Tag: Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 08/10/2016

Britain's Greatest Bridges - 14-10-2016 - YouView appSpeed with Guy Martin (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 9th October 2016)

The inside story of Guy Martin’s fastest and most dangerous speed challenge to date: his recent attempt to become the fastest man on two wheels and break the motorcycle land speed record. The existing record is 376mph; to beat it Guy has to master a special one-off machine. The 1000-horsepower Triumph Rocket Streamliner, likened to a fighter jet without wings, uses two engines, has parachutes for brakes and is steered in a lying down position with two joysticks. The programme follows Guy through every step of the project, from his job interview in Portland, Oregon, to the ‘fastest place on Earth’: the iconic Bonneville Salt Flats in Nevada, where this daredevil has to learn how to ride all over again, using training wheel stabilisers.

Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only)

Paul Murton visits the islands lying off the Scottish coast. In this final episode, Paul’s difficult journey sees him travel to the once-inhabited island of Heisgeir, sail around the gannet city of Sula Sgeir and endure rough seas to finally make landfall on the extraordinarily remote island of North Rona.

Penelope Keith’s Hidden Villages (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 12th October 2016)

In the final episode of the series, Penelope travels coast to coast across the stunning Welsh peninsula of Pembrokeshire. Although remote, this area is nonetheless a magnet for fascinating villages, clinging to cliffs and estuaries, or nestled beside beaches, farms and castles. Penelope visits Manorbier, with its tea shops and connections to both Virginia Woolf and Narnia. Then it’s the waterside villages of the Cleddau Estuary, from Llangwm to Lawrenny. In the wild Preselli Hills to the north, Penelope encounters the Welsh-speaking villages of Cwm Gwaun and Mynachlogddu. There is also St Dogmaels, home of one of Britain’s best food markets, and Abereiddy, one of the venues for the cliff diving World Series.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 12th October 2016)

After artist and teacher Michelle Parsons recovered from serious illness, she and her architect husband David decided it was time to seize the day and build the private hideaway they’d always yearned for. David devised a sleek, black-clad, three bedroom house for a beautiful plot in an Essex woodland, with a separate studio for Michelle. The couple project manage the build, which gets off to a sticky start, including a dangerous gas leak and torrential rain. As the building finally starts to take shape, the big question remains: by choosing to eliminate windows on two sides of the property, could their new home turn out to be a gloomy bunker?

The Cars That Made Britain Great (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 14th October 2016)

Rufus Hound continues his guide through Britain’s ‘proud’ motoring history, with some celebrity-selected models that have rightly been consigned to history including the Robin Reliant and the Austin Allegro.

Britain’s Greatest Bridges (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 14th October 2016)

Documentary series. Engineer Rob Bell sets out on a journey to discover how six of Britain’s most iconic bridges were designed, and reveals the sweat, sacrifice and scandals that went into their construction. The last of the truly great Victorian Engineering triumphs, the Forth Rail Bridge has grown to symbolise Scotland as much as Edinburgh Castle, bagpipes or kilts. But, as Rob discovers, this incredible engineering achievement was born from tragedy and paid for in blood.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 14th October 2016)

Fresh from their hugely successful run at The Paralympics in Rio, the award-winning show returns live to Friday with its unique brand of irreverent satire for its ninth series. Hosts Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe examine the biggest and most entertaining news stories via the #isitok twitter handle, where viewers tweet in edgy current affairs questions that other shows might duck. Guest John Bishop joins the trio in the studio to help dissect the week’s events.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 01/10/2016

Grand Designs - 05-10-2016 - YouView appRailway Nation: A Journey in Verse (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Saturday 1st October 2016)

Following in the footsteps of WH Auden’s classic 1936 documentary Night Mail, six of Britain’s best poets take the train from London to Glasgow, discovering stories of love, loss and longing among the passengers today, and capturing the journey in verse. Maxine Peake narrates.

