Tag: Doctor Who

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 23/08/2014

Doctor Who 23-08-2014 (YouView app screenshot)Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 7:50pm to 9:10pm | Saturday 23rd August 2014)

Sci-fi drama. When the Doctor arrives in Victorian London he finds a dinosaur rampant in the Thames and a spate of deadly spontaneous combustions. Who is the new Doctor and will Clara’s friendship with him survive as they embark on a terrifying mission into the heart of an alien conspiracy?

Scotland Decides (BBC 1 in Scotland & BBC 2 in England | 8:30pm to 10:00pm | Monday 25th August 2014)

Glenn Campbell chairs, as Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling lay out their competing visions for the future of the country in front of a specially invited audience live at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow.

Dogs: Their Secret Lives (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 26th August 2014)

Some dogs are hard to handle and when they show aggression it can be a serious issue for owners. Using surveillance filming, working closely with the UK’s leading behaviourists and exploring the latest science, Dogs: Their Secret Lives reveals what can make our dogs aggressive and how to treat them. The programme follows Layla the springer spaniel, Nash the cairn terrier and larger-than-life Great Dane Thor as they bark and growl their way through their daily lives, and finds out how our preconceptions about breed might be wrong and how understanding dog body language could prevent attacks. Mark Evans, the former chief vet at the RSCPA, investigates this growing canine crisis. He meets wolves, finds out whether dogs can pick up on our emotions and takes a dog communication test to find out what can be done to help our more menacing pets. Prod/.

Scrappers (BBC 1/HD | 8:30pm to 9:00pm | Friday 29th August 2014)

Documentary following straight-talking Terry and glamorous Lyndsay, who run a multimillion-pound scrap empire from Bolton’s Metro Salvage, the biggest scrap metal yard in the north west. Terry faces some big decisions about Boyle and Chris, the two lads sacked while he was in Tenerife. Lyndsay thinks he has given enough second chances and Little Dave agrees. When Boyle snubs Terry by telling him he does not want his support in court for his driving offences trial, even Terry thinks it could be time to say goodbye to his young protege.

Big School (BBC 1/HD | 9:30pm to 10:00pm | Friday 29th August 2014)

Comedy series set in a secondary school. It may be start of a new year at Greybridge School, but the teaching staff is as dysfunctional as ever. Miss Postern and Mr Church’s relationship has taken a downward turn after a misunderstanding over a local Bella Italia, the woefully underqualified Mr Gunn is now teaching Geography and Mr Barber has a new job as the school caretaker. When Miss Postern sets up a careers workshop, it seems her slogan ‘Which Way Now?’ applies as much to her as it does her pupils, not least because the guest speaker is her old teacher training colleague (and now bestselling children’s author) Fenella Forbes. But at least things are looking up for one member of staff, as it seems Mr Martin is about to launch a successful pop career.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 10:50pm | Friday 29th August 2014)

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

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 21/12/2013

The Time of the Doctor. Special Episode (YouView app screenshot)The Choir: Sing While You Work (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Sunday 22nd December 2013)

The final of the competition takes place at Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire, where the three remaining choirs perform the world premier of a piece by composer Paul Mealor and lyricist Brendan Graham. The choirs have been practising intensely for six months and are now challenged by choirmaster Gareth Malone to interpret the piece however they wish. This means that, within each choir, the members must agree on their strengths, their style and their stars. Performances, backed by the Ely Cathedral Choir, take place in a packed cathedral. It then falls to the three judges to decide who will be crowned best workplace choir.

Toy Story (BBC 1/HD | 3:15pm to 4:30pm | Monday 23rd December 2013)

Computer-animated fantasy in which a child’s toys come alive whenever he leaves the room. Woody is a pull-string cowboy and is respected by the other toys as their leader and the boy’s number-one toy. But he finds his authority usurped by the arrival of an impressive astronaut figure who goes by the name of Buzz Lightyear. With the voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen.

