Tag: Grand Designs

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 26/11/2016

Our Guy in China - 28-11-2016 - YouView appBritain at Low Tide (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 26th November 2016)

Every day, on a sandy beach or a rocky foreshore, fascinating evidence of Britain’s island history appears and disappears as the tide rolls in and rolls back out again. Tori Herridge and Alex Langlands reveal stories from our extraordinary maritime, industrial and natural history. In this episode, Tori and Alex explore Merseyside’s coastal archaeology. They investigate a beach full of building rubble from World War II, track down Liverpool’s own version of the Whisky Galore story, and find evidence of people and animals dating back 7000 years.

Planet Earth II (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 27th November 2016)

Wildlife documentary series presented by David Attenborough. The world’s deserts are lands of extremes that force animals to come up with ingenious ways of coping with hostile conditions, giving rise to the most incredible survival stories on earth. A pride of desert lions are so hungry they risk hunting a giraffe several times their size, while male sandgrouse fly 120 miles each day to the nearest waterhole and dice with death to collect water for their chicks. Filmed for the first time, a tiny bat does battle with one of the world’s deadliest scorpions, and in Madagascar, a locust swarm of biblical proportions is seen as never before.

The River (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 28th November 2016)

Documentary series charting life along the River Tweed. In this episode, Eddie Weatherly and his river bailiff team respond to calls that salmon poachers are active along the river by lying in wait to see if the poachers turn up. In Kelso, Margaret Livingstone-Evans, the manager of Ednam House hotel, must juggle three weddings across three days. In Peebles, Ruth Hinks has 5,000 chocolate brownies to make for a charity campaign. On Cowbog Farm, farmer Robert Wilson, daughter Lottie and father Ron test the cattle for TB and check to see if Lottie’s favourite cow is pregnant. And at Floors Stud, Tattersalls auctioneer Todd Watt visits to decide just how many potential million-pound horses will go in the biggest of horse sales.

Fair Isle (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 28th November 2016)

Intimate two-part documentary revealing life on Fair Isle, Britain’s most remote inhabited island, with a population of just 55 people. This first programme charts the arrival of a new couple and follows them as they settle in and adapt to island life. Plus the family whose 11-year-old son has to leave home to board at secondary school on mainland Shetland.

Our Guy in China (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 28th November 2016)

Guy Martin explores Beijing, ignoring the tourist traps and following his own often eccentric passions as he reveals a lesser-seen side of China. In a backstreet bicycle shop he spends £18 on a rudimentary ‘Flying Pigeon’, the most produced machine in the world. Under the reign of Chairman Mao it was the only approved mode of transport for workers, with some 500 million built. Guy meets families who live on a scrapyard, earning a living by processing old cars. He’s pleasantly surprised by the yard’s efficiency and cleanliness, and spending the afternoon helping out by operating the cranes and machinery is Guy’s idea of the perfect holiday. Inequality is a huge problem in China, with one per cent of the nation controlling half the wealth.

The Secret Life of the Zoo (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 1st December 2016)

Spring is in the air at Chester Zoo and many of the animals are giving birth, but an outbreak of disease in the penguin colony leaves penguin chick Munch fighting for his life. Sulawesi macaque mum Lisa gives birth to Han, but dad Mamassa isn’t proving much parenting help, so Lisa’s older son Beaker steps in to help with the babysitting. Andean spectacled bear Lima is entering her short window of fertility, and 19-stone male Bernie seems determined to woo her, but Lima doesn’t seem to want to let Bernie get close to her. And when young male tortoise Football muscles in on 71-year-old Bert’s harem of females, keepers decide to keep Bert’s spirits up by introducing two Swedish female tortoises to the group.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm 10:00pm | Thursday 1st December 2016)

Kevin McCloud hosts the competition run in conjunction with the Royal Institute of British Architects that celebrates excellence in housing design. Kevin is joined by Damion Burrows and Zac Monro as they explore some of Britain’s most cutting-edge homes, all of them in the running for the prestigious prize – the Bafta of the architecture world. This time Kevin, Zac and Damion profile five homes that are testbeds for architectural ideas, pushing the boundaries for residential design: a cool, concealed house built from glass and concrete; an uber-creative Wallace and Gromit-style house in Edinburgh squeezed onto a disused plot; a gorgeous, low-slung modern home in Cumbria camouflaged with stone; an experimental extension in London with a Japanese flavour; and an elegant house in Buckinghamshire that combines sustainability with glamour. Kevin then reveals which one has made it onto the shortlist and is in with a chance of winning House of the Year 2016.

