Tag: The Last Leg

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 02/12/2017

Blue Planet II (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 3rd December 2017)

Documentary series narrated by David Attenborough which explores the planet’s oceans. Coasts are the most changeable of the ocean worlds, but they offer great riches. Here sea lions beach large tuna, and moray eels crawl over land to catch their prey.

Coastal Railways with Julie Walters (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 3rd December 2017)

Julie Walters, one of the country’s best-loved actors, continues her tour of the most beautiful and interesting stretches of coastal railway routes in the UK. In this episode, Julie leaves Newcastle and the city’s famous brown ale, for a high-speed train to Edinburgh. She stops at the beautiful coastal town of Alnmouth and visits the disused station at Alnwick, where the ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ craze started. Julie heads for Berwick and goes out to sea with a lobster breeder, visiting the biggest gannet colony on Earth. In Edinburgh, Julie explores the intriguing connections between the railway and the famous Balmoral Hotel’s palm court and clock tower.

Expedition Volcano (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Sunday 3rd December 2017)

Two-part documentary following a team of scientists who are in the Congo to investigate rarely visited volcanoes and try to predict when they will erupt. For the past week, the expedition has focused on Nyiragongo. Now Chris Jackson and his fellow geologists are heading to the nearby volcano Nyamulagira, one of the most active yet least explored volcanoes on the planet. Few have visited this volcano, for a good reason – the forests that blanket its slopes hide a number of armed groups. The team travel on a UN helicopter flight at treetop level to avoid being hit by groundfire, before landing as close to the active crater as they can. They then have only a few hours to gain as much data as possible to help predict future eruptions.

The Secret Life of the Zoo (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 6th December 2017)

It’s mating season for Chester Zoo’s onagers and after two years living alone, male Holmes is released into the female paddock. It’s a bruising encounter as he goes straight for his old flame Zarrin, before chasing every other female in sight, including the camel next door. Galapagos tortoise Charlie is losing weight and keepers believe that it’s down to bullying from her older sister. They step in with an innovative system to try and alleviate the problem. Keeper Niall barters with eldest chimp Boris for the return of a large stick that the chimps have been brandishing, but Boris is wary of dominant male Dylan stealing his reward, and plays hardball with Niall. And Plo, a village weaver, is tirelessly building a nest to impress a female. If the foundations aren’t strong enough to support a whole family it will be dismissed on first inspection, and he could be destined to remain a bachelor.

The Channel (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 6th December 2017)

The English Channel is the world’s busiest waterway. This ambitious access-all-areas series meets the people who keep the system working, moving 17 million of us across the sea each year. The Channel Tunnel carries 50,000 passengers and 7000 trucks every day. It’s a pinch point in a vital trade network that fills our shops and keeps our economy moving. And it’s also a testbed for Anglo-French relations, as maintenance crews from both sides cooperate under the sea, on a project that connects two countries who are now pulling apart. This episode explores areas that have never been filmed before, following British head of maintenance Vince – the man charged with keeping the tunnel moving – and one of its longest-serving engineers, Richard, who helped to build the Tunnel back in 1988.

Blitz (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 7th December 2017)

During the Blitz over 450,000 bombs dropped on Britain, and every bomb has its own story. Episode three follows a bomb that fell on Jellicoe Street in the Scottish town of Clydebank. It was a tightly knit community of ship builders and factory workers who worked hard in difficult conditions. For the children though, life in the tenements was like being part of one big family as Patrick Docherty and Jack Tasker remember. But on the 13th March 1941 that would change forever.

