Tag: The Mountain

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 12/12/2015

Our Guy in Latvia- 06-14-2015 - YouView appCountryfile (BBC 1/HD | 6:20pm to 7:20pm | Sunday 13th December 2015)

Ellie Harrison and Matt Baker are in the Peaks in Derbyshire, looking at how the geology there gives rise to two distinct landforms – the Dark Peak and the White Peak. Matt is in the White Peak discovering that the limestone that characterises the region is the remnant of an ancient tropical reef. Ellie is in the Dark Peak, where it’s gritstone that marks out the landscape. She takes a walk with an artist who maps the land and creates three-dimensional maps in metal. Ellie then ventures further north to catch a glimpse of England’s last remaining population of mountain hares. Sean Fletcher is at Haddon Hall helping with some of the restoration of this famous building. Adam Henson recounts the story of the tractor, from its origins in the age of steam to the hi-tech GPS-guided self-driving tractors of today. Tom Heap finds out that not everyone is pleased to see the return of wild boars to the Forest of Dean.

The Adventure Show (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 13th December 2015)

This month’s Adventure Show comes from the 3 Pistes – the UK’s highest sportive, with over 100 miles of road biking that includes more than 2,000 metres of climbing. Riders are taken through three of Scotland’s most iconic ski resorts, starting with the punishing ascents of Glenshee and the Lecht before finishing at Cairngorm Mountain. Also on this month’s Adventure Show, there is an exclusive report from Nepal which reveals that five months after the earthquakes that devastated much of the country, no outside aid has reached the mountain communities in the Everest National Park.

The Mountain (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 14th December 2015)

Series charting life around Cairngorm. As the summer comes to a close with a big splash, the mountain gets its new ski tow installed in the nick of time, and Polly and Ross count the cost of a busy summer.

Our Guy in Latvia (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 14th December 2015)

Guy Martin, best known as the daredevil petrol-head with a passion for speed and death-defying adventures, takes a rare week off work to make a personal journey to the Baltics to uncover the truth about his Latvian grandfather, Walter Kidals, who died nine years ago. The details of Walter’s life have always been unclear, so Guy decides to find out what really happened, and uncovers an extraordinary life involving prisoner of war camps, daring escapes, and the constant threat of death and deportation.

Reggie Yates’ Extreme UK (BBC 3/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 14th December 2015)

Being a British guy in 2015 is not easy, and in this series Reggie Yates travels to the extreme edge of modern British masculinity to discover that 21st-century pressures are changing the way we live, the way we love and even the way we look. In the second film, Reggie meets the angry young British men who think feminism has gone too far – and some of the women who have felt their wrath on an internet tailor-made for anti-feminism and trolls. He meets young guys espousing men’s rights at Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park and the underground movement of male separatists of MGTOW (or Men Going Their Own Way). Reggie also encounters infamous self-styled pick-up artist Roosh V, who dishes out advice on how to have more sex with women – but doesn’t seem to like them very much.

TFI Friday (Channel 4/HD | 7:30pm to 9:00pm | Friday 18th December 2015)

Chris Evans is joined by Norfolk icon and national treasure Alan Partridge to co-host this special Christmas comedy show. A stellar line-up of guests includes James Corden, Jack Whitehall and Lee Mack. Plus music from Sir Tom Jones, Bryan Adams, Lianne La Havas and Elle King.
(High Definition, Subtitles, 3 Star)

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 05/12/2015

Countryfile - 06-12-2015 - YouView appDoctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:05pm | Saturday 5th December 2015)

If you took everything from him, betrayed him, trapped him, and broke both his hearts… how far might the Doctor go? Returning to Gallifrey, the Doctor faces the Time Lords in a struggle that will take him to the end of time itself. Who is the Hybrid? And what is the Doctor’s confession?

Countryfile (BBC 1/HD | 6:20pm to 7:20pm | Sunday 6th December 2015)

Ellie Harrison and Joe Crowley explore the NC500 – a new 500-mile scenic loop that takes in some of Scotland’s remotest and most beautiful places. Ellie is in the west near Applecross where she comes face to face with the fearsome Belach na Ba – the ‘Pass of the Cattle’. At more than 2,000 feet, it’s Britain’s highest road. Ellie then snakes up the coast to Ullapool to find out how one small native fish could be the answer to the salmon-farming industry’s prayers. Joe Crowley is in the east, riding the NC500 through Sutherland’s fertile planes. He stops off to meet the young couple who have jacked it all in to live the crofting life. He then drives on to the Black Isle – so called because of its rich black fertile soils. Here, he meets the farmers growing premium barley destined for the whiskey industry. Tom investigates the high number of traffic accidents that happen on our rural roads, while Adam discovers that the future of UK energy production may be straw powered.

