Tag: Great Canal Journeys

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 28/10/2017

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Blue Planet II (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 29th October 2017)

Documentary series presented by David Attenborough which explores the planet’s oceans. From the equator to the poles, new worlds and animal behaviours are revealed, from tool-using fish to mother walruses fighting for space on the ice for their tiring pups.

Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 29th October 2017)

Timothy West and Prunella Scales explore one of Britain’s most ancient waterways, the Norfolk Broads. It’s their first time visiting this picturesque network of slow-moving rivers, fens, marshes and waterlogged woodlands. They discover the unique way of life that developed in the Broads over the centuries. They remember the book Swallows and Amazons; visit a marshman’s cottage and the ruins of St Benet’s Abbey; and sail on a local Norfolk wherry.

Paddington Station 24/7 (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 30th October 2017)

Documentary series going behind the scenes at Paddington, and the Western Network. Transport Police are called after a passenger urinates in a carriage on a train pulling into the station, a low bridge has to be assessed after it is hit by van, and a train’s brakes fail in Reading causing widespread delays.

Saving Lives at Sea (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 31st October 2017)

Documentary series following the men and women of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). In Tenby, police searching for a boat thief call for lifeboat assistance. The Mumbles lifeguards and lifeboat crew race to help two kayakers adrift in a boat laden with beer. And when two yachts capsize off Portsmouth, the crew must make fast decisions about who to rescue first.

The Country Council (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | Thursday 2nd November 2017)

Documentary series following the work of Argyll and Bute council, charting the unique challenges faced by staff working hundreds of miles from the nearest city to provide services in difficult times. The programme meets the council workers going above and beyond to improve local lives. The Learning Disability team in Lochgilphead help a client with Down’s Syndrome towards his dream of becoming a club DJ. In Oban, a homelessness worker comes to the aid of a young mother who needs a permanent home. And in Dunoon, a coastal regeneration project leads to a surprise discovery – and a fascinating link to the area’s past.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 24/06/2017

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Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 6:45pm to 7:30pm | Saturday 24th June 2017)

A huge spaceship trapped in the gravity well of a black hole, teeming with impossible lifeforms, harbours one of the Doctor’s most feared enemies.

Britain’s Great Gay Buildings (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 24th June 2017)

In Britain’s Great Gay Buildings, presented by Stephen Fry, seven famous gay faces champion the buildings that have helped define Britain’s gay history, revealing the groundbreaking events that happened there and the extraordinary people who lived and worked at these key historical sites. The Reverend Richard Cole revisits Heaven Nightclub, to reveal its hedonistic past. Mary Portas visits Shibden Hall, in Yorkshire, to discover the secret diaries of a Yorkshire heiress. Craig Revel Horwood explores Britain’s drag scene at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. Simon Callow tells the story of Oscar Wilde’s downfall at the Old Bailey. Rikki Beadle Blair visits the Theatre Royal Haymarket, to discover how the British public showed their support for Sir John Gielgud after his arrest for cottaging. Liz Carr travels to Bletchley Park, which fostered one of Britain’s greatest scientists, Alan Turing. And Baron Waheed Alli tells the story of the Houses of Parliament’s recent battle for gay rights.

Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 25th June 2017)

Timothy West and Prunella Scales have been exploring canals for half a century. But this time they embark on their most ambitious voyage, along the waterways of India. In this episode, Tim and Pru leave behind the safe confines of the canals as they head out into the rarely navigated Brahmaputra river in the far north east of India. The Brahmaputra features intoxicating scenery, rich culture, and remarkable history. Tim and Pru follow an old route from the tea trade; meet a community of monks; and hitch a ride on an elephant.

Supermarket Shopping Secrets (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 26th June 2017)

Series in which Gregg Wallace and journalist Babita Sharma get the inside track on the latest tactics in the supermarket wars to help people stay one step ahead. In this edition looking at health, Gregg discovers the exotic ingredient being used to produce a healthier burger and explores spiralised vegetables, now a major health trend. And Babita examines how the public is being manipulated by food health labels.

The Adventure Show (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 7:00pm to 8:00pm | Tuesday 27th June 2017)

In the first of a new series, the Adventure Show visits the rugged Kintyre Peninsula to join athletes in one of Scotland’s most scenic races – the Kintyre Way Ultra. With no less than 1,300 metres of ascent and over 35 miles of rough terrain, this is a tough challenge for every runner. Also on the programme, an inspiring athlete who is proving that living with epilepsy doesn’t prevent achieving sporting success at the highest level.

The Last Leg (Chnannel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 30th June 2017)

The double Bafta-nominated series continues live on Friday nights for the 11th series with its unique brand of irreverent satire and sharp topical comedy. The live, joyous, topical comedy extravaganza hosted by Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe examines the biggest and most entertaining news stories and rounds up the main talking points of the week. Each week, they are joined by a live audience and guests from the worlds of comedy, entertainment and politics 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 : 17/06/2017

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Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 6:45pm to 7:30pm | Saturday 17th June 2017)

A hunt for the lost Ninth Roman Legion leads the Doctor, Bill and Nardole into the middle of an ancient battle that could cast humanity into the dark forever. What is inside the cairn? And how far will they have to go defeat the terrifying alien Eaters of Light?

Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 18th June 2017)

Timothy West and Prunella Scales have been exploring canals for half a century. But now they embark on their most ambitious voyage ever, along the waterways of India. In this episode, they explore the extraordinary backwaters of Kerala: a 1000-mile network of palm-fringed lakes, rivers banked by rice paddies and some very familiar-looking British-built canals. For millennia the trade in ginger, cardamom and black pepper has made the backwaters a thriving trade route for spices. Tim and Pru pass laden cargo ships, school bus-boats, and fishermen whose only tools are their hands. They explore a canal built by a local ruler to boost trade and make offerings at a temple. And Pru dusts off her dancing shoes to learn the traditional Kerlan dance of the enchantress.

Theresa v Boris: How May Became PM (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:15pm | Sunday 18th June 2017)

This drama documentary tells the story of the Conservative Party’s 2016 leadership campaign – how Boris Johnson, having won the referendum and in pole position to be the next PM, handed victory to Theresa May. Based on extensive research and first-person testimonies, this dramatized narrative goes beyond the headlines to lay bare the politicking and positioning, betrayals and blunders of this extraordinary political time. The programme also features key interviews with people who were intimately involved in the campaigns of the main contenders.

Supermarket Shopping Secrets (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 19th June 2017)

Series in which Gregg Wallace and journalist Babita Sharma get the inside track on the latest tactics in the supermarket wars to help people stay one step ahead. In this episode, Gregg discovers the high-tech acoustic kit being used to get an edge in the battle to bring us a perfect avocado. Also, a look at what’s going on in the new battlefield of luxury products on a budget, and Babita uncovers what can be learned from supermarket data gatherers.

Who Should We Let in? Ian Hislop on the First Great Immigration Row (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm 10:00pm | Thursday 22nd June 2017)

Ian Hislop takes an entertaining, provocative look at the decades from the Victorian Era to the First World War, when modern Britain introduced its first peacetime restrictions on immigration. The Victorians had an open door to foreigners, drawing no distinction between economic migrant and asylum seeker. But rising immigration in the late 19th century triggered a debate fuelled by clashing values, economic anxiety and the media. Winston Churchill spoke out against the tough curbs proposed by the 1902 Royal Commission, lambasting it as the work of prejudice and racism. But the 1905 Aliens Act restricted peacetime immigration for the first time. Ian also examines the role of the press in stoking fear and prejudice against migrants, discusses attitudes to immigration then and now with Alan Johnson, Baroness Warsi and Katie Hopkins, and takes the temperature of the nation in animated conversation with native and foreign-born Brits in London, Liverpool and Folkestone.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 23rd June 2017)

The double Bafta-nominated series continues live on Friday nights for the 11th series with its unique brand of irreverent satire and sharp topical comedy. The live, joyous, topical comedy extravaganza hosted by Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe examines the biggest and most entertaining news stories and rounds up the main talking points of the week. Each week, they are joined by a live audience and guests from the worlds of comedy, entertainment and politics 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 : 12/11/2016

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The Secret Life of the Zoo - 17-11-2016 - YouView appThe Adventure Show (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 6:30pm to 7:30pm | Sunday 13th November 2016)

The Adventure Show is at the Braveheart Triathlon, with Dougie Vipond competing along with over 100 competitors. The event consists of an open water swim of over a mile, a bike ride of over 50 miles and then a run up and down Ben Nevis. It’s not for the fainthearted, and Dougie is guaranteed a day he will never forget. Also in this month’s Adventure Show, a remarkable man who is determined that the loss of two limbs won’t prevent him from doing the sports he loves. And there’s a visit to Patagonia with one of Scotland’s most ambitious adventurers, as he undertakes a month-long trip in one of the world’s most remote landscapes.

Planet Earth II (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 13th November 2016)

Wildlife documentary series presented by David Attenborough. The great mountain ranges are some of the planet’s most spectacular landscapes, but they are unforgiving places to live in, and only a few animals have what it takes to live at exteme altitude. Mountain animals are amongst the most elusive in the world, and this film provides unique and intimate glimpses into their secretive lives. Witness the moment four snow leopards come together when a mother and cub become trapped between two rival males. Join grizzly bears as they dance against trees to rub off their winter fur and soar with golden eagles hunting amongst Europe’s snow-capped peaks.

Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 13th November 2016)

Timothy West and Prunella Scales continue their journey exploring the Highlands and islands of Scotland, navigating their way through two of Britain’s most remote canals. Having already crossed Scotland on the Caledonian Canal, they face the open sea as they island hop their way through the Hebrides, bound for the Crinan, a rarely travelled canal described by some as the world’s most beautiful shortcut. Tossed around by the Atlantic waves off the coast of Mull, they are forced to head back to the safety of Tobermory. They eventually visit the holy island of Iona, the Isle of Jura, and lastly the magical nine-mile Crinan on the Mull of Kintyre.