Brunel (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 8th December 2017)

Two-part documentary series. Rob Bell tells the story of the great Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, exploring his complex personality as well as his prolific achievements. Brunel was just 19 when his father appointed him his assistant and chief engineer on the Thames Tunnel. After a potentially fatal accident during the construction, he was recuperating in Bristol when he came up with a design for the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Later, he became the official engineer to the proposed Great Western Railway, and more was to follow.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 8th December 2017)

The live, joyous, topical comedy extravaganza hosted by Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe examines the biggest and most entertaining news stories and rounds up the main talking points of the week. In each show, they are joined by a live audience and guests from the worlds of comedy, entertainment and politics to help dissect the week’s events.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 25/11/2017

Blue Planet II (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 26th November 2017)

Documentary series narrated by David Attenborough which explores the planet’s oceans. From enchanted forests to undersea prairies, green seas teem with life. Giant cuttlefish do battle for a mate, and an ingenious octopus outwits deadly sharks.

Coastal Railways with Julie Walters (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 26th November 2017)

Julie Walters, one of the country’s best-loved actors, travels the most beautiful and interesting stretches of coastal railway routes in the UK. In this new series, Julie takes a magical mystery tour through dramatic landscapes while uncovering surprising historical secrets. From pristine Scottish shores to Cornish fishing villages, this is a journey of discovery – of how our coastal railway routes helped shape us as a nation and the stories of the people who brought them to life. In the first episode, Julie rides the West Highland Railway in Scotland, on board the famous Jacobite steam train, memorable for its starring role in the Harry Potter films. She gets some practical training in blowing up railway lines at Arisaig House, home to the Special Operations Executive from the Second World War. There’s also herring gutting in Mallaig; a traditional Scottish storyteller on Skye; and cattle wrangling at Duirinish.

Expedition Volcano (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Sunday 26th November 2017)

Two-part documentary. The first programme follows an extraordinary expedition to one of the world’s most dangerous, spectacular and lesser-known volcanoes – Nyiragongo. The volcano contains a massive boiling cauldron of molten rock – the world’s largest continually active lava lake. But it is also one of the most dangerous volcanoes on the planet. It has erupted twice in the last 50 years, most recently in 2002, wreaking havoc and destruction on the people who live in the nearby city of Goma. This region is also dangerous for another reason – it has been racked by war and humanitarian crises for most of the last 30 years, so Nyiragongo is one of the least studied active volcanoes on Earth. But now, an international and local team of scientists are mounting a major expedition to study the volcano. They are attempting to discover the warning signs that it is building towards a new eruption, so they can alert the people of Goma before it erupts again.

Guy Martin v the Robot Car (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Sunday 26th November 2017)

Motorcycle racer and lorry mechanic Guy Martin investigates the most disruptive new technology to be introduced to the automotive world: autonomous vehicles. He becomes the first person to ever take on an artificially intelligent race car to discover what’s fastest: man or machine? In just over ten years, half of all new cars sold will be electric, and 15% will be autonomous. So what does the future of transport hold for petrolheads like Guy, who loves traditional engines so much he has a lawnmower piston tattooed on his leg? He thinks the best way of learning is by doing, and while Silicon Valley spends millions designing next-generation vehicles, Guy attempts to make his own robotic Ford Transit, at home, in his shed. He discovers that the hard part is replicating human thought, and travels to Budapest to experience a fully so-called ‘Level 5’ autonomous vehicle: a car that can truly think for itself.

Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railway Journeys (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 27th November 2017)

Travelogue in which Chris Tarrant rides some of the world’s wildest trains. From the deserts of Lawrence of Arabia, Chris follows the route of the Hejaz Railway up through Jordan, before crossing the border into Israel. He’s headed for the holiest city of all-Jerusalem.

The Secret Life of the Zoo (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 29th November 2017)

Andean bear Lima has a three-month-old cub, but keepers are concerned that her overprotective behaviour may curb its development. And when Lima’s back is turned, cub Madidi embarks on an adventure into the paddock next door. The rock hyrax family enjoy the quiet life, spending eight hours a day sitting on their rocks. But they’re in for a rude awakening when three new pups are born. For mum Daissie there’s no escaping their demands. The pygmy marmosets also have new babies. Mum Audrey has to carry her twins everywhere she goes to ensure their safety. But the whole family is soon on hand to give her a rest. Young elephant Nandita is desperate to make friends with babies Aayu and Indali, but her boisterous behaviour is proving too much for them. Can she learn the maternal skills she needs to win them round and persuade them to go swimming with her?

