Call the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 18th January 2015)
Drama about a group of midwives in 1950s London, based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth. A chance encounter with an impoverished child forces Trixie to see an unfamiliar darker side of life. As Nonnatus House welcomes a new resident, Nurse Barbara Gilbert, Tom Hereward has a surprise romantic gesture in store for Trixie.
Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Monday 19th January 2015)
Michael Portillo embarks on a new journey following his Bradshaw’s handbook from the heart of the industrial East Midlands to the north-eastern island of Lindisfarne. On this leg, he gives an old engine a fresh start in the railway hub of Derby. In Nottingham, he discovers the Victorian origins of a well-known high street chemist. He then travels to Newstead Abbey, where he learns about its former owner, the young Lord Byron. A baking lesson in Grantham yields a batch of the oldest commercially traded biscuits in the country, and no visit to the town would be complete for Michael without calling at a historic grocer’s shop.
The Mountain (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 19th January 2015)
Series charting life around Cairngorm, at the heart of Scotland’s greatest winter wilderness. In this edition, as Christmas approaches, the reindeer are made ready for the busiest day of the year. The RAF assist the ski patrol with avalanche training, and a snow gun arrives on the mountain just as the weather changes.
Waterloo Road (BBC 3/HD | 8:30pm to 9:30pm | Monday 19th January 2015)
Vaughan’s newly-qualified teachers Marco and Guy start work, but it’s not long before Guy recognises Carrie Norton and the school comes down heavily on their relationship. Christine’s plan to keep Audrey’s smothering at bay backfires on her, while Sonya is forced to reveal a very private secret.
Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 19th January 2015)
When suspected paedophile Dale Barge is found murdered in a children’s playground, Nikki and Jack are brought in by inexperienced detective Rory Drennan. It’s not long before the team link Barge’s death to a missing child, Lizzie Craddock. Jack teams up with hard-nosed child protection DI Gina Conroy. They put pressure on Lizzie’s parents Johnnie and Cheryl to try to find her. Lizzie’s social worker Louise is brought in to help, and Nikki encourages her to stay positive when she blames herself for Lizzie’s disappearance.
Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Tuesday 20th January 2015)
Armed with his Bradshaw’s, Michael Portillo continues his journey from Derby to Lindisfarne. Beginning in Boston in the flatlands of Lincolnshire, Michael explores the connection between the town and its American namesake. At Southwell, he discovers the origins of a favourite Victorian apple and learns how to make apple pie. In Menston, Michael visits an imposing institution built to provide asylum for those suffering from mental illness and learns how volunteers care for its once derelict chapel and graveyard. At Wakefield, Michael manages to board one of Britain’s least frequent services and finds out what led to the birth of the parliamentary train. Along the way, he meets a former locomotive engineer who offers him the chance to drive a steam engine.
Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 20th January 2015)
Daniel Garvey is found dead in his car. Social worker Louise fears that he may have been killed by his 16-year-old stepson Kevin, who has just come out of care. Nikki, Jack and Thomas focus in on Lizzie Craddock’s movements on the night of Barge’s murder. Jack and DI Gina Conroy discover Lizzie’s last known location but fear what they may find there. Louise comes under further pressure when she is forced to make a call on whether a sick child, Ricky Mansfield, is being abused by his parents.
Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Wednesday 21st January 2015)
Steered by his Bradshaw’s guide, Michael Portillo continues his journey from the heart of the East Midlands to Northumberland’s Holy Island. He begins in Hessle, on the north bank of the River Humber, in the shadow of the magnificent Humber Bridge, where he learns about the technology that made it possible. In Kingston upon Hull, Michael meets his friend and sparring partner, local MP Alan Johnson, who tells him about another famous son of his city, William Wilberforce. In Scarborough, Michael’s handbook directs him to the castle, where the founder of the Quaker movement was once imprisoned. His last stop of the day is York, where Michael learns what made the ancient capital a centre for the sweet-making industry.
The Restoration Man (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 21st January 2015)
London couple Justin Hooper and Charlotte Seddon have a dramatic vision for a derelict World War II airfield control tower in the Scottish Highlands. But simply restoring the 700 window panes to their original modernist look swallows 40% of their budget. The difficulties of project managing the build from 600 miles away make it increasingly hard for the family to make the final leap from London. George helps them realise their vision for these 4000 square feet of military space, and meets the people who were willing to sacrifice everything as the tower played its crucial role during the war.
Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Thursday 22nd January 2015)
Following his Bradshaw’s Handbook, Michael Portillo begins this leg of his journey from Derby to Lindisfarne in the Victorian ironopolis of Middlesbrough. He visits one of the last cast iron foundries in the city and helps cast a carrot valve for a steam engine. His next stop is Darlington, spiritual home of the railways, where he learns how the city profited from its fast connections to the capitals of England and Scotland by developing a newspaper industry. Michael meets the editor of the Northern Echo and finds out about the colourful history of one of his predecessors, WT Stead. At Jarrow, Michael visits the monastery to learn about its famous monk, the father of English history, Bede. His last stop on this leg of his journey is Hexham, where he visits a historic ginger beer emporium.
Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 22nd January 2015)
Detective drama series set on a Caribbean island. A death in the Saint Marie Heritage Society suggests that this cosy group could be less amicable than it seems. DI Goodman tries to stay focused on the job while wrestling with his feelings for Camille.
Cucumber (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 22nd 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. Channel 4’s Cucumber follows 46-year-old Henry and his long-suffering boyfriend Lance. Henry and Lance are happy and settled, but when they embark on a disastrous date night, life will never be the same again. At work, Henry is drawn to the enigmatic Freddie Baxter, while Lance greets a newcomer, Daniel – but both new friendships are set on a course to explode. The cast for the eight-part series also includes Julie Hesmondhalgh, Fisayo Akinade, Con O’Neill, Rufus Hound, Ardal O’Hanlon, Adjoa Andoh, Anjli Mohindra, Ceallach Spellman and Phaldut Sharma.
Banana (E4 | 10:00pm to 10:30pm | Thursday 22nd 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 first episode, Dean is 19, with a job, a flat and all the sex he wants. But no matter how fast he runs, his problems are catching up with him…
Great British Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 6:30pm to 7:00pm | Friday 23rd January 2015)
With his Bradshaw’s guidebook in hand, Michael Portillo journeys from Newcastle up the north east coast to Lindisfarne. He finds out about the world’s earliest swing bridge and its inventor, Newcastle engineer Sir William Armstrong, and discovers how the city’s Victorian industrial heritage has found a new cultural purpose. From Seahouses by boat, amid puffins and cormorants, Michael goes in search of a darling of the Victorian press, who with her father rescued nine people from tumultuous seas. On the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, Michael explores the lime kilns and finds out how, in the 7th century, Christianity spread from here across northern England.
The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 23rd January 2015)
In this show, Kathy Burke 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.