Tag: The Cycle Show

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 18/07/2015

Britain at the Bookies - 18/07/2015 (YouView app)Joanna Lumley’s Trans-Siberian Adventure (itv/HD | 9:00pm to 10:05pm | Sunday 19th July 2015)

The second in a three-part series which sees Joanna Lumley travel the 6,400 mile route from Hong Kong to Moscow. In this programme, she spends time with some Mongolian nomads, visits a giant statue of Genghis Khan and a gold mine. Joanna spends time in the capital Ulan Bator, where she tracks down the amazing Mongolian throat singers before catching the train to Russia. She meets Mongolian tradesmen on the train and then experiences a spot of bother at the border before she enters Siberia.

Britain at the Bookies (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 20th July 2015)

Documentary examining the winners and losers in Britain’s gambling revolution. On Huddersfield High Street, there’s a turf war playing out. Eleven betting shops are crowded into the town centre, all competing for business. Tony runs one of the most established shops in town and has been asked to try to turn around the fortunes of another branch just up the road which has a reputation for disruptive and often violent customers and is failing to hit its profit targets. Novelty betting specialist Gary is working out the odds for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing, while the marketing team devise a scheme designed to entice people into opening online betting accounts. Self-confessed compulsive gambler Stuart trawls all the shops in Huddersfield, trying his luck on the fixed odds betting terminals.

Coast (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 23rd July 2015)

Coast explores why we’re at our most ingenious on the edges of our isles. Nick Crane is following the Welsh Coastal Path around Anglesey and taking in 700 years of inspired thinking and ingenious isles. Tessa Dunlop crosses the channel to France to find out how a fishing village in Normandy gave rise to British commercial radio in the 1930s. Brendan Walker goes on top of, underneath and even inside the mighty Cleddau Bridge in Pembrokeshire to investigate why its collapse in the 1970s changed engineering for ever. Dick Strawbridge is on the trail of coastal camouflage in Portsmouth as he investigates ‘dazzle’. During the First World War, a military artist came up with a novel way to disguise our ships before the days of radar. He persuaded the authorities to try a revolutionary means of camouflage – painting ships in bright vivid shapes and patterns. Finally, we meet the fisherboys who reinvented themselves as peacocks in the 1960s with a splash of colour whenever they came ashore.

The Cycle Show (itv 4 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 23rd July 2015)

The cycling magazine show with celebrity guests, cycling stars and features on all things bike related. Presented by Matt Barbet.

Hunted (Channel 4/HD | 11:05pm to 12:05am | Thursday 23rd July 2015)

Having previously revealed the extent of vicious gay hate crime in Russia, Dispatches returns with an investigation into the global networks supporting a wave of anti-gay laws around the world. In a special one-hour programme, spanning four continents, Dispatches exposes the well-funded backlash against gay rights. One group, the World Congress of Families, is based in America, where same-sex marriages have recently been made legal in all 50 states. The WCF and their associates claim they are merely supporting pro-family laws in other countries but Dispatches reveals how, in doing so, they have supported anti-gay laws in Russia and lobbied the Slovakian government to help pass laws curtailing the rights of the gay community.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:10pm | Friday 24th July 2015)

The award-winning show returns for a sixth series of unique irreverent satire. Adam Hills and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker tear into the week’s main talking points, joined by a live studio audience and weekly celebrity guest.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 11/07/2015

Joanna Lumley’s Trans-Siberian Adventure (YouView app)Joanna Lumley’s Trans-Siberian Adventure (itv/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Sunday 12th July 2015)

First in a three-part series which sees Joanna Lumley travel the 6,400 mile route from Hong Kong to Moscow. Joanna begins her train journey in Hong Kong – which she last visited when she was four – while she has not been to Moscow since 1966 when she was there as a model at the height of the Cold War. In the first episode, she sets off from The Peak above Victoria Harbour, before jumping on the Mass Transit Railway to Shenzhen where she catches the bullet train to Beijing. In China’s capital, she discovers that more Rolls Royces are sold there than anywhere else in the world. She visits a bizarre restaurant dedicated to Chairman Mao and encounters an old lady who knew Emperor Puyi’s favourite concubine. She then joins the Trans-Siberian, stopping off in Datong and visiting a wild stretch of the Great Wall. From there she travels by overnight train to Mongolia, where she passes through the Gobi desert and visits a local shaman.

