traveller, known as The Doctor. He explores space and time, solving problems and righting wrongs.

Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 29th September 2014)

Far from the Madding Crowd. Paul Murton sets out to experience island life on the myriad of islands that lie off the Scottish coast. In this edition, he explores the Isle of Mull and its satellites to discover why they have boltholes from the freneticism of modern life. He begins his journey on the tidal island of Erraid which inspired writer Robert Louis Stevenson before heading to the Ulva, the final resting place of Lachlan McQuarrie, one of the first governors of New South Wales and the man credited as the father of Australia. Paul then explores Mull in the company of rally driver Louise Thomas, who frequently competes in the renowned Mull Rally. On the mysterious island of Inch Kenneth, he discovers how Nazi sympathiser Unity Mitford, from the Mitford family that once owned the island, was sent there to recuperate from a self-inflicted shooting during the War. His final destination is the remote Treshnish Islands where he enjoys a spot of puffin therapy.

The Motorway: Life in the Fast Lane (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 30th September 2014)

Documentary series following the workers who keep the traffic flowing on one of the busiest stretches of road in Britain, where the country’s longest motorway, the M6, meets four other major routes. This episode looks at the work of the highways agency, motorway police and other agencies making the nation’s motorways safer and explores the environmental, economic and emotional costs of accidents that occur on Britain’s motorways.

Bad Education (BBC 3/HD | 10:00pm to 10:30pm | Tuesday 30th September 2014)

It is the summer term and Alfie Wickers is back as the self-styled maverick of Abbey Grove. It is Abbey Grove’s sports day and Fraser has hired the most inappropriate new sports teacher to oversee events – Preet. Alfie sees this as the perfect opportunity to challenge Miss Gulliver’s ex-boyfriend to an endurance event, which Preet offers to design.

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

Drama series based on the true story of the Mottershead family who, in the face of staunch opposition and huge personal sacrifice, founded Chester Zoo in the 1930s. The devastating news that planning permission for the zoo has been denied threatens to tear the family apart and destroy George’s dream. However, Lady Katherine’s connections in Whitehall give the family a lifeline. She and George embark on a trip to London to convince the deputy minister of health to grant an appeal, while the family deal with a shocking new arrival at Oakfield.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 1st October 2014)

Tracy Fox and her husband Steve want to build an ‘urban shed’, featuring two studios, three bedrooms and a double-height space with a walkway, made out of industrial-style materials, including corrugated cement fibre board and 20-foot panels of polycarbonate sheeting. All the basic building materials are to be left deliberately rough and exposed, with inside walls sporting naked breeze block. Having discovered an old milk yard tucked away behind some flats and shops in south east London, their long-held desire to build a highly unconventional family home and workspace begins. But the choice of unorthodox materials proves challenging and costly. The yard remains untouched for over a year until they meet Romas and Remi, a young firm of builders, who boldly decide to take on the challenge of building it for just £300k. As the shed-like house takes shape, Tracy and Steve are determined to keep faith with the minimalist industrial design they’ve set their hearts on.

Have I Got News for You (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 9:30p0m | Friday 3rd October 2014)

The popular news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Jennifer Saunders and guest panellists Armando Iannucci and Peter Bone MP.

Big School (BBC 1/HD |9:30pm to 10:00pm | Friday 3rd October 2014)

Comedy series set in a secondary school. When a popular member of staff passes away at Greybridge School, it takes all of the ingenuity of Mr Gunn, Mr Church and Mr Barber, as well as a wheelie bin and a ride-on lawnmower to get the deceased to their maker. Meanwhile Miss Postern thinks she has found the perfect poster boy for her Stand Up to Bullies campaign when disabled pupil Dean starts at the school. However things are not as simple as they seem.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 13/09/2014

Bad Education - 16-09-2014 (YouView app)Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 7:30pm to 8:20pm | Saturday 13th September 2014)

Sci-fi drama. What will the Doctor find at the end of the universe? Listen! What scares the Doctor? Ghosts of the past and future crowd into the lives of the Doctor and Clara: a terrified caretaker in a children’s home, the last man standing in the universe and a little boy who doesn’t want to join the army. Listen!

The Motorway: Life in the Fast Lane (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 16th September 2014)

Documentary series following the workers who keep the traffic flowing on one of the busiest stretches of road in Britain, where the country’s longest motorway, the M6, meets four other major routes. In January 2003, on a day known as ‘White Friday’, an enormous snowstorm brought the M11 motorway to a standstill and left drivers stranded in their cars for 18 hours. In the media storm that followed, the Highways Agency was heavily criticised for failing to prepare for snow and ice.

Bad Education (BBC 3/HD | 10:00pm to 10:30pm | Tuesday 16th September 2014)

School-based sitcom. It’s the summer term and Alfie Wickers is back as the self-styled maverick of Abbey Grove. He is in high spirits trying to get his class through their exams. But there is a shock for Alfie with the revelation that his dad Martin has been appointed as the new deputy head. Martin’s first jobs are to increase class sizes and fire a member of staff, after Fraser badly invests the school’s money in his own clothing range, Dolce and GaBanter. For Alfie this means a new class member, Cleopatra, and a tough decision to make – stand by his girlfriend Miss Gulliver when she leads the teachers on strike or sacrifice himself to save his class from failing their

Our Zoo (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 17th September 2014)

Drama series based on the true story of the Mottershead family who, in the face of staunch opposition and huge personal sacrifice, founded Chester Zoo in the 1930s. As the family nurse Eve the bear back to health, local residents’ opposition to the zoo grows hostile. The zoo continues to expand beyond their means, forcing George to use all his charm to persuade a local journalist of its unique worth. But while George’s proclamations fall on deaf ears, Billy brings home a surprise that could turn things around.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 17th September 2014)

GP Peter Berkin and his wife Chard, an alternative medicine practitioner, have decided to build a new home at the bottom of their garden. The problem is, right from the start they can’t agree on any part of the design – even the basic shape. Peter is a serial hobbyist who, according to his wife, never finishes anything. He wants the new house to feature a workshop where he can build a plane. He wants the house to be round. Chard however wants it to be square and practical. Peter aims to spend £400K, Chard wants to keep the budget around £200K. With Peter building as much of the house as he can himself, helped by his mates, and Chard taking control of the money and schedule, it looks like a recipe for disaster. As the house slowly goes up, round and complete with plane workshop, it’s crunch time. Even if it ever gets finished, will Chard be willing to live in it?

Scotland in a Day (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 10:35pm | Thursday 18th September 2014)

As Scotland votes to decide its future, this one-off comedy mockumentary turns the spotlight on a nation poised on the brink between triumph and disaster. Created, written by and starring Jack Docherty, Scotland in a Day focuses on all kinds of life north of the border. Featuring a range of comic characters captured ‘self-shot’ style as they document ‘Scotland’s Day of Destiny’, there are passionate Yes voters, out and out Unionists, and those who can’t help flip-flopping on which way to cast their vote. All Scottish life is here: pensioners, toddlers, deep-thinkers, nutters, landowners, entrepreneurs and party animals – everyone from the passionately political to characters doing their best to avoid the big issues.

Big School (BBC 1/HD | 9:30pm to 10:00pm | Friday 19th September 2014)

Comedy series set in a secondary school. When Ofsted arrive to conduct an impromptu inspection, Greybridge is thrown into even more chaos than usual. Not only does the inspectors’ presence seriously mess with Ms Baron’s enjoyment of her confiscated bag of marijuana, it also spreads panic throughout the teaching staff as they worry about their futures. When it comes to hanging onto their jobs, there’s nothing the Greybridge staff won’t resort to.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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