The Hunt (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Sunday 6th December 2015)

Nature documentary series narrated by Sir David Attenborough, taking an intimate and detailed look at the strategies employed by hunters to catch their prey, and the hunted to escape. The coast is the dynamic border between land and sea. Powered by the tides and thrashed by waves, this is a world of continuous change. Opportunities never last long here, so hunters are always in a race against time. The coast is the only place on the planet where predators from air, land and sea come together. Dolphins that leave the safety of the sea to fish, walking octopuses, ingenious monkeys, fishing wolves and the greatest gathering of feeding humpback whales come to the coast to hunt. For all, timing is everything.

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

Series charting life around Cairngorm. Possibly the UK’s weirdest music festical gets underway. The sailing school calls up new management to survive. The ski patrol team takes on the adventure triathalon.

Bothy Life (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 9th December 2015)

Documentary telling the story of the unsung heroes of Scotland’s mountains. For 50 years volunteers of the Mountain Bothy Association have been providing shelter for people travelling through the wilder parts of Scotland. They selflessly give up their time to renovate old buildings for the benefit of others. Bothy Life celebrates their work, as well the spirit of adventure and camaraderie of those who step out into the hills.

BBC Music Awards (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 10th December 2015)

Chris Evans and Fearne Cotton host the second annual BBC Music Awards from the Genting Arena in Birmingham, celebrating an amazing 12 months of popular music across the BBC. The spectacular show features stand-out performances of some of this year’s biggest songs by artists including One Direction, Rod Stewart, Ellie Goulding, Faithless, Hozier, James Bay, Jess Glynne, Little Mix, Mumford and Sons, OMI, Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott, the Shires and Jack Garratt, who will also be crowned BBC Introducing Artist of the Year. Other awards presented during the show include British Artist of the Year, International Artist of the Year, the public-voted Song of the Year and, new for 2015, BBC Live Performance of the Year. The BBC Concert Orchestra also performs alongside many of the artists.

TFI Friday (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 11th December 2015)

The new series of Chris Evans’ entertainment show continues, from its new home in central London, with new features, raucous stunts and an array of guests, including Martin Freeman, Idris Elba, Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott, James Bay, and Rita Ora and Sigma.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 28/11/2015

The World's Most Famous Train - 30/11/2015 (YouView app)Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 8:05pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 28th November 2015)

Trapped in a world unlike any other he has seen, the Doctor faces the greatest challenge of his many lives. One final test. And he must face it alone. Pursued by the fearsome creature known only as the Veil, he must attempt the impossible. If he makes it through, Gallifrey is waiting…

Guy Martin: Last Flight of the Vulcan Bomber (Channel 4/HD | 7:30pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 29th November 2015)

The last airworthy Vulcan bomber, XH558, flew for the final time to great fanfare in October this year. This iconic plane played a pivotal role in protecting UK interests in the post-World War II era as the first nuclear deterrent, and was also responsible for the longest raid in British military history when it successfully attacked enemy targets in the Falkland Islands. Mechanic Guy Martin is given unprecedented access to the aircraft, helping a select group of engineers prepare it for an ambitious farewell tour around of Britain. He also gets the rare chance to fly alongside the plane in formation, as well as taking the controls to try and ‘wheelie’ the 70-tonne aircraft along a runway. This 90-minute documentary is the definitive story of the Vulcan bomber, featuring expert contributions from Vulcan pilots and crew who faced the awesome responsibility of potentially having to drop nuclear bombs.

The Hunt (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Sunday 29th November 2015)

Nature documentary series narrated by Sir David Attenborough, taking an intimate and detailed look at the strategies employed by hunters to catch their prey, and the hunted to escape. Half of all land is desert or grassland. In these, the most exposed habitats on our planet, predators like cheetahs, bald eagles and lions can usually see their prey. But it works both ways: the prey can see them too. With nothing but open vistas the element of surprise is hard-won, and predators must make their own opportunities. Nowhere to Hide explores the strategies of predator and prey in the open arena.