The Cycle Show (itv4 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 16th July 2015)

The cycling magazine show with celebrity guests, cycling stars and features on all things bike related. Presented by Matt Barbet.

Coast (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 16th July 2015)

Bounty from the Sea. Coast explores the incredible riches within our seas and the surprising stories of how we use them. Nick Crane is on a mission in the Faroes to gather all manner of bounty to take to a traditional feast. He starts by diving for 50-year-old mussels before discovering how the Faroese like to eat their sheep! Mark Horton undertakes a piece of experimental archaeology in Denmark in a quest to understand why our Stone Age ancestors fished at night. Hermione Cockburn delves into the microscopic world of plankton that fascinated the Victorians. She meets the artist creating fantastic works of art using diatoms – microscopic pieces of plankton.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 17th July 2015)

The award-winning show continues with the sixth series of unique irreverent satire. Adam Hills and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker tear into the week’s main talking points, joined by a live studio audience and weekly celebrity guest.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 04/07/2015

A Song for Jenny (YouView app)A Song for Jenny (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:20pm | Sunday 5th July 2015)

One-off drama which tells the true story of Julie Nicholson’s response to her daughter Jenny’s death in the 7 July bombing at Edgware Road tube station, exploring the impact of violence on one woman and her family.

The Met: Policing London (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 6th July 2015)

Documentary following the officers of Britain’s biggest and busiest police service as they deal with life, death, crime and its victims, all across the capital. Over 50 per cent of new Met officers are from outside London, and Yorkshireman Tom Hebblethwaite has his work cut out finding his way around. During his training he must achieve some vital goals, from making an arrest to learning to march. The streets of London are a challenge for even the most experienced police constables, and response officers Caroline Hay and Karl Davies are old hands at dealing with the ups and downs of policing the public in Camden, north London. While putting up with verbal abuse from angry buskers is part of the job, it’s protecting some of society’s more vulnerable individuals that makes Caroline reflect on why she joined the service. In east London, Detective Jason Weald is nearing retirement and must call on his years of experience to get to the bottom of the tragic death of a four-month-old baby.

Britain Beneath Your Feet (BBC 1/HD | 7:30pm to 8:30pm | Thursday 9th July 2015)

Dallas Campbell reveals a fascinating and secret world hidden below Britain. In this episode he explores how what goes on underground keeps our country on the move. He delves into the past to discover how a secret wartime pipeline is now delivering fuel to Heathrow Airport. Extraordinary computer graphics lay bare the underwater engineering genius that allowed the iconic Forth Rail Bridge to be built in the 19th century. Along the way Dallas meets some of the hidden army of workers that keep Britain running from underground, from the drivers of the largest tunnelling machines in the world to the engineers running a vast power station under a mountain in Wales. In one memorable scene, he helps dislodge a ‘fatberg’ that’s blocking one of London’s sewers. And he does some secret filming of badgers that are threatening the foundations of a primary school and helps to relocate the whole sett.

The Cycle Show (itv4 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 9th July 2015)

The cycling magazine show with celebrity guests, cycling stars and features on all things bike related. Presented by Matt Barbet.

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

The award-winning show returns for a sixth series of unique irreverent satire. Adam Hills and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker tear into the week’s main talking points, joined by a live studio audience and weekly celebrity guest.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 27/06/2015

Britain Beneath Your Feet - 02-07-2015 (YouView app)Top Gear (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:15pm | Sunday 28th June 2015)

This episode features two films that were shot for the last series. In the first film, Jeremy, Richard and James immerse themselves in the lifestyle of the traditional classic car enthusiast. Armed with affordable classics including a Fiat 124 Spyder, a Peugeot 304 Cabriolet and an MGB GT, the trio set off on an adventure that features brown beer, breakdowns and a hair-raising classic car show. In the second film, Clarkson, Hammond and May try to become lifestyle leisure enthusiasts with the help of some incredibly cheap lifestyle leisure vehicles. Restricted to a maximum budget of £250, the trio buy three massive mileage SUVs – a Vauxhall Frontera, a Jeep Cherokee and a Mitsubishi Shogun – and then embark on a series of action-packed challenges that include battling with the Stig’s Leisure Activity Cousin and a race with terrifying consequences for the loser.