Tales From Northumberland with Robson Green (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Monday 23rd December 2013)

Robson Green travels around his home county of Northumberland to discover how this region has played a unique role in shaping the Britain we know today. In the final episode of the series, Robson heads to south-west Northumberland to visit three landmarks which have played a key role in Northumbrian and British history. He begins his journey at Hadrian’s Wall and meets local guide Gary Reed, before camping out overnight by the wall and learning how the Romans completely transformed British culture. His next stop is Kielder Water, the biggest man-made lake in northern Europe, where he talks to Jonty Hall. As a nine-year-old boy, Jonty pressed the button that flooded the valley and created the reservoir. Robson’s final stop is his home town of Hexham, where he finds out about Hexham Abbey’s turbulent past and discovers the secrets of its Anglo-Saxon crypts.

Heston’s Great British Food (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 23rd December 2013)

Heston Blumenthal takes an iconic British dish, revealing the secret history behind its evolution and finding inspiration for an incredible culinary tribute of his own. This time it’s the classic British pudding. Heston heads back to the early 1600s, when the way to make a pudding was to stuff the ingredients into an animal’s intestine. Heston tries a rice pudding recipe which looks like a sausage and creates a pudding that looks like a hot dog that includes a white chocolate mousse bun, pastry fried onions, sweet soy sauce and saffron mustard, and featuring a sausage made with chocolate sponge mince and marshmallow pieces. He makes an 17th century pud involving a cow’s udder; attempts a giant sponge pudding from the Victorian era; and then makes some custard, and serves it to a specially invited group of teachers and dinner ladies.

Toy Story 2 (BBC 1/HD | 3:40pm to 5:10pm | Tuesday 24th December 2013)

Animated comedy sequel following the adventures of a group of toys who come to life when their owner has left the room. When Woody is kidnapped by a toy collector, Buzz Lightyear and the other toys set out in hot pursuit, but soon discover that Woody’s new life and new friends are tempting the cowboy to remain in his new world.

The Snowman and the Snowdog (Channel 4/HD | 7:30pm to 8:05pn | Tuesday 24th December 2013)

A charming animated sequel to Raymond Briggs’s classic The Snowman. When a young boy, Billy, and his mother move house, he discovers a box hidden under the floorboards of his bedroom. In the box, he finds a hat, scarf, some lumps of coal and a shrivelled tangerine – it’s a snowman-making kit! When it begins to snow the child builds a Snowman and, with some spare snow, a Snowdog. That night, at the stroke of midnight, the Snowman and the Snowdog magically come to life! Billy awakes and joins them on an amazing adventure, flying over London and onwards to the North Pole, where they join Snowmen and Snowwomen from around the world.

Toy Story 3 (BBC 1/HD | 3:20pm to 5:00pm | Wednesday 25th December 2013)

Family animation. With their owner Andy leaving home for university, the toys fear for their future. Escaping being accidentally thrown away as rubbish, Buzz and the gang hope to find new playmates at a child care centre. However, they are subject to a sinister system which forces them to suffer at the hands of the most careless kids.

Call the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 6:15pm to 7:30pm | Wednesday 25th December 2013)

Festive instalment of the period drama. 1958 is drawing to a close as the residents of Poplar prepare for Christmas. Festivities are thrown into chaos when an unexploded bomb is discovered close to Nonnatus House, causing mayhem among the nuns, midwives and residents of Poplar just days before Christmas. Everyone is evacuated from their homes, and the midwives of Nonnatus House are tasked with overseeing the rescue centre until the bomb is made safe. Jenny Lee finds herself drawn into the lives of young couple Yvonne and Alan Bridges, who are expecting their first child. Since fighting in the Korean War, Alan has suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and Jenny, with the help of Trixie, becomes instrumental in helping him to overcome his fears. Elsewhere, Shelagh Mannion, formerly Sister Bernadette, and Dr Turner prepare for their understated wedding. But when Timothy is struck down with a potentially fatal illness, their plans are put on hold while they keep vigil at his bedside.

Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 7:30pm to 8:30pm | Wednesday 25th December 2013)

Sci-fi drama. Orbiting a quiet backwater planet, the massed forces of the universe’s deadliest species gather, drawn to a mysterious message that echoes out to the stars. And amongst them, the Doctor. Rescuing Clara from a family Christmas dinner, the Time Lord and his best friend must learn what this enigmatic signal means for his own fate and that of the universe.

Still Open All Hours (BBC 1 /HD | 7:45pm to 8:15pm | Thursday 26th December 2013)

One-off special edition of the much-loved sitcom set in a grocer’s shop. Granville has inherited the shop from his beloved Uncle Arkwright, and now he is assisted by his son Leroy, a good-looking lad with more female admirers than Granville ever had. But if times have changed, some of the customers haven’t, and (retired) Nurse Gladys Emmanuel and the Black Widow are still regulars. As Granville attempts to get a date with old flame Mavis without her terrifying sister Madge finding out, Leroy shuns the old delivery bike and finds a more attractive way to deliver the orders, and a sneaky new plan to shift a lot of anchovy paste has some rather surprising side effects.

Queer as Pop: From the Gay Scene to the Mainstream (Channel 4/HD | 10:55pm to 11:55pm | Friday 27th December 2013)

The first of three programmes tonight around the theme of the importance of the gay scene and its musical icons in pop culture. This documentary charts the men, music and moments that have brought pop music out of the closet and changed the world along the way. Queer as Pop details how the gay clubs and scene have inspired and affected the music mainstream over the last 40 years. This fascinating documentary shows how music has been influenced by the political and social liberation of gay men, charting key events from the repealing of laws banning homosexuality, through to the emergence of the disco era and the David Bowie-inspired New Romantics. Chic’s Nile Rodgers, DJ Paul Oakenfold, Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters and Erasure’s Andy Bell discuss the evolutionary music scene spanning disco, New Romantics and house, through to Lady Gaga and beyond.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 23/11/2013

Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 7:50pm to 9:05pm | Saturday 23rd November 2013)

Sci-fi drama. The Doctors embark on their greatest adventure in this 50th anniversary special. In 2013, something terrible is awakening in London’s National Gallery; in 1562, a murderous plot is afoot in Elizabethan England; and somewhere in space an ancient battle reaches its devastating conclusion. All of reality is at stake as the Doctor’s own dangerous past comes back to haunt him

Walking Through History (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 23rd November 2013)

Tony Robinson returns for a new three-part series of Walking Through History, embarking on more spectacular walks through some of Britain’s most historic landscapes in search of the richest stories from our past. In this first episode, Tony heads off for a 45-mile walk across Wiltshire to tell the story of life and death in the last centuries of the Stone Age. His route over chalk downlands and Salisbury plain takes him through the greatest concentration of prehistoric sites in Europe.

Doctor Who Live: The Afterparty (BBC 3 | 9:05pm to 10:05pm | Saturday 23rd November 2013)

Zoe Ball and Rick Edwards are live, getting the party started for the ultimate celebration of 50 years of Doctor Who. With an impressive guest list of Doctors and companions both past and present, celebrity fans and some very special surprises, this is the afterparty not to be missed. As well as all the gossip on the new episode The Day of the Doctor, there are exclusive interviews, showstopping monster moments and plenty of fun.

Great Continental Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 24th November 2013)

With his 1913 guidebook in hand and clad in a luminous pink jacket, improbable Bohemian Michael Portillo explores the stunning art nouveau architecture of the Czech capital. In a cafe popular with artists of the time he discovers the dance craze of the day – the tango – and gamely gives it a go. In the spa of kings, Marienbad, now known as Marianske Lazne, Michael samples the sulphurous waters and wallows in peat and mud. At the Skoda factory in Pilsen he investigates how the machine products of peacetime gave way to the manufacture of armaments for war and test drives a state of the art passenger train locomotive made there today. Crossing the border from Bohemia to Bavaria, Michael encounters a fire breathing dragon in Furth-im-Wald and in Nuremberg he rides German railway history – made in Britain. Arriving in Munich, he discovers an early 20th century pioneer who laid the foundations for the city’s pre-eminence in science and technology today.