Speed with Guy Martin (Channel 4/HD 7:30pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 2nd October 2016)

Guy Martin wants to beat the 25-year-old speed record for a human-powered boat. It means pedalling a specially-built boat along a 100-metre course at an average speed of 21mph: a speed normally reserved for expensive speedboats or racing yachts. It’s Guy’s most physically and technically challenging record attempt yet, so he employs the services of two Olympic legends: Sir Chris Hoy trains Guy like an Olympic cyclist, and Sir Ben Ainslie hands over the helm of one of his multi-million-pound America’s Cup yachts to demonstrate the cutting-edge technology of hydrofoils: underwater wings that help a boat fly across water. Guy then builds two different machines that use hydrofoils: a carbon-fibre catamaran made with help from the University of Lincoln, and a canoe fitted with a giant aeroplane propeller, assembled in his own back garden.

Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 3rd October 2016)

Paul Murton visits the islands lying off the Scottish coast. In this episode, Paul crosses the great natural harbour of Scapa Flow to the island of Flotta, before heading round the main island of Orkney to Stronsay, and from there travelling north to the stunning beaches of Sanday. Along the way, Paul discovers stories of World War One, a mysterious beast and Orkney Selkies.

Homes by the Sea (more4 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 4th October 2016)

Charlie Luxton heads to one of the birthplaces of the classic British holiday resort: Sussex. The tour starts in Eastbourne and continues to a luxury mansion in Aldwick, close to Bognor Regis. He visits a quirky bohemian cottage in Cuckmere Haven that’s off the grid and an upside down house in Shoreham. There’s also a striking café in Littlehampton, the fisherman’s huts of Hastings, and a stylish pad in St Leonards, including a circular bed.

Penelope Keith’s Hidden Villages (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 5th October 2016)

Penelope Keith travels to North Yorkshire, England’s largest county, and the heart of a region that’s long been billed as ‘God’s own country’ – with its dales, moors and rugged coastline. In the remote villages of Upper Swaledale, Penelope delights in the local dialect. She then visits Cracoe, the village featured in the film Calendar Girls. On the North York Moors there are Viking sword dances in Goathland, the failed seaside resort of Ravenscar, and the mystery of Captain Cook’s childhood in Great Ayton. And Penelope takes to the skies over Brompton-by-Sawdon before finishing her tour at the artist’s retreat of Staithes.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 5th October 2016)

Tom and Danielle Raffield’s lifelong passion is steam-bending wood into extraordinary curvy shapes. They’ve spent much of their working lives using the technique to make furniture and lighting. Desperate to escape their tiny gamekeeper’s lodge, they’ve decided to build a spectacular wavy wooden house in South Cornwall, with curvy cladding, twisty furniture, and interior walls covered with naturally-weathered timber. With only a £100k budget to play with, they decide to do a lot of the building themselves. But have they taken on too much?

The Cars That Made Britain Great (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 7th October 2016)

Rufus Hound continues his guide through Britain’s proud motoring history with the fastest cars ever produced, including the Lotus Seven, the AC Cobra, the Maestro Turbo, the Ford Sierra Cosworth and the McLaren F1.

Carry on Caravanning (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 7th October 2016)

Light-hearted documentary series about people with a passion for caravans. Firefighter Ashley thinks he is a thoroughly modern caravanner, but his pals at work have been mocking him for his newfound hobby. Undertaker Phil and wife Michelle set off in their camper van for a cowboys-and-indians weekend with some friends in the Chilterns. Essex girls Kelly and Freya throw their first folding caravan rally in Alcester. Newbie caravanner Mandy takes her revamped £350 back-to-basics caravan away for the first time.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 7th October 2016)

Fresh from their hugely successful run at The Paralympics in Rio, the award-winning show returns live to Friday with its unique brand of irreverent satire for its ninth series. Hosts Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe examine the biggest and most entertaining news stories via the #isitok twitter handle, where viewers tweet in edgy current affairs questions that other shows might duck. Each week, a live audience and a special celebrity guest join the trio in the studio to help dissect the week’s events. In the first show Paralympic champions Jonnie Peacock and Ellie Simmonds join the team on the sofa.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 10/09/2016

Skies Above Britain - 14-09-2016 - YouView appThe Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 10th September 2016)

Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker are joined live in Rio by special guest Stephen Mangan for a comedic review of the Paralympics as Day 3 gets underway. There’s a special performance from Superhuman ‘Hurricane’ Hannah Cockroft, as she begins the defence of her two London 2012 gold medals, and the gang is also joined by powerlifter Ali Jawad and sprinter Jonnie Peacock. Expect sketches, clips, and A-grade comic discussion via taboo-busting #isitok questions from viewers and athletes alike.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 11th September 2016)

Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker are joined by special guest Johnny Vegas for an irreverent review as Day 4 hots up. There’s a very special performance from Superhuman and 2012 hero Richard Whitehead, who looks to defend his 200m title later, and stars of the Paralympic velodrome, Jody Cundy and Jon-Allan Butterworth also join the boys in the studio. Expect sketches, tomfoolery, clips, chaos and the always entertaining and often illuminating, bordering-on-the-unacceptable #isitok questions from viewers and athletes alike. Packed day: packed show.

Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | Monday 12th September 2016)

Paul Murton visits the islands lying off the Scottish coast. In this episode, Paul journeys around the coast of the Long Island of Harris and Lewis, beginning on Scarp, travelling north to Great Bernera, then south east to Scalpay. These islands may seem to exist in the shadow of their of their much larger neighbours, but Paul discovers they have a distinct identity all of their own, as he hears remarkable stories of crofter rebellions, rocket mail and a rich local culture.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Monday 12th September 2016)

Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker are live in Rio with special guest Johnny Vegas on his last night in Brazil for an anarchic review of all things Paralympic as Day 5 hots up. Be prepared for sketches, clips, and no holds barred #isitok questions from viewers and athletes. Plus, world and European champion shot putter Aled Davies and judokas Sam Ingram and Chris Skelley are in the studio, so the boys better behave themselves if they don’t want to get an Ippon.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 13th September 2016)

Comedian Katherine Ryan gets Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker in line as Day 6 hits its crescendo. There’s a very special performance from six-time Paralympic gold medalist David ‘Weirwolf’ Weir, and para-triathlete Lauren Steadman joins the gang. Expect all the usual irreverence, plus sketches, clips, and the taboo-busting #isitok questions from viewers and fellow athletes.

Skies Above Britain (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 14th September 2016)

A look at the hidden world of the skies above us and the stories of the people who spend their life in flight. The job with the highest pressure at NATS is keeping everyone safe entering or leaving London’s airspace, one of the busiest patches of sky in the world. Up to 4,000 people can be in the hands of just one controller at any one time. Tom and Tim, two of the thousands who aspire to be the next generation of air traffic controllers, are beginning the rigorous three-year course. For some, the growth in air traffic is too much. Martin Barraud is leading a campaign to stop the narrowing of flight paths and increased noise overhead. Protest group Plane Stupid use direct action to raise awareness of the environmental cost of flying but face a possible jail sentence for taking part in a sit in.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 14th September 2016)

Stephen Mangan runs interference for Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker for an alternative look at the day’s events. David ‘Weirwolf’ Weir gives a very special performance ahead of his 800m heat this evening, and Paralympic sprinter Libby Clegg and guide Chris Clarke drop in. Expect more sketches, clips, and whip-like wit and nothings-off-limits #isitok questions from viewers and athletes alike.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 15th September 2016)

Comedian Katherine Ryan joins Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker for more high jinks and alternative review from the Rio Paralympics. The boys are joined in the studio by British medal winners for sketches, clips, and anarchic discussion of the Games via no-holds-barred #isitok questions from viewers and athletes alike. Shooter Matt Skelhon; wheelchair fencers Piers Gilliver and Dimitri Coutya; and Jack Rutter, captain of Men’s 7-a-side football team, join in the fun.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 16th September 2016)

Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker are live in Rio for the 2016 Paralympic Games. The guys are joined by special guest Katherine Ryan, and medal-winning athletes for the penultimate leg of their comedic take on the Rio Paralympics with sketches, clips, and taboo-busting #isitok questions from viewers and athletes alike. Marathon man Richard Whitehead drops in along with table tennis stars Will Bayley, Ross Wilson and Aaron McKibbin, cycling and athletics star Kadeena Cox, boccia’s David Smith and canoeist Emma Wiggs.