The Met: Policing London (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 29th June 2015)

Documentary following the officers of Britain’s biggest and busiest police service as they deal with life, death, crime and its victims, all across the capital. On an average night, the Met receives over 4,000 emergency calls. In the residential streets of north London, a burglar has been caught in the act. It’s down to PC Waz Din to literally talk him down when the suspect is found hanging from a first-floor window. On the busy streets of Soho, Detective Superintendent Kevin Southworth has been gathering evidence on the thieves and drug dealers exploiting the area. With the help of 400 riot-trained officers he makes his move. After dark, London’s clubs and bars come alive, but as the punters spill out onto the streets, it’s up to the cops to deal with the ones who can’t hold their booze. And the long night can be a lonely time for those suffering from mental health issues. Constables Ian Gray and Christine Wratten rush to help two Londoners who are feeling suicidal.

Britain Beneath Your Feet (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 2nd July 2015)

This series is a unique view of Britain – from below. In this first of two programmes, Dallas Campbell reveals why we can only understand the familiar world around us by discovering the hidden wonders beneath our feet. Breathtaking computer graphics strip away the earth to lay bare this secret world that’s rarely explored. Dallas finds out how the Shard of London – the tallest skyscraper in Western Europe – stays standing on soft clay. He canoes along a secret river under the city of Bristol and discovers why Edinburgh was sited on an ancient volcano. Exploring the natural world, he abseils down an underground waterfall higher than Niagara. And beneath one of the nation’s oldest oak trees, he discovers a vast root system that’s wider and more intricate than its branches.

The Cycle Show (itv4 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 2nd July 2015)

The cycling magazine show returns for a new series with celebrity guests, cycling stars and features on all things bike related.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 3rd July 2015)

The award-winning show returns for a sixth series of unique irreverent satire. Adam Hills and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker tear into the week’s main talking points, joined by a live studio audience and guest Johnny Vegas.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 02/08/2014

Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony (YouView app screenshot)Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 11:00pm | Sunday 3rd August 2014)

Gary Lineker, Clare Balding and Hazel Irvine present live coverage of the closing ceremony of the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. The 4,500 athletes from the 71 competing nations and territories will have their chance to say goodbye to the 20th Commonwealth Games during a glittering ceremony at Hampden Park. Glasgow 2014 was the largest multi-sport event ever held in Scotland and featured 17 different sports across 11 days of competition.

Coast (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 5th August 2014)

Coast embarks on its first adventure to North America, exploring British connections far offshore and surprising stories in the waters just off Britain’s shoreline. Nick Crane journeys over the Atlantic to New Scotland – Nova Scotia – in Canada. He discovers how centuries-old traditions, now forgotten even in Scotland, have been kept alive in Nova Scotia. Why did Scottish settlers flood offshore to Canada 200 years ago and how well did they succeed? Plus, Tessa Dunlop reveals an untold story from the Falklands war. Miranda Krestovnikoff goes in search of Britain’s oldest puffin on a beautiful but desolate isle in the Outer Hebrides. Naval historian Nick Hewitt uncovers the hidden history of the 100-year-old Nab Tower, which sits in the sea off the shores around Portsmouth. And offshore from the Isle of Wight, Coast gains unique access to one of the few locations in Britain where people can be buried at sea.

The Cycle Show (itv 4 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 5th August 2014)

Matt Barbet presents the cycling magazine show including guests from the world of track and road, as well as celebrity two-wheel enthusiasts, plus equipment reviews and news.

Undercover Boss (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 5th August 2014)

With government funding down and competition increasing, pharmacy chain Rowlands has seen its turnover drop by £20 million. In a bid to differentiate his business from rivals and win new customers, managing director Kenny Black wants his 510 dispensaries to offer free health advice and excellent customer service. However, when Kenny goes undercover, there’s a bitter pill to swallow: he discovers life-saving medicines out of stock and staff over-worked and under-appreciated. So when a dedicated delivery driver is moved to tears by the job, Kenny’s forced to consider if he has more to worry about than the bottom line.

Amazing Spaces: Shed of the Year (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 7th August 2014)

As the competition to find Britain’s best shed reaches its climax, George Clarke and his fellow judges look at the final groups of shortlisted sheds battling it out for a place in the grand final. George also visits last year’s winner: an upside down boat shed. The Normal sheds prove anything but, with one of the smallest discos in the world up against a Dad’s Army themed shed complete with air raid siren, as well as a 1970s amusement park in a shed with a 12-foot working Ferris wheel outside. The judges also cast their eyes over the most pleasurable category in the competition, the Pub Shed, before they face the near impossible task of deciding which of them most deserves the overall prize of Shed of the Year 2014.

