Tag: Great British Railway Journeys

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 06/01/2018

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Attenborough and the Sea Dragon (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 7th January 2018)

Documentary following David Attenborough as he attempts to animate the life of the ichthyosaur whose 200-million-year-old fossil remains were found on Britain’s Jurassic coast. Using state-of-the-art imaging technology and CGI, the team reconstruct the skeleton and create the most detailed animation of an ichthyosaur ever made. Along the way, they stumble into a 200-million-year-old murder mystery – and only painstaking forensic investigation can unravel the story of this extraordinary creature’s fate.

The Biggest Little Railway in the World (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 7th January 2018)

Engineer Dick Strawbridge leads a team of model railway enthusiasts as they attempt to build the longest model railway in the world, 71 miles across Scotland, from Fort William on the west coast to Inverness on the east coast. It’s a route the Victorians never managed, so building this miniature railway will be an epic challenge. Dick briefs the nervous but excited volunteers and selects four team leaders – debt collector Lawrence Robbins, science fiction writer Jenny Kirk, school caretaker Charlie Fox-Wilson and apprentice project manager Paul Burkitt-Gray. He also selects two teams who will build especially challenging constructions such as bridges and viaducts. The volunteers get stuck in straight away.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 8th January 2018)

Michael Portillo embarks on an adventure from the coalfields of south Wales to the southernmost tip of Cornwall. His first stop is Whitland in Carmarthenshire, where in the early 20th century, thrill-seekers gathered on Pendine Sands to indulge their need for speed. In Llanelli, Michael retraces the fateful events of a national rail strike in 1911 and is stirred by the sound of a male voice choir as they sing the town’s unofficial anthem. At Loughor, he discovers a passionate preacher, who led a religious revival which gripped Edwardian Wales and had profound implications for the nation’s established church. In a suburban semi-detached house in the ‘sprawling, crawling town of Swansea’, Michael discovers the restored home of the poet Dylan Thomas, and the tiny bedroom in which he wrote two thirds of his published work.

The Forest (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | Monday 8th January 2018)

Mark Bonnar narrates a new series revealing the hidden world of Galloway Forest, the country’s largest afforested area. In this episode, the Forestry Commission’s recreation team is tasked with rebuilding steps on a well-worn pathway at Fairy Knowe, but the steps are up a 330-foot hill. Getting hunks of granite rock to the remote hill is one problem and digging them in by hand is another. A team of specialist contractors from Wales arrive in Galloway Forest to harvest timber from the most inaccessible areas using a massive system of cables and winches called the skyline. Deep in the forest, conservationists Bill and Christine breed and hand rear hyacinth macaws, the world’s largest flying parrot. And on a remote peatbog the size of 32 football pitches, Graeme Little operates his own customised mulching machine.

Best Walks with a View with Julia Bradbury (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Monday 8th January 2018)

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

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 8th January 2018)

Forensic crime drama series. As the team investigate the death of a man found in a remote reservoir, Nikki and Jack must deal with the aftermath of their Mexico ordeal.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Tuesday 9th January 2018)

Armed with his Edwardian Bradshaw’s guide, Michael strikes gold at the Royal Mint in Llantrisant, where after much frisking, he gains access to the inner vaults. At Cardiff Arms Park, Michael revisits the scene of a triumphant Welsh victory over the fearsome All Blacks and hears from Welsh international Gerald Davies. In Cardiff Bay, Michael discovers the departure point for one of the Edwardian era’s most famous expeditions – Scott’s ill-fated voyage to the Antarctic. Aboard the racing yacht Challenge Wales, Michael meets young sailors training for a Tall Ships Race.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 9th January 2018)

Forensic crime drama series. Nikki’s suspicions about David Cannon are aroused further when she discovers blood in the boot of his car. With Thomas’s support, she takes samples to process – does it belong to Sally Vaughn? The uncovering of a family murder from the past shines the spotlight on three people who went to the same school.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Wednesday 10th January 2018)

Michael Portillo discovers the birthplace of British aviation in Bristol and prepares an Airbus 380 for a smooth landing at Filton. In Newport, he uncovers the heroism of a young boy who rescued a workman from a dock disaster, in which many died. Michael discovers the home of a forward-thinking Edwardian family at Eagle House in Batheaston. Frieda Roberts remembers the suffragettes who campaigned for votes for women in the early 20th century and found refuge at the house after their release from prison. And in Clevedon, Michael goes to the movies in a perfectly preserved cinema dating from 1912 and hears about the first film to be shown there.

