Tag: Silent Witness

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.

2016

30 January 2016

gsvalentine

TV this week No Comments

Call the Midwife (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 31st January 2016)

A outbreak of typhoid erupts, and suspicion over who the carrier could be threatens to break apart a closely knit family. Sister Winfred faces a personal dilemma when a local teacher is revealed to be pregnant by a married man. When the woman takes matters into her own hands, Sister Winifred is forced to consider the role her own prejudices may have played. Meanwhile, Barbara inadvertently agrees to go to dinner with Tom, but is wracked with worry about how Trixie will react.

Great American Railroad Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 1st February 2016)

Michael Portillo rides the railroads of America, armed with Appleton’s General Guide to the United States, published in 1879. Michael begins his American odyssey in New York City. Starting at Grand Central Terminal, the ‘gateway to the nation’, he boards the Manhattan subway system, the busiest rail transit system in the US. His first stop is the Rockefeller Centre, where he gets a bird’s eye view of Manhattan Island and learns how about the technology which enabled the city to build up. Portillo heads to the Financial District, where, over a Lobster Newberg, he finds out how the dodgy political dealings of the era’s famous industrialists earned them the nickname ‘Robber Barons’. He observes their better side at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as he learns that philanthropy helped the city’s burgeoning art scene, before finishing his journey midtown, among the bright lights of Broadway.

Griff’s Great Britain (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Monday 1st February 2016)

Griff Rhys Jones sets out to explore some of Britain’s most stunning landscapes. In this episode, Griff looks at the British passion for being beside the sea, visiting a unique stretch of the British coastline. Beginning at the historic North Yorkshire seaside town of Scarborough, he then travels up to the picturesque port of Whitby for some ghostly adventures.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 1st February 2016)

The Lyell team investigate the shooting of a family who were picnicking by the river. DCI Butcher, leading the investigation, soon focuses on the female victim’s estranged husband. However, DS Guillam, a local detective working on the case, is haunted by the death of a young woman near the river ten years ago and sees an opportunity to redeem himself. A medical registrar is reminded of the same death a decade ago – the victim was her friend – and she is forced to confront the high-powered people she has been trying desperately to forget.

Great American Railroad Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Tuesday 2nd February 2016)

Michael Portillo rides the railroads of America, armed with Appleton’s General Guide to the United States, published in 1879. Michael continues his American journey in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, where he narrowly avoids a scrap with an historic gang of New York and visits the grim tenement buildings where thousands of the city’s immigrants lived and worked. In the West Side, Michael discovers how a once lethal run of track has been transformed into a public park, raised above the city streets. Forsaking the rails for a ferry, Michael heads for Ellis Island, where some 12 million immigrants entered America. Michael is given a privileged tour of the gleaming new transport hub under construction close to the site of Ground Zero.

The Secret Life of the Zoo (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 2nd February 2016)

This new series reveals the secret life of the animals of Chester Zoo, Britain’s most popular zoo, using new micro-rig technology to capture in incredible detail the remarkable behaviour of the animals and their close relationships with their keepers. In the first episode, the zoo’s Asian elephant family welcome a new arrival. Grumpy matriarch Thi has been pregnant for almost two years and is reaching the end of her tether. She’s given birth to a stillborn baby in the past, so the keepers have a close eye on her. Not everyone in the family is looking forward to the birth. Playful Hari, the youngest member of the herd, is feeling left out. No longer the golden child, he starts acting up, taking his frustrations out on grandmother Sithami.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 2nd February 2016)

As DCI Butcher moves closer to charging the estranged husband of the family killed at the picnic, Jack and Nikki join DS Guillam in search of the truth. The team begin to realise they may have been looking down the wrong end of the telescope, and their lives are thrown into mortal danger. Soon enough, they are thrust into an unexpected and depraved world, and further murders are discovered. Jack and Nikki must fight to escape and bring those responsible to justice. Meanwhile, Amy’s dark past begins to catch up with her and she must decide whether to keep it buried or confront it head-on, risking her medical career and everything else in order to escape her demons. Amy’s nightmare and the Lyell’s investigation begin to converge. And when the crimes are linked to people in very high places, the team experience the difficulty of bringing the rich and powerful to justice.

Great American Railroad Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Wednesday 3rd February 2016)

Michael Portillo rides the railroads of America, armed with Appleton’s General Guide to the United States, published in 1879. From Manhattan, Michael follows his Appleton’s Guide east, travelling on the Long Island Railroad. He begins in Brooklyn, where he learns the incredible story behind the world’s first steel suspension bridge. Divided by a common language, Michael struggles to order a pizza before continuing to Queens and the site of an ambitious engineering project that will transform New York City’s rail network. Moving east through Long Island, he visits one of the country’s most decadent mansions, owned by an oil tycoon known as Mr Monopoly, where he gets into a flap dancing the Charleston, before ending his journey on Long Island’s eastern most tip at New York’s first lighthouse.