First Time Farmers (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Thursday 7th August 2014)

First Time Farmers returns for a new series, lifting the lid on the lives of 12 ambitious young farmers from across Britain. Some have had their careers mapped out since birth, inheriting family farms built by generations. Some have branched out to straddle careers as builders and even estate agents. Others are becoming skilled in agriculture from scratch with almost no farming background. They’re all balancing farmyard responsibilities with the life of an average fun-loving twenty-something. This episode meets three feisty young farmers from Herefordshire. Twenty-three-year-old dairy farmer and student Kate is a blonde bombshell. She doesn’t look like a stereotypical farmer but she loves cows.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 10:50pm | Friday 8th August 2014)

The award-winning gang show returns live to Friday nights with a joyful, offbeat take on the week. Adam Hills and regular co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker take a look at the weird and wonderful talking points of the week. Each week, the trio are joined by a live studio audience, and this week they are joined by Noel Fielding. The show also sees the return of the all-encompassing question: Is It OK? Viewers at home and the studio audience are encouraged to ask this question about anything from the week, without fear of judgement, and the three hosts attempt to step into the minefield of sometimes difficult and delicate areas and answer the questions with their own unique insight.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 26/07/2014

The Fifteen Billion Pound Railway : 30-07-2014  (YouView app screenshot)Red Arrows: Inside the Bubble (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:05pm | Sunday 27th July 2014)

Documentary providing exclusive behind the-scenes access to one of the world’s premier aerobatic display teams, The Red Arrows. Offering a unique insight into the 120-strong team of pilots and ground crew as they prepare to celebrate their 50th display season and turn British skies red, white and blue.

Coast (BBC 2/HD | 7:00pm to 8:00pm | Tuesday 29th July 2014)

The team discover untold tales of explorers around our shores, and far beyond, including a stop-off down under in Australia. In Cornwall Nick Crane uncovers the most astonishing artistic exploration of Britain’s coast. Mark Horton reveals the remarkable story of explorer and adventurer Lachlan Macquarie. Born on a tiny Scottish Isle two centuries ago, he went on to establish the country he named Australia. Tessa Dunlop investigates the hidden history of the Pilgrim Fathers. Why did the Pilgrims flee Britain to live in Holland for ten years, before their eventual voyage to found modern America? Andy Torbet teams up with scientific explorers trying to crack an age-old puzzle – how can you count the number of fish in the sea? Plus the struggles of modern-day explorers competing in an extraordinary race to row around the British Isles.

The Cycle Show (itv4 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 29th July 2014)

Matt Barbet presents the cycling magazine show along with Graham Little, Anna Glowinski and Simon Warren. Including guests from the world of track and road, as well as celebrity two-wheel enthusiasts, plus equipment reviews and news. Guests include news reader Jon Snow and musician Richard Durrant.

Undercover Boss (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 29th July 2014)

As co-owner of nationwide pet retailer Pets Corner, Steve Charman is responsible for over 450 staff and a turnover in excess of £30 million. Plotting a potentially risky multi-million pound investment to grow the business, Steve is now going undercover to investigate the company’s operations before they change strategy for the future. As he battles to keep his identity secret, Steve investigates whether there is disorder in the shops, if sales staff are struggling, and how suppliers are paid. Confronting whether there are problems within the organisation that cannot be ignored, he questions whether his expansion plan can succeed.

The Fifteen Billion Pound Railway (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 30th July 2014)

This episode follows engineers building London’s brand new underground railway, Crossrail, as they race to build ten new train stations across London. A team battles to put together the giant jigsaw that will become a cathedral-sized station at Canary Wharf. It’s so big, they have to build it in a dock and underwater. Its architect-designed roof is so complicated it comes in a kit of over 2,500 pieces. As engineers carve out the underground caverns that will become the new stations, they hit on some gruesome discoveries of London’s past.

