The Crimson Field (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Sunday 27th April 2014)
Drama series presenting one of the untold stories of World War I. The staff gather at a funeral for some of the patients, and Joan is in agony not knowing whether her fiance is alive or dead. It would be so dangerous if anyone knew her connection to the enemy, but Rosalie has previously seen the ring and now she watches Joan intently. Will the truth come to light? Joan’s spirits are lifted by the arrival of thirteen Tommies from her home town of Liverpool – known as the Lucky 13. Joan has a fondness for these men, whose united spirit has given them a belief that if they all stick together, none of them will die. But when she discovers that one is much sicker than thought, she finds herself the victim of blackmail. Elsewhere, Thomas seizes his opportunity to pursue Kitty, but when she is summoned to meet with a mysterious figure from home it is Miles who comes to her aid. Will Kitty face up to her past? And the return of an old patient causes ripples between Roland, Grace and Margaret.
Bang Goes the Theory (BBC 1/HD | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 28th April 2014)
Series presenting the science behind the headlines. The team look at the many measures engineers are taking to ensure Britain’s ageing rail system stays on track. Liz Bonnin looks at how signals may disappear from the trackside and how hearing impairment could be one of the biggest killers on the railway lines. Meanwhile, Maggie Philbin looks at how a train travelling at 125 mph is set to revolutionise trackside maintenance.
Britain’s Most Extreme Weather (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Monday 28th April 2014)
Weatherman Alex Beresford investigates why Britain’s recent weather has been so severe and asks if the country is facing the worst weather in recorded history. Alex trawls through centuries of British history to compare weather from the past with that of today, and examines the latest scientific discoveries to find out if things are getting worse. The first programme looks at Britain’s most fearsome floods. This winter has been the stormiest for decades, with 13 major rainstorms that caused extensive flooding. Moving personal accounts and astonishing footage from smartphones and cameras combine to tell the story of Britain’s stormy past, including the tidal surges that flooded North Sea coasts and the hurricane-force winds that battered western shores.
Watermen: A Dirty Business (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 29th April 2014)
Series focusing on the men and women who take our calls, come to unblock the drains and keep the sewage flowing. This episode is all about potential disasters, from broken sewers affecting hundreds of homes and polluted rivers. In Liverpool, the company’s only all-female team unblock customer’s drain and see off sewage in Liverpool. In Oldham, apprentice manager Faz deals with a stomach-churning blockage in Oldham. A new six-mile water pipeline near Blackburn upsets customers. The disconnection team also deals with problems as they try to recover an eye-watering £64,000 in unpaid bills.
Parking Mad (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 1st May 2014)
Documentary series about the world of parking, following the work of those in the public and private parking sectors and telling the stories of motorists involved in parking disputes. At a roadside operation, bailiffs use automatic number plate recognition to identify and stop cars with outstanding fines. Bailiff Debbie tries to get payment of over £500 from a man who insists he has already paid the original fine, but has he? Later on, the driver of another car, who is stopped for unpaid fines, soon finds himself in deeper water. In south London, blue badge fraud investigator Steve arranges for a car to be towed away, but the driver arrives just as the car is lifted onto the lorry, and she is not happy. And in Lyme Regis, the car parks are full to bursting as visitors pour into the town to see the Red Arrows.
Heston’s Great British Food (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 1st May 2014)
Britain is home to some of the most iconic dishes in the world. In this new series, Heston Blumenthal delves into the history of some of our favourites – from curry to pies to afternoon tea and chocolate – in order to find inspiration for an amazing culinary salute. The first episode is all about the great British pie, with Heston on a mission to find inspiration for a three-course pie banquet. For his starter, he delves into the history of the ‘surprise’ pies of the 17th century, where some ingredients were sometimes – bizarrely – alive. He learns about Jeffrey Hudson, a dwarf boy who would jump out of a pie at banquets.
Have I Got News for You (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Friday 2nd May 2014)
The popular news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Jack Dee and guest panellists Charlie Brooker and Bridget Christie.
All TV guide information taken from DigiGuide — www.getdigiguide.tv/?p=1&r=15119.