Great American Railroad Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Thursday 4th February 2016)

Michael Portillo rides the railroads of America, armed with Appleton’s General Guide to the United States, published in 1879. Michael follows America’s mighty Hudson River north, riding on the United States’ national rail carrier service, Amtrak. He learns from Amtrak’s police chief about some of the nation’s most infamous train robbers, then upriver at Tarrytown, he is spooked by the stories of one of America’s greatest writers, Washington Irving, author of Sleepy Hollow. On the east bank of the Hudson, he stops at Garrison, site of many guerrilla battles during the Wars of Independence, where he hears about the greatest turncoat in American history and learns about the many famous military leaders who trained at West Point.

Cats v Dogs: Which is Best? (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 4th February 2016)

Chris Packham and Liz Bonnin battle it out to find the definitive answer to the burning question – which are best, cats or dogs? Based at one of Britain’s largest cat and dog veterinary centres, Chris and Liz test different aspects of each animal. Round one tests whether either species can understand numbers. In Vienna, Chris discovers that dogs can discriminate between higher and lower numbers of dots and Liz tries out the test on cats with surprising results. Round two tests which animal has the better vision, sense of smell and hearing. Chris challenges sniffer dog Boris to find him in a busy city. The final round looks at whether cats or dogs are the most physically agile by testing which can jump the highest, which is the fastest sprinter and which the best endurance runner. Chris also comes face to face with a pack of wolves whilst Liz confronts an Arabian wild cat. Together, they put our favourite pets under the microscope to see how they compare.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm 1o 10:00pm | Thursday 4th February 2016)

DI Goodman’s aunt Mary comes to visit him, but things take an unexpected turn when she becomes the only witness to the murder of a tourist. Some unorthodox advice on love from Dwayne leaves JP in a spin.

Great American Railroad Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 5th February 2016)

Michael Portillo rides the railroads of America, armed with Appleton’s General Guide to the United States, published in 1879. Michael Portillo continues his railroad journey through New York State following his Appleton’s Guide. Beginning in the city of Poughkeepsie, he visits a famous all-female university, alma mater of Jane Fonda and Meryl Streep. He discovers the tumultuous history of the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge and follows the train line up to the Catskill Mountains, admiring its picturesque scenery from an altogether different type of line – a zip wire. Back on safe ground, he discovers that the dramatic landscape inspired artists of the Hudson River School. Arriving in New York’s state capital, Albany, he samples a drop of Albany Ale before rubbing shoulders with the State Senator.

Landward Special – The Great Scottish Flood (BBC 1 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Friday 5th February 2016)

A special edition of Scotland’s countryside magazine. Dougie Vipond and the team meet the homeowners, landowners and farmers who bore the brunt of this winter’s extreme flooding. They ask what can be done to protect people from such dramatic damage ever again.

Shetland (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 5th February 2016)

The murder investigation takes Perez and Tosh to Glasgow as they try to uncover the reasons behind Maguire’s brutal death and his connection to Robbie Morton. But old ghosts return to haunt Perez as his enemies try to prevent him from getting to the truth.

Walks Around Britain (Community Channel | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Friday 5th February 2016)

Series featuring inspirational walks from around Britain. Andrew White walks above and alongside 2 large bodies of water – Ladybower Reservoir and Windermere.

The Last Leg Goes Down Under (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:10pm | Friday 5th February 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 with the help of blind adventure travel guide Amar Latif. In the concluding show, having driven the length of the Northern Territory, the lads have one week to get from the opal mining town of Coober Pedy to Sydney in time to meet Adam’s 97-year-old grandfather. En route they try mining for opals, survive dressing in drag in an edgy town, hunt wild boars and go the full ‘Mad Max’. Josh and Alex are struggling with Adam’s transformation from mildly Aussie suburbanite to the most Australian thing since Mick Dundee and his attempts to Aussie-up the pair of them. Will their matey rapport survive the arduous journey or is this the last straw for The Last Leg?

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

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

23 January 2016

gsvalentine

TV this week No Comments

Horse (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

16 January 2016

gsvalentine

TV this week No Comments

Call 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

9 January 2016

gsvalentine

TV this week No Comments

My 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

2 January 2016

gsvalentine

TV this week No Comments

Great 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.

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 31/01/2015

31 January 2015

gsvalentine

TV this week No Comments

Call the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 1st February 2015)

Drama about a group of midwives in 1950s London. The Nonnatus team rallies to support first-time parents Marie and Tony Amos when Tony is arrested for gross indecency with another male. Elsewhere, as Poplar is gripped by an outbreak of dysentery, Trixie undertakes her first official church duty since her engagement to Tom.

Top Gear (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 1st February 2015)

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May embark on a grand road trip across Australia’s Northern Territory. Tasked with picking a fast, luxurious GT for the trip, Clarkson chooses a BMW M6 Gran Coupe, Hammond a Bentley Continental GT V8 and May a Nissan GT-R, as the trio set out on an adventure that takes in crocodile-infested rivers, a race around a vast open-cast mine, an encounter with the world’s longest lorries and the majestic scenery of one of the world’s least-inhabited landscapes. Their dusty endeavour concludes with an unusual challenge involving a farm, their cars and 4,000 cows. Also in this episode, Hollywood legend Kiefer Sutherland is the star in the Reasonably Priced Car.