Amazing Spaces: Shed of the Year (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 31st July 2014)

In Britain there are around 16 million sheds. It is an astonishing number. Recent research has revealed that Britain is a nation of shed fanatics, with 65% of adults owning a shed and the average shed owner spending over a year of their life in their prized shelter. As the competition to find Britain’s best shed continues, the designs are proving to be a mix of ingenious and eccentric, with a host of elective uses. George Clarke and his fellow judges look at the finalists in two more categories. The Summerhouse/Cabin group throws up a replica 18th-century US frontier cabin containing a mummified yeti, a Gothic grotto decorated with 50,000 seashells, and a scaled down Elizabethan lodge. The Normal category defies its name as the team discover a festival-playing disco shed; a 1970s amusement arcade complete with a 12 foot high ferris wheel, a 1950s American diner, and a museum dedicated to TV comedy Dad’s Army and the Home Guard.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 10:50pm | Friday 1st August 2014)

The award-winning gang show returns live to Friday nights with a joyful, offbeat take on the week. Adam Hills and regular co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker take a look at the weird and wonderful talking points of the week. Each week, the trio are joined by a live studio audience and a weekly special celebrity guest. The show also sees the return of the all-encompassing question: Is It OK? Viewers at home and the studio audience are encouraged to ask this question about anything from the week, without fear of judgement, and the three hosts attempt to step into the minefield of sometimes difficult and delicate areas and answer the questions with their own unique insight. The first guests to kick of the new series are the main cast from The Inbetweeners.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 12/07/2014

Undercover Boss : 15-07-2014 (YouView app screenshot)John Bishop’s Australia (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 14th July 2014)

Series following comedian John Bishop as he sets off on an Australian adventure, cycling from Sydney to Cairns. John begins this episode in the beach town of Byron Bay. After attempting to surf and getting shown up by some super-fit Australian children, John heads further north towards Queensland. Across vast landscapes he encounters gigantic saltwater crocodiles, stunning desert islands, and experiences an Australia we at home do not normally see. In Wild West Rockhampton John goes cattle herding on horseback with the biggest beef baron in Australia, before getting a bit too close to the action at a full-blooded Queensland rodeo.

Coast (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 15th July 2014)

Coast returns for a brand new series with fresh discoveries both around home shores and far beyond. In this first adventure, the team explores surprising stories on both sides of our shallowest, narrowest and busiest seaway – the English Channel. Nick Crane is on the Channel’s French coast to experience the secret life of Mont St Michel, a rocky outcrop which attracts over a million tourists a year. Neil Oliver uncovers the tragic tale of the wreck of the troop ship SS Mendi. Why did no-one save more than 600 South African soldiers who drowned in the Channel while heading to France during the First World War to fight for the British Empire? Mark Horton reveals how some two centuries ago, French mapmakers unwittingly gave birth to Britain’s Ordnance Survey. Miranda Krestovnikoff is on patrol with the ‘Referees of our Seas’ – the sea-borne inspectors who, backed up by the Royal Navy, must police the international fishing fleets who compete for catches in the Channel.

Undercover Boss (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 15th July 2014)

New series of the show where high-flying executives take extraordinary steps to ensure their companies are fighting fit by going undercover in their own businesses. In the first episode of the sixth series, Brian Brick, Chief Executive of high street clothing retailer Moss Bros, swaps his suit for a dramatic disguise and goes undercover in the hope of working undetected alongside his frontline staff.

The Cycle Show (itv4 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 15th July 2014)

Matt Barbet presents the cycling magazine show. Including guests from the world of track and road, as well as celebrity two-wheel enthusiasts, plus equipment reviews and news. Today’s guests include rowing champion and adventurist James Cracknell, comedian Tom Allen and TV presenter Jeff Brazier.

Operation Cloud Lab: Secrets of the Skies (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 16th July 2014)

Two-part documentary following a team of scientists as they take to the skies in one of the world’s largest airships for a unique exploration of the earth’s atmosphere. Flying coast to coast across the United States, the team undertake a series of exciting experiments shedding light on the causes of wild weather, how life exploits the atmosphere, and the human impact upon the weather. The team begin their expedition by exploring clouds, which play a vital role in the planet’s ecology by transporting water from the oceans to the earth’s land surfaces and generating 1.4 trillion tonnes of rainfall each day.

Horizon (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 17th July 2014)

Physicist Dr Helen Czerski and meteorologist John Hammond make sense of Britain’s recent extreme weather and discover that there is one thing that connects all our recent extreme winters – the jet stream, an invisible river of air that powers along 10 km above us. What’s worrying is that recently it has been behaving rather strangely. Scientists are now trying to understand what is behind these changes in the jet stream. Helen and John find out if extreme winters are something we may all have to get used to in the future.