The Channel (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 29th November 2017)

The English Channel is the world’s busiest waterway: 400 ships pass through the 21-mile-wide Dover Strait every day. It defines our border with Europe, but has brought us closer to it: the free flow of goods and people has transformed our economy and our lives. But as our relationship with the continent changes, these are uncertain times for the people who live and work these waters. This ambitious access-all-areas series goes inside the Channel Tunnel, on board ferries and freighters, through our highly-fortified border, and into the hidden nerve-centres that keep the whole system moving. And the maintenance workers, engineers, sea pilots and ship’s captains – who move 17 million of us across the sea every year – reveal how the Channel works. The first episode captures the Channel’s rush hour: two weeks in summer when freight lorries share the ferries with 250,000 holidaymakers.

Blitz (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 30th November 2017)

During the Blitz over 450,000 bombs dropped on Britain, and every bomb has its own story. This second episode explores the ramifications of a bomb that fell on 6th Avenue in the port city of Hull, flattening two houses and changing the lives of two families. The Taylors lost baby Peter and 14 year-old Vera was very badly burned. Her sisters Doreen and Tina remember that terrible night and it is the first time they have talked about the trauma they endured. Next door, Mrs Owens had put three of her children under the stairs for safety but they sadly didn’t survive. Their sister Janet who was born after the war didn’t know about their existence until she was in her twenties. Her father was so traumatised that he refused to discuss anything to do with the Blitz. It means she has a lot of unanswered questions, which are finally answered when Janet meets Doreen and Tina, and she learns that her siblings were buried with baby Peter.

Greatest British Bridges: The Severn (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 1st December 2017)

Documentary series. Rob Bell explores the history and construction of the world’s iconic bridges. Opened in 1966, the Severn Bridge was the first road bridge to connect England and South Wales by spanning the vast Severn estuary. Rob reveals why its design by Dr Bill Brown revolutionised the way that modern suspension bridges are built. He also surfs the Severn Bore and meets the construction workers who braved the wave and tidal ranges of up to 50 feet in order to build it.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 1st December 2017)

The live, joyous, topical comedy extravaganza hosted by Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe examines the biggest and most entertaining news stories and rounds up the main talking points of the week. In this show, they are joined by Matt Lucas and Rebecca Front who help dissect the week’s events.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 18/11/2017

Blue Planet II (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 19th November 2017)

Documentary series narrated by David Attenborough which explores the planet’s oceans. This episode explores the big blue, a vast ocean desert where dolphins race to beat the competition and sperm whales must dive 1,000 metres just to feed.

Guy Martin’s WWI Tank (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 10:00pm | Sunday 19th November 2017)

Guy Martin wants to build a full working replica of a World War One tank. It could well prove Guy’s most ambitious engineering challenge. He wants to celebrate this groundbreaking British invention – created in Lincoln, just a few miles from his home – and remember those who built and fought in the machine which helped end the war. It’s the centenary of the Battle of Cambrai, where tanks first proved their effectiveness. With help from British engineering giant JCB and the Norfolk Tank Museum, Guy attempts to build his own 30-tonne tank in just five months. He visits battfields in France, delves into recordings from the archive of men who served in the original tanks, and the women who built them. Guy also takes his tank driving test in the British Army’s current lead battle tank, the Challenger 2. Will Guy’s tank be ready and able to join Lincoln’s Remembrance Day parade?

Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railway Journeys (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 20th November 2017)

Travel series. Chris Tarrant embarks on some of the world’s most difficult train journeys. Chris attempts to cross the five countries of the Balkan region in six days. Travelling from Slovenia to Montenegro, via Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia, he discovers how the former state-run Yugoslav railways in Tito’s days are faring since their break-up in the 1990s, goes in search of Tito’s famous blue train and talks to some fascinating local people en route.