Our Guy in India (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:05pm | Sunday 1st February 2015)

Guy Martin has a love for adventure and they don’t come much bigger than an epic 1000-mile trip across India, culminating in one of the world’s maddest bike races. Rider Mania is the largest gathering of Royal Enfield motorbikes on the planet. Guy wants to ride there and win it at the end of his two-week trip. Along the way, Guy, with his love of tea, lorry repair, motorbikes and daredevil risk taking, introduces viewers to a rarely-seen side of modern India. Only Guy would want to visit the largest lorry repair yard in Asia.

The Mountain (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only| 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 2nd February 2015)

Series charting life around Cairngorm, at the heart of Scotland’s greatest winter wilderness. In this edition, the villagers help to dig the mountain out of trouble. Simon decides that, despite it being winter, Aviemore needs a beach party. And following recuperation from an accident that broke both his ankles, barmen Brett gets back to boarding.

Waterloo Road (BBC Three/HD | 8:30pm to 9:30pm | Monday 2nd February 2015)

With the PTA visiting Havelock High, Vaughan thinks his only worry is Steph Norton. When Havelock are invited back to Waterloo Road, there are erotic novels, exploding science labs and cyber bullying to try and keep from their sight.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 2nd February 2015)

Rising star of the police, Sergeant Sam Honeywell, is found beaten and shot in his burnt-out car in Essex. The police are up in arms in what is a hugely emotive and political case for them, and DCI Jim Sullivan is determined to nail Honeywell’s killer. But when local drug dealer and son of known crime boss Dean Fallon seems to have his alibi sewn up, suspicion shifts closer to home. Honeywell is discovered to have been in an affair with Kate Parry, wife of his best friend, Sergeant Carl Parry. It looks bad for Parry, and Jack reveals details of Honeywell’s final moments, which hits Sullivan hard – he had been like a father to the murdered cop.

Alex Polizzi: The Fixer (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 3rd February 2015)

Alex Polizzi, champion of small businesses, finds fixes for the critical issues that kill so many companies. In this episode, Alex looks at getting your product right. Big Space is a children’s soft-play centre run by Lester and Sue Adams. Setting the business up from scratch, the couple remortgaged their house and ploughed all their savings into the business. But their product is woeful and, to compound the challenge, they must serve two distinct customers: both parent and child. Privileged access to Pret A Manger’s training academy unearths some groundbreaking philosophies, and a visit to Londons largest family restaurant, the Rainforest Café, reveals the importance of themed fun. Can Alex get this small company to realise the importance of customer satisfaction?

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 3rd February 2015)

Forensic crime drama series. Known Essex criminal Jason Simons is found murdered in too similar a way to Honeywell to be a coincidence – beaten, shot and dumped. But as anomalies in his post mortem start to stack up, it is discovered that Simons was not what he seems. The team find traces of drugs on Simons’s penknife that point to a major importation, but his bereaved girlfriend Tess does not seem to know anything about it. Suspicion turns back to Dean Fallon, but a discovery in his medical records and the death of the Fallon family lawyer Ben Osrin takes the investigation in an unexpected new direction.

Inside the Commons (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 3rd February 2015)

Four-part documentary series about the inner workings of the House of Commons. Presented by Michael Cockerell, this series takes an unprecedented look at the heart of British democracy in the run up to the 2015 general election. Cockerell talks to two relatively new female MPs, Charlotte Leslie and Sarah Champion, learning the ways of the House; he takes a look behind the scenes on budget day; he meets a maintenance team abseiling down the face of Big Ben and the gospel-singing tea lady Gladys who works in the members’ tea room; he learns what life is like for the Commons’ most powerful official, the clerk of the house Sir Robert Rogers, whose job is to keep the whole show on the road; and David Cameron and Ed Miliband reveal what happens at prime minister’s questions.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pn to 10:00pm | Thursday 5th February 2015)

The team is introduced to the crazy world of rock and roll when the lead singer of a band is murdered on Saint Marie. Can DI Goodman keep control of the unruly suspects for long enough to solve the crime?

Cucumber (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 5th February 2015)

In the third episode, Henry stumbles into a dangerous trap when Freddie meets his old school teacher, Gregory, and sets out for revenge. Lance takes action and cuts Henry off completely, while at work, Daniel’s attempts to help seem to hint at something more. Is Lance imagining things, or is Daniel not as straight as he seems?

Banana (E4 | 10:00pm to 10:35pm | Thursday 5th February 2015)

In the third episode, two lives collide when uptight Sian meets wild-at-heart Violet. Opposites might attract for a while, but how long can this couple last?

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 6th February 2015)

Adam Hills and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker are joined by Stephen Mangan to review the main talking points of the week with irreverence and satire. The show features the all-encompassing question ‘Is It Ok?’ as viewers at home, as well as the studio audience, ask questions about anything from the week, without fear of judgement. Once again, the three hosts step into the minefield of sometimes difficult and delicate areas to answer the questions with their own inimitable insight.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 24/01/2015

24 January 2015

gsvalentine

TV this week No Comments

Call the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 25th January 2015)

Drama about a group of midwives in 1950s London, based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth. Barbara faces her most challenging case to date when she treats first-time mother Abigail Bissette and the birth does not go according to plan. As Sister Julienne struggles with the increasing financial pressure on Nonnatus House, a mystery benefactor comes to the rescue. Elsewhere Sister Evangelina is unimpressed by newly arrived nurse Phyllis Crane.

