UK TV programmes to watch this week : 31/05/2014

George Clarke's Amazing Spaces | 05/06/2014 (YouView app screenshot)Triathlon (BBC 1/HD | 2:00pm to 5:10pm | Saturday 31st May 2014)

Hyde Park once again plays host to the London leg of the World Triathlon Series, the fourth event of the eight-race calendar. The famous venue provides the ideal backdrop for both the men’s and women’s sprint triathlons – fast and furious action is anticipated, with both races taking place on the same afternoon. The Brownlee brothers go head-to-head in the men’s race and lead British hopes. The sprint distance is the one event in which Jonny has been able to get the better of elder brother Alistair in recent years so it should make for a great contest. 2013 world champion Non Stanford makes her 2014 debut as she returns from injury but she faces tough competition from fellow Brits Jodie Stimpson, who leads the series, and two-time world champion Helen Jenkins.

All Aboard: East Coast Trains (Pick TV | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 1st June 2014)

Train driver Steve hasn’t looked back since leaving his accountancy job, while at King’s Cross Station, customer services deal with an irate passenger.

Commonwealth City (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 10:35pm to 11:35pm | Monday 2nd June 2014)

Documentary following the fortunes of some of the residents of Dalmarnock in the aftermath of the successful bid to host the Commonwealth Games. Now a local councillor, Yvonne has managed to secure five million pounds for a new community centre with a creche and doctor’s surgery attached, but must act quickly to find available land. Darren’s fortunes rebound as he takes over a local pub, opens a new shop and uses the compensation money to pay for his oldest daughter’s education a one of Glasgow’s top private schools.

Coast Australia (BBC 2/HD | 9:10pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 4th June 2014)

Series exploring Australia’s coastline. In the tranquil south-east of Tasmania, Neil Oliver probes Port Arthur’s harsh penal history. Brendan Moar examines the dramatic grip of lighthouse life on a remote island. Emma Johnston dives into an underwater battleground to see how science and industry are saving the marine neighbourhood. Neil joins the southern hemisphere’s largest wooden boat festival, and Tim Flannery investigates Hobart’s long and illustrious role in Antarctic exploration. Finally, Xanthe Mallett delves into the violent history of whaling, and a legacy that helped build a colony.

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 5th June 2014)

Architect George Clarke helps imaginations run wild as once again he celebrates the extraordinary world of small spaces and unique builds. The new series features secret hideaways, space-saving retreats, eco-friendly bolt holes and reconditioned vehicles. He shows that with careful planning, cunning design and masses of imagination, the unachievable is doable. The new series particularly celebrates the potential to create small space builds in your own back yard. With the help of his design buddy, master craftsman Will Hardie, George sets out to transform his own wasted garden space into the ultimate family garden studio; with a games room, cinema room, planetarium and, fulfilling a childhood ambition of his own, a butterfly house. For inspiration, they travel to Texas, a Mecca for free thinkers and ingenious design, on a road trip that takes them from Houston to Austin and Dallas.

Clydebuilt: The Ships That Made the Commonwealth (BBC 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 5th June 2014)

Series exploring the stories of four ships built on the river Clyde. David Hayman tells the story of CS Mackay-Bennett, a cable repair ship launched on the Clyde in 1884. She kept information flowing along a network of underwater cables that connected Britain with her empire and the world – the Victorian internet of its day. It’s also a story of a date with disaster, as the ship and her crew recovered the bodies of those who died when the Titanic sank. David travels to Halifax in Canada to find some facts about the ship and to unravel a DNA mystery that’s taken over a century to solve.

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

Two weeks in a straitjacket for Michael J. Fox

Magician Mark Correia is going to spend two week in a straitjacket for Michael J. Fox. He’s raising money for The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. He will spend two weeks completely strapped inside a straitjacket; no tricks, no freedom, and no escape – until the very last minute. Spending the longest amount of recorded time in a straitjacket. Mark will film daily video blogs of himself attempting to go about his everyday life during the project.

For more information check out www2.michaeljfox.org/site/TR/TeamFox/TeamFox?px=1820694&pg=personal&fr_id=1461.

I have been in straitjacket myself, but only for a max of 2 hours. So how he’s going to crop for 2 weeks, I have no idea!