Secrets of Great British Castles (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 2nd December 2016)

History series. Dan Jones visits Lancaster Castle to explore its grisly history of crime and punishment, including the infamous Lancashire Witches trials and the martyrdom of the Jesuit priest Saint Edmund Arrowsmith.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 2nd December 2016)

Hosts Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe examine the biggest and most entertaining news stories via the #isitok twitter handle, where viewers tweet in edgy current affairs questions that other shows might duck. A celebrity guest joins the trio in the studio to help dissect the week’s events.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 19/11/2016

Britain's Greatest Bridges - 25-11-2016 - YouView appBritain at Low Tide (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 19th November 2016)

Every day, on a sandy beach or a rocky foreshore, fascinating evidence of Britain’s island history appears and disappears as the tide rolls in and rolls back out again. In this new series, Tori Herridge and Alex Langlands explore Britain’s coastal archaeology, to reveal stories from our extraordinary maritime, industrial and natural history. In Northumberland, Tori and Alex investigate the tragic story of a French fishing trawler that was wrecked in 1913, and discover the ancient community that thrived in the Middle Ages in what is now one of the north-east’s top tourist destinations.

Planet Earth II (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 20th November 2016)

Wildlife documentary series presented by David Attenborough. Jungles provide the richest habitats on the planet – mysterious worlds of high drama where extraordinary animals attempt to survive in the most competitive place on earth. Flooded forests are home to caiman-hunting jaguars and strange dolphins that swim amongst the tree tops, while in the dense underworld, ninja frogs fight off wasps and flying dragons soar between trees. Acrobatic indri leap through the forests of Madagascar, while the jungle night conceals strange fungi and glow-in-the-dark creatures never filmed before.

The River (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 21st November 2016)

Documentary series charting life along the River Tweed. In this episode, horse trainer Katie Scott prepare horses for Kelso races in some challenging conditions. On the river, ghillie Colin Bell has some returning fishing clients to get to the best pools on the Upper Floors fishing beat. In Kelso, Tweedside Tackle look to move over 20,000 hooks, reels, rods and waders into their new premises. And in Peebles, the Tweedlove festival gets underway.

Chris Tarrant’s Extreme Railway Journeys (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 21st November 2016)

Documentary series in which Chris Tarrant explores the world’s most extreme railway lines. Chris travels on the historically Soviet Trans-Caucasus Railway, beginning in the Azerbaijani city of Baku before exploring the Geogian capital Tbilisi’s vintage metro system, then a mountain rail bridge designed by Eiffel, and finally a tunnel reputed to be held together with egg yolk.

The Secret Life of the Zoo (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 24th November 2016)

Nature series following the behaviour of animals at Chester Zoo, and how they get along with their keepers.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 24th November 2016)

Kevin McCloud hosts Grand Designs: House of the Year. The competition is run in conjunction with the Royal Institute of British Architects and celebrates excellence in housing design. Over this four-part series, Kevin is joined by Damion Burrows and Zac Monro, as they explore some of Britain’s most cutting-edge contemporary homes, all of them in the running for the prestigious prize – the Bafta of the architecture world. In this first episode, Kevin and co profile five amazing country homes on the long-list for the prize: including a large house camouflaged within a hill; a loving restoration in Wiltshire of a prototype modernist retreat; a Scottish home that blends an agricultural exterior with a sleek modern interior; and a slice of spectacular California modernism in Cornwall. Kevin then reveals which of these homes will make it onto the final shortlist.