The River (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 14th November 2016)

Documentary series charting life along the river Tweed. In this episode, John Dalziel finds out if his players have what it takes to win their home sevens championships, as player Nyle Godsmark and his teammates carry the huge weight of expectations on their young shoulders. UK world chocolate master Ruth Hinks gets help in her chocolate factory from her children, while desperately trying to finish work on a new chocolate school in the heart of Peebles. On the river, superintendent river bailiff Eddie Weatherly oversees an operation to tackle two river codebreakers. In Kelso, Tweedside Tackle owners Tim and Caroline Pilcher have been told their lease is up. But some help is on hand, as neighbouring hotelier Margaret offers them a property to keep their business alive. And at Floors Estate, stud manager David Trouton checks on his latest arrival, foal Sunshine.

The Secret Life of the Zoo (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 17th November 2016)

The first episode of the new series sees Florence and Nadine, two of Chester’s Grevy’s zebras, both about to give birth. But fixing a due date is almost impossible, and so the keepers are keeping a close eye on both. Other animals are struggling to produce offspring. Iblis is an Asiatic lion, one of the rarest animals in the world. His partner of five years, Kumari, seems to be losing interest in him. Keepers can find nothing physically wrong with the pair, so decide to put Iblis on a programme of tearing animal carcasses from trees in order to get him into shape. But will it be enough to impress Kumari? Meanwhile, warthog dad Magnum is feeling the pressure of parenting. Two of his older children, Dobby and Neville, are becoming increasingly hard to control. Magnum’s losing his hair with the stress and then suffers the indignity of having a part of his tail bitten off. He must impose order on his family again – if he can.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 17th November 2016)

Kevin McCloud hosts Grand Designs: House of the Year. The competition is run in conjunction with the Royal Institute of British Architects and celebrates excellence in housing design. Over this four-part series, Kevin is joined by Damion Burrows and Zac Monro, as they explore some of Britain’s most cutting-edge contemporary homes, all of them in the running for the prestigious prize – the Bafta of the architecture world. In this first episode, Kevin and co profile five amazing country homes on the long-list for the prize: including a large house camouflaged within a hill; a loving restoration in Wiltshire of a prototype modernist retreat; a Scottish home that blends an agricultural exterior with a sleek modern interior; and a slice of spectacular California modernism in Cornwall. Kevin then reveals which of these homes will make it onto the final shortlist.

Secrets of Great British Castles (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 18th November 2016)

Part-dramatised history series. In medieval England, the North was ruled from York. Dan Jones explores the history of its castle, from the Viking Jorvik and the Normans, through the dark days of the anti-Jewish pogrom and the imprisonment of the Knights Templar, to one of its most colourful inmates – the legendary highwayman Dick Turpin.

Britain’s Greatest Bridges (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 18th November 2016)

Documentary series. Engineer Rob Bell tells the story of the design and construction of six of Britain’s most iconic bridges. Built partly as a lifeline to keep shipbuilders employed and their skills alive during the dark days of the 1920s recession, the Tyne Bridge is not just an icon to Geordies – many believe that it was the inspiration for the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 18th November 2016)

The award-winning show continues live on Fridays with its unique brand of irreverent satire. Hosts Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe examine the biggest and most entertaining news stories via the #isitok Twitter hashtag, where viewers tweet in edgy current affairs questions that other shows might duck. In this edition, David Walliams 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 : 05/11/2016

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The Last Leg - 09-11-2016 - YouView appGreat Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 6th November 2016)

Timothy West and Prunella Scales embark on an ambitious two-stage voyage across Scotland. In stage one, they cross the Highlands on the spectacular Caledonian Canal, which was built by Thomas Telford, who ingeniously joined the lochs of the Great Glen together and created a waterway that links the North Sea with the Atlantic. Tim and Pru embark on a sun-kissed voyage through the heart of the Highlands – a world of Loch Ness monster hunters, tales of Bonnie Prince Charlie, and 60 miles and 29 canal locks to navigate on their way to the ocean.

The River (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 7th November 2016)

Documentary series charting life along the river Tweed. In this episode, it is mid-spring and the Floors stud team wait for their final expectant mare Dusty Answer to foal. In Melrose, Rugby Sevens coach John Dalziel prepares his team for their home Sevens championships, with player Nyle Godsmark hoping to make an impression and stake a claim for a place in the team. On the river, ghillie Mick Charlton uses all his knowledge to help land fishing client Jeremy his first Tweed salmon. In the heart of Kelso, as businesses spring clean ahead of peak season, with The Ednam House hotel renovating rooms and the local tackle shop, Tweedside Tackle, fitting out customers in fishing waders.

Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railway Journeys (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 7th November 2016)

Documentary series in which Chris Tarrant explores the world’s most extreme railway lines. From Buenos Aires, Chris heads to the Pampas lowlands, where he talks to local gauchos. In Bahia Blanca, four Falklands veterans share their opinion of Britain, before Chris takes in South America’s beautiful Patagonia region.

