UK TV programmes to watch this week : 25/10/2014

Speed with Guy Martin - 26-10-2014 (YouView app)Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 8:20pm to 9:05pm | Saturday 25th October 2014)

One morning in every city and town in the world, the human race wakes up to face the most surprising invasion yet. Everywhere, in every land, a forest has grown overnight and taken back the Earth. It doesn’t take the Doctor long to discover that the final days of humanity have arrived.

Speed with Guy Martin (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 26th October 2014)

Speed junkie, motorcycle racer and lorry mechanic Guy Martin loves pushing the boundaries of speed in search of a buzz. He returns with a second series of Speed with Guy Martin, taking on four new speed-based challenges. From racing a motorbike at altitude to trying to break the speed record for a hovercraft, Guy wants to find out what makes things go fast by getting his hands dirty in a range of unique engineering projects.

Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands (BBC 1 Scotland/HD | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 27th October 2014)

Paul Murton sets out to experience island life on the myriad of islands that lie off the Scottish coast. In this final episode, he visits the ‘Atlantic Twin’ islands of Coll and Tiree. Paul begins his journey on Coll, where he meets the charismatic owner of Breachacha Castle, who runs a charity on the island encouraging young volunteers to work there. Paul then heads for Tiree, which boasts one of the best sunshine records in the UK but is also one of the stormiest places in Europe. Paul discovers some of the interesting ways in which resourceful locals harness the island’s assets, before taking a boat trip out to the lighthouse on the rocky outcrop of Skerryvore.

Waterloo Road (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 29th October 2014)

Rhiannon takes pride in the virtual-baby project, but Darren can’t understand why she is taking it so seriously. Carol spots an opportunity to exploit the school when she fakes an injury, but will Vaughan see through her scheming ways?

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 29th October 2014)

Kevin McCloud returns to a unique Japanese-Welsh fusion home in the Wye Valley, completely transformed from a damp old forester’s house in 2013. Tamayo Hussey has missed Japan ever since she moved to the UK 15 years ago with her husband Nigel. To stave off the homesickness they decided to transform a tired old 60s forester’s lodge into a one-of-a-kind Japanese house – complete with Japanese roof bath, tatami room and paper sliding walls. Kevin finds out how this somewhat improvised building weathered one of the wettest winters on record and if it has brought the calm and tranquillity Tamayo remembers from her childhood in Japan to Wales.

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 30th October 2014)

George meets the man trying to build the first UFO-styled pre-fabricated Futuro house seen in this country for half a century, but with the kit in 16 pieces, he struggles to bring this retro vision of the future back to life. George meets a woman trying to build a magical garden room using techniques hundreds of years old, including earth, sand, straw and even human hair. George’s Italian road trip takes him to a traditional old village, where he discovers the most modern of houses with an extraordinary design featuring a floating swimming pool. And, as George and Will get down to work on their wilderness retreat, there’s a close shave for George as a 50-year-old oak is felled a little bit too close for comfort.

Underground Britain (Channel 5 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 30th October 2014)

Documentary series in which engineer Rob Bell explores the subterranean world beneath our feet. In this episode, Rob explores beneath the green and pleasant land of central England from Mansfield to Buckinghamshire, with a diversion over to East Anglia. Under the city of Nottingham Rob explores the largest system of man-made caves in the country, before uncovering a bloody secret below a humble back garden. In Norfolk he learns about Britain’s first industry that was established 5,000 years ago and he also explores an 18th Century den of debauchery below ground level in Buckhamshire.

Life Story (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 30th October 2014)

David Attenborough explores how animals attempt to overcome the challenges that face them at each of the six crucial stages of life as they strive towards ultimate success – passing on their genes. This episode follows animals as they grow up in the adult world, developing new skills and learning how to survive on their own. A tiger cub grows up in a dangerous society. She needs the support of both parents if she is to become an independent adult, but the appearance of a rival to her father may change everything. The veined octopus spends almost all of its time feeding as it races towards adulthood, but this leaves it exposed to predators. In order to protect itself it searches for bits of discarded coconut shell that fit neatly together. Then it uses them as protective armor. A pair of young cheetah siblings are in a race against starvation. They can only survive by working together to bring down big prey for the first time – an impala weighing more than both cheetahs put together.

Have I Got News for You (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Friday 31st October 2014)

The popular satirical news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Damian Lewis and guest panellists Andy Hamilton and Roisin Conaty.

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