Britain and the Sea (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Sunday 24th November 2013)

David Dimbleby continues his voyage round Britain, sailing his boat Rocket along the south east coast from Hampshire to Kent. This was the front line coast, the edge of Britain essential to its defence and the first point of attack for invasion forces. From the great battleships of Nelson to the sea forts of Henry VIII, this is a story that embraces Britain’s darkest and most heroic moments.

Tales From Northumberland with Robson Green (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Monday 25th November 2013)

Eight-part series in which Robson Green travels across his native county and discovers how it has played a role in shaping contemporary Britain. In this edition, Robson meets some of the proud Northumbrians who are keeping some of the region’s oldest traditions alive in the 21st century. He goes fishing for sea salmon with one of the last remaining fishermen to use a traditional Northumbrian coble boat, a vessel that dates back centuries, before heading to the Rothbury Traditional Music Festival to meet the young poets who are helping to preserve the region’s dialect. He also meets musician Kathryn Tickell, who has taken the traditional sounds of the Northumbrian pipe and fiddle to a global audience.

The Choir: Sing While You Work (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 25th November 2013)

Choirmaster Gareth Malone returns to create harmony in five of Britain’s biggest workplaces. He feels the heat at Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, as he continues his bid to find the year’s best workplace choir. Bells and blue lights disrupt auditions but when rehearsals finally get underway Gareth tries to give the backroom staff the confidence to stand tall and be heard amidst the firefighters who attack choral singing with all sirens blaring.

24 Hours in A and E (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 27th November 2013)

The award-winning series, filmed round the clock at King’s College Hospital in South London, continues with an episode that focuses on the strong bonds within families and the challenge of breaking bad news. Bill, who’s 92, arrives at King’s with breathing difficulties and a swollen leg. He’s accompanied by his stepdaughter Jo. As he’s treated, doctors suspect the shortness of breath and swelling could be due to a clot and send him for X-rays. But the test results suggest there may be something more seriously wrong. Meanwhile, Bill talks about reaching his nineties and his strong bond with his stepdaughter. Andy comes into King’s with stomach cramps. The 45-year-old had a liver transplant ten years ago and, as doctors investigate the cause of his discomfort, Andy reflects on living with someone else’s liver, growing up in the East End, his time as a punk living in a squat in Waterloo and his career with the Royal Navy

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 28th November 2013)

George is invited onboard a blinged-up double decker bus, which has been converted into a posh restaurant and bar. He meets a couple living in an old railway station and sees their amazing plans for the waiting room, and gets to see the next generation of high spec beach huts. George also meets the French couple who have converted an old 1974 Citroen van to bring a bit of haute cuisine to West Yorkshire. And on his own build, George has a radical idea that he hopes will open his tree house to the elements.

Stobart: Trucks, Trains and Planes (Channel 5 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 29th November 2013)

Observational documentary series following one of the world’s biggest haulage firms. On a mammoth 500-mile multi-drop trip across Scotland carrying a load of luxury 4x4s, Gareth is hit by delays on the notorious A9. Adam, the CEO’s son, has completed his training and joins the trucking team, taking the wheel of a fully-loaded 44-tonne log wagon.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 18/05/2013

Doctor Who: The Name of the Doctor. Series 33, episode 13 (BBC1/HD | 7pm to 7:45pm | Saturday 18th May 2013)

Sci-fi drama. The Doctor has a secret he will take to his grave. And it is discovered.

Australia with Simon Reeve (BBC2/HD | 9pm to 10pm | Sunday 19th May 2013)

Simon Reeve explores Australia. His adventure starts in the ‘red centre’ of the continent and onwards through South Australia via the extraordinary Indian Pacific Railway, until he reaches the west coast city of Perth. On the way, he joins an Aussie rancher in the parched outback and takes part in a spectacular camel round-up – part of an ongoing effort to stop the damaging spread of feral camels across the country. Simon also passes through Australia’s wine country and to the lucrative tuna fishing city of Port Lincoln, and he investigates the impact these trades are having on the environment. In Western Australia, he joins a 21st century gold rush – part of the resource boom that has made Australia one of the richest countries in the world. Finally in Perth, Simon discovers a full scale British invasion. Working in a mine or driving a lorry can bring a salary of a hundred thousand pounds a year, as evidenced when Simon meets a former binman from hull who is now living the dream.

