Village of the Year with Penelope Keith (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 27th January 2018)

Five villages from this week’s heats go head-to-head for a spot in the grand final and the chance to win Village of the Year and the £10,000 prize money. Penelope Keith and her three judges have been searching for the very best of British village life, and tonight they will find out even more from the five contenders in the South East Zone. Will it be the buildings, the scenery or good old British eccentricity that wins the day?

Call the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 28th January 2018)

Drama about a group of midwives in 1960s London. Lucille faces racism and prejudice when a new mother falls ill. Sister Winifred is keen to have fathers be more involved in the care of their babies.

The Biggest Little Railway in the World (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 28th January 2018)

Dick Strawbridge and a team of model railway enthusiasts attempt to build the longest model railway in the world, 71 miles across Scotland, from Fort William to Inverness. The teams face a series of tricky challenges on one key day as they race to get to Inverness. First the tiny train must cross the 60-metre Aberchalder Viaduct. Dick decides to run an electric loco rather than a steam one, but the train team refuse. They’re purists and insist on returning to the steam engine, which they claim they can run faster with a new enhanced fuelling system. After negotiating its way through a packed Fort Augustus, the loco must cross a curving trestle bridge that spans a rocky stream. Meanwhile, the build team struggle to find a way to climb a flight of 12 steps on the approach to Inverness. They settle on a helix – a technically demanding but beautiful solution.

Village of the Year with Penelope Keith (BBC 1/HD | 3:00pm to 4:00pm | Monday 29th January 2018)

Penelope Keith and the team of judges are in the Central Zone heat of the Village of the Year. In Rutland, Penelope meets Lyddington’s own Sherlock Holmes. In Edale in the Derbyshire Dales, Patrick explores a unique method of beer delivery. In Northamptonshire Alex gets a chance to sample Aynho’s apricots. And in Eglinton in County Londonderry in Northern Ireland, Juliet enjoys a good old fashioned ceilidh. Which of the villages will secure a place in the semi-finals?

The Forest (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | Monday 29th January 2018)

Mark Bonnar narrates a new series revealing the hidden world of Galloway Forest, the country’s largest afforested area. The programme follows truckers Jimmy, Norman and Eric as they track down the timber stacks, load them using cranes and ferry the cargo to mills north and south of the border. The Forestry Commission plan an explosion at a forest quarry to produce rock for a new road masterminded by Forestry engineer Elaine McClymont, but not before Environment Officer Gareth Ventress has checked for any pine marten activity in the area. Gareth also heads to a secret location deep within the forest to check a golden eagle feeding station.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 29th January 2018)

While two care home staff are chasing Kevin McDowd, a young man with learning disabilities and sociopathic tendencies, Nikki and Jack examine a fatal road accident where the deceased is Kevin McDowd’s mother. The investigation led by police sergeant Button should be straightforward, but the forensic evidence suggests foul play.

Rocky Mountain Railroad (Quest | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 29th January 2018)

When a massive snowstorm hits the mountain railroad, an avalanche warning threatens to derail one of Canadian Pacific’s most important $50 million loads

Village of the Year with Penelope Keith (Channel 4/HD | 3:00pm to 4:00pm | Tuesday 30th January 2018)

Penelope Keith and her panel of expert judges investigate four more villages from the Central Zone. In Lincolnshire, Penelope looks in on Irish dancing in Nettleham. Alex Langlands goes cuckoo for a water garden in Pembridge, Herefordshire. In Ulster Juliet attends the first wife-carrying championships in Glenarm. And Patrick takes a cruise down the Union canal in Gnosall in Staffordshire. Which village will impress the judges the most?

Britain’s Favourite Walks: Top 100 (itv/HD | 7:30pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 30th January 2018)

Julia Bradbury and Ore Oduba present a guide to the British public’s favourite 100 walks.

Impossible Railways (Yesterday | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 30th January 2018)

From a canyon-spanning bridge in San Diego to a track ascending an imposing Swiss peak, hear how railway engineers have conquered jungles, deserts and mountain.

Silent Witness (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 30th January 2018)

The team are determined to uncover the truth about unexplained deaths of patients at a care home. They are desperate to rescue Serena and return her to safety. Unbeknownst to her colleagues in the Lyell Centre, Clarissa allows herself to be admitted to the care home in order to investigate. Her determination to find out what happened leads her to uncover a shocking truth, but puts her life in danger.

Village of the Year with Penelope Keith (Channel 4/HD | 3:00pm to 4:00pm | Wednesday 31st January 2018)

Penelope Keith and her panel of judges consider four more villages from this Central Zone heat. Penelope bonds with alpacas in Houghton and Wyton in Cambridgeshire. Alex Langlands bangs his drum with the last village band in Bretforton in Worcestershire. Patrick Grant learns what it is to be to the manor born in Tissington in Derbyshire. And Juliet takes a hair-raising back seat ride in Armoy, County Antrim. Which village wins over the judges for a spot in the semi-finals?

Village of the Year with Penelope Keith (Channel 4/HD | 3:00pm to 4:00pm | Thursday 1st February 2018)

Penelope Keith and her team uncover the very best of British village life. In this heat Penelope unleashes her inner graffiti artist in Histon and Impington in Cambridgeshire. Patrick Grant pilots a rocket in Audlem, Cheshire. Juliet Sargeant is out to sea in Strangford in Northern Ireland. And in Frampton-on-Severn in Gloucestershire, Alex Langlands explores the largest village green in England. The competition is tough as four villages go head to head for a spot in the semi-finals.

Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 1st February 2018)

Detective drama series set on a Caribbean island. The island’s Day of the Dead celebrations are cut short by a woman’s death. DI Mooney and the team must navigate the waters of the elitist Yacht Club to catch the killer.

Walks with My Dog (more4 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 1st February 2018)

Actor Emilia Fox takes her dachshunds through a wooded valley in Cornwall, where she uncovers a secret industrial past. Comedian Bill Bailey wanders under big skies on the Norfolk coast and in the shadow of Hunstanton’s spectacular striped cliffs. And stand-up Katherine Ryan visits Kent’s picturesque Hever Castle with her Tibetan spaniel.

Village of the Year with Penelope Keith (Channel 4/HD | 3:00pm to 4:00pm | Friday 2nd February 2018)

Four more villages compete for a chance to win £10,000 and to be crowned Village of the Year. In Lincolnshire Penelope tracks down a seriously good sausage in Woodhall Spa. Alex Langlands get jiggy with the Morris men of Illmington in Warwickshire. Juliet Sargeant explores the blooming beautiful Broughshane in County Antrim. In Cheshire, Patrick Grant takes tea by the lake in Pickmere. With one more slot to fill for tomorrow’s semi, which village will be joining the line-up and in with the chance to win £10,000?

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