Top Gear (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 25th January 2015)

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May are in Russia for an incredible race across the vast and beautiful urban landscape of St Petersburg. With their chosen methods of transportation – a tiny Renault, a bicycle and a hovercraft – they race each other and The Stig, who is silently making his way towards the finish line on public transport, across town. Hammond also heads to the test track to find out if the dramatic new Lamborghini Huracan is as flamboyant and fun as an Italian supercar should be. Plus, another top celebrity guest tests their steely eyed driving skills as the star in the Reasonably Priced Car.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 26th January 2015)

Michael Portillo embarks on a new journey from west Wales to East Anglia. Beginning at Pembroke Dock, Michael visits the dockyard where Queen Victoria’s royal yachts were built. He investigates what caused riotous rebels to dress up as women in Narberth and spends the night at an inn in Carmarthen, where Admiral Lord Nelson once met Lady Emma Hamilton. After flagging down the steam train to ride on the Carmarthen-to-Aberystwyth railway, Michael pitches in with the volunteers who look after the Gwili heritage line. In Swansea, on the estate of one of the pioneers of British photography, Michael learns how to pose for a photograph in Victorian style.

The Mountain (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 26th January 2015)

Series charting life around Cairngorm, at the heart of Scotland’s greatest winter wilderness. In this edition the new year starts with some of the biggest snowstorms for years and the team on the mountain face a major struggle to keep it open. Burns Night means a busy time for Spud the piper and Fraser the butcher. And the mountain men take part in a 24-hour endurance race.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 26th January 2015)

Forensic crime drama series. A shootout at a City hotel leaves young Ukrainian nanny Sofia Teplov dead, along with an unknown hitman. The Russian oligarch target Maksim Bazhanov narrowly escapes. Nikki and Jack work with young City DI Sarah Parks to ascertain the identity of the dead hitman and find out who is trying to kill Bazhanov and why. Jack is drawn to Sarah, impressed by her ability to juggle work and family when he finds out her daughter has a rare childhood cancer. The discovery of the hitmen’s identities as ex-army frustrates the team when they realise they could have been hired by any number of paymasters.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Tuesday 27th January 2015)

Michael Portillo continues his journey from Pembroke Dock to Cambridge. On this leg, he begins in the ruinous gardens at Aberglasney in Llandeilo before riding shotgun in the driver’s cab on the Heart of Wales Line on one of the most scenic routes in Britain. En route, Michael learns about the Victorian signalling system still in place today and struggles with his Welsh pronunciation. Over the border in Leominster, Michael steps out on to the dance floor at the Lion Hotel Ballroom, where a grand ball was held to celebrate the opening of the Ludlow to Hereford railway. He finishes this leg of his journey at a traditional cider house in Hereford, where he is invited to enjoy the fruits of his labour.

Alex Polizzi: The Fixer (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 27th January 2015)

Alex Polizzi, champion of small businesses, finds fixes for the critical issues that kill so many companies. In this episode, Alex helps a seaside business struggling with change. In 2012, Marlene and Ray Messer followed their seaside dream and bought the Singing Kettle tearooms in Torquay. But seaside business has changed enormously over the years and their cafe has taken a turn for the worse. Alex visits luxury bakery Konditor and Cook to investigate what today’s cake-buying customer desires. Can she get the Singing Kettle to brush off the cobwebs of a bygone coastal era and learn to identify a new target market?

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 27th January 2015)

Forensic crime drama series. A young woman working for the Doshi property moguls, Amy Greenwood, is found dead in Maksim Bazhanov’s apartment. Maksim is discovered to have been in a relationship with Yasmin Doshi. Nikki, Jack and Thomas ingeniously prove that foul play was involved in Amy’s death and help the police find the missing Bazhanov. Amy’s mother Justine is a powerful player in the City Assembly and, fuelled by the death of her daughter, she puts pressure on DI Sarah Parks’s investigation. Suspicion soon falls on Adam Lansley of FreeLondon, a violent activist known to target the super-rich. But Maksim is a powerful man with many enemies, and the team find one of them where they least expect it.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Wednesday 28th January 2015)

Armed with his Bradshaw’s guidebook, Michael Portillo makes his way from west Wales across Britain to Cambridge. On this leg, he begins underground at Big Pit coal mine in Blaenavon, where he learns how Victorians toiled night and day to power the industrial revolution. On the River Usk, Michael casts a line and learns about nineteenth-century developments in angling. On rebellious turf in Ascott-under-Wychwood, Michael discovers the Ascott Martyrs and lends a hand ploughing on the farm where they struck their early blow for labourers’ rights. Michael’s last stop today is Hanborough and Blenheim Palace, where he investigates a fire described in his Bradshaw’s which is said to have claimed some risque art.