Secrets of Great British Castles (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 25th November 2016)

History series. With the aid of dramatic reconstruction, Dan Jones explores the 900-year history of the beautiful Leeds Castle in Kent, from its origins as a royal Saxon family’s manor and Norman stronghold to the private property of six medieval queens, a Tudor palace, a Jacobean country house, a Georgian mansion and an elegant 20th-century retreat for the rich and famous.

Britain’s Greatest Bridges (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 25th November 2016)

Documentary series. Documentary series. Engineer Rob Bell tells the story of the design and construction of six of Britain’s most iconic bridges. For 17 years from 1981 to 1998, the Humber Bridge was the longest single-span suspension bridge in the world, and many consider it to be Britain’s most beautiful. Rob Bell discovers the facts about its ground-breaking construction, why it took so long to build and how it changed the lives of the people of Hull and Grimsby.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 25th November 2016)

The award-winning comedy show offers a joyful, offbeat take on the week that aims to celebrate all that is best about Britain.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 12/11/2016

The Secret Life of the Zoo - 17-11-2016 - YouView appThe Adventure Show (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 6:30pm to 7:30pm | Sunday 13th November 2016)

The Adventure Show is at the Braveheart Triathlon, with Dougie Vipond competing along with over 100 competitors. The event consists of an open water swim of over a mile, a bike ride of over 50 miles and then a run up and down Ben Nevis. It’s not for the fainthearted, and Dougie is guaranteed a day he will never forget. Also in this month’s Adventure Show, a remarkable man who is determined that the loss of two limbs won’t prevent him from doing the sports he loves. And there’s a visit to Patagonia with one of Scotland’s most ambitious adventurers, as he undertakes a month-long trip in one of the world’s most remote landscapes.

Planet Earth II (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 13th November 2016)

Wildlife documentary series presented by David Attenborough. The great mountain ranges are some of the planet’s most spectacular landscapes, but they are unforgiving places to live in, and only a few animals have what it takes to live at exteme altitude. Mountain animals are amongst the most elusive in the world, and this film provides unique and intimate glimpses into their secretive lives. Witness the moment four snow leopards come together when a mother and cub become trapped between two rival males. Join grizzly bears as they dance against trees to rub off their winter fur and soar with golden eagles hunting amongst Europe’s snow-capped peaks.

Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 13th November 2016)

Timothy West and Prunella Scales continue their journey exploring the Highlands and islands of Scotland, navigating their way through two of Britain’s most remote canals. Having already crossed Scotland on the Caledonian Canal, they face the open sea as they island hop their way through the Hebrides, bound for the Crinan, a rarely travelled canal described by some as the world’s most beautiful shortcut. Tossed around by the Atlantic waves off the coast of Mull, they are forced to head back to the safety of Tobermory. They eventually visit the holy island of Iona, the Isle of Jura, and lastly the magical nine-mile Crinan on the Mull of Kintyre.

The River (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 14th November 2016)

Documentary series charting life along the river Tweed. In this episode, John Dalziel finds out if his players have what it takes to win their home sevens championships, as player Nyle Godsmark and his teammates carry the huge weight of expectations on their young shoulders. UK world chocolate master Ruth Hinks gets help in her chocolate factory from her children, while desperately trying to finish work on a new chocolate school in the heart of Peebles. On the river, superintendent river bailiff Eddie Weatherly oversees an operation to tackle two river codebreakers. In Kelso, Tweedside Tackle owners Tim and Caroline Pilcher have been told their lease is up. But some help is on hand, as neighbouring hotelier Margaret offers them a property to keep their business alive. And at Floors Estate, stud manager David Trouton checks on his latest arrival, foal Sunshine.

