Cycling: Ride London 2014 (BBC 1/HD | 2:00pm to 6:35pm | Sunday 10th August 2014)
Two years on from the London Olympics, Ride London celebrates the Games’ legacy as many of the world’s best cyclists from 2012 return to race the specially-designed 100-mile course that starts at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and finishes at The Mall in central London. Surrey’s beautiful countryside, complete with several leg-testing and lung-bursting climbs, provide the ideal examination of a rider’s talents but also a stunning backdrop for the race.
Coast (BBC 2/HD | 8:30pm to 9:30pm | Tuesday 12th August 2014)
Coast explores surprising stories that connect our great cities to the sea. Nick Crane pays tribute to the unsung and astonishing mega-port of Immingham, a city-sized enterprise dedicated to global trade and the biggest seaport in the UK, in terms of the weight of goods it handles. Tessa Dunlop uncovers the astonishing story of how Hitler’s bombers could have drowned London, and possibly won the Second World War, by destroying the embankments that contain the River Thames. Ruth Goodman investigates the clandestine coastal sex trade that scandalised Victorian Britain. In the mid-19th century the Royal Navy was in crisis as sailors fell prey to sexually-transmitted diseases. The government brought in draconian laws to detain and forcibly treat women suspected of being prostitutes. Mark Horton reveals how solving the greatest scientific puzzle of the 18th century, determining a ship’s exact position at sea, meant Greenwich became the epicentre of global sea navigation.
Undercover Boss (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 12th August 2014)
The YMCA is the largest and oldest youth charity in the world, but massive budget cuts of up to 80% have caused senior director Bims Alalade to go undercover to investigate how the funding crisis is affecting her organization and the brand. Having grown up in care herself, Bims is worried that the YMCAs might be struggling to help youngsters in crisis. And once on the frontline, she’s faced with the stark reality of sweeping cuts. She’s appalled by facilities at breaking point, and shocked to find staff facing abuse. And when a young former resident of one of the housing projects breaks down in front of her it proves to be an unsettling experience.
First Time Farmers (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Thursday 14th August 2014)
The new series continues, following ambitious young farmers from across Britain who are balancing farmyard responsibilities with the life of an average fun-loving twenty-something. London’s calling as Robbie and his country mates Tom and Will head for the bright lights and ringside seats at a boxing match to cheer on their fellow young farmer ‘Count Smackula’. The capital’s buzz is bewildering for Tom and Will, while Tom’s mate Ed is no longer working in the capital. He’s desperate to take over the family farm with his girlfriend Tash, and he’s out to impress his dad at harvest time. With no room for romance on the dairy farm, Kate leaves her beloved calves at home and heads for some social time at college. But her mum Lesley discovers that the calves are ill. Kate rushes home to care for them but can she nurse them all back to health? And, back at work on the farm, with a beast of a hangover, Robbie has bad news for his mum sue from the accountant.
The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 10:50pm | Friday 15th August 2014)
The award-winning gang show that takes a joyful, offbeat look at the world. Adam Hills and regular co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker consider the weird and wonderful talking points of the week in the company of a studio audience and this week’s celebrity guest Carrie Fisher. The show also features the all-encompassing question: Is It OK? Viewers at home and the studio audience are encouraged to ask this question about anything from the week, without fear of judgement, and the three hosts attempt to step into the minefield of sometimes difficult and delicate areas and answer the questions with their own unique insight.
All TV guide information taken from DigiGuide — www.getdigiguide.tv/?p=1&r=15119.