The Secret Life of the Zoo (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 22nd November 2017)

West African mandrill JC is being challenged for his dominant position by his sons Ludo and Jareth. While JC is taken to the vet’s for some health checks, Ludo gets ‘over-friendly’ with his dad’s girlfriend. The keepers are concerned that the situation might turn nasty when JC returns. Male red panda Jung is losing weight and the keepers can’t work out why. After relationship problems with his partner Nima are ruled out, Jung is put on a special diet, but with no success. So Jung undergoes a full medical examination and keepers have to make a difficult decision. Sumatran tiger Kirana and her daughter Kasarna have started to clash at mealtimes. The keepers have a plan to sort out the tension between them. Tempers start to fray among Chester Zoo’s Humboldt penguin colony during the annual moult. Can young penguins Frazzle and Munch avoid being picked on by the grown-ups?

Blitz (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 23rd November 2017)

During the Blitz over 450,000 bombs dropped on Britain, and every bomb has its own story. This series examines the specific effect of four bombs, from their initial impact on individual lives right through to their wider consequences for the Second World War, and all the way to the present day. The first episode follows a bomb that fell on Martindale Road in the East End of London on the first night of the Blitz. Initially there was relief as this bomb remained unexploded and Martindale Road residents were evacuated. However, while some residents decided to leave London others were not so lucky, as those who put their faith in the authorities suffered a tragedy when the bombers returned. Thousands lost everything in the first weeks of the Blitz; this film explores the work of one MP who put into place city-wide welfare systems that worked for everyone and joined the call for a National Health Service.

The World’s Greatest Bridges (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 24th November 2017)

Documentary series. Rob Bell explores the story and construction of the world’s most iconic bridges. The Millau Viaduct over the Tarn gorge in southern France is the world’s tallest bridge and considered by many to be the world’s most beautiful. Rob meets the design team, including architect Lord Norman Foster and structural engineer Dr Michel Virlogeux, and learns about the innovative and ancient techniques used to build it. London’s Millennium Bridge, Lord Foster’s other project at the time, is also featured, including what caused the wobble and how it was rectified.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 24th November 2017)

The live, joyous, topical comedy extravaganza hosted by Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe examines the biggest and most entertaining news stories and rounds up the main talking points of the week. In this show, they are joined by American comedian Margaret Cho who helps dissect the week’s events.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 11/11/2017

Blue Planet II (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 12th November 2017)

Documentary series narrated by David Attenborough which explores the planet’s oceans. This episode reveals the ingenious ways life exists in the undersea cities of tropical reefs, from mesmerising cuttlefish to a giant carnivorous worm.

Children in Need Rocks the 80s (BBC 1/HD | 8:30pm to 10:00pm | Monday 13th November 2017)

A star-studded line-up celebrates the decade which saw BBC Children in Need’s first major appeal. Hosted by Fearne Cotton and Sara Cox, with Roman Kemp capturing all the excitement backstage, this spectacular fundraiser includes performances from a-ha, Bananarama, Boy George, Erasure, Europe, Imagination, Jason Donovan, Katrina, Louisa Johnson, Mica Paris, Nick Heyward, OMD and UB40 featuring Ali, Astro and Mickey. So dust off your shoulder pads, pull on your legwarmers and join in with the audience, who will be dancing the night away to a whole host of 80s classics.

Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railway Journeys (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 13th November 2017)

Travel documentary series. Chris Tarrant experiences some of the world’s wildest train rides. In an attempt to cross three former Soviet republics entirely by rail in one week, Chris navigates his way on trains across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, en route discovering amazing stories and dark secrets from the region’s war-ravaged past.