The Secret Life of the Zoo (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 17th November 2016)

The first episode of the new series sees Florence and Nadine, two of Chester’s Grevy’s zebras, both about to give birth. But fixing a due date is almost impossible, and so the keepers are keeping a close eye on both. Other animals are struggling to produce offspring. Iblis is an Asiatic lion, one of the rarest animals in the world. His partner of five years, Kumari, seems to be losing interest in him. Keepers can find nothing physically wrong with the pair, so decide to put Iblis on a programme of tearing animal carcasses from trees in order to get him into shape. But will it be enough to impress Kumari? Meanwhile, warthog dad Magnum is feeling the pressure of parenting. Two of his older children, Dobby and Neville, are becoming increasingly hard to control. Magnum’s losing his hair with the stress and then suffers the indignity of having a part of his tail bitten off. He must impose order on his family again – if he can.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 17th November 2016)

Kevin McCloud hosts Grand Designs: House of the Year. The competition is run in conjunction with the Royal Institute of British Architects and celebrates excellence in housing design. Over this four-part series, Kevin is joined by Damion Burrows and Zac Monro, as they explore some of Britain’s most cutting-edge contemporary homes, all of them in the running for the prestigious prize – the Bafta of the architecture world. In this first episode, Kevin and co profile five amazing country homes on the long-list for the prize: including a large house camouflaged within a hill; a loving restoration in Wiltshire of a prototype modernist retreat; a Scottish home that blends an agricultural exterior with a sleek modern interior; and a slice of spectacular California modernism in Cornwall. Kevin then reveals which of these homes will make it onto the final shortlist.

Secrets of Great British Castles (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 18th November 2016)

Part-dramatised history series. In medieval England, the North was ruled from York. Dan Jones explores the history of its castle, from the Viking Jorvik and the Normans, through the dark days of the anti-Jewish pogrom and the imprisonment of the Knights Templar, to one of its most colourful inmates – the legendary highwayman Dick Turpin.

Britain’s Greatest Bridges (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 18th November 2016)

Documentary series. Engineer Rob Bell tells the story of the design and construction of six of Britain’s most iconic bridges. Built partly as a lifeline to keep shipbuilders employed and their skills alive during the dark days of the 1920s recession, the Tyne Bridge is not just an icon to Geordies – many believe that it was the inspiration for the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 18th November 2016)

The award-winning show continues live on Fridays with its unique brand of irreverent satire. Hosts Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe examine the biggest and most entertaining news stories via the #isitok Twitter hashtag, where viewers tweet in edgy current affairs questions that other shows might duck. In this edition, David Walliams joins the trio in the studio to help dissect the week’s events.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 05/11/2016

The Last Leg - 09-11-2016 - YouView appGreat Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 6th November 2016)

Timothy West and Prunella Scales embark on an ambitious two-stage voyage across Scotland. In stage one, they cross the Highlands on the spectacular Caledonian Canal, which was built by Thomas Telford, who ingeniously joined the lochs of the Great Glen together and created a waterway that links the North Sea with the Atlantic. Tim and Pru embark on a sun-kissed voyage through the heart of the Highlands – a world of Loch Ness monster hunters, tales of Bonnie Prince Charlie, and 60 miles and 29 canal locks to navigate on their way to the ocean.

The River (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 7th November 2016)

Documentary series charting life along the river Tweed. In this episode, it is mid-spring and the Floors stud team wait for their final expectant mare Dusty Answer to foal. In Melrose, Rugby Sevens coach John Dalziel prepares his team for their home Sevens championships, with player Nyle Godsmark hoping to make an impression and stake a claim for a place in the team. On the river, ghillie Mick Charlton uses all his knowledge to help land fishing client Jeremy his first Tweed salmon. In the heart of Kelso, as businesses spring clean ahead of peak season, with The Ednam House hotel renovating rooms and the local tackle shop, Tweedside Tackle, fitting out customers in fishing waders.

Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railway Journeys (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 7th November 2016)

Documentary series in which Chris Tarrant explores the world’s most extreme railway lines. From Buenos Aires, Chris heads to the Pampas lowlands, where he talks to local gauchos. In Bahia Blanca, four Falklands veterans share their opinion of Britain, before Chris takes in South America’s beautiful Patagonia region.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 9th November 2016)

How do you turn your small bungalow from a 1960s dormer into a generous 21st-century piece of slick architecture, all for £175k? Stuart and Rosie Treasurer from the Wirral plan to decapitate their bungalow – cutting the roof off to leave just the walls – then balance a big new floating timber box on top, containing five bedrooms. To keep costs down, they take on the plumbing and electrics themselves, spend as little as they can on insulation, and leave elements of the building unfinished. The hope is to get a stylish industrial look in the process. But the stress levels spiral when their neighbours grumble about the ultra-modern wooden box going up in the middle of their traditional suburb.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Wednesday 9th November 2016)

