Britain and the Sea (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Sunday 8th December 2013)
David Dimbleby explores how the sea emerged as a source of pleasure, Punch and Judy and sand sculpture. Starting at Gorleston-on-Sea, David explores the creation of a seaside holiday culture that remains uniquely British to this day. Sailing down the Suffolk and Essex coasts and into the Thames, David also shows how the sea became an irresistible subject for our most celebrated artists and architects, before finally docking in the very heart of British maritime power: Greenwich.
The Choir: Sing While You Work (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 9th December 2013)
In the quarter-final, all of the choirs finally come face to face when they arrive at Gareth’s alma mater, the prestigious Royal Academy of Music, the place where he learnt his musical trade, along with the likes of Sir John Tavener, Sir Elton John and Lesley Garrett. The choirs undertake three days of intense tuition and tackle some of the giants of classical music which, after just 72 hours, they will perform to three world-class judges. Birmingham City Council struggles to make Vivaldi glorious, the Cheshire firefighters tackle operatic Verdi with all sirens blaring, and Sainsbury’s says a prayer as they attempt Schubert’s Ave Maria, while the Citi bankers are desperate to come up smelling of roses with their Flower Duet, and P&O Ferries delve into the depths of Mozart’s Lacrimosa. After three of the most musically intense days of The Choir so far, which choirs will satisfy Gareth’s determination that they achieve musical excellence?
Don’t Ever Wipe Tears Without Gloves (BBC 4 | 10:00pm to 11:00pm | Monday 9th December 2013)
Having met at Paul’s Christmas party and fallen in love, Benjamin and Rasmus quickly move in together. But Benjamin has not told his Jehovah’s Witness parents that he is gay, leaving Rasmus feeling hurt. HIV has taken hold in Stockholm and is regularly on the news. Reine has already succumbed to the virus and the gay community begin to say goodbye to their friends while facing daily prejudice at the hands of the media as well. Rasmus’ parents are concerned about him and call repeatedly to make sure he’s being careful. But his fiery relationship and frequent arguments with Benjamin see him take a number of different partners. When HIV tests for some the group begin to come back positive they are forced to confront the awfulness of the situation in different ways. (In Swedish with English subtitles).
One Wild Winter in the Scottish Mountains (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 11th December 2013)
Archive material and footage recorded by the people who live, work and play in the Scottish mountains reveal what happened during the winter of 2012 – the longest coldest and busiest on record – which saw the deaths of 14 people as extreme weather and avalanches hit the Highlands. The programme also explores the meteorological phenomenon that helped shape that unique winter.
Hours in A and E (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 11th December 2013)
The award-winning series, filmed round the clock at King’s College Hospital in South London, continues with an episode focusing on mums. Twelve-year-old Eddie is brought into A&E by ambulance after being hit by a car on his way home from school. Eddie’s head ‘bullseyed’ the windscreen and he was thrown, somersaulting twice before landing on the pavement. Eddie’s accompanied by his sister Chloe while his mum, Justine, rushes back from a rare day out with friends in central London to be by his side.
Keeping Britain Safe 24/7 (BBC1 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 12th December 2013)
The series meeting the everyday heroes who keep Britain safe through each passing season looks at the challenges brought by the most extreme season of the year, winter. Julia Bradbury and Matt Allwright follow the paramedics of the Scottish Ambulance Service as they deal with new year and the country’s biggest street party, the RAF search and rescue teams as they work in the most remote wilderness in Britain, and the teams who keep the roads moving through the cold and darkness.
George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 12th December 2013)
In the last episode of the series, George prepares to unveil his own small-space project, an ambitious, accessible, multi-functional tree house within the Calvert Trust, an outward bound activities centre for families with disabilities, set against the backdrop of the beautiful Kielder Water and Forest Park. He meets a couple with big plans to build a theatre in a 1970s caravan. A 19th century shepherd’s hut undergoes restoration using super-sized Victorian steam powered machinery. And George meets the man who doesn’t have to go for a pint as he’s built an entire pub in his garden shed.
Christmas Supermarket Secrets (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 12th December 2013)
Gregg Wallace goes behind the scenes with Britain’s biggest food retailers over the course of a year to discover how they source, make and move the food we find on the supermarket shelves. Gregg reveals how the supermarkets gear up for the biggest challenge of their year – Christmas. He sees what it takes to deliver millions of turkeys, finds out about the battle to make sprouts a crowd pleaser, and discovers how the supermarkets make sure we have got enough of our favourite Christmas tipple.
All TV guide information taken from DigiGuide — www.getdigiguide.tv/?p=1&r=15119.