UK heritage railways photos : 28-May-2014

I have just made a new photo album on my flickr account (www.flickr.com/photos/gsvalentine/). Where I will post, the photos from the various UK heritage railways, I have been on over the last number of months!

Check out www.flickr.com/photos/gsvalentine/sets/72157644825988036/ to see the photos. The album so far includes photos from Battlefield Line Railway, Great Central Railway, North Norfolk Railway and North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

I will leave you, with some of my favourite photos from each line so far!

Battlefield Line Railway

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Great Central Railway

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North Norfolk Railway

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North Yorkshire Moors Railway

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All these photos can also be found on a map @ www.flickr.com/photos/gsvalentine/sets/72157644825988036/map/. If you want to check out the locations they were taken at :).

Local TV launches in Nottingham

Notts TV launch dayGreat news if you live in the Nottingham area. Notts TV launches on Freeview channel 8 and Virgin Media channel 159 at 4pm (Tuesday 17th May 2014). The launch follows the roll-out of local TV on Freeview in Grimsby, Norwich and London in the past number of months.

You can can check local TV coverage on the official Local TV coverage checker @ www.localtv.org.uk/can-i-get-it/.

More information can be found @ www.a516digital.com/2014/05/local-tv-launches-in-nottingham.html.

North Norfolk Railway photos : 26-May-2014

Today Mark G and myself set off to another heritage railway line with Cooper the dog. This time we did the North Norfolk Railway. Here are some photos from another great day out :).




More photos from this set can be found @ www.gordon-valentine.com/zenphoto/days-out/26-05-2014/

The Battlefield Line Railway photos : 25-May-2014

Another holiday weekend, can only mean one thing. Yep you guessed it! Another heritage railway line. This time Mark G and myself did The Battlefield Line Railway.



More photos from this set can be found @ www.gordon-valentine.com/zenphoto/days-out/25-05-2014/

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 24/05/2014

50 Years of BBC Two Comedy (YouView app screenshot)50 Years of BBC Two Comedy (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 11:00pm | Saturday 24th May 2014)

As part of BBC Two’s 50th birthday celebrations, the channel has a two-hour comedy extravaganza lined up. Featuring some of the greatest names in comedy, this packed programme showcases the channel’s remarkable output over the last 50 years. From The Likely Lads and Not Only… But Also in its first year in 1964, up to W1A and Rev. today, this is a romp through the funniest bits of BBC Two.

All Aboard: East Coast Trains (Pick TV | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 25th May 2014)

Stress levels rise as staff members face the last day of the Premier League football season. Plus, a radio problem causes chaos for hundreds of passengers.

Commonwealth City (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 10:40pm to 11:40pm | Monday 26th May 2014)

Documentary following the fortunes of some of the residents in the deprived Dalmarnock area of Glasgow in the aftermath of the successful bid to host the Commonwealth Games. The manager of the Dalmarnock community centre begins a campaign to secure a stake of Games legacy for her local community after she learns that the council will not be rebuilding a replacement centre following the Games. Steven’s future looks uncertain when his job working on the Sir Chris Hoy velodrome comes to an end. And Darren receives some devastating news.

Coast Australia (BBC 2/HD | 9:10pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 28th May 2014)

Series exploring Australia’s coastline. Neil Oliver begins a stunning journey through the world’s largest coral reef in the hands of the Australian Navy, sailing in the wake of James Cook. Brendan Moar uncovers the living history of Australia’s hidden slave trade. Xanthe Mallett dives a spectacular wreck in search of answers about its calamitous sinking. And Tim Flannery is granted rare access to a scientific research zone to examine coral history.

Clydebuilt: The Ships That Made the Commonwealth (BBC 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 29th May 2014)

Documentary series in which David Hayman explores the stories of four ships built on the river Clyde, that helped forge links with countries throughout the Commonwealth of Nations. He travels to Australia to uncover the links the Cutty Sark forged with this Commonwealth country and to reflect on her legacy. It’s a story of adventure, money, mutiny and murder. Ravaged by fire in 2007, the Cutty Sark has been restored and today stands as a testament to the craftsmanship and ingenuity of Scottish ship designers.

Have I Got News for You (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Friday 30th May 2014)

The popular news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Alexander Armstrong and guest panellists Victoria Coren Mitchell and Joe Wilkinson.

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