The Storm That Saved a City (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 10th January 2018)

Documentary about the consequences of the devastating 1968 storm that tore through the central belt, which caused a rethink in the redesigning of Glasgow. In the wake of the storm on January 15, which killed 20 people, a group of young architects and some strong-willed residents came together to save their city, bringing forward the transformation of Glasgow – from Britain’s biggest slum to the cultural capital of Europe.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Thursday 11th January 2018)

With purple, green and yellow ribbons flying, and sporting ankle bells, Michael Portillo is led a merry dance in Stogumber – all in the name of fertility. He visits a celebrated Edwardian garden at Hestercombe to discover the fruits of an unusual partnership and learns how to deadhead the roses. There is a trip aboard the longest heritage line in England and the chance to ring in the new era at Exeter Cathedral before dining out in style on King Edward VII’s coronation gala dinner at Bovey Castle.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 11th January 2018)

Detective drama series set on a Caribbean island. DI Mooney and the team enter the high-stakes world of poker when a finalist is poisoned during the Caribbean Poker Masters tournament. The only suspects are sat round the table. When even a twitch of an eye can reveal a player’s hand, just how did the killer commit murder?

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 12th January 2018)

Steered by his early 20th-century Bradshaw’s railway guide, Michael Portillo boldly goes to the moon by way of the Cornish Riviera Express. On the trail of an historic achievement made at the dawn of the Edwardian era, he investigates the first radio signal to be sent across the Atlantic. In Plymouth, Michael uncovers what happened to surviving crew members of the most famous ocean liner in history, the Titanic. And at Fowey, he rediscovers a lost literary figure known as Q, who immortalised the town in his novels.

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

Great British Railway Journeys : Series 9

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Just to remind everyone, that the 9 series of Great British Railway Journeys starts tomorrow (Monday 1st January 2018) on BBC 2 at 6:30pm!

On his first journey follows in the footsteps of the new monarch for the new century, King Edward VII, from the grand estates of Norfolk to a bivouac on Brownsea Island. In this first episode, Michael takes a pot shot at the sport of kings at a country estate, where the king dallied with his mistress. He learns the ropes aboard an Edwardian wherry on the Norfolk Broads and joins variety performers to tap dance on Cromer Pier. In Cambridge, he investigates the student days of the young Prince of Wales and the novelist EM Forster, author of Howard’s End.

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 30/12/2017

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Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 1st January 2018)

Michael Portillo fast tracks to the early 20th century to embark on a new series of railway journeys through Edwardian Britain. His “new” guide book, published over a hundred years ago, unlocks Britain’s railways at their zenith, when some 20,000 miles of track reached into every corner of the country. His first journey follows in the footsteps of the new monarch for the new century, King Edward VII, from the grand estates of Norfolk to a bivouac on Brownsea Island. Michael takes a pot shot at the sport of kings at a country estate, where the king dallied with his mistress. He learns the ropes aboard an Edwardian wherry on the Norfolk Broads and joins variety performers to tap dance on Cromer Pier. In Cambridge, he investigates the student days of the young Prince of Wales and the novelist EM Forster.

Grandpa’s Great Escape (BBC 1/HD | 6:55pm 8:00pm | Monday 1st January 2018)

Heartwarming comedy drama about a former WWII flying ace with Alzheimer’s who is admitted to an old people’s home when his family are

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Tuesday 2nd January 2018)

Armed with his early 20th-century Bradshaw’s guide, Michael Portillo explores an Edwardian utopia with a radical plan at its heart. Michael joins a garden party where a fourth-generation citizen of Letchworth introduces him to the city’s community spirit. Heading into the capital, Michael discovers a favoured haunt of King Edward VII and samples the monarch’s favourite tipple, the King’s Ginger, invented to keep him warm in his horseless carriage.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Wednesday 3rd January 2018)