The Cars That Made Britain Great (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 16th September 2016)

Rufus Hound narrates as celebrity petrol heads share their memories of classic British motors. Jodie Kidd, Phil Tuffnell and Jonny Smith seek out the sexiest, sleekest, most irresistible car of all time, with the Jaguar E-type, the Lotus Europa, and the Ford Capri in the running.

Carry on Caravanning (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 16th September 2016)

Documentary about Britain’s fun-seeking, slow-lane-hogging ‘carafans’. Emma and Kevin plan a full wedding around their beloved caravan. The Blincows and the Walburtons attend a 1940s-style ‘wartime weekend’. Claire takes her pampered pooches to a dog-friendly campsite.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 10/10/2015

Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railwa -Journeys - 15-10-2015 - YouView appDoctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 8:25pm to 9:10pm | Saturday 10th October 2015)

On a remote army outpost, a fearsome alien warlord called the Fisher King sets in motion a twisted plan to ensure his own survival. The ripples will be felt around the universe. Is this chain of events inevitable? And can the Doctor do the unthinkable?

Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 12th October 2015)

Paul Murton visits the islands lying off the Scottish coast. In this final edition, Paul heads to the islands of Fetlar, Unst and Yell, which lie on Scotland’s northern frontier and are as much Scandinavian as Scottish – and were, in fact, once part of Norway. Along the way he sings with the Shanty Yell Men who came together to celebrate their Norse heritage, learns how to ‘roo’ Shetland sheep the traditional way, and gets an incredible opportunity to see the wild otters who make their home here in Shetland’s pristine waters. And finally, Paul fulfils a long-held ambition to visit Out Stack, the rocky outcrop that is famous for being the ‘full stop’ at the edge of Britain.

The Naked Choir with Gareth Malone (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 13th October 2015)

Gareth Malone presents the search for the nation’s best amateur a cappella group. Gareth concludes his intensive training with more expert help and a new focus on performance technique. As the choirs strive to master choreography and stagecraft, one group aims to bring Big Top fun to their performance, while another struggles with sex appeal. Their training over, all five groups will compete once more, performing in front of a live audience and a jury of a cappella experts – their votes will decide who makes it through to the semi-final and which group will leave the contest for good.

DIY SOS (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 14th October 2015)

Nick Knowles and the DIY SOS team are back for a two-part special with their most ambitious build ever, and this time they are joined by two special royal helpers. The team are taking on a whole street in Manchester and turning run-down empty properties into homes for veterans. The team rally the local community to get stuck in and are also helped by Prince William and Prince Harry, who volunteer on site. In this show, the trades come together to build homes for two former soldiers who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan and are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), before also helping them to find new careers in the building trade. But with numbers of volunteers lower than what’s needed and the buildings proving trickier than anticipated, it’s turning into the toughest build yet.

Restoring Britain’s Landmarks (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 14th October 2015)

This brand new series goes behind the scenes at conservation charity The Landmark Trust, following amazing restorations and delving into the history surrounding some of Britain’s most remarkable buildings. In the first episode, work starts on the demolition and assessment at Georgian villa Belmont House in Lyme Regis. John Evetts, Head of Furnishings, goes to war with the décor at Hougoumont Farm, a building on the Waterloo battlefield. Alastair Dick-Cleland visits the Music Room in Lancaster to check in on a gilt-edged overhaul to the ornate bedroom plasterwork. And, back in Lyme Regis, Director of The Landmark Trust, historian Dr Anna Keay, explains the unusual reason why Belmont House is a ‘must-save’ building for the Trust, and investigates the mysterious builder of the house: Eleanor Coade.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 14th October 2015)

Can you really convert a cowshed into a home by learning everything from the internet? Private chef Ed Versluys and pilates instructor Vicky Anderson do not do things by halves. Within two years of meeting they got engaged, sold up and abandoned their city lives, and bought an ugly, derelict 1940s concrete cowshed with amazing views over the Somerset countryside. They’re project managing and converting the cowshed themselves with the help of just one young builder and what they can learn online. They’ve given themselves only eight months and just over £200k to make a warm, comfortable three bedroom home with straw bale walls and wide expanses of glass. It’s an almighty challenge.