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

Series charting life around Cairngorm. The mountain team has to call in the helicopter to reach their remotest ski tow, the Glorious Twelfth looks less than glorious, Ruari gets married, and 25,000 people turn up in Aviemore to hear Spud the piper.

Coming Oot! (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 10:35pm to 11:35pm | Monday 30th November 2015)

Documentary featuring a rich mix of eye-witness testimony, archive and historical research to chart the radically changing attitudes towards Scotland’s gay community. Scotland was over a decade behind England and Wales in decriminalising homosexuality but now has the best gay rights in Europe.

The World’s Most Famous Train (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Monday 30th November 2015)

During its nine-month-long season, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express makes over 60 journeys, covering 150,000 kilometres, with the majority of trips between London and Venice. Marketed as the world’s most luxurious and romantic train journey, the train is comprised of 17 unique 1920s carriages. Having carried an abundance of elite individuals across Italy, Switzerland, and Turkey for well over a century, each one contains its own unique history, from dramatic incidents to royal scandals. Nowadays, from champagne bars to five-star gastronomy, the train service offers an idyllic, luxury trip. This one-off film follows the stories of the staff and passengers – who in a world of budget, two-hour flights, are still willing to fork out £2000 for a 36-hour journey across Europe, without Wi-Fi or showers.

Trusadh (BBC Alba | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 30th November 2015)

Railway enthusiast Alasdair MacCalum goes on a special journey of discovery on the Highland Railway as he tells the story of this famous network to mark its 150th anniversary. The series of lines run from Perth to Inverness, then out east towards Keith, north up to Wick and Thurso and across to Kyle of Lochalsh in the west. Together they make up one of the most stunning and isolated railway systems in Europe. Along the way, Alasdair meets historians, experts, engineers and fellow enthusiasts and brings this amazing railway’s story to life. From the enormous engineering feats needed to build it to the massive impact that it had on the Highland communities, this programme tells the story of a railway that is unique in many different ways.

Loch Lomond: A Year in the Wild (Channel 5 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 1st December 2015)

Documentary series about the wildlife of Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park in Scotland, filmed across one year. The winter is mild and wet, which is good news for some but bad news for others. Red deer are forced to higher ground, salmon have gone six months without food, mountain hares turn a conspicuous white, and squirrels kick their own young out of the nest.

TFI Friday (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 4th December 2015)

The new series of Chris Evans’ entertainment show continues, from its new home in central London, with new features, raucous stunts and guests include Kylie Minogue, Daniel Radcliffe, Florence and The Machine, Mumford and Sons, and Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 21/11/2015

Doctor Who - 21/11/2015 (YouView app)Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 8:10pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 21st November 2015)

The Doctor and Clara, with their old friend Rigsy, find themselves in a magical alien world, hidden on a street in the heart of London. Sheltered within are some of the most fearsome creatures of the universe, and Ashildr! With a death sentence hanging over their heads, not all of the intruders will get out alive.

The Hunt (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Sunday 22nd November 2015)

Nature documentary series narrated by Sir David Attenborough, taking an intimate and detailed look at the strategies employed by hunters to catch their prey, and the hunted to escape. This episode follows blue whales, sharks, sea lions, frigatebirds, dolphins and albatrosses to reveal the strategies they use to hunt for prey in the big blue. The open ocean is an immense wilderness that covers more than half the surface of our planet, yet for the most part it’s a watery desert, largely devoid of life. Predators face an endless search to find and catch food, yet these great tracks of ocean are home to some of the most remarkable hunters on the planet.

The Mountain (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 23rd November 2015)

Series charting life around Cairngorm. In this edition, the steam railway gets overheated, the mountain team battles the midges, Rona the downhill racer’s dreams come adrift, and the pub springs a leak.

Emergency! Trains v Weather (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 24th November 2015)

What does it take to keep Britain’s railways running through some of the worst winter weather on record? This film follows the army of engineers and maintenance teams as they battle against the elements to keep the rail network open and prevent the delays that cause misery to millions of passengers every winter. Using the latest technology and sheer old-fashioned graft, they tackle floods, hurricane force winds and tracks buried under six feet of snow – not to mention the annual blight of leaves on the line. With millions depending on the trains every day, the maintenance teams are the unsung heroes of the rail network.