Steered by his Edwardian Bradshaw’s guide, Michael Portillo arrives in west Croydon, where he uncovers a once-celebrated, now forgotten, mixed-race composer with an uncannily familiar name. With the modern British rail network now half the size of the Edwardian one, Michael is delighted to discover a railway renaissance in Three Bridges. After inspecting a new depot and its fleet of new Class 700 trains, Michael is accorded the great honour of washing one down. Next stop Lewes, where Michael makes a beeline for Charleston, the beautiful home of the artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, where he finds every surface exquisitely decorated by the inhabitants. At Shoreham-by-Sea, Michael discovers that magnificent Edwardians in flying machines took off from the oldest licensed airport in the country. Michael takes to the skies.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Thursday 4th January 2018)

His early 20th-century Bradshaw’s guide in hand, Michael Portillo is in Chichester, West Sussex, where he encounters an Edwardian motoring duo patronised by King Edward VII. After a grand tour of their factory, he is treated to some R&R in one of their finest vehicles. Arriving in the seaside resort of Southsea, Hampshire, Michael heads for the majestic King’s Theatre, built by a renowned theatre designer of the day. He treads the boards with a group of true thespians, in a community production of Lads in the Village. Crossing the Solent with a ticket to Ryde, Michael boards the Island Line to travel along the pier in a 1930s London Underground carriage, then hops on to the Isle of Wight heritage line bound for Wootton.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 4th January 2018)

Detective drama series set on a Caribbean island. DI Mooney and his team are tested when a hotel billionaire’s fiancee falls from a balcony the day before her lavish wedding and everything points to suicide… except for the fact that the victim only painted one fingernail.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 5th January 2018)

Steered by his Edwardian Bradshaw’s guide, Michael Portillo promises to do his best on the island where Robert Baden Powell began the Scout movement in the early 20th century. Joining a group of modern Scouts he learns to build a bivouac and finds out what it is about Scouting that still appeals to boys – and girls – today. In the New Forest, Michael searches out some unsung heroes of the First World War, the ponies who became war horses, and hears their story from a commoner who runs a stable and riding school. Plus, in Bournemouth, he investigates a very British institution: the beach hut.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 09/01/2016

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Shetland - 15-01-2016 - YouView appMy Mediterranean with Adrian Chiles (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Sunday 10th January 2016)

Adrian Chiles tours the colourful religious festivals of the Mediterranean to find out whether his choice of church was an accident of birth and geography. This episode finds Adrian in Rome, riding a Vespa with Father Gianni on the pillion. The pair speculate on whether having a priest accompanying him to the pearly gates improves or damages Adrian’s chances of entry to heaven. Adrian then joins the faithful in St Peter’s Square to listen to the man he describes as ‘chairman and chief executive’ of his own religion. Later, an 80-year-old cardinal tries to remain unflustered as Adrian makes his first confession in eight years. He observes the Sabbath with a Jewish family, but his brief flirtation with Judaism is cut short when he learns that becoming a Jew is not easy. He cooks with the nuns of Marseille, and visits a Roman Catholic school where 80% of the children are Muslims and where he declares the head teacher to be ‘the most inspiring person I have ever met’.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 11th January 2016)

Michael Portillo embarks on a railway journey along the south coast of Britain. Beginning in the port of Dover, he is inspired by a brave Victorian sea captain to plunge into the English Channel. A spectacular miniature steam railway, one third the size of his customary mode of transport, conveys him from Romney Marsh to Dungeness. In elegant Eastbourne, he discovers how the refined Victorian upper crust was attracted to the town by design of the 7th Duke of Devonshire. He ends his journey in truly eccentric English style at the Glyndebourne opera festival on the South Downs.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 11th January 2016)

The murder of a well-known anti-fundamentalist Muslim, Amir Aziz, leads the Lyell team to question who would kill this peaceful but outspoken man. Suspicion quickly falls on a local taxi driver, revealed as a member of the English Defence League whose son was killed by a Taliban IED. The team are joined in the investigation by DI Nina Ryman. Ryman knew Aziz and believed him to be a good man, but her faith in him is called into question when it is discovered that Aziz was in correspondence with a wanted drug smuggler before his death.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Tuesday 12th January 2016)

Following his Bradshaw’s handbook, Michael Portillo examines the nation’s hidden defences against potential invaders, beginning in the port of Newhaven. Detouring north to Balcombe, he interrupts his journey to appreciate two magnificent engineering achievements – the Ouse Valley Viaduct and the Clayton Tunnel – and learns of a gruesome murder. High on top of a favourite Victorian beauty spot, Michael learns how trains once brought hordes of day trippers here to walk and fly kites. Michael ends this leg of his journey in Worthing, where he finds a novel way to pick tomatoes.