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

How do you turn your small bungalow from a 1960s dormer into a generous 21st-century piece of slick architecture, all for £175k? Stuart and Rosie Treasurer from the Wirral plan to decapitate their bungalow – cutting the roof off to leave just the walls – then balance a big new floating timber box on top, containing five bedrooms. To keep costs down, they take on the plumbing and electrics themselves, spend as little as they can on insulation, and leave elements of the building unfinished. The hope is to get a stylish industrial look in the process. But the stress levels spiral when their neighbours grumble about the ultra-modern wooden box going up in the middle of their traditional suburb.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Wednesday 9th November 2016)

This edition is a special US election extravaganza, broadcast live on the day when the brand new leader of the free world is announced. While the confetti settles in town halls across America, Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker apply their non-jaundiced, award-winning brand of satire to the most bonkers election in US history. The boys are joined by some huge names as well as live reports from across the pond as they try and figure out whether the world has changed for the better or the worse. As ever the taboo busting ‘Is It Ok?’ questions will inform the show.

Still Game (BBC 1/HD | 9:30pm to 10:00pm | Friday 11th November 2016)

Comedy series in which lifelong friends cope with everything modern life has to throw at them. Emotions run high as Jack, Victor and the residents gather to watch the demolition of a Craiglang tower block. Tam drags Winston into a new moneymaking scheme, and Jack and Victor are enticed by Mrs Fletcher, the beguiling manager of the local care home.

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

The award-winning show continues live on Fridays with its unique brand of irreverent satire. Hosts Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe examine the biggest and most entertaining news stories via the #isitok Twitter hashtag, where viewers tweet in edgy current affairs questions that other shows might duck. A celebrity guest 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 : 27/08/2016

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Casualty - 27-08-2016 - YouView appCasualty (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:40pm | Saturday 27th August 2016)

Feature-length episode of the medical drama. As Charlie celebrates his thirtieth anniversary, the department is thrown into chaos, and the team face their biggest challenge yet.

All Aboard! The Country Bus (BBC 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Monday 29th August 2016)

A journey through one of the most spectacular bus routes in Britain, as the ‘Northern Dalesman’, rigged with specialist cameras, snakes across the iconic landscape of the Yorkshire Dales. Filmed in real time, the cameras capture the road unfurling, the passing scenery and the occasional chatter of passengers. It begins in Richmond in North Yorkshire and takes viewers on a lush and varied ride, along a river valley thronged by hawthorn trees, through mining villages and wild flower-filled meadows. The bus climbs into the Dales, vast and peaceful, and then the final stretch across cotton-grass-covered moorland. With the mountain range known as the Three Peaks in the distance, the bus descends towards the Ribblehead viaduct. The programme features captions integrated into the landscape to provide details about the countryside through which the bus is passing – from aspects of the natural or geological environment to specific highlights of Britain’s agricultural or industrial heritage.

Inside the White House (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 30th August 2016)

Two-part documentary on the 200-year-old US presidential headquarters. From its design and construction to early run-ins with disaster, the home of America’s first family has weathered its fair share of storms.

Skies Above Britain (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 31st August 2016)

A look at the hidden world of the skies above us and the stories of the people who spend their life in flight. For thousands of recreational pilots, uncontrolled airspace is a place of freedom and adventure. Al Coutts and Willie Cruikshank are the Wildcats, two former RAF pilots who perform aerobatic stunts at air displays across the UK. With several recent tragedies at air shows, Al and Willy must finish their display season safely. Julia Foxwell is a champion skydiver who is juggling motherhood with an intense training schedule. Pete Dolby has been flying balloons for over a quarter of a century – now he is attempting to fly Britain’s first solar balloon, powered using just the sun’s energy. Elsewhere, Ady Dolan, NATS air traffic controller at Heathrow, works the most congested and highly regulated patch of sky in the UK.

Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 31st August 2016)

Timothy West and Prunella Scales embark on a journey into their pasts, via the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, which celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. Despite living most their lives in the South, they both have Northern roots, and as the canal winds over the Pennines and down through the Dales they’re transported back to their Yorkshire origins. Starting at the highest point of the canal, they’re immediately faced with the challenge of a bumpy ride through Foulridge Tunnel. Emerging on the other side, Pru steps back into her childhood memories when they visit the country’s last surviving steam-powered textile mill. Meandering through the ‘curlies’, the canal’s most winding and beautiful stretch, they are joined by the acclaimed poet, Simon Armitage, whose work is inspired by the rugged beauty of the Yorkshire landscape.

The Cars That Made Britain Great (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 2nd September 2016)

Rufus Hound narrates as celebrity petrol heads share their memories of classic British motors. Vicki Butler-Henderson makes the case for the beautiful Austin Healey 3000. Shane Lynch tries to make a Rolls Royce drift and James Bond takes a Lotus Esprit scuba diving.

Goodnight Sweetheart (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Friday 2nd September 2016)

Time-travel comedy series. TV repairman and unwitting time traveller Gary Sparrow has been trapped in the past for the last 17 years. It is now 1962, and in the midst of his birthday celebrations at The Royal Oak with his wife Phoebe, his teenage son Michael and their old friend Reg, he realises that he could go to the maternity hospital and actually see himself being born. At the hospital he meets his own father waiting anxiously, and when the baby arrives he tells the midwife that he is the uncle. As she hands him the precious bundle, the laws of physics go berserk – Gary’s long-lost time portal is thunderously re-opened, and he is catapulted into 2016.