Hebrides: Islands on the Edge (BBC1 Scotland/HD) | 9pm to 10pm | Monday 20th May 2013)

Ewan McGregor narrates a landmark nature series focusing on the wildlife struggling to survive on the Hebridean Islands. This edition focuses on the spectacular wildlife of the exposed Outer Hebrides. On the outlying islands, seabirds rush to feed their chicks while avoiding the murderous intentions of predatory skuas with a taste for young puffins. And on the low-lying Uists, acres of meadows burst into flower as summer finally arrives. But the year’s drought conditions find Atlantic salmon trapped in the sea pools and unable to move into the river systems.

Caroline Quentin’s National Parks (ITV/STV | 8pm to 9pm | Tuesday 21st May 2013)

In the final programme of the series, Caroline visits the New Forest, situated in the counties of Hampshire and Wiltshire. It is known for its ancient woods, open heaths, beautiful coastline and abundance of wild animals, although at just 218 square miles, it is one of the smallest of the 15 National Parks. In the heart of the National Park is the Pig Hotel, once a Royal hunting lodge. Gary Evely is a forager and it is his job to gather the food that grows wild in the forest so that it can be served in the restaurant just a few hours later. Caroline joins him to search and they stumble across an unusual beefsteak mushroom.

Waterloo Road (BBC1/HD | 8pm to 9pm | Thursday 23rd May 2013)

School-based drama. Sonya’s day from hell finds her being dumped, falling out with her sister and landing Rhiannon in hospital. Meanwhile, Lorraine and Nikki reach an impasse in their relationship. Steve-O tightens his evil grip on Connor and Kevin, and an ex-pupil makes a surprise return.

Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers (Channel 5 | 8pm to 9pm | Friday 24th May 2013)

Observational documentary series following one of the world’s biggest haulage firms. In this episode, Craig has a foggy trip over the Pennines, Dave has a race against the clock in London, Andy has to take an epic detour and the car transporters prove their worth.

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 11/05/2013

Doctor Who: The Crimson Horror. Nightmare in Silver. Series 33, episode 12 (BBC1/HD | 7pm to 7:45pm | Saturday 11th May 2013)

Matt Smith, Jenna-Louise Coleman, Jason Watkins, Warwick Davis, Eve de Leon Allen, Kassius Carey Johnson. Sci-fi drama. Hedgewick’s World of Wonders is the perfect theme park day out. And ground zero for a deadly silver resurrection.

Hebrides: Islands on the Edge (BBC1 Scotland/HD) | 9pm to 10pm | Monday 13th May 2013)

Ewan McGregor narrates a landmark nature series focusing on the wildlife struggling to survive on the Hebridean Islands. Cameras follow white-tailed eagles, harbour seals, hares, pine martens and short-eared owls as they struggle to raise their families whilst dealing with the biggest storm ever to hit the islands in living memory. And as the wild weather passes, the seas warm to welcome the arrival of Scotland’s ocean juggernauts, basking sharks.

Caroline Quentin’s National Parks (ITV/STV) | 8pm to 9pm | Tuesday 14th May 2013)

Actress and presenter Caroline Quentin visits three of Britain’s most popular national parks. This episode finds her in Wales at the Snowdonia National Park. Famous for its spectacular scenery, it covers over 800 square miles. Snowdon is the tallest mountain in the principality and climbing and hiking are popular activities here – but this beautiful landscape can also be treacherous. Caroline volunteers to take part in a training exercise for the Mountain Rescue Dogs Association which is run entirely by volunteers, local people who will drop everything to help anyone who gets into trouble. The mountain is famous for its 50-mile narrow-gauge railway and every August the annual Race the Train contest attracts over 2,000 runners. Caroline is in her element as she starts the race and cheers on the competitors.