Loch Lomond: A Year in the Wild (Channel 5 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 24th November 2015)

Documentary series featuring the wildlife of Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park in Scotland, filmed across one year. Autumn is when stags compete to breed, osprey chicks begin a 3000-mile migration to West Africa, salmon return to the rivers where they were born and adders give birth to live young.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 25th November 2015)

In this final episode Kevin McCloud reveals the winner of the Royal Institute of British Architects House of the Year 2015. There are three extraordinary houses still to see: a simple but beautiful timber and steel clad home in Dungeness; a soaring pink brick house in Belfast with fabulous views of the surrounding landscape; and an 18th-century converted mill in a remote, rural part of Scotland. The three are vying for the last place on the finalist shortlist. And then, at the end of the show, Kevin announces the overall winner of this year’s prestigious award and visits the house to discover why it has been crowned the best new home in Britain.

TFI Friday (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 27th November 2015)

The new series of Chris Evans’ entertainment show continues, from its new home in central London, with new features, raucous stunts and guests include Ellie Goulding, The Vamps, Wolf Alice and Jamie Lawson.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 14/11/2015

Restoring Britain's Landmarks - 18-11-2015 - YouView appDoctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 8:15pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 14th November 2015)

This terrifying story is assembled from footage discovered in the wreckage of Le Verrier Space Station.

The Hunt (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Sunday 15th November 2015)

Hide and Seek (Forests). Nature documentary series narrated by Sir David Attenborough, taking an intimate and detailed look at the strategies employed by hunters to catch their prey, and the hunted to escape. This episode follows tigers, harpy eagles, chimpanzees, army ants and other predators as they rise to the challenge of hunting within the forest – a dense, confusing, three-dimensional world, one in which even finding prey is a maddening task. The prize for succeeding at nature’s great game of hide-and-seek is one worth winning. Forests cover one third of the land surface, and concealed within are over half of the species on Earth.

The Mountain (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 16th November 2015)

Series charting life around Cairngorm. Spud the piper returns and gets a riding lesson, Ruari goes diving for his wedding menu, the oldest ski tow on the mountain needs demolishing, and a young mountain biker gets out of school to go racing.

Loch Lomond: A Year in the Wild (Channel 5 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 17th November 2015)

Documentary series featuring the wildlife of Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park in Scotland, filmed across one year. It is now June, and the park is bathed in 17 hours of daylight. With the warm temperatures come rich pickings, but for the newborn the summer months are crucial as they learn to fight, find food and avoid predators. Will an orphaned hen harrier chick, young red squirrels, Eurasian beaver kits and two rare osprey chicks make it through to the autumn?

Restoring Britain’s Landmarks (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 18th November 2015)

The last episode in the series follows the final push to complete the restoration of St Edward’s Presbytery in Ramsgate, a house designed by architect Augustus Pugin. Conservation Manager Alastair Dick-Cleland visits an unusual Martello tower at Aldeburgh in Suffolk – one of a chain of impressive coastal forts built to keep Napoleon out of Britain, that is now battling to keep out the water. And historian Anna Keay explores Appleton Water Tower in Sandringham Park. She investigates the role it played in a shocking story of disease and death on the Royal Estate, and reveals how the heir to the throne of the British Empire very nearly died.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm Wednesday 18th November 2015)

Kevin McCloud reveals another five candidates vying to be crowned Riba House of the Year 2015. There’s a luxurious city home built from Danish brick and bronze, complete with a basement swimming pool. A bold concrete and brick open-plan house in Liverpool, with floor to ceiling glass. A dramatic geometric homestead in rural Northern Ireland. A glamorous Hollywood-inspired pad in north London. And lastly, a picture perfect, white, modernist villa in north Wales, with vast sea views, that appeared on Grand Designs last year. Find out at the end of the show which one has made it through to the finals for this year’s prestigious award.

Tyger Takes On (BBC 3/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 19th November 2015)

Two-part series in which Tyger Drew-Honey explores the blurring boundaries of 21st-century sexuality and sexism, delving head first into the thought-provoking lives of young adults today. In the second film, Tyger explores the battle of the sexes, visiting some of the battlegrounds on which it is being fought, and treading the minefield of sexism from the mating game and universities to politics. Tyger questions whether he is part of the problem.