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 15th October 2015)

George meets a couple wanting to transform two dilapidated air raid shelters in their garden. But they can’t agree on who gets which one and George soon finds himself in the middle of a ‘he shed’, ‘she shed’ argument. George meets Guinnie – at 12 years old, the youngest ever designer featured on Amazing Spaces. Along with her builder Dad, she’s taking her school project, to design the ultimate party shed, off the homework page and into her back garden. As Will Hardie continues work on the floating beach hut, on the tightest of budgets, he visits a million pound beach house, to see just what’s possible if money is no object. And George’s trip across Germany continues as he explores an old East German water tower that’s been transformed into a luxury home with an incredible 360 degree view.

Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railway Journeys (Channel 5 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 15th October 2015)

Chris continues his exploration of the world’s most extreme railway lines. Chris sets out to reach the northernmost railway station on Earth in an epic 2000-mile adventure from Moscow into Arctic Siberia.

TFI Friday (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 16th October 2015)

Following the triumphant return of TFI Friday earlier this year, Chris Evans’ seminal cult entertainment show is back with a new series. Broadcasting from a new home in central London, there’s brand new features, raucous stunts and brilliant guests. Tonight there’s interviews and music from Take That, Steve Coogan, Slaves and Saoirse Ronan. TFI is once again set to be a key part of the Friday night schedule.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 03/10/2015

Licence to Thrill Paul Hollywood Meets Aston Martin - 04-10-2015 - YouView appDoctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 8:25pm to 9:10pm | Saturday 3rd October 2015)

When an underwater base comes under attack, the Doctor and Clara must save the frightened crew and defeat an impossible threat. But what is behind these terrifying events? And can they really be haunted by ghosts?

Licence to Thrill: Paul Hollywood Meets Aston Martin (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 4th October 2015)

Baker Paul Hollywood explores the world of Aston Martin cars. Paul drives some priceless and exclusive Aston cars – the DB10, the new James Bond car from Spectre, the DBR1, the 1959 World Championship-winning racing car, and the DB5, the stunt car used in Goldfinger. Ever since he was given a toy model of the Goldfinger car at the age of five, Paul Hollywood has been a passionate fan of Aston Martin. Now, four decades on, Paul gets to fulfill his dream and find out first-hand about the company. Despite huge success, Aston Martin has never made much money. So Paul meets new boss Andy Palmer to hear about his plan to turn the company around. To find out just what these cars can do, Paul also trains up to race and joins one of the Aston teams. If he can get his licence upgrade, he will even be able compete at the world famous Le Mans race festival in France.

Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 5th October 2015)

Paul Murton visits the islands lying off the Scottish coast. In this edition, Paul begins his journey at Loch Hourn on the mainland, travels over the sea to Skye and then heads to the tiny island of Soay before finishing on Canna. Along the way, he visits the house which was the inspiration for Skyfall, home of spy James Bond, embarks on a nerve-wracking caving expedition under the summit of Blaven and discovers the remarkable story of shark fishing off Soay.

Canals: The Making of a Nation (BBC 4/HD | 8:30pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 6th October 2015)

Liz McIvor explores how the nation’s canals were saved following years of post-war neglect, becoming places of tranquillity and popular for boating holidays. She visits the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in Wales, travels to Birmingham where canals have become catalysts for property development and urban regeneration, and asks whether more canals should now be constructed.

The Naked Choir with Gareth Malone (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 6th October 2015)

Gareth Malone presents the search for the nation’s best amateur a cappella group. Gareth brings the six surviving groups together for the first time, to contend with intensive mentoring at the state-of-the-art Performance Hub. The focus is on vocals. With the help of the best in the business, Gareth will tutor each group to improve their sound before they go head to head once more. They will compete in front of a live audience and a jury of a cappella experts – their votes decide who stays in the contest and which group will be heading home. Amid the gruelling training, two groups grapple with bringing emotion to their performances, while disaster strikes for another when an ill-judged high five takes an unexpected toll.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 7th October 2015)

Michele Long and Michael Howe want to restore and transform a derelict 100-year-old blacksmiths in County Antrim, adding a giant horseshoe-shaped modern straw bale extension on the side. Keen to get his hands dirty, Michael launches into the project, armed only with a pickaxe. With virtually no practical experience, he wants to learn how to build a house by doing as much as he can himself. But the odds are stacked against architect Michael and teacher Michele. On this rugged stretch of coastline in Northern Ireland the weather is fierce. The budget is rock bottom at only £150k and the deadline to complete just one year. Almost immediately the freezing weather, the scale of the task, and a workshop fire slow the project down. While Michele juggles work and kids, Michael struggles to keep up, and the schedule stretches from one to three years. Will they ever get it finished?