Keeping Britain Alive: The NHS in a Day (BBC2/HD | 9pm to 10pm | Tuesday 14th May 2013)

Documentary series capturing one day in the NHS, filmed by 100 camera crews across the UK, revealing the extraordinary range of demands placed on the country’s biggest institution. This episode takes a look at the country’s single biggest killer, heart disease. Every day 282 people will have a heart attack and 200 will die. In Manchester, a specialist team race to treat a steady stream of heart attack victims, some of whom have a 20 year history of heart disease. In Liverpool six-month-old Kyran undergoes open heart surgery to correct a defect first detected in the womb and in Yorkshire, air ambulance paramedics attempt to resuscitate an 80-year-old mechanic who has collapsed while working on a neighbour’s car.

Waterloo Road (BBC1/HD | 8pm to 9pm | Thursday 16th May 2013)

School-based drama. Dynasty’s world is rocked when her ex-boyfriend is released from prison. He wants to make a fresh start with her, but she has eyes for someone else. Maggie is forced to return to work, whilst Audrey battles to keep her job and Tom makes a heartfelt decision.

The Tube: An Underground History (BBC2/HD | 9pm to 10pm | Thursday 16th May 2013)

In 2013 London Underground is 150 years old. Following on from BBC2’s The Tube series, this programme tells the story of the underground through the eyes of the people who work for it. Farringdon station supervisor Iain MacPherson reveals why his station – the original terminus – was constructed in the 1860s, and recalls the dark days of Kings Cross in the 1980s. Piccadilly line driver Dylan Glenister explains why every Edwardian station on his line has its own unique tiling pattern and how, in the 1930s, the construction of new stations expanded the borders of London. With privileged access to disused stations and rare archive footage, this is the tube’s hidden history, revealing why it was first built and how it has shaped London ever since.

Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers (Channel 5 | 8pm to 9pm | Friday 17th May 2013)

Observational documentary series following one of the world’s biggest haulage firms. In Scotland, new driver Paul ferries tender plants through the ice and snow, Mark takes a tanker full of fuel on a freezing night drive to the company’s Carlisle depot, at Southampton docks Gareth must load and deliver £1m worth of high-end cars without a scratch, and Brummie Ian gets hopelessly lost while delivering water to the Royal Opera House in London.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 04/05/2013

Doctor Who: The Crimson Horror. Series 33, episode 11 (BBC1/HD | 6:30pm to 7:15pm | Saturday 4th May 2013)

Something ghastly is afoot in Victorian Yorkshire, as bodies are found with their skin a waxy, glowing red.

Alex Polizzi – The Fixer Returns (BBC2/HD | 8pm to 9pm | Tuesday 7th May 2013)

Alex Polizzi returns to some of the businesses she has helped, catching up on their struggles since she left and revisiting her time at their business. This episode she returns to Denver Mill – a mill, bakery and cafe business in Norfolk – and Courtyard Bridal Wear in Kettering. At both places their dreams had turned into nightmares, perhaps not surprisingly given the poor handle on finances these two families showed.

Keeping Britain Alive: The NHS in a Day (BBC2/HD | 9pm to 10pm | Tuesday 7th May 2013)

Documentary series capturing one day in the NHS, filmed by 100 camera crews across the UK, revealing the extraordinary range of demands placed on the country’s biggest institution. This episode takes a look at the NHS outside of the hospital environment, and through a vast patchwork of experiences reveals the health system’s role in British lives from cradle to grave. Featuring a Yorkshire District Nurse who spends her day changing dressings and tubes for elderly patients, a maverick GP in Everton who takes in addicts and abusive patients who have been rejected by other surgeries, and a pair of West Midlands paramedics who compare their nightshift to that of a mini-cab service. In London, the air ambulance crew rush to the scene of two serious accidents, whilst in Birmingham, a medical student makes his 16th sperm donation.