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 17th July 2014)

In the last episode of the series George’s garden build is finally revealed and it’s time to see if he’s transformed his unloved narrow strip of back garden into a magical and creative family space. In Cambridgeshire, he meets a DIY perfectionist who’s hoping to create the smallest ever campervan for him and his two boys. And in Somerset, George meets a young cheese salesman who plans to turn a horse trailer into the ultimate mobile cheese stall and food festival attraction.

The Village That’s Falling Into the Sea (BBC 1/HD | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Friday 18th July 2014)

Thursday 5 December 2013 is a night the residents of the Norfolk seaside resort of Hemsby will never forget. That night homes fell into the sea during the worst storm surge to hit the East Coast for sixty years. BBC presenter David Whiteley witnessed the drama unfold. Seven months on he returns to find the community still fighting for the survival of their village. Hemsby is the site of one of the country’s first holiday camps, and tourists still flock there today to enjoy its beach. But with no hope of government money to protect it, villagers have seen almost 70 homes go over the edge and into the sea. Seeking advice from erosion experts and business gurus, and building their own defences, the residents are determined not to let Hemsby be lost to the sea. David joins the villagers in their latest campaign, meets the people about to buy a home on the threatened dunes and goes with the map man who’s quite literally been redrawing the map of the East coast over 40 years of erosion.

I Belong to Glasgow (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 10:35pm to 11:05pm | Friday 18th July 2014)

In the run-up to the Commonwealth Games, four Glaswegians celebrate their city. In this edition, actor and comedian Elaine C Smith reveals a Glasgow made by strong women. She searches fopr the essence of Glasgow style. recalls the days when women were not welcome in pubs and pinpoints the success of the hit play The Steamie. She also meets the Glasgow Girls and campaigns for a statue to rent strike leader Mary Barbour and public recognition for more of Glasgow’s women pioneers.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 05/07/2014

The Armstrong Lie (YouView app screenshot)Tour De France 2014 Live (itv/HD | 10:30am to 3:45pm | Saturday 5th July 2014)

Yorkshire plays host to the start of this year’s Tour de France, with a 191km stage from Leeds to Harrogate, taking in the fantastic scenery of the Yorkshire Dales. The riders tackle three climbs en-route, including Buttertubs Pass. The last 60km is flat though, and the winner – and the Tour’s first yellow jersey wearer – will almost certainly be a sprinter. After missing out on stage one last year, Mark Cavendish will have extra motivation to be first across the line in Harrogate. Presented by Gary Imlach, with guest Chris Boardman, commentary by Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen, and reporter Ned Boulting.

Tour De France 2014 Live (itv/HD | 10:30am to 5:00pm | Sunday 6th July 2014)

The second of the two Yorkshire stages is 198km from York to Sheffield, passing through the hilly terrain of the Peak District. With 3,400m of climbing, the stage has been heralded as a British version of the Liege-Bastogne-Liege classic, with the notorious climb of Holme Moss 50km from the finish. Presented by Gary Imlach, with guest Chris Boardman, commentary by Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen, and reporter Ned Boulting.

Tour De France 2014 Live (itv/HD | 12:00pm to 4:30pm | Monday 7th July 2014)

Live coverage of the third and final stage taking place in England, which features a short 155km ride from Cambridge into the capital, passing some of London’s most famous landmarks before finishing in a bunch sprint on the Mall. The Tour last came to London in 2007, when over one million spectators lined the roads to cheer Fabian Cancellara on to victory in the prologue. Seven years later, this is a time for the sprinters to shine in front of the enthusiastic crowds. Presented by Gary Imlach with analysis from Chris Boardman, commentary by Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen with Ned Boulting the reporter at the roadside.

John Bishop’s Australia (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 7th July 2014)

Series following comedian John Bishop as he sets off on an Australian adventure, cycling from Sydney to Cairns. John first made this journey back in 1992, and in 2014 he is back to see how this incredible country has changed. Along the route John meets extraordinary people, hears fascinating stories and experiences some true natural wonders. In this episode, John tests his nerves with a death-defying abseil in the stunning Blue Mountains, gets hands-on with the most dangerous snakes on the planet, and finds out about the surprising bedtime habits of the most Australian animal of all: the koala.