The World’s Greatest Bridges (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 17th November 2017)

Documentary series. Rob Bell explores the history and construction of the world’s most iconic bridges. Spanning the East River and connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge was the world’s longest suspension bridge when opened in 1883. Rob Bell tells the story of its construction – a classic New York tale featuring big money, corruption, ambition, death and tragedy. It is also the saga of two men and one woman – father, son and the son’s wife – who realised a dream against all the odds.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 17th November 2017)

The live, joyous, topical comedy extravaganza hosted by Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe examines the biggest and most entertaining news stories and rounds up the main talking points of the week. In each show, they are joined by a live audience and guests from the worlds of comedy, entertainment and politics to help dissect the week’s events.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 04/11/2017

Blue Planet II (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 5th November 2017)

Documentary series narrated by David Attenborough which explores the planet’s oceans. This episode goes on a groundbreaking journey to the deep, home to real-life aliens, from monstrous sharks to shrimps in glass cages and perhaps the origin of all life on earth.

Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 5th November 2017)

Timothy West and Prunella Scales set off on their third adventure along the French canal system, as they travel down the Marne-Rhine Canal in Alsace and Lorraine, close to the German border. Their journey takes in enchanted forests and fairy-tale castles; mountains and valleys; the baffling French lock system; local wines; and a visit to Strasbourg and the European Parliament.

Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railway Journeys (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 6th November 2017)

Travelogue in which Chris Tarrant rides some of the world’s wildest trains. Chris traverses Morocco from west to east before heading off into the sands of the Sahara to discover whether a legendary line that stretches all the way to Timbuktu really exists.

DIY SOS (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 8th November 2017)

DIY SOS is back on veteran street in Manchester to build the final home on the road for a decorated former soldier and his young family. Two years ago, with the help of Prince William and Prince Harry, DIY SOS launched their most ambitious project yet – transforming a derelict street into a vibrant community for veterans and local people, creating new homes and a veterans’ support centre. Now, with the project almost complete, Nick Knowles and the team return to build the last remaining home for amputee and single dad Simon Flores, whose foot was blown off by a roadside bomb during a patrol in Iraq.

Donald Trump (BBC 1 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 9th November 2017)

A year ago, Donald Trump was elected President of the United States; and in that time barely a day has passed without him hitting the headlines. Scotland had an early glimpse of the man and his methods. For more than a decade, he’s attracted both praise and criticism over his development of a golf course in Aberdeenshire. A development he said was inspired by his mother coming from Stornoway. This programme examines his relationship with Scotland, and looks at the current condition and future plans for the Trump businesses here.

The World’s Greatest Bridges (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 10th November 2017)

Documentary series. Rob Bell explores the history and construction of iconic bridges. A symbol of the Industrial Revolution, the elegant Iron Bridge over the river Severn in rural Shropshire was the world’s first bridge to be constructed entirely from iron. Rob reveals the difficulties encountered in building it, the scepticism of contemporary engineers, how it inspired Thomas Telford to design the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and the bridge’s role as a catalyst for the birth of a civil engineering.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 10th November 2017)

The live, joyous, topical comedy extravaganza hosted by Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe that examines the biggest and most entertaining news stories and rounds up the main talking points of the week. This week, comedian and presenter Harry Hill will be live in the studio.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 21/10/2017

Paddington Station 24/7 (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 23rd October 2017)

Documentary series going behind the scenes at Paddington, and the Western Network. Sunday’s service grinds to a halt when a train de-rails in the station, a knife-carrying passenger causes concern in Bristol, and cleaners have to respond as passengers ignore the ‘Do not flush while in a station’ signs.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 25th October 2017)

Design engineer Joe Stuart and service designer Lina Nilsson are taking on the London property market. Both in their twenties, they are fed up with renting but can’t afford to buy. So now they’re going to build their own house, for just £160k. Having already spent £73k on a miniscule 38 square metre plot in a run-down part of east London, Joe has designed a split level, six half-floor house that will cleverly maximise space. At 83 square metres it may be the smallest two double-bedroom house that you’re allowed to build in the capital, but it’ll be theirs, not a landlord’s. Despite their energy and enthusiasm, Joe and Lina have never done anything like this before. Excavating their entire plot for a basement proves incredibly testing, running months behind and thousands over budget. But Joe, who’s project managing and building most of the house, galvanises himself. Adding more and more design flourishes as he goes along, his ambition for this tiny gem of a building becomes an obsession.