The Restoration Man (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 28th January 2015)

After living in a bungalow for 25 years, Yorkshire couple Carol and Majid Nadry embark on an ambitious mid-life adventure: buying an empty brick water tower to turn into a five-storey home. As they battle with the huge rusting water tank on top of the building, they encounter devastating legal problems. Unexpected costs hit their budget, but the couple refuse to give up on turning the faceless brick monolith into a one-off design. George encourages and advises Carol and Majid to see their daunting challenge through, and details the seismic changes in architectural history that this building’s humble appearance conceals.

Churchill: The Nation’s Farewell (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 28th January 2015)

On the 50th anniversary of Winston Churchill’s death, Jeremy Paxman tells the story of his state funeral and examines whether Churchill’s immense legacy still has resonance today. He meets a wide range of people who were involved in the events of that day, from soldiers who bore the coffin, to members of Churchill’s close family. He hears from Boris Johnson, author of a new book on Churchill, and from a London docker who remembers that some of the dock workers had misgivings about saluting the passing coffin with their cranes as it passed down the Thames on a launch after the ceremony at St Paul’s. The funeral ended at the village churchyard of Bladon where Churchill was laid to rest alongside his father, Randolph. At the close of the film, Paxman reflects that no statesman has come close to rivalling Winston Churchill in the half a century since the nation mourned his passing.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 29th January 2015)

When a bride-to-be is killed on the last night of her hen party, DI Goodman tries to unravel a seemingly impossible murder. Meanwhile Camille has a big decision to make.

Cucumber (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 29th January 2015)

Sixteen years after Queer as Folk exploded on to the screen, award-winning writer Russell T Davies returns with Cucumber, Banana and Tofu; three new interlinked shows for Channel 4, E4 and online. Cucumber and Banana are two original drama series exploring the passions and pitfalls of 21st century gay life, while Tofu is an online documentary series that explores all facets of contemporary sex culture. In the second episode, Henry begins his new life, but Freddie marks out the battle lines – can they ever be friends, let alone anything more? Lance tries to work out where Henry’s gone, and enlists Cleo’s help, but only Cliff is devious enough to work out the truth – and when Henry’s workplace becomes a battleground, the stakes are raised higher than ever.

Banana (E4 | 10:00pm to 10:35pm | Thursday 29th January 2015)

Sixteen years after Queer as Folk exploded on to the screen, award-winning writer Russell T Davies returns with Cucumber, Banana and Tofu; three new interlinked shows for Channel 4, E4 and online. Cucumber and Banana are two original drama series exploring the passions and pitfalls of 21st century gay life, while Tofu is an online documentary series that explores all facets of contemporary sex culture. On E4, Banana is a series of eight witty, heartfelt and unique stand-alone stories covering different aspects of LGBT life. This series, which features exciting and emerging talent from the fields of acting, writing and directing, offers an intriguing and often unexpected peek into the individual lives, loves and losses of a range of diverse characters. In the second episode, when Scotty sees Yvonne, it’s love at first sight. But as love turns to obsession, Scotty’s life spirals out of control…

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 30th January 2015)

On the final leg of his journey from west Wales to East Anglia, Michael Portillo begins in Oakham, where he learns of a noble tradition dating back to the Middle Ages. Following in the footsteps of peers over the centuries, he determines to take part. Heading east to Stamford, Michael discovers why the town is such an attractive location for period dramas and takes part in a Victorian melodrama. A ghoulish scene awaits in Peterborough as Michael visits a Victorian operating theatre where railwaymen were treated. Michael’s last stop on this final journey is Christ’s College at Cambridge University, where he learns about the student days of the father of evolution, Charles Darwin.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 30th January 2015)

After promising to appear on the show during a previous episode, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is a special guest, along with Miranda Hart, who joins Adam Hills and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker to review the main talking points of the week with irreverence and satire. The show sees the return of the all-encompassing question: Is It Ok? Viewers at home and the studio audience are encouraged to ask questions about anything from the week, without fear of judgement. Once again, our three hosts step into the minefield of sometimes difficult and delicate areas to answer the questions with their own inimitable insight.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 17/01/2015

17 January 2015

gsvalentine

TV this week No Comments

Call the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 18th January 2015)

Drama about a group of midwives in 1950s London, based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth. A chance encounter with an impoverished child forces Trixie to see an unfamiliar darker side of life. As Nonnatus House welcomes a new resident, Nurse Barbara Gilbert, Tom Hereward has a surprise romantic gesture in store for Trixie.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 19th January 2015)

Michael Portillo embarks on a new journey following his Bradshaw’s handbook from the heart of the industrial East Midlands to the north-eastern island of Lindisfarne. On this leg, he gives an old engine a fresh start in the railway hub of Derby. In Nottingham, he discovers the Victorian origins of a well-known high street chemist. He then travels to Newstead Abbey, where he learns about its former owner, the young Lord Byron. A baking lesson in Grantham yields a batch of the oldest commercially traded biscuits in the country, and no visit to the town would be complete for Michael without calling at a historic grocer’s shop.