The Armstrong Lie (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 11:35pm | Monday 7th July 2014)

Lance Armstrong was a sporting phenomenon: an American who’d not only set his sights on the world’s oldest and most prestigious Grand Tour cycle race, the Tour de France, but had won it seven consecutive times between 1999 and 2005. And that was after surviving testicular cancer. Of course there were dark mutterings of doping, but Armstrong consistently, forcefully and litigiously countered such allegations. So, when he announced his intention to return to the fray in 2009, after a four-year retirement, the prolific, Oscar-winning documentary-maker Alex Gibney jumped at the chance to film the maligned Texan’s attempt to win the Tour an eighth time.

The Cycle Show (itv 4 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 8th July 2014)

Matt Barbet and Graham Little present a brand new series of the cycling magazine show. Including guests from the world of track and road, as well as celebrity two-wheel enthusiasts, plus equipment reviews and news. Today’s guest are Lizzie Armistead, Stephen Roche, Malcolm Elliott and Geoff Thomas.

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 10th July 2014)

George meets two brothers in their 20s who can’t afford to get on the property ladder and plan to transform a fire-damaged narrow boat into a luxury bachelor pad, sometimes using YouTube tutorials to learn how to do it themselves. George also meets a police officer from Somerset who wants to convert an old campervan and caravan into a mobile cream tea business. And in Texas, George and Will discover an extraordinary 1950s trailer on the edge of the desert.

The Secret Life of Students (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Thursday 10th July 2014)

The Secret Life of Students follows 12 freshers in their first year at university, exploring the drama of their new experiences and sharing their texts, tweets, pictures, videos and status updates. This episode explores how the students cope making new friends and finding love, and whether they can maintain long-distance relationships with girlfriends and boyfriends back home. The students are experiencing communal living for the first time. Hormones, texts and tweets are flying and the gossip is spreading like wildfire.

I Belong to Glasgow (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 10:35pm to 11:05pm | Friday 11th July 2014)

In the run-up to the Commonwealth Games, four Glaswegians celebrate their city. In this edition, actor and comedian Sanjeev Kohli asks his parents about their early days in Glasgow, dons his blazer and goes back to his old school, reveals the secrets of customer satisfaction in corner shops, meets some new arrivals seeking refuge from Syria and investigates if the put down is the basis for Glasgow humour.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 24/08/2013

The Cycle Show (itv4 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Monday 26th August 2013)

The cycling magazine show with regular presenter Graham Little including special guests and items and features on all aspects of bike riding.

Dreaming the Impossible: Unbuilt Britain (BBC 4 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 26th August 2013)

Dr Olivia Horsfall Turner presents a series telling the stories behind some of the grandest designs never built. She looks at two instances where destruction created a clean slate and led to plans for revolutionary changes to Britain’s biggest cities. When London was razed to the ground by the Great Fire of 1666, architect Sir Christopher Wren presented King Charles II with a vision for a completely new city. Wren wanted the medieval winding streets and courtyards replaced by Parisian-style avenues and piazzas. However, although Wren’s design for St Paul’s Cathedral did become a reality London was reconstructed on essentially the same street plan. Three centuries later, Glasgow was beset by overcrowding and slum housing. Planner Robert Bruce proposed demolishing the entire city centre to create a 1940s vision of the future with tower blocks ringed by a motorway. Although his plan was not fully realised, many of his ideas were carried out and the M8 motorway is its most visible legacy.

Restoration Home (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 28th August 2013)

Despite living in Kent, Geri and her husband decided to buy their dream home, Barnhill, in Devon without even commissioning a survey, but quickly discovered if they had, they might have run a mile. Barnhill was in a critical condition. As the restoration begins so too does a race against time to prevent it collapsing, and Geri quickly doubles her expected restoration budget. As efforts to save the gothic fantasy grow in intensity so too does its history. Believed to date back to the 18th century, Barnhill was always a subject of mystery and speculation in the village. The historical investigation could even explain the reason the original build was so poorly executed. As the financial cost of saving the house overtakes what it could ever be worth, Geri has to take some tough decisions. As Geri attempts to rescue the old house she starts to lose control of what the final impact of saving Barnhill will have on her budget, and on her.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 10:50pm | Wednesday 28th August 2013)

Dara O Briain is the celebrity guest as host Adam Hills and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker take a look at the weird and wonderful stories of the week, live in front of a studio audience. The show also features the all-encompassing question: Is It OK? Viewers at home and the studio audience are encouraged to ask this question about anything from the week, without fear of judgement, and the three hosts attempt to step into the minefield of sometimes difficult and delicate areas and answer the questions with their own unique insight.

