Paul Merton’s Secret Stations (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 1st May 2016)
More than 150 of Britain’s railway stations are request stops. You have to put out your arm to get the train to stop at the platform. In this series, Paul Merton travels around the country by train, only getting off at request stops. Paul hops on and off at a variety of different request stops to tell the story of why they are there, and who uses them. Meeting railways experts and enthusiasts, he explores the history of the stations and learns more about life in and around the stops. Paul’s journey begins in the Highlands, travelling on the stunning Kyle Line to the request stop of Attadale, where he meets Joanna and Alec Macpherson, who’ve recently moved from Peckham to look after a vast 30,000-acre estate at the shore of Lochcarron. Paul’s next two request stops are on the Cumbrian Coast Line.
The Tube: Going Underground (Channel 5 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 2nd May 2016)
Documentary series following the work of the staff who keep London’s underground train service running smoothly. The Tube takes on more than a thousand new staff. But the newbies are joining a system that now faces a level of terror threat unknown in the past.
(Subtitles, Audio Described, Episode 7)
How Scotland Works (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 3rd May 2016)
Documentary series exploring life in 21st-century Scotland. Today, life in Scotland’s most remote communities is changing, with new jobs and industries evolving, and the population growing. Innovative types of tourism like wreck diving and eagle spotting are being developed. Land-ownership laws are changing to give communities more of a stake in their crofts, and traditional work such as forestry is being transformed by 21st-century technology. Better communications keep the smallest island communities connected to the outside world, allowing new kinds of businesses and even international charities to be based there. This documentary tells the story of Scotland’s wild places through a diverse cast of characters including a dive guide, flying tree doctors, a global charity based on Coll and the world-famous Mull Rally.
Gareth’s Invictus Choir (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 5th May 2016)
Choirmaster Gareth Malone is facing his toughest challenge to date. He has been asked to form a choir of wounded ex-servicemen and -women to perform at the Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida. This first episode sees Gareth arrive at Kensington Palace to meet with Prince Harry, the founder of the games. Gareth wants to find out more about the challenges he faces in trying to form this unique choir. Next step is to set off around the UK to put his choir of 12 together, but Gareth is not looking just for singers, he is looking for people with stories to tell of the battles and struggles they have faced since their medical discharge. Next, he takes them off for three days to teach them how to sing but discovers it’s he who has something to learn – how to work with such a fragile group. The choir is surprised with his choice of song, and it soon triggers off unexpected emotions. Finally, Gareth makes a shock announcement after just four weeks.
Barging Round Britain with John Sergeant (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Friday 6th May 2016)
John Sergeant enjoys some of the best canal journeys Britain has to offer. He takes in the delights of the Lancaster Canal, which runs along the coast through the ancient city of Lancaster. On the way, he gets to re-enact his favourite scene from Brief Encounter, marvel at the amazing Lune Aqueduct and learns to smoke kippers before tucking into one of the little beauties.
All TV guide information taken from DigiGuide — www.getdigiguide.tv/?p=1&r=15119.