Carry on Caravanning (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 2nd September 2016)

Documentary about Britain’s fun-seeking, slow-lane-hogging ‘carafans’. Ferret-loving friends Sally and Jayne take their 12 critters on holiday with them. Glammervanners plan a romantic Valentine’s weekend. Yorkshire man Glen heads to France with his caravan for the first time. Internet vlogger Dan plans his latest caravan video on the fascinating subject of toilet paper.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 20/08/2016

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Britain's Hardest Workers - 22-08-2016 - YouView appOlympics 2016 : Closing Ceremony (BBC 1/HD | 11:25pm to 4:00am | Sunday 21st August 2016)

Clare Balding presents live coverage of the closing ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympics, as the curtain comes down on the games at the iconic Maracana Stadium.

Britain’s Hardest Workers: Inside the Low Wage Economy (BBC 2/HD | 7:00pm to 8:00pm | Monday 22nd August 2016)

20 volunteers take part in an experiment to test their skills against some of the fastest growing jobs in Britain’s low-wage sector. In this episode, they are doing our dirty work – cleaning hotel rooms after a busy party weekend and then sorting through our recycling. While the workers battle to meet performance targets, Anita Rani looks at the bigger picture – can businesses cope with a rise in minimum wage, are we Brits afraid of hard graft and is worker representation a thing of the past?

Britain’s Hardest Workers: Inside the Low Wage Economy (BBC 2/HD | 7:00pm to 8:00pm | Tuesday 23rd August 2016)

Volunteers test their skills against some of the fastest growing jobs in Britain’s low-wage sector. 16 workers remain in the experiment. This time, they are working in food and farming – picking broccoli and making ready meals for our tables. While the workers find out what it is like to be casual labourers, Anita Rani is exploring the truth behind zero-hour contracts and what happens when a workforce is hidden from view. At the end of their two shifts, the workers find out who came closest to hitting industry targets.

Britain’s Hardest Workers: Inside the Low Wage Economy (BBC 2/HD | 7:00pm to 8:00pm | Wednesday 24th August 2016)

Volunteers test their skills against some of the fastest growing jobs in Britain’s low-wage sector. The nine remaining workers are being put to the test in one of Britain’s newest and fastest growing sectors – e-commerce. They are preparing orders in a warehouse and then quality controlling tents for sale online. As they experience first hand the cutting edge of modern performance monitoring, Anita Rani sets off to find out how gamification is affecting the workplace and what future faces Britain’s growing army of older workers.

Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 24th August 2016)

Tim and Pru explore a network totally new to them as they embark on a voyage across the Netherlands. Travelling from the Windmills of the Kinderdijk to the vibrant city of Amsterdam, they explore a country that was partly created by its canals. Half the land was once under water, and it’s the combination of windmills and canals that over the centuries prevented the Netherlands from flooding. The voyage takes them to the gardens of Keukenhof, where seven million tulips are on display. There they discover why in the 17th century, one tulip bulb cost the same as a house in Amsterdam. In the city of Haarlem they visit the Teylers Museum, which agrees to open up its archive of rare Rembrandt self-portraits for Tim and Pru to admire. Arriving in Amsterdam, they explore the capital’s historic canal district known as the Grachtengordel. Braving Amsterdam’s crazy canal traffic they visit one of the most elegant canal-side mansions of Holland’s Golden Age.

Skies Above Britain (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 24th August 2016)

A look at the hidden world of the skies above us and the stories of the people who spend their life in flight. At NATS, air traffic controllers guide a passenger jet with a major technical fault safely back to the ground and respond to an unidentified flying object detected on the radar screens. The biggest air race in the world is taking place at Ascot and British Airways captain Paul Bonhomme is out to win the title for a second time before retiring. The aerial slalom course is high risk, with pilots flying at speeds of up to 230mph, metres above the ground. Stefan is a YouTube blogger with a new camera-drone.

Britain’s Hardest Workers: Inside the Low Wage Economy (BBC 2/HD | 7:00pm to 8:00pm | Thursday 25th August 2016)

Volunteers test their skills against some of the fastest growing jobs in Britain’s low-wage sector. It is over half way through the experiment and now just six workers remain. This time, they are working in manufacturing – a sector that has been in decline in the UK but is showing signs of a revival. What does it take to make the grade working in a car parts company and who will cut it in the textile industry? While the workers get to grips with the levels of skill demanded of them – and all for minimum wage – Anita Rani is finding out why Britain’s productivity lags so far behind other G7 nations and whether we want more manufacturing jobs here at all.

Full Steam Ahead (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 25th August 2016)

Historians Ruth Goodman, Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn explore how the Victorian railways created modern Britain. In the final episode, the team find out how increased leisure time and affordable rail transport brought a new kind of freedom for working-class Victorians. Ruth travels from Paignton to Kingswear, where she helps get a paddle steamer prepared for a journey up the River Dart. At Swanage, Peter finds out what it was like to work on the excursion trains and the impact mass tourism had to the area. Alex learns how railways enabled geologists and amateur fossil-hunters to explore Britain’s prehistoric past.