The Mountain (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 19th January 2015)

Series charting life around Cairngorm, at the heart of Scotland’s greatest winter wilderness. In this edition, as Christmas approaches, the reindeer are made ready for the busiest day of the year. The RAF assist the ski patrol with avalanche training, and a snow gun arrives on the mountain just as the weather changes.

Waterloo Road (BBC 3/HD | 8:30pm to 9:30pm | Monday 19th January 2015)

Vaughan’s newly-qualified teachers Marco and Guy start work, but it’s not long before Guy recognises Carrie Norton and the school comes down heavily on their relationship. Christine’s plan to keep Audrey’s smothering at bay backfires on her, while Sonya is forced to reveal a very private secret.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 19th January 2015)

When suspected paedophile Dale Barge is found murdered in a children’s playground, Nikki and Jack are brought in by inexperienced detective Rory Drennan. It’s not long before the team link Barge’s death to a missing child, Lizzie Craddock. Jack teams up with hard-nosed child protection DI Gina Conroy. They put pressure on Lizzie’s parents Johnnie and Cheryl to try to find her. Lizzie’s social worker Louise is brought in to help, and Nikki encourages her to stay positive when she blames herself for Lizzie’s disappearance.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Tuesday 20th January 2015)

Armed with his Bradshaw’s, Michael Portillo continues his journey from Derby to Lindisfarne. Beginning in Boston in the flatlands of Lincolnshire, Michael explores the connection between the town and its American namesake. At Southwell, he discovers the origins of a favourite Victorian apple and learns how to make apple pie. In Menston, Michael visits an imposing institution built to provide asylum for those suffering from mental illness and learns how volunteers care for its once derelict chapel and graveyard. At Wakefield, Michael manages to board one of Britain’s least frequent services and finds out what led to the birth of the parliamentary train. Along the way, he meets a former locomotive engineer who offers him the chance to drive a steam engine.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 20th January 2015)

Daniel Garvey is found dead in his car. Social worker Louise fears that he may have been killed by his 16-year-old stepson Kevin, who has just come out of care. Nikki, Jack and Thomas focus in on Lizzie Craddock’s movements on the night of Barge’s murder. Jack and DI Gina Conroy discover Lizzie’s last known location but fear what they may find there. Louise comes under further pressure when she is forced to make a call on whether a sick child, Ricky Mansfield, is being abused by his parents.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Wednesday 21st January 2015)

Steered by his Bradshaw’s guide, Michael Portillo continues his journey from the heart of the East Midlands to Northumberland’s Holy Island. He begins in Hessle, on the north bank of the River Humber, in the shadow of the magnificent Humber Bridge, where he learns about the technology that made it possible. In Kingston upon Hull, Michael meets his friend and sparring partner, local MP Alan Johnson, who tells him about another famous son of his city, William Wilberforce. In Scarborough, Michael’s handbook directs him to the castle, where the founder of the Quaker movement was once imprisoned. His last stop of the day is York, where Michael learns what made the ancient capital a centre for the sweet-making industry.

The Restoration Man (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 21st January 2015)

London couple Justin Hooper and Charlotte Seddon have a dramatic vision for a derelict World War II airfield control tower in the Scottish Highlands. But simply restoring the 700 window panes to their original modernist look swallows 40% of their budget. The difficulties of project managing the build from 600 miles away make it increasingly hard for the family to make the final leap from London. George helps them realise their vision for these 4000 square feet of military space, and meets the people who were willing to sacrifice everything as the tower played its crucial role during the war.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Thursday 22nd January 2015)

Following his Bradshaw’s Handbook, Michael Portillo begins this leg of his journey from Derby to Lindisfarne in the Victorian ironopolis of Middlesbrough. He visits one of the last cast iron foundries in the city and helps cast a carrot valve for a steam engine. His next stop is Darlington, spiritual home of the railways, where he learns how the city profited from its fast connections to the capitals of England and Scotland by developing a newspaper industry. Michael meets the editor of the Northern Echo and finds out about the colourful history of one of his predecessors, WT Stead. At Jarrow, Michael visits the monastery to learn about its famous monk, the father of English history, Bede. His last stop on this leg of his journey is Hexham, where he visits a historic ginger beer emporium.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 22nd January 2015)

Detective drama series set on a Caribbean island. A death in the Saint Marie Heritage Society suggests that this cosy group could be less amicable than it seems. DI Goodman tries to stay focused on the job while wrestling with his feelings for Camille.

Cucumber (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 22nd January 2015)

Sixteen years after Queer as Folk exploded on to the screen, award-winning writer Russell T Davies returns with Cucumber, Banana and Tofu; three new interlinked shows for Channel 4, E4 and online. Cucumber and Banana are two original drama series exploring the passions and pitfalls of 21st century gay life, while Tofu is an online documentary series that explores all facets of contemporary sex culture. Channel 4’s Cucumber follows 46-year-old Henry and his long-suffering boyfriend Lance. Henry and Lance are happy and settled, but when they embark on a disastrous date night, life will never be the same again. At work, Henry is drawn to the enigmatic Freddie Baxter, while Lance greets a newcomer, Daniel – but both new friendships are set on a course to explode. The cast for the eight-part series also includes Julie Hesmondhalgh, Fisayo Akinade, Con O’Neill, Rufus Hound, Ardal O’Hanlon, Adjoa Andoh, Anjli Mohindra, Ceallach Spellman and Phaldut Sharma.

