Britain’s Most Historic Towns (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 14th November 2020)
Alice Roberts explores London’s Restoration history, including the founding of the Royal Society and the violent dark side behind Charles II’s carefully crafted public image. She visits St Paul’s Cathedral, reveals how women performed on stage for the first time during this period, and uncovers shocking details of the slave trade at the National Maritime Museum. Plus, a look at parallels between the plague that struck London during the 1660s and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 15th November 2020)
Sheila Hancock and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth tackle their first manual lock and some terrifyingly tight turns, but find themselves relaxing into life at 4mph, and marvel at how secret histories reveal themselves. They visit the Royal Gunpowder Mills, which built its own canal system to transport volatile ammunition – vital to Britain’s success in both world wars.
Cornwall with Simon Reeve (BBC 2/HD | 8:10pm to 9:10pm | Sunday 15th November 2020)
In the conclusion of his two-part journey, Simon Reeve investigates the environmental challenges facing Cornwall and the rest of the country. He discovers how the region’s farmers are adopting new, less intensive approaches that are both more profitable and environmentally friendly, and reveals how reintroducing beavers to the uplands could tackle the problem of widespread flooding. He also encounters some of the county’s iconic wildlife, including grey seals that live in constant risk of getting caught up in discarded fishing nets.
Paddington Station 24/7 (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 16th November 2020)
A major track circuit failure results in the closure of one of the busiest platforms and the technicians trying to fix the problem race against time to complete the job before rush hour begins. Staff and passengers are excited about the arrival of a West Country heritage steam train, while reports come into Route Control at Swindon of a very serious incident of suspected track sabotage.
DIY SOS (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 19th November 2020)
Nick Knowles meets Scunthorpe woman Caroline Blanchard, a single mum who has twice had to make the decision to turn off the life support for people she loves. She and her children live in the shadow of the garage, where seven-year-old Natasha banged her head in 2007, and the conservatory, where husband and father Paul had a heart attack four years later. The volunteers plan is to give them a new home for a new start, including demolishing the conservatory and garage where these two tragedies occurred.
Saving Britain’s Pubs with Tom Kerridge (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 19th November 2020)
Tom visits the Black Bull in the village of Gartmore in Stirling. Struggling to survive, it was put on the market and 250 locals clubbed together to buy it. Now the pub is staffed entirely by volunteers and the management are planning to renovate the bedrooms to attract tourists. But Tom has his concerns. He also catches up with the staff of the pubs he is helping in Cornwall, south London and Stroud – but just when all the hard work seems to be paying off, the pandemic strikes. Now every pub in Britain faces a fight for survival.
Secret Scotland (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 20th November 2020)
The isles of Lewis and Harris form Britain’s largest offshore island, with a rich history dating back thousands of years. Susan seeks out the home of the world-famous Harris Tweed, visiting a local weaver where she tries her hand at making some of the fabric. Then in Habost, she learns how to Step Dance – a centuries old practice that was almost lost from Scotland for ever. At Callanish, Susan visits some awe-inspiring Neolithic giants – 49 standing stones, predating Stonehenge and steeped in mystery. Nearby, she learns the secret to jewellery making that captures the texture of these ancient standing stones.
All TV guide information taken from DigiGuide — www.getdigiguide.tv/?p=1&r=15119.