Coast: All at Sea (BBC2/HD | 8pm to 9pm | Wednesday 8th May 2013)

The Coast team are all at sea, as they head offshore to explore surprising stories of love and death, cannibalism and communist submarines, seasickness and a seafaring prince. Nick Crane attempts one of the world’s most fearsome yachting challenges, the Isle of Wight ‘Round the Island Race’. Mark Horton relives a gruesome tale of cannibalism and murder that scandalised Victorian Britain and still affects the law today. In Milford Haven, Ruth Goodman celebrates the Dutch fishermen who, when Hitler invaded the Netherlands in 1940, escaped in their boats, crossing the North Sea to help defend Britain. Naval historian Nick Hewitt searches out the remarkable remains of the submarines that threatened to sink Britain by strangling its sea trade. And one hardy bunch of sea-anglers, who all hail from Zimbabwe, find that a life on the ocean wave isn’t all it’s cracked up to be when they chance their hand with rod and line in the rolling seas off the coast of Yorkshire.

The Politician’s Husband (BBC2/HD | 9pm to 10pm | Thursday 9th May 2013)

Political drama. Aiden has to defend himself in an embarrassing sex scandal that threatens to derail any chance of a political comeback and also further threatens his marriage. As he wrestles both back from the brink he discovers Freya has been less than honest about her whereabouts and the time she is spending with Bruce. In a gripping finale that sees him plot a brilliant comeback as well as Bruce’s downfall, Aiden gambles everything.

Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers (Channel 5 | 8pm to 9pm | Friday 10th May 2013)

Observational documentary series following one of the world’s biggest haulage firms. In this episode there is a classic battle of youth versus experience as Tim takes on Craig to see who can deliver their Biomass load on time, Mark tackles Mother Nature and Matt becomes the centre of attention in London when he delivers a truck to a gallery exhibiting some Stobart truck spotters’ photographs.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 06/04/2013

Doctor Who: The Rings of Akhaten. Series 33, episode 7 (BBC 1/HD | 6:15pm to 7:00pm | Saturday 6th April 2013)

Sci-fi drama. Clara wants to see something awesome, so the Doctor whisks her off to the inhabited rings of the planet Akhaten, where the Festival of Offerings is in full swing. Clara meets the young Queen of Years as the pilgrims and natives ready for the ceremony. But something is stirring in the pyramid, and a sacrifice will be demanded.

Toughest Place to be a Fisherman: The Return (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Sunday 7th April 2013)

Cornish fisherman Andy Giles gave up his state of the art trawler for two weeks to travel to the coast of Sierra Leone, where the fishing is done from a dugout canoe. Now he is returning to see what has happened to a fishing community whose survival was under threat from the illegal trawlers which took their fish, damaged their nets and even sunk their canoes. The transformation Andy finds is extraordinary: since the original programme was broadcast Sierra Leone was given a new fisheries patrol vessel, donated by the Isle of Man. The government and a British NGO have combined to almost eradicate the scourge of illegal fishing, transforming the lives of local fishermen. For Andy it is an emotional return to the village of mud huts and the two cousins with whom he formed such a bond.

Keeping Britain Alive: The NHS in a Day (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 9th April 2013)

Documentary series capturing one day in the NHS, filmed by 100 camera crews across the UK, revealing the extraordinary range of demands placed on the country’s biggest institution. In the third episode a GP struggling with an unusual medical emergency on a Scottish Island and a top surgeon performing a high risk brain operation while the patient Daryl is still awake. In London, Pat waits anxiously for his wife Laura to come round from an induced coma. This film shows the vastly different contexts in which the NHS operates; urban and rural; both the cutting edge treatment for those who are critically ill with the more everyday procedures that make up the ailments and dilemmas of modern Britain.

24 Hours in A and E (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 10th April 2013)

RTS award-winning 24 Hours in A&E returns for a new series, capturing dramatic and emotional stories of love, life and loss on the frontline of the NHS. Filmed around the clock at one of Britain’s busiest A&E departments at King’s College Hospital in south London, which this year celebrates its centenary, the series begins with a powerful episode about how our lives can change forever in the blink of an eye.

QUIZ SHOW: Have I Got News for You (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Friday 12th April 2013)

The popular news quiz returns, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Brian Blessed and guest panellists Bridget Christie and Nick Robinson.

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