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 8th October 2015)

George meets a man planning to build Margate’s first Victorian bathing machine in over 100 years, using £30,000 entrusted to him by the local community. There’s also a man with a truly death-defying sense of humour: who having survived a coma, sticks two fingers up to the reaper by transforming a hearse into a family camper van, including a pop-out kitchen in a coffin. George also visits the former East German beach resort of Binz, to see a communist-era lifeguard tower out of a 1950s sci-fi comic. Will and George go shopping for flotation devices at a fuel depot for their beach hut. And George visits a woman who’s turned her narrow boat home into a floating bookshop.

Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railway Journeys (Channel 5 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 8th October 2015)

Chris continues his exploration of the world’s most extreme railway lines. From the tiny coastal town of Tocopilla, Chris rides one of the steepest railways in the world as he scales the first 1,000 metres of the Andes.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 26/09/2015

Doctor Who - 26/09/2015 (YouView app)Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 7:45pm to 8:35pm | Saturday 26th September 2015)

Sci-fi drama. Trapped and alone on the planet Skaro, the Doctor is at the heart of the Dalek Empire – no sonic, no TARDIS, nobody to help. With his greatest temptation before him, can the Doctor resist? And will there be mercy?

Danger Mouse (CBBC/HD | 6:00pm to 6:25pm | Monday 28th September 201)

Animated series. Danger Mouse explodes back into action and is instantly dismissed for destroying half of London. Can the world survive without Danger Mouse?

Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 28th September 2015)

Paul Murton visits the islands lying off the Scottish coast. In this edition, Paul travels from Finlaggan, where the famous ruler Somerled once held court, along Islay’s windswept coast, through its historic ports and villages to end on its highest mountain. Along the way he joins a dedicated bunch of Ileach who are keeping the seafaring traditions of the island alive, discovers the secrets of Islay’s illicit whisky distilling past and travels to the Mull of Oa on the island’s south coast, before climbing Ben Vicar for a breathtaking view across the Hebrides.

Canals: The Making of a Nation (BBC 4/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Tuesday 29th September 2015)

Liz McIvor tells the story of the people who operated the canal boats, carrying fuel and goods around the country. Liz discovers grisly canal crimes, investigates health and welfare on working boats and learns why canal children were last on the list to be offered safeguards and formal education. While the Victorians eventually championed the needs of children who were forced to labour in factories and mines, the boat children were often ignored. Liz discovers the campaigners who set out to tackle this injustice, including George Smith of Coalville, Leicestershire, and Sister Mary Ward of Stoke Bruerne.

The Naked Choir with Gareth Malone (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 29th September 2015)

Gareth Malone presents the search for the nation’s best amateur a cappella group. Gareth mentors four new groups as they begin their battle to stay in his contest. Receiving Gareth’s help and competing are a fledgling group of Salford students, a traditional male barbershop outfit from the Midlands, a gifted Glasgow University choir and an ambitious Birmingham six-piece, striving to bring a cappella to the masses. They will sing off in front of a live audience and a jury of world class a cappella experts. The jury’s votes will decide which groups go through to the next stage and who will leave the contest for good.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 30th September 2015)

The new series of Grand Designs continues. The days when humans lived in caves in Britain are long gone – aren’t they? Not according to 37-year-old Angelo Mastropietro. Having found a damp, dark abandoned cave in Worcestershire, that was last lived in nearly 70 years ago, Angelo plans to to spend £100,000 to almost single-handedly turn it into a retreat to help him cope with a recent diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, and become a 21st-century caveman. It’s a heroic task. Solitary months of carving, cutting and drilling into the hillside are needed to create the rooms and prepare the space for electricity and running water for the first time. That’s just the start; building a cave home doesn’t come with a manual. How do you make a cave comfortable for contemporary living, and at the same time preserve its unique cave-like spirit? For Angelo it’s a unique challenge that turns into an obsession.