Tricks of the Restaurant Trade (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Tuesday 12th January 2016)

There are more than a quarter of a million places to eat out in the UK. Most families eat out a couple of times a week, so how can they ensure that they receive good food, a fair price and a great experience? Kate Quilton, chef Simon Rimmer and reporter Adam Pearson investigate how customers can get the best quality food and service, and reveal some of the techniques that restaurants use to make you spend more. In this episode, the team put British pizzas to the test. How do two very non-traditional pizzas from takeaway chain Papa John’s compare with an authentic Italian pizza and which will the diners at an Italian restaurant prefer? Can you really improve the traditional Italian classic with curried chicken, spices, fruit and countless other ingredients?

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 12th January 2016)

Thomas must put his personal feelings aside as the team track down Begovic before she and her extremist compatriots strike out again. It soon becomes clear that Begovic isn’t working alone and may not have been the one who shot Ryman. In fact, her accomplice may be a man previously assumed dead.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Wednesday 13th January 2016)

Michael Portillo arrives in Littlehampton, where he discovers how Victorian engineers dug deep to defend the town’s residents from cholera and learns how their drills still access clean water around the world. At Gosport, he experiences first-hand the lethal firepower unleashed on the French and learns how the Victorians were engaged in a furious arms race against them. At the family home of Florence Nightingale in the New Forest, Michael finds out what motivated the Lady of the Lamp, before seizing the chance to drive the first motor car at Beaulieu.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Thursday 14th January 2016)

Armed with his Bradshaw’s Handbook, Michael Portillo arrives in the sailing haven of Lymington where he makes a lifesaving discovery. Exploring Dorchester’s literary landscape, he finds out how the coming of the railways inspired the work of the region’s greatest writer – Thomas Hardy. Weaving his way to Axminster, Michael tries his hand at carpet making. His last stop is Exmouth, home to Francis Danby, a forgotten Victorian landscape artist.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 14th January 2016)

The team enter the shady world of island politics when the outgoing governor of Saint Marie is poisoned at her leaving party. Meanwhile, DI Goodman dives into the even murkier world of online dating.

The Restoration Man (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 14th January 2016)

When Lee Head spotted a Victorian railway station for sale in Northumberland, he saw the opportunity of a lifetime. He drew up a master plan for the rest of the site to pay for converting the main station into a family home; and saving money by doing all the building work alone at weekends. The sheer scale of the challenge has not been helped by planning restrictions. George Clarke gives Lee a hand when he can, and investigates the story behind why such a fine rural railway station never had a chance to achieve its promise.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 15th January 2016)

In Plymouth, Michael finds out about the Royal Navy’s fighting spirit and mixes his own blend of ruin. Crossing into Cornwall, Michael learns about the last bridge to be built by one of his heroes, the engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. By Tre, Pol and Pen, he comes to know Cornishmen and how to prepare the perfect pasty. His journey ends in a small village which in Victorian times became a hub of global communications.

Shetland (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 15th January 2016)

When a young man disappears on the Aberdeen to Shetland ferry crossing and a small boy ends up in intensive care, DI Jimmy Perez and his team investigate and become convinced the two events are connected.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 02/01/2016

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Death in Paradise - 07-01-2016 - YouView appGreat British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 4th January 2016)

Michael Portillo embarks on a journey around north west Britain. Joining the cracker packers of Carlisle on the factory floor, Michael Portillo really takes the biscuit as he investigates the Victorian appetite for the custard cream on his new journey. Braving a perilous descent into the only operational slate mine in England, Michael discovers a miniature railway which once hauled slate to the surface. Following in the footsteps of Victorian miners on their way to work, he steps out gingerly on to what is now Britain’s only Via Ferrata – a terrifying tightrope challenge 300 feet above the Borrowdale Valley.