The Country Council (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 26th October 2017)

Documentary series following the work of Argyll and Bute council, charting the unique challenges faced by staff working hundreds of miles from the nearest city to provide services in difficult times. This second episode follows council staff the length and breadth of the region, from Oban to Rothesay, Dunoon to Jura. It captures the demanding work of the health visitors on the front line who are dealing with a rise in autism diagnosis, the tough decisions being made in the face of an ever-increasing ageing population, and there is a look at what it is like to be a parking warden.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 27th October 2017)

The award-winning series continues live on Friday nights for a 12th series with its unique brand of irreverent satire and sharp topical comedy. The live, joyous, topical comedy extravaganza hosted by Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe examines the biggest and most entertaining news stories and rounds up the main talking points of the week. In this show guest Russell Brand helps to dissect the week’s events.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 14/10/2017

Paddington Station 24/7 (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 16th October 2017)

Documentary series going behind the scenes at Paddington, and the Western Network. A driver raises the alarm when he suspects that his train has hit something, or someone, on the line. Heavy rain brings down a tree which closes the tracks between Banbury and Oxford, and engineers begin the process of dismantling a Victorian viaduct.

Saving Lives at Sea (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 17th October 2017)

Documentary series following the men and women of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). As the summer sun comes out, so do the fun seekers, and crews around the country get ready for action. In Southend, a family of five out sightseeing are a mile off shore and waist-deep in water after being caught out by the tide. The Shoreham crew are paged in the early hours after a drunken festival-goer jumps in the river. And the Brighton crew fear the worst when a man tombstones off the pier at low tide.

Saving Lives at Sea (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 18th October 2017)

Documentary series following the men and women of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). When an early morning dog walker spots a flare off shore, the Rhyl crew race to one of the most mysterious shouts they have seen. The Lowestoft crew find themselves paged to help to a sailor who doesn’t want to be rescued. And at Tower, a good samaritan is clinging on for his life after trying to rescue a dog which has jumped into the Thames.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 18th October 2017)

Ecologist Fred and communications manager Saffron Baker live in a beautiful village in the highly protected Peak District. After 15 years of saving and planning, they’re finally able to start building their large, new family home on a steep slope on the edge of the village. Desperate not to annoy the neighbours, their innovative design features just one storey visible from the main road, but two more storeys buried out of sight lower down the slope. The start of construction proves more a feat of civil engineering than a house build, with the difficulty of excavating into solid limestone, compounded by an incredibly steep and muddy access road for the heavy machinery. Then when their self-build mortgage falls through, work stops for months. It’s a major test of Saffron and Fred’s commitment and resolve, when all they have to show for years of effort is a huge hole in the ground.

The Country Council (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPl;ayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 19th October 2017)

Documentary series following the work of Argyll and Bute council, charting the unique challenges faced by staff working hundreds of miles from the nearest city to provide services in difficult times. In this first episode, cameras follow Desmond Middleton, one of only two council debt counsellors covering the entire region of Argyll and Bute at a time when one in six people are struggling with debt. Plus the how housing officers in Rothesay tackle issues of isolation across Bute, and a rare insight into the council-run airport in Oban, which provides a lifeline to the islands and communities it serves.

Britain by Bike with Larry and George Lamb (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 20th October 2017)

Travelogue series with father-and-son duo Larry and George Lamb, exploring Britain’s national parks from the saddle. They cycle through the New Forest National Park where they encounter the famous ponies, set up a bushcraft camp, attend a chair building class, and canoe down the Beaulieu River.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 20th October 2017)

The award-winning series is back live on Friday nights for a 12th series with its unique brand of irreverent satire and sharp topical comedy. The live, joyous, topical comedy extravaganza hosted by Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe examines the biggest and most entertaining news stories and rounds up the main talking points of the week. In this show the team are joined by rock group Kasabian to help dissect the week’s events.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 07/10/2017

Grand Tours of Scotland’s Lochs (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 9th October 2017)

Series in which Paul Murton takes a tour of Scotland’s lochs. In the final programme in the series, Paul explores some lochs close to Scotland’s densely populated central belt. Starting on the banks of the most famous lake in Scotland – the Lake of Menteith – Paul wanders through an enchanting landscape, visiting Loch Ard, Loch Arklet, Loch Katrine and Loch Achray, before climbing a mountain in miniature, Ben Venue.