Britain’s Hardest Workers: Inside the Low Wage Economy (BBC 2/HD | 7:00pm to 8:00pm | Friday 26th August 2016)

Volunteers test their skills against some of the fastest growing jobs in Britain’s low-wage sector. In the final two days of the experiment, the five remaining workers take on the highest paid employment of the low-wage sector, but it is also the most physically and mentally demanding – night work. As the workers do an all-night shift at a warehouse, Anita Rani is finding out if there is a price to pay for earning these premium rates. For their final task, the workers are doing a shift for a busy pizza take-away outlet. It is the most challenging job they have faced so far and the winner will walk away with a life-changing bonus.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 13/08/2016

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Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 17th August 2016)

Timothy West and Prunella Scales embark on more spectacular canal journeys. This time they travel to Venice. The journey begins 14 miles west of Venice on the Brenta, a river that was first canalised in the 13th century. Lined with palaces that were once holiday homes for Venetian nobility, they follow the route that Casanova and Lord Byron took to the city. After crossing the Venetian lagoon, Tim and Pru arrive at St Mark’s Square, where they escape the busy Grand Canal and discover the tranquillity and beauty of the smaller canals that tourists rarely see. Their journey’s end is on the marshy island of Torcello, the place where Venice began.

Skies Above Britain (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 17th August 2016)

Flying into Danger. The first episode explores how our skies are safeguarded. Air traffic controllers deal with an unidentified aircraft flying across Gatwick’s flight path, and the RAF scramble a typhoon jet to intercept an unresponsive plane. We follow the RAF pilots training to fly Britain’s front-line combat aircraft. Trainees face a gruelling series of tests, including being subject to high gravitational forces in a centrifuge and experiencing rapid air decompression and training for emergency scenarios. In Humberside, the helicopter crews of HM Search and Rescue are often the only aircraft that fly when the skies are treacherous. We follow the crew on a dangerous mountain rescue, flying through thick fog to reach an injured hiker. Elsewhere, two vintage plane enthusiasts explore their continued passion for flight, despite having faced personal tragedy in the air.

Full Steam Ahead (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 18th August 2016)

Historians Ruth Goodman, Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn explore how the Victorian railways created modern Britain. The team head to the South Devon Railway to explore the life of the branch line before the Beeching cuts of the 1960s. Ruth discovers how the railways came to the rescue when a deadly disease wiped out almost the entire stock of London cattle. After undergoing an eyesight test, Victorian-style, Peter joins the footplate crew on the South Devon line. We meet Dave Knowling, a steam-engine driver who shows Peter how it is done and why it is so important to keep one eye closed when shovelling coal. Working on the Victorian railways was dangerous – 500 lost their lives and 16,000 were injured in one year alone. Ruth discovers those who lost limbs on the Great Western Railway were catered for by a special prosthetic limbs workshop. Alex and Peter take a trip to Strathspey Railway and find out about one of Scotland’s most lucrative exports.

Amazing Spaces: Shed of the Year (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 19th August 2016)

After months scouring the country for the most ingenious and eccentric sheds, the overall winner of Shed of the Year 2016 is announced. But first there are two more categories to explore. The Budget category includes a colourful beach house made for just £20 and a shed that actually earned its owner £100 in profit. The Cabins and Summerhouses group features a classic van and a dream structure in an allotment. Next, George and his fellow judges must choose one shed from all the category winners across the series to crown as the overall winner.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 02/04/2016

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Employable Me - 06-04-2016 - YouView appGreat Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 3rd April 2016)

Timothy West and Prunella Scales conclude their latest series of boat journeys with a trip down the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal, one of Britain’s most picturesque waterways. The couple return to some of the scenes of their early lives together and also revisit the start of their acting careers in an episode that also serves as a tribute to William Shakespeare. Accompanied by Tim’s daughter and her family, they travel through the gentle Warwickshire countryside and cross the longest aqueduct in England. When they reach Stratford-upon-Avon, they visit the Royal Shakespeare Company, before putting on a performance at the church where Shakespeare is buried.

The Food Chain (Channel 4/HD | 8:30pm to 9:00pm | Monday 4th April 2016)

This new food series follows the journeys made by Britain’s best-loved foods; from field, farm, and sea, all the way to our supermarket aisles, kitchens, cafes and some of the country’s top restaurants. The series reveals the inner workings and secrets of the UK’s food distribution web, exploring where our food comes from and how what we eat connects us all. The second episode follows two British seasonal delights – succulent cherry tomatoes from the Isle of Wight and Cornish sardines – on a whistle-stop cross-country journey, before arriving at various locations, including the Google office’s lunchtime menu, or as part of a mouth-watering feast for the GB Rowers squad.

The Tube: Going Underground (Channel 5 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 4th April 2016)

Documentary series following the work of the staff who keep London’s underground train service running smoothly. As the network braces itself for the night of the living dead, there is fury as massive engineering works disrupt one of the Tube’s busiest stations, and the emergency response team are sent to St John’s Wood, where passengers have reported hearing gunfire.