The Fight of Gordon’s Life (BBC 1 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 8:30pm to 9:00pm | Monday 4th January 2016)

Documentary following one young man’s battle with a terminal condition. Diagnosed with motor neurone disease at 29, Gordon Aikman decided to raise money to help fund a cure and campaigned for better treatment. He won major improvements in patient care even as he gradually lost control of his body. And in a year of physical and emotional struggle, he also brought family and friends together to celebrate his marriage.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 4th January 2016)

The apparent suicide of a DJ leads Nikki to question her judgement on a strikingly similar case from her past. But when she brings the potential mistake to the attention of her colleagues, the news threatens to have repercussions for the family of the deceased, the police and the Lyell. Meanwhile, Nikki catches up with an old friend from medical school, Scott, but the timing of his reappearance in her life seems suspicious in light of the recent events.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Tuesday 5th January 2016)

Michael Portillo embarks on a journey around north west Britain. Michael continues his journey through the Lake District where he discovers a magical world of talking rabbits, ducks, hedgehogs and mice, who have entertained children for more than 100 years. At the village home of author and illustrator Beatrix Potter, Michael learns about her legacy and her fears about the railways. Fuelled by a Victorian energy bar, Michael presses on to Brantwood, home of the Victorian art critic John Ruskin. He finishes with a brief encounter at Carnforth.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 5th January 2016)

Nikki is arrested after a senior pathologist that she previously came to blows with is murdered. Whilst the team fight to clear her name, Nikki suspects someone is attempting to frame her. Meanwhile Tony, recently released from prison for attempted murder, learns of the pathologist’s death. Recognising the name from his own trial years ago, Tony begins to fear that his son David is involved in hurting the people involved in his father’s incarceration. As Nikki is released from custody, she has her own doubts and can’t help but suspect her old flame Scott, whose return to her life is so well timed with recent events.

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

Michael Portillo embarks on a journey around north west Britain. Michael reads the riot act in Preston, where he discovers four mill workers were shot dead by soldiers at a protest in 1842. In Darwen, he makes a splash in pink as he traces developments in 19th-century interior design from wallpaper to paint. Michael explores the Victorian industrial landscape of Salford, populated by little matchstick figures, as revealed in the paintings of LS Lowry. Michael finishes this leg of his journey on Kersal Moor, where he twists his tongue around the Lancashire dialect and discovers the poetry of Edwin Waugh.

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

Michael Portillo embarks on a journey around north west Britain. Steered by his Bradshaw’s guide, Michael begins this leg of his journey in Merseyside, where he feels the heat of modern glassmaking in St Helen’s. He discovers how the techniques invented in the Victorian era to construct buildings such as the Crystal Palace have evolved and are powering a new architectural revolution.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 7th January 2016)

DI Goodman and his team are tested when a millionaire philanthropist is murdered on his boat, and the only suspects were all underwater at the time. Meanwhile, DI Goodman’s new hobby raises a few eyebrows…

The Restoration Man (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 7th January 2016)

A new series of the show where George Clarke helps rescue neglected architectural treasures across Britain. When an Edwardian Baptist church comes up for sale in the small Pennine village of Oxenhope, Colin and Emma Clewes seize on their chance to turn it into a five-bedroom family home. With only a meagre budget, Colin intends to do most of the building work himself – while the couple juggle looking after their young family and running their own business. But restoring a church that has been in decline for years demands every ounce of their hard graft and grit. George offers inspiration and guidance to pull them through, and discovers that the church’s history is woven into the fabric of this small mill-working community.
(Editor’s Choice, High Definition, Subtitles, Part 1 of 5, Audio Described, Episode 1, 3 Star)

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 8th January 2016)

Michael Portillo embarks on a journey around north west Britain. On the last leg of his journey through north west England, Michael makes a clean sweep in Ashley, where, in Victorian times, the new middle classes set up home in suburban villas with multiple chimneys, swept by children. In Macclesfield, Michael finds the end of the Silk Route and tries his hand at screen printing. After stoking the fire on the steam-powered Churnet Valley Railway, Michael alights at Froghall for Alton Towers, to trace the 19th-century origins of the modern theme park.

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

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