Banana (E4 | 10:00pm to 10:30pm | Thursday 22nd January 2015)

Sixteen years after Queer as Folk exploded on to the screen, award-winning writer Russell T Davies returns with Cucumber, Banana and Tofu; three new interlinked shows for Channel 4, E4 and online. Cucumber and Banana are two original drama series exploring the passions and pitfalls of 21st century gay life, while Tofu is an online documentary series that explores all facets of contemporary sex culture. On E4, Banana is a series of eight witty, heartfelt and unique stand-alone stories covering different aspects of LGBT life. This series, which features exciting and emerging talent from the fields of acting, writing and directing, offers an intriguing and often unexpected peek into the individual lives, loves and losses of a range of diverse characters. In the first episode, Dean is 19, with a job, a flat and all the sex he wants. But no matter how fast he runs, his problems are catching up with him…

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 23rd January 2015)

With his Bradshaw’s guidebook in hand, Michael Portillo journeys from Newcastle up the north east coast to Lindisfarne. He finds out about the world’s earliest swing bridge and its inventor, Newcastle engineer Sir William Armstrong, and discovers how the city’s Victorian industrial heritage has found a new cultural purpose. From Seahouses by boat, amid puffins and cormorants, Michael goes in search of a darling of the Victorian press, who with her father rescued nine people from tumultuous seas. On the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, Michael explores the lime kilns and finds out how, in the 7th century, Christianity spread from here across northern England.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 23rd January 2015)

In this show, Kathy Burke joins Adam Hills and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker to review the main talking points of the week with irreverence and satire. The show sees the return of the all-encompassing question: Is It Ok? Viewers at home and the studio audience are encouraged to ask questions about anything from the week, without fear of judgement. Once again, our three hosts step into the minefield of sometimes difficult and delicate areas to answer the questions with their own inimitable insight.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 10/01/2015

10 January 2015

gsvalentine

TV this week No Comments

Countryfile (BBC 1/HD | 6:30pm to 7:30pm | Sunday 11th January 2015)

The team are in Somerset revisiting some of the areas and people hit by 2014’s floods. Matt Baker pays a return visit to farmer Geoff Miller, whose home and business were under water after the floods. Matt discovers whether Geoff’s land is bouncing back and if his cattle are now thriving. Helen Skelton explores the bird life of the area and learns why some birds flourished in the floods while others were left fighting for survival. She also hears about a rescue team whose help during the floods was unprecedented. Anita Rani is in Dawlish to find out about the restoration of the devastated railway line. Adam Henson is on his Cotswolds farm, where he gets to grips with a very large bit of agricultural kit. How homes, businesses and farmland are defended from flooding is a controversial subject. Tom Heap finds out what the victims of floods think about what is being done to keep them dry in the future – and talks to the minister responsible for protecting them.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 12th January 2015)

Michael Portillo embarks on a series of journeys through London. He travels on the capital’s first underground railway, the Metropolitan Line, from Amersham, where he discovers the foundations for modern day suburbia. In Pinner, Michael finds out about a Victorian domestic goddess and whips up a pint of her fanciest ice cream. In Highgate, Michael investigates the terraced catacombs of one of London’s vast 19th-century cemeteries. At Baker Street he comes face to face with Isambard Kingdom Brunel before experiencing a hot wax at first hand. He ends this journey with a trip to the zoo at Regent’s Park.

The Mountain (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 12th January 2015)

Series charting life around Cairngorm, which lies at the heart of Scotland’s greatest winter wilderness. In this edition, as the first winter storms blow in, the ski patrol work hard to get the resort open as early as possible. Spud the piper plays at a fairy-tale castle. And at La Taverna, the historic bar is ripped out.

Waterloo Road (BBC 3/HD | 8:30pm to 9:30pm | Monday 12th January 2015)

It is the start of Waterloo Road’s new bike bank scheme, which Vaughan hopes will show the school off to the community. But Scott Fairchild has other ideas and it is Kevin who suffers the consequences. Christine and Lorna fight over who should lead the new PTA.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 12th January 2015)

Nikki and Jack investigate a man run down and killed by a tube train. When a female vicar is then murdered after being followed on the underground, the team face the difficult prospect of building a case against her distraught husband. Nikki forms a bond with high-flying DI Luke Nelson, impressed by his intelligence and compassion. He asks her to help re-evaluate the details of his father’s murder when he was a child. When a young roofer is stalked and brutally killed on his journey home, Nelson and the Lyell team identify a suspect on the tube cameras who links the murders, and a full-scale manhunt is launched.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Tuesday 13th January 2015)

Michael Portillo is invited aboard the construction locomotive for Crossrail to travel under the Thames and to meet Mary, on whom the project depends. He travels on the capital’s first railway and admires the remarkable brick viaduct on which it was built. He takes a tour underneath its arches with a Victorian map showing the poverty of those who once lived there. The Docklands Light Railway takes him to Greenwich, home to Britain’s most famous tea clipper. And in Woolwich, he discovers the firepower of the British Empire before coming to a sticky end at West Silverton.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 13th January 2015)