James May: The Reassembler (BBC 4/HD | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Monday 4th April 2016)

Series in which James May explores the intricacies and engineering marvels of various objects by putting them back together again from a pile of hundreds of their component parts. Not only must he make sure every piece is put back together in order, and explain the purpose of every single nut and bolt, he also has to hope that the reassembled machine will actually work at the end of the process. In the opening episode, James is faced with the 331 pieces that make up a 1959 petrol lawnmower. The Suffolk Colt helped make mowing accessible to the masses by producing a smaller and affordable machine to keep our nations lawns at regulation height. As this is a petrol lawnmower, James’s first task is to put the engine back together before he gets to grips with the gearing, the clutch and the blades themselves. Armed only with his toolbox and an endless supply of tea, James experiences the highs and lows only possible when attempting to put history back together again, piece by piece.

Inside Obama’s White House (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 5th April 2016)

The story of how Barack Obama tried to reshape America, as told by his inner circle and the president himself. Episode four begins with president Obama’s decision to launch the special operation into Pakistan, to catch Osama Bin Laden. Former CIA director Leon Panetta describes how Obama decides to go ahead despite odds no better than 50:50 and the strong misgivings of top advisors. As his re-election campaign gears up, Obama has to make a tough choice on contraception – whether to side with the Catholic bishops, or health secretary Kathleen Sebelius and feminist activists. Obama chooses the women and they contribute to his convincing election victory. But soon after his re-election, America is shocked by the Sandy Hook massacre. The families of the victims and senior advisor Valerie Jarrett recall the president’s attempts to strengthen gun legislation but they are defeated by the gun lobby. Obama’s other ambitious reforms fared no better.

James May: The Reassembler (BBC 4/HD | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Tuesday 5th April 2016)

Series in which James May explores the intricacies and engineering marvels of various objects by putting them back together again from a pile of hundreds of their component parts. He tackles a 1957 Bakelite dial telephone – 211 pieces, most of them very small indeed, must be reassembled in the correct order if this telephone is ever to ring again. From the receiver with its carbon filings that enable speech to be amplified, to the electrical pulses created by the dial itself that connect the phone to the outside world, James soon discovers that every single piece of the telephone played a crucial role in revolutionising communication around the world.

Secret Britain (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 6th April 2016)

Series exploring the hidden corners of the UK and revealing landscape secrets.

Employable Me (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 6th April 2016)

Ellie has Tourette’s syndrome and Ben has autism. Both are desperate to find work and have strengths that would benefit employers. 23-year-old Ellie lead a perfectly normal life until two years ago when, out of the blue, she started yelling marshmallow in a supermarket. Ellie was forced to leave her job as a youth worker because she can’t control the words that come out of her mouth. Thanks to a neuropsychologist, she discovers that her condition is linked to superior strengths in areas such as empathy and a new career avenue is opened up to her. 27-year-old Ben has a form of autism called Asperger’s syndrome and finds the world an extremely challenging place. Ben has devoted his adult life to studying law and has two degrees under his belt. Despite his credentials, no law firm has ever given him an interview in the three years since he graduated. When Ben meets autism expert Professor Simon Baron Cohen, he realizes that Asperger’s syndrome shouldn’t just be seen as a disability.

James May: The Reassembler (BBC 4/HD | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Wednesday 6th April 2016)

Series in which James May explores the intricacies and engineering marvels of various objects by putting them back together again from a pile of hundreds of their component parts. James concludes his quest with an electric guitar. 147 pieces must be reassembled carefully and in the correct order, which will entail soldering, extensive use of James’s precision Japanese screwdrivers and some fiddly electronics. The electric guitar transformed the music industry and society itself and, channelling his namesake Brian, James will plug in his reassembled guitar and hope he put all the bits together correctly as he gets ready to perform one of most unexpected guitar solos of all time.

How to Stay Young (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 7th April 2016)

In this new two-part series, Angela Rippon and Dr Chris van Tulleken travel the world in search of the latest science that could help us all stay young and healthy for longer. They investigate the best ways to help both our bodies and brains age better. Up first is the body, and Angela travels to Germany to join a groundbreaking study which reveals the exercise that holds off ageing the most. Chris visits America to find out about the unexpected diet that can add years to our lives. And in Ecuador we meet a seventeen-year-old who looks like a child to discover how scientists hope he may hold the key to preventing the diseases of ageing.

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

Julia Bradbury chooses some of her favourite and most accessible family treks from across the UK, in search of the perfect walk with a view suitable for all experience levels. Starting in picturesque Winchcombe, Julia takes up the many walking trails on offer to discover an ancient burial mound and a historic castle, before taking in the spectacular views from the top of Cleeve Hill, the highest point in Gloucestershire.

Billy Connolly’s Tracks Across America (itv/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 8th April 2016)

Billy Connolly continues his travels on the US rail network, taking in the vast and astonishing landscapes that make up America’s backyard. This week’s journey kicks off in the north-west city of Portland, where Billy meets farmer Tom, a veg grower turned organic cannabis producer, before heading to California to see some elephant seals. En route he hears some extraordinary real-life hobo tales and visits the unique folk art architectural sprawl that is Nitt Witt Ridge. Next, he visits the deserts of Arizona, including a border control site and a former nuclear missile silo, before finishing this leg of the journey in the Texas border city of El Paso, where he succumbs to the charms of a luche libre wrestler and visits the cowboy boot factory that made his boots.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 26/03/2016

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Inside Obama's White House - 29-03-2016 - YouView appGreat Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 27th March 2016)

Timothy West and Prunella Scales continue their Swedish canal odyssey, travelling west to east across the breadth of the country. In the second leg of the voyage they follow the ancient route of the Vikings and visit Stockholm, navigating the city’s canals and heading out into the far-flung islands of the archipelago. They also visit Drottningholm Palace Theatre and meet Wallander actor Krister Henriksson.