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 1st October 2015)

George meets a young man who bought a knackered 70-year-old boat for £5000 that he intends to turn into a home. To find a shipmate to help with the restoration, he turns to an internet dating site. There’s also a cricket mad granddad building a mini pavilion in his garden. The 1950s-inspired build incorporates bats, bails and even a boundary rope alongside an ingenious bunkbed that with the pull of a chord transforms into a sofa. George’s German road trip reaches Berlin, and an ingenious house situated where the Wall once stood. George and Will’s floating beach hut flounders a bit. And Will visits a three bedroom house in London built on the site of an alleyway, that is just seven feet wide.

Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railway Journeys (Channel 5 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 1st October 2015)

Chris continues his exploration of the world’s most extreme railway lines. From Bangkok to Mandalay, Chris’s journey takes him nearly 2,000 miles through some extraordinary places, rich in history and culture as well as stunning scenery, on a series of trains that push his love of travelling by rail to the limits.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 19/09/2015

Doctor Who - 19/09/2015 (YouView app)Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 7:40pm to 8:30pm | Saturday 19th September 2015)

Sci-fi drama. When the skies of Earth are frozen by a mysterious alien force, Clara needs her friend. But where is the Doctor, and what is he hiding from? As past deeds come back to haunt him, old enemies will come face to face, and for the Doctor and Clara, survival seems impossible.

Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 21st September 2015)

Paul Murton visits the islands lying off the Scottish coast. In this edition, Paul crosses the Sea of the Hebrides to explore the remote Shiant Islands, heads east to the Isle of Ewe and on to the Summer Isles and the cliffs of Handa. He enjoys a dive at a scallop farm and vists the eerie island of Gruinard which, thanks to its remoteness, was Britain’s testing ground for biological warfare experiments during WWII.

Walk the Line (BBC 1 Northern Ireland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 21st September 2015)

Series in which Barra Best sets out to uncover and explore some of Northern Ireland’s lost railways. In this final episode, Barra explores County Tyrone’s lost railway routes.

Canals: The Making of a Nation (BBC 4/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Tuesday 22nd September 2015)

Liz McIvor recounts the tales of the men who built the canals – the navigators, or navvies – who were capable of enduring tough labour for long periods. These men roved the countryside looking for work, and many gained a reputation for being hard-drinking, debauched troublemakers. Liz focuses on the Manchester Ship Canal, the swansong of the navvies, hailed as the greatest engineering feat of the Victorian Age.

The Naked Choir with Gareth Malone (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 22nd September 2015)

Gareth Malone presents the search for the nation’s best amateur a cappella group. In this episode, Gareth mentors the first four groups singing to stay in his contest. He strives to bring out the best performances from a London community choir, an Essex gospel group, six Southampton students and a group of female barbershoppers from Portsmouth, before they face a live audience and a jury of world-class a cappella experts. The jury’s votes will decide which groups go through to the next stage and who will leave the contest for good.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 23rd September 2015)

What do you do after recovering from a traumatic, life-threatening brain haemorrhage? Spend everything you possibly can on a beautiful cutting-edge house, of course, with everything your loved ones could ever wish for. That’s the life-affirming adventure Bram Vis, wife Lisa and their two children launch into on an idyllic seaside plot on the Isle of Wight. They want to build a house for sharing, with generous entertaining spaces and a swimming pool where they can surround themselves with family. But soon the reality of their wild ambition starts to catch up with them. Unwilling to compromise on the scale or design of their super home, their original £850k budget begins to spiral out of control. As they borrow what they can to desperately try and finish, the somewhat dubious honour of creating one of the most expensive Grand Designs ever looks inevitable.