Forensic crime drama series. Tension on the tube network threatens to boil over, and security is stepped up. The accidental verdict in the first death is called into question and the witnesses are brought in for interview. Amongst them is Lana Sutherland, a young hotel worker who has taken in a homeless man, Owen. DI Nelson lets Lana slip through the net before he realises she may be harbouring a dangerous killer. Nikki helps Nelson unearth the mystery of his father’s death, allowing him to confront and resolve the childhood memories that haunt him. He refocuses on the case and, with Jack and Nikki, discovers the missing key that links the victims.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Wednesday 14th January 2015)

Guided by his Bradshaw’s, Michael Portillo takes the high-speed line to Stratford to explore the legacy of the Olympic Park. He hears how an Indian lawyer, who learnt his trade in Victorian London, went on to change the world and explores an area of the city which has been home to wave upon wave of immigrants, Spitalfields. He ends this journey at Victoria Underground Station, where he finds out about the massive makeover currently under way.

The Restoration Man (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 14th January 2015)

Jim and Bee Goody see a derelict village school in Essex as their golden ticket to escaping the suburbs and creating their dream home in the country. But unable to sell their own house, they take a heart-stopping gamble in buying the Victorian school on a bridging loan – with weekly interest payments of £400! The only way they can complete the project is for Jim to quit his building job and work alone on the project. At first, Jim and Bee regard some of the listed features of the school as an obstacle to creating the home they want, but as they coax the Tudor revival building back into life, they fall in love with its unique history. Presented by George Clarke.

Life of a Mountain: A Year on Scafell Pike (BBC 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 14th January 2015)

Documentary following a year in the life of England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike, through the eyes of the farmers who work the valleys and fells, those who climb the mountain for pleasure and those who try to protect its slopes. Filmed over a twelve-month period, it follows the seasons on the mountain from spring lambs through to winter snows. The contributions of the British Mountaineering Council and National Trust volunteers make clear the crucial importance of maintaining the landscape quality of England’s highest peak for future generations.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Thursday 15th January 2015)

Guided by his Victorian Bradshaw’s Guide, Michael Portillo explores London’s theatreland and discovers how 19th-century engineering made for spectacular theatricals. At Charing Cross, Michael learns about the ambitious building programme which saw Trafalgar Square replace streets of slums and comes face to face with George Bradshaw. At one of the busiest stops on the tube, Piccadilly Circus, Michael indulges in some retail therapy at a perfumery patronised by kings, queens and prime ministers. The Bakerloo to Oxford Circus line brings Michael to Soho and a grimmer side of Victorian London, where disease was rife.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 15th January 2015)

Detective drama series set on a Caribbean island. The team enters the world of surfing when DI Goodman is convinced that there is more to the murder of a surf instructor than meets the eye. Dwayne works hard to impress the new sergeant.

Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 16th January 2015)

On the last of his journeys in the capital, Michael Portillo explores Albertopolis and reaches dizzying heights inside a Victorian landmark. He meets some of Battersea’s most famous residents and gives one of them a bath! At Vauxhall, Michael learns about the darker side of London’s flower market in Bradshaw’s day. He ends this journey at London Bridge, where two stations are becoming one, and a new concourse is being built.

Doctor Who: The World Tour (BBC 3/HD | 7:00pm to 7:50pm | Friday 16th January 2015)

Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman embark on a global tour to key cities across the world, taking in Cardiff, London, Seoul, Sydney, New York, Mexico City and Rio. They get to know the fans who have made the show what it is, understand why they love the Doctor, and just why the show has such global appeal.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 16th January 2015)

The award-winning gang show returns for a new series, live on Friday nights. Adam Hills and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker review the main talking points of the week with irreverence and satire. Each week they are joined by a live studio audience and in this show, guest Alan Davies. The show sees the return of the all-encompassing question: Is It Ok? Viewers at home and the studio audience are encouraged to ask questions about anything from the week, without fear of judgement. Once again, our three hosts step into the minefield of sometimes difficult and delicate areas to answer the questions with their own inimitable insight.

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

Used Edinburgh Trams at long last!

2023
At long last, I’ve used the Edinburgh Trams! It took me so long, since when it opened in May 2014, between Edinburgh Airport and York…
Lots of cycling = Sorting my Mental Health

2022
After a very bad number of months, it’s time to get my mental health sorted! The best way for me to do that, is cycling…
Walked so many canals

2020
I’ve walked so many canals in England over the last number of years! So far done the Erewash Canal, Grand Union Canal (main line), Grantham…
Collingham railway station ✅

2019
I can now tick off, Collingham railway station. More photos from this set can be found at www.gordon-valentine.com/zenphoto/railway-stations/collingham/

See all...

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

Like this:

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 30/01/2016

Like this:

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

Like this:

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

Like this:

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

Like this:

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

Like this:

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 31/01/2015

Like this:

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 24/01/2015

Like this:

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 17/01/2015

Like this:

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 10/01/2015

Like this:

Navigation

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Navigation