The Tube: Going Underground (Channel 5 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 28th March 2016)

Documentary series following the work of the staff who keep London’s underground train service running smoothly. At Victoria, the closure of the ticket office creates problems, Greenford opens a new lift that goes sideways and 72-year-old customer service assistant Philippa calls it a day.

Eddie Izzard: Marathon Man for Sport Relief (BBC 2/HD | 9:40pm to 10:40pm | Monday 28th March 2016)

Eddie Izzard pushes his body and sense of humour to the limit for Sport Relief as he takes on an immense challenge – travelling to South Africa to run 27 marathons in 27 days to mark the 27 years that his hero Nelson Mandela spent in prison. It is a gruelling, uplifting and hilarious journey through baking heat, high roads and hospitals – but can Eddie make it to the final finish line?

Inside Obama’s White House (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 29th March 2016)

The story of how Barack Obama tried to reshape America, as told by his inner circle and the president himself. Episode three explores how Obama set out to end George Bush’s wars in the Middle East. In Cairo he speaks to the Arab world, calling democracy a human right. Two years later when protest erupts in Tahrir Square, the president is torn between Hillary Clinton, who believes Hosni Mubarak provides regional stability, and his young advisors, who are in tune with the promise of the Arab Spring. A similar test arises in Libya and Obama agrees to join allies in airstrikes against Colonel Gaddafi. In Syria, when evidence shows the use of chemical weapons, Obama decides to bomb. But when the British parliament votes against intervention, he decides he needs the backing of Congress. This episode also explores how Obama negotiated a secret deal to end the nuclear threat from Iran. Secretary of state John Kerry tells how he worked through the night to secure the outlines of the deal.

Secret Britain (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 30th March 2016)

Series exploring the hidden corners of the UK and revealing landscape secrets. Ellie Harrison, Chris Hollins and Denise Lewis explore the Lake District. Parachuting in – quite literally – Ellie Harrison gets a unique perspective on England’s most popular national park, and she is also let in on the secret of an ancient and long forgotten part of the Cumbrian landscape. Meanwhile, Denise Lewis gets to the botton of the Lakes’ dark and illicit past, and Chris Hollins is coaxed up a sheer cliff face by one of the world’s best climbers – and rewarded with a spectacular view that only a handful of people ever get to see.

Employable Me (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 30th March 2016)

Tom has Tourette’s syndrome and Ashley has autism. Both want to find work and have strengths that would benefit employers. Due to Tourette’s, Tom has uncontrollable motor tics, and screeches and meows like a cat, a condition which meant he struggled through school and university. Due to the severity of his tics, he has found it impossible to start a career. After meeting an occupational psychologist, he begins to search for a career that he can finally excel in. 29-year-old Ashley has Asperger’s syndrome. Despite being highly intelligent, he’s never had a job, and he has a tendency to obsess. One of his biggest obsessions is the Victorian era – he dresses like a Victorian gentleman, complete with top hat. When he meets autism expert Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, he discovers that some obsessions can be valuable if treated as an area of expertise. If Ashley can find a job that taps into his creativity and obsession with Victoriana, he could turn his job hunt around.

The Restoration Man (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 31st March 2016)

George Clarke returns to Harrogate to see how Carol and Majid Nadry have finished converting their brick water tower into their dream home. After the huge delays and eye-watering legal costs of sorting planning and access restrictions, the couple have finally built the two-storey extension that was the key to creating a family home with character. George sees h

Best Walks with a View with Julia Bradbury (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Friday 1st April 2016)

Julia Bradbury chooses some of her favourite and most accessible family treks from across the UK, in search of the perfect walk with a view suitable for all experience levels. The series explores coastal, mountain, valley and river walks and features accessible route maps, pub and picnic options and stunning aerial perspectives. Heading off on a round-trip walk from Malham village, Julia takes in the magical Janet’s Foss waterfall, the awe-inspiring Gordale Scar and stunning limestone pavement at Malham Cove with its spectacular views across the Yorkshire Dales.

Billy Connolly’s Tracks Across America (itv/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 1st April 2016)

Billy Connolly starts a journey all round the United States as he travels on America’s rail network from Chicago to New York, taking in the vast and astonishing landscapes that make up America’s backyard. The first episode begins in Chicago, before stopping at Minnesota State Fair and a former oil boom town in North Dakota. He yodels with cowboys and stops off at Montana’s answer to Glasgow, a far cry from the Scottish city of the same name he is so familiar with. Billy ends the first leg of his journey at a tent city in Seattle, a unique answer to homelessness.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 1st April 2016)

The seventh series of the critically acclaimed award-winning show comes to an end. Charlotte Church joins Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker as they tear into the weird and wonderful talking points of the week in front of a live studio audience.

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

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