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 24th September 2015)

George meets a father of three trying to build a homemade campervan for less than £700. It’s made from 3000 CDs, with the floor built out of old vinyl records. There’s also a single dad making a home for him and his sons on the water – by renovating an oil rig escape pod. On his German road trip, George travels to the Tyrolean mountains, where he sees a house that looks like a cross between a large bird and a UFO, and is packed with clever design tricks that make the most of the stunning mountain location. And as their floating beach hut idea begins to take shape, George and master craftsman Will Hardie travel to Southend, where a knackered, former wartime lookout shed is ready to be the backbone for this unique build.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 12/09/2015

Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 14th September 2015)

Paul Murton visits the islands lying off the Scottish coast. Thirty miles from mainland Scotland, there is a chain of low-lying islands that face the full might of the Atlantic Ocean: the Uists and Benbecula. On these islands there seems to be more water than land, as a spectacular patchwork of freshwater lochs and pools pockmark the landscape. But it is the unique ecology of these unspoilt islands that makes them so special. Paul’s journey sees him trying his hand at fishing for wild sea trout, uncovering the fascinating story of how South Uist became a missile testing base, and discovering the secrets of the beautiful but deserted tidal island of Vallay.

Canals: The Making of a Nation (BBC 4/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Tuesday 15th September 2015)

Liz McIvor recounts the story of ‘canal mania’, the period of activity that helped develop Britain’s modern financial economy, now centred in London. The canal capitalists, many of whom were part of the emerging middle class, made money by investing in and speculating on the new inland waterways used to carry fuel and goods around the country. The Grand Junction Canal – built to improve the connection between London and the Midlands – was one of the new routes, and eventually proved to be a good investment for shareholders. However, not all canals were profitable.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 16th September 2015)

Boat-loving James Strangeways has spent the last 35 years travelling the canals and waterways of Britain. He’s never stayed in one place for more than a few days and he’s never liked houses. Realising it’s time to put down some roots on dry land, he commissions his nephew, architect Ben Hebblethwaite, to build him a home that’s as unhouse-like as possible for a tight budget of £300k. To lure his boat-mad client into a more settled life, Ben designs a house with ship-like qualities. It floats above the marsh on stilts, clad in acres of timber and topped with a roof that looks like the giant keel of a sailing vessel. But it’s the first time Ben has ever built a house from scratch and things take a dramatic turn for the worse when just a few months into the project, the contractor goes into liquidation with £87k of their money! And as the house starts to take shape, James decides to tweak the design in ways that set alarm bells ringing for his young architect.

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 17th September 2015)

George Clarke returns for a brand new series as he follows more people across Britain, finding inventive ways to create beautiful spaces that don’t blow the budget, and can completely transform lives. With unquenchable enthusiasm, architect George Clarke invites viewers to let their imaginations run wild, as he celebrates the extraordinary world of small design spaces and unique builds: secret hideaways, space-saving retreats, eco-friendly bolt holes and reconditioned vehicles. He shows that with careful planning, cunning design and masses of imagination, the apparently unachievable is doable. In this new series George also travels to Germany to discover some of their incredible, ingenious and inspiring designs.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 05/09/2015

Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 7th September 2015)

Paul Murton visits the islands lying off the Scottish coast. In this episode, he travels to the largest island in Britain – the long island of Harris and Lewis. He tries his hand at weaving Harris Tweed, meets the family behind the world-famous Stornoway black pudding and uncovers the story of how a medieval chess set was discovered on the remote beach of Uig on Lewis.

Canals: The Making of a Nation (BBC 4/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Tuesday 8th September 2015)

Liz McIvor examines how the process of building the canals resulted in furthering geological knowledge. Without maps or geological surveys, construction often relied on guesswork. William Smith, a surveyor then working on the connecting Somerset Coal Canal, discovered a way of ordering layers of rocks and eventually created the first geological map of England and Wales – the so-called ‘map that changed the world’.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 9th September 2015)

How grand is too grand? How big is too big? In this first episode of the new series Kevin meets Clinton Dall from Sussex, who’s attempting to build one of the largest homes ever featured on Grand Designs. Not only that, he wants it to be perfect – from the finish of his mirrored cruciform steel columns, to how the floor tiles line up with the dining room table. Clinton, a self-made cleaning businessman and father of four, is willing to spend whatever it takes to achieve his vision. It’s a huge risk – down one road lies abject failure and financial ruin, down the other the creation of something sublime and almost heroic. So which will it be?

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.