TFI Friday (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 20th November 2015)

Chris Evans’ seminal cult entertainment show continues the new series with brand new features, raucous stunts and guests including Mark Ronson, ELO, Hozier and Stereophonics.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 05/11/2015

Tyger Takes On - 12-11-2015 - YouView appDoctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 8:50pm | Saturday 7th November 2015)

Shapeshifting Zygons are everywhere in the UK, and there is no way of knowing who to trust. With UNIT neutralised, only the Doctor stands in their way. But how do you stop a war? And what can the Doctor do to save his friends?

Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm 9:00pm | Sunday 8th November 2015)

Timothy West and Prunella Scales head to Ireland. In perhaps their most dramatically beautiful voyage, they trace the story of the canal that links the south to the north: the Shannon Erne Waterway, also known as the Peace Canal. Their voyage begins on the shores of Lough Allen in County Leitrim. They try some folk singing and Irish dancing; travel across border country; visit the ruins of Crom Castle and Bloody Pass, and also meet a genealogist with an interesting story to tell.

The Hunt (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Sunday 8th November 2015)

Nature documentary series narrated by Sir David Attenborough, taking an intimate and detailed look at the strategies employed by hunters to catch their prey, and the hunted to escape. This episode looks at the challenges of hunting in the Arctic, the most seasonal place on Earth. To a predator, seasonal change is a problem. It means that all the parameters of the hunt – the conditions, the strategies, the prey – change too. The only option for the Arctic’s top predators, the wolf, the Arctic fox and the polar bear, is to continually adapt to their changing world, exploiting the good times and enduring the bad.

The Mountain (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 9th November 2015)

Series charting life around Cairngorm. The summer months bring new opportunities for the folk who live in the shadow of Cairngorm, and the warmer weather brings no rest for the mountain team. The funicular train comes off its tracks, Ruari the ski patroller turns gamekeeper for the summer, the new boss at the sailing school has big boots to fill, and a young couple try to get their music festival off the ground.

Scotland’s Superhospital (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 9th November 2015)

Series following the staff and patients of four of Glasgow’s oldest hospitals as they move into one brand new state-of-the-art superhospital, the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. This edition follows the closure of the Western Infirmary and Scotland’s largest children’s hospital, known locally as Yorkhill. The transfer of patients to the new Royal Hospital for Children involves moving some of the hospital’s sickest children, while on the Schiehallion cancer ward, staff prepare to close the doors for good, and look forward to the better facilities in the new hospital.

Loch Lomond: A Year in the Wild (Channel 5 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 10th November 2015)

Documentary series featuring the wildlife of Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park in Scotland, filmed across one year. It is spring, and migrating ospreys return to the park. Pregnant red deer come down from the mountain tops to the lowlands to calve. On a mountainside, two big cocks fight for the right to mate in a spectacle called a lek.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 11th November 2015)

Every year the Royal Institute of British Architects holds a competition to find the best new home in Britain and this time Grand Designs is along for the ride. In this episode, Kevin McCloud explores another set of inspiring homes in the running for the prestigious Riba House of the Year Award – including a bright orange metal clad home in the quiet suburbs of Kew; a sleek modernist house built over a river in Belfast; a low budget home constructed around a series of courtyard gardens; and a spectacular hidden house that draws light down into its depths through a series of dramatic vaulted roof lights. At the end of the show, Kevin exclusively reveals which home has made it onto the Riba shortlist and is in with a chance to scoop the overall prize.

Tyger Takes On (BBC 3/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 12th November 2015)

Two-part series in which Tyger Drew-Honey explores the blurring boundaries of 21st-century sexuality and sexism, delving head first into the thought-provoking lives of young adults today. In the first film, Tyger meets some of the trailblazers who are forging a brave new world of sexual expression amidst a backdrop of elite sex parties and the nu-drag scene, as he tries to be open-minded about his own sexuality.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 07/02/2015

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

The midwives face one of their busiest nights to date, whilst Sister Winifred concentrates her efforts on the prostitutes of Poplar. Elsewhere, cracks start to appear in Trixie and Tom’s relationship.