The Railway: First Great Western (Channel 5 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 29th August 2013)

Documentary series following the working lives of the staff of First Great Western, one of Britain’s largest train operating companies. Just two months into the role, Paddington’s duty station manager Simon Jeffery faces a major disruption as a fire has caused signal failure and all services are delayed or cancelled. On a Swansea to Paddington late-night service, train manager Jodie picks her way through the party-goers and tries to get boozy passengers on and off the train safely.

The Burrowers: Animals Underground (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10pm | Friday 30th August 2013)

Chris Packham reveals the underground world of badgers, water voles and rabbits. In specially created full-scale replica burrows it is summer, and all the burrowers face a new challenge – they must leave their home and learn to survive outside. The rabbit warren is full to bursting and, never seen before, two female rabbits are sharing a nest with 17 baby rabbits. For the first time, Chris and his team of experts use 3D mapping to reveal how a wild rabbit warren expands and evolves over time.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 17/08/2013

The Cycle Show (itv4 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Monday 19th August 2013)

The cycling magazine show with regular presenter Graham Little including special guests and items and features on all aspects of bike riding.

The Midwives: Delivering Under Pressure (BBC2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 20th August 2013)

Series following the work of midwives in hospitals. This episode focuses on the busy delivery suite at St Mary’s Hospital in Manchester. Lesley used to be a dental nurse but when she had a difficult delivery herself she was so inspired by the care she received that she retrained to become a midwife. She knows just how unpredictable and difficult the job can be. Lesley is looking after Neelam who has type 1 diabetes. Pregnancy is putting increased strain on Neelam’s already fragile kidneys which needs to be constantly monitored. Midwife Gemma is looking after Helen who is having her fourth baby with husband Ben. Helen is anxious about the birth having previously lost a baby 21 weeks into pregnancy. In tragic cases like this, bereavement midwives like Vicky and Emma can try and help couples to come to terms with their loss. Meanwhile, Liza is expecting twins but Lesley must keep a close eye on the situation as her pregnancy becomes increasingly complicated.

Restoration Home (BBC2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 21st August 2013)

A last remnant of a once grand and wealthy estate, St Peter’s Barn had been overlooked for generations and carved up by modern farming practices. The moment Graham and Nicola walked into it, they knew it was the family home they had been searching for. At 35 meters long and 20 meters high, the crumbing cathedral-like interior would appear an impossible dream to most, but roofer and builder Graham saw its potential and decided to pour their life savings into buying it.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 10:50pm | Wednesday 21st August 2013)

Gabby Logan is the celebrity guest as host Adam Hills and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker take a look at the weird and wonderful stories of the week, live in front of a studio audience. The show also features the all-encompassing question: Is It OK? Viewers at home and the studio audience are encouraged to ask this question about anything from the week, without fear of judgement, and the three hosts attempt to step into the minefield of sometimes difficult and delicate areas and answer the questions with their own unique insight.

Perfect Storms (Yesterday | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 22nd August 2013)

Nature at its most brutal is investigated in this series about history-defining disasters. How a huge thunderstorm in 9 AD halted the Roman advance into Germania.

Big School (BBC1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 23rd August 2013)

Comedy series set in a secondary school. It is talent show time at Greybridge School, but the teachers are the acts and the pupils are the judges. Mr Church is reluctant to enter, until Miss Postern suggests a duet with her, but will artistic differences ruin their chances? Mr Gunn’s Keith Lemon impression is set to steal the show, until there are some unexpected late entries.

The Burrowers: Animals Underground (BBC2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 23rd August 2013)

Chris Packham reveals the underground world of badgers, water voles and rabbits. In specially created full-scale replica burrows it is spring, and baby burrowers must grow up fast, ready to take their first steps above ground. The programme reveals how baby rabbits learn to bond and looks at orphan badgers as they grow up. Will the water voles manage to produce their first litter? And how does a mole survive its solitary life almost entirely underground? In another first, the team excavate a massive abandoned rabbit warren in the wild by casting it in concrete.