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

Documentary series going behind the scenes at Paddington. The Queen arrives at Paddington on board one of GWR’s new Intercity Express Trains, commemorating a trip made by her forebear Queen Victoria. At Reading station, Revenue Protection Officer Lyn has to call for back up when a fare dodger makes a run for it.

Saving Lives at Sea (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 10th October 2017)

Documentary series following the men and women of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). The Aberystwyth crew must improvise when a local paraglider crash-lands at the bottom of steep cliffs. When an adventurous seal is discovered on the steps of a block of flats, Redcar’s newest recruit is first on the scene. And in Minehead, a challenging rescue forces an inexperienced crew member to consider her future.

Robson Green’s Coastal Lives (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Tuesday 10th October 2017)

Robson Green explores the extraordinary lives and homes of the people who live on Britain’s coastline – from families who are swapping their city homes for a new life by the sea to those who have lived on the coast for generations. His coastal journey reaches the east coast as Robson finds out more about the community spirit that makes life by the sea so fulfilling. He meets a couple living on a seal sanctuary, a volunteer lighthouse keeper who lives four days a month at the remote coastal location of Spurn Point, and meets the people who live on a former World War I campsite that now houses chalets with listed status.

Grand Designs (Channel 4 /HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 11th October 2017)

This is one of the most ambitious homes ever seen on Grand Designs – a scaly, curving house that’s reminiscent of a giant coiled snake. Stephen Tetlow is head of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Stephen’s wife Elizabeth is a committed horticulturalist. Together they want to build a home that reflects their passions – one that pushes Stephen’s engineering skills to the limit and embraces Elizabeth’s deep affinity with nature. Taking inspiration from an ammonite shell found on their land in the beautiful Blackdown Hills in Devon, the house spirals onto the landscape over two levels and mixes natural materials with cutting edge technology. Construction of such a complex curving structure proves a huge challenge and progress is tortuously slow.

Britain by Bike with Larry and George Lamb (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 13th October 2017)

Travelogue series with father-and-son duo Larry and George Lamb, exploring Britain’s national parks from the saddle. They head for the beach on the spectacular Pembrokeshire coast. Larry takes a tour of an Iron Age fort and George attempts part of the Tour of Pembrokeshire.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 13th October 2017)

The award-winning 12th series continues with its unique brand of irreverent satire and sharp topical comedy. In this edition, Armando Iannucci and Sue Perkins join hosts Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe to examine the biggest and most entertaining news stories and round up the main talking points of the week.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 30/09/2017

Paddington Station 24/7 (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 2nd October 2017)

Documentary series going behind the scenes at one of the UK’s busiest transport hubs. Signal problems lead to a restricted service during rush hour, which causes severe congestion at the station.

Saving Lives at Sea (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 3rd October 2017)

Documentary series following the men and women of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). In Ilfracombe, a father and son find themselves in danger after jumping in to rescue a drowning dog. The Minehead crew must scour the cliffs and shoreline after a young woman goes missing in a distressed state. And when they’re paged to a man seen entering the Thames, the Tower crew face the possibility they may not find him in time.

Robson Green’s Coastal Lives (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Tuesday 3rd October 2017)

Robson Green explores the extraordinary lives and homes of the people who live on Britain’s coastline – from families who are swapping their city homes for a new life by the sea to those who have lived on the coast for generations. This time he is in Pembrokeshire, meeting a family who have bought their very own island – complete with Napoleonic fort. Robson also goes fishing with a lobsterman who could not bear to be away from the coast where he grew up, and makes a splash with the ‘Bluetits’, Pembrokeshire’s wetsuit-free swimming club who love a swim in the chilly Celtic sea.