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

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May conduct a valuable piece of consumer research with their attempts to improve and enhance the ambulance. Starting with a belief that current ambulances, which are usually very big and based on a diesel van, are in need of a rethink, the presenters go their separate ways to focus on the one area they think could be improved. May focuses on passenger comfort, Hammond tries to improve response times by getting other drivers out of the way more effectively, while Clarkson confronts the same issue with the invention of what he calls ‘the sports ambulance’. Their three very different creations are then put to the test with a series of severe and often messy challenges, culminating in a fast reaction to a spectacular emergency. Also in this episode, F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo is the star in the Reasonably Priced Car.

Our Guy in India (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:05pm | Sunday 8th February 2015)

Guy Martin makes a two-week, 1000-mile trip across India, heading to one of the world’s maddest bike races: Rider Mania, the largest gathering of Royal Enfield motorbikes on the planet. 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. In the second episode, Guy visits the boom city of Mumbai, where more skyscrapers are being built than anywhere else in the world. Guy clambers 833 feet solo to the top of India’s tallest building, only to be disappointed by the state of the welding. Back on ground level, Guy visits a slum where a million people are packed into one square mile. What he discovers changes his preconceptions about what a slum is.

The Mountain (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 9th February 2015)

Series charting life around Cairngorm, at the heart of Scotland’s greatest winter wilderness. In this edition, a hard season begins to take its toll on the lifts and P-man struggles to keep it all working. Spud decides to learn how to ski. And Sandra has a tough decision to make.

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

It’s mock exam week and the pressure is on for everyone, but for Dale it’s all about a bike trial which could change his life. Kenzie has had it with her mother and makes a drastic life change, while Abdul gets more than he bargained for during a science project.

Alex Polizzi: The Fixer (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 10th February 2015)

Alex looks at businesses which are at the mercy of trends. Events company Balloonin Marvellous is run by husband-and-wife team Jo and Giuseppe. Jo’s lack of business acumen means they are struggling to pay the rent and have been forced to move their showroom into their own family lounge. Meanwhile, their capricious customers are always one step ahead with their desires – and smaller firms can find it harder than most to react quickly. Jo’s flower arranging skills are put to the test at luxury florist Wild At Heart. Can Alex get this small business to stand out from the crowd by tapping into the very crowd they are trying to attract?

Inside the Commons (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 10th 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. In the second episode, Cockerell explores the upstairs-downstairs world of the House of Commons. He examines what goes on backstage at the state opening, when the Queen comes to open the parliamentary year. Behind the pomp and pageantry, he meets the army of skilled workers who struggle to keep the Commons show on the road and MPs who want to introduce their own bills in the Commons – and have to play a bizarre form of parliamentary bingo to get the chance. And he looks at how Labour and Conservative MPs conspire together to thwart their party whips. In this episode he meets two very different MPs: Robert Halfon, a campaigning Conservative and thorn in the side of the government, and Thomas Docherty, Labour’s deputy-shadow leader of the house.

The Restoration Man (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 11th February 2015)

When Nik Huddy and Vanessa Ford Robbins stumbled upon an overgrown 19th century gatehouse, they saw an opportunity to express their love of arts and crafts in restoring this tiny cottage to its former glory. They lived onsite in a caravan through two freezing winters. And even when they moved in, the house was too small to install a proper bathroom. George catches up with them one year on now that they have added a sympathetic extension to the house.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 12th February 2015)

Detective drama series set on a Caribbean island. As Saint Marie celebrates getting through to the finals of the Inter-Island Volleyball Championships, DI Goodman and the team are under pressure to solve the murder of a player, while Commissioner Selwyn squares up to an old nemesis.

Cucumber (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 12th February 2015)

Henry goes on a date with a complete stranger, while Lance’s long, dark night leads him to an unexpected bed. Across town, everyone’s searching for love, or sex, or both, as Cleo meets an old flame, Freddie hooks up with Anna, and Dean embarks on a mysterious journey into danger.

Banana (E4 | 10:00pm to 10:30pm | Thursday 12th February 2015)

Helen has to get tough with her ex, Eddie, but her birthday turns into a disaster when Eddie takes revenge.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 13th February 2015)

David Mitchell 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 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.

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

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

Call the Midwife - 01-02-2015 (YouView app)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

Top Gear - 25-01-2015 (YouView app) 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 : 10/01/2015

The Last Leg - 16-01-2015 (YouView app)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.