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

For most of us, rust and ruin are not interior design choices. But Beth Dadswell and Andrew Wilbourne can’t resist a bit of decay. As designers, they are passionate about preserving the marks of time. They’ve rescued a crumbling Victorian dairy in south east London, and plan to convert it into a family home while retaining as much of the ramshackle roof and crumbling brickwork as possible. All this in just six months and on a tight budget of £260k. As they begin stripping back the old dairy, the poor condition of the building becomes plain. It’s full of rusting metal and rotting wood. Beth and Andrew have to make some painful decisions about just how much decay they can live with. As time goes on, their vision of a ‘shabby chic’ finish, including a Parisian courtyard, is under threat from the pressure to make their new home fit for modern life.

Britain by Bike with Larry and George Lamb (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 6th October 2017)

Travelogue series with father-and-son duo Larry and George Lamb, exploring Britain’s national parks from the saddle. They start their visit to the Scottish Highlands with a speedboat tour of Loch Lomond, and cycle through the Trossachs National Park.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 6th October 2017)

The award-winning series is back live to Friday nights for a 12th series with its unique brand of irreverent satire and sharp topical comedy. The live, joyous, topical comedy extravaganza hosted by Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe examines the biggest and most entertaining news stories and rounds up the main talking points of the week. In each show, they are joined by a live audience and guests from the worlds of comedy, entertainment and politics to help dissect the week’s events. In the second show Victoria Coren Mitchell and Robert Webb join the team.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 05/08/2017

Gareth Thomas v Homophobia: Hate in the Beautiful Game (BBC 2/HD | 10:30pm to 11:30pm | Sunday 6th August 2017)

Documentary in which former Wales and Lions rugby union captain Gareth ‘Alfie’ Thomas takes a hard-hitting look at the open homophobia in professional football. A Commons report on homophobia in sport earlier this year praised many changes for the good but was notably scathing and damning of football. There are no openly gay footballers in a sport that has around 5,000 professional players in the UK, and Justin Fashanu, the only player to have ever come out while still playing, killed himself in 1998. Alfie looks at the issues keeping gay players from coming out, meeting fans, players and managers, as well as pressure groups, lawyers and police. He encounters open homophobia in the stands and suffers personal abuse by football fans online. He also attempts to meet the heads of the FA and the Premier League, with little success.

Tornado – the 100mph Steam Engine (BBC 4/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Monday 7th August 2017)

The new A1 class steam engine Tornado tries to achieve 100mph on the main line. The secret speed attempt will be made in the dead of night. If it tops the ton it will be the first time in 50 years steam has gone this fast. Tornado was built over two decades and financed by enthusiasts who want to show steam has a viable future on Britain’s railways.

Man in an Orange Shirt (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 7th August 2017)

A love story in two films charts the very different challenges to happiness for Michael and Thomas in the aftermath of WW2 and to Adam and Steve in the present day. In 2017, young vet Adam Berryman tentatively forms a relationship with his client Steve but can he find happiness under his grandmother Flora’s unforgiving eye?

The Yorkshire Dales and the Lakes (more4 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 8th August 2017)

In the Lake District, farmer Pip comes up with a unique solution to put an end to losing his sheep – something to do with Day-Glo. In the Yorkshire Dales, have the owners of the Tan Hill Inn finally found landlords to manage their pub? Also, the Dent Brewery boys from the Dales are busy brewing, marketing and delivering their own craft ales. And in the Lakes, Jon Bennett makes his daily ascent to the summit of Helvellyn for a noble reason.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 11th August 2017)

The final episode of the current series of award-winning irreverent satire and sharp topical comedy hosted by Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe. In this last show they are joined by environmentalist and former Vice President of the United States Al Gore who helps dissect the week’s events.

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