This edition is a special US election extravaganza, broadcast live on the day when the brand new leader of the free world is announced. While the confetti settles in town halls across America, Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker apply their non-jaundiced, award-winning brand of satire to the most bonkers election in US history. The boys are joined by some huge names as well as live reports from across the pond as they try and figure out whether the world has changed for the better or the worse. As ever the taboo busting ‘Is It Ok?’ questions will inform the show.

Still Game (BBC 1/HD | 9:30pm to 10:00pm | Friday 11th November 2016)

Comedy series in which lifelong friends cope with everything modern life has to throw at them. Emotions run high as Jack, Victor and the residents gather to watch the demolition of a Craiglang tower block. Tam drags Winston into a new moneymaking scheme, and Jack and Victor are enticed by Mrs Fletcher, the beguiling manager of the local care home.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 11th November 2016)

The award-winning show continues live on Fridays with its unique brand of irreverent satire. Hosts Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe examine the biggest and most entertaining news stories via the #isitok Twitter hashtag, where viewers tweet in edgy current affairs questions that other shows might duck. A celebrity guest joins the trio in the studio to help dissect the week’s events.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 29/10/2016

Britain's Greatest Bridges - 04-11-2016 - YouView appChris Tarrant: Ice Train to Nowhere (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 31st October 2016)

Documentary series in which Chris Tarrant explores the world’s most extreme railway lines. Chris heads to the Arctic to explore a railway which probably should never have been built, the Alaska Railroad. Constructed when the USA’s largest state was barely populated, Chris wants to find out how and why it has become such a success.

Little British Isles with Alison Steadman (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 2nd November 2016)

Britain is made up of over 6000 islands and 267 of them are inhabited. Acclaimed film actress Alison Steadman OBE has always been fascinated by idyllic island life since holidaying on the Isle of Man as a little girl. In this series she celebrates the wild remote beauty under our noses and meets the people who call these hidden jewels their home, to discover what island life is really like. In this episode Alison visits the tranquil Isles of Scilly, which have some of the most spectacular unspoilt beaches in Europe. On the lesser-known ‘Off Islands’ of Tresco, Bryher, St Martins and St Agnes, she discovers one of the finest sub-tropical gardens in the northern hemisphere, visits a Robinson Crusoe-style desert island with white sandy beaches and a history made famous by Harold Wilson, and gets hands on at one of the world’s smallest working dairy farms. She also discovers how the welcoming islanders have had to find inventive ways to keep hold of their slice of island paradise.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 2nd November 2016)

If you want to make life tricky, try building a new house with a huge, complex curvy roof. If you live in the countryside you could even make it the shape of a plough. And if that’s not challenge enough, why not build a working barn at the same time. That’s exactly what Mark and Candida Diacono are doing on their 17 acre smallholding in Devon. Mark and Candida set themselves an ambitious schedule of just seven months. The house has a timber frame and timber cladding, whereas the barn is all steel frame and traditional Devon cob. It’s a unique technical challenge for a local builder, who has his own mission to bring work and skills to local people. It’s a non-traditional set of farm buildings made by a non-conventional team of builders. But will it prove a recipe for success, or disaster?

Television’s Opening Night: How the Box Was Born (BBC 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:30pm | Wednesday 2nd November 2016)

In a unique experiment, Dallas Campbell, Professor Danielle George and Dr Hugh Hunt join forces in an attempt to re-stage the very first official broadcast on British television, exactly 80 years after it made history. The very first official broadcast came from Alexandra Palace on 2nd November 1936 – but there are no surviving recordings. To find out just what went on, this 21st-century team attempts to piece back together and recreate every aspect of the show from scratch – from the variety acts to the cameras – using the original technology and filming techniques to capture the excitement of the day. The team uncovers the mixed influences of high-minded radio and bawdy variety shows on early TV, at a time when it was still a science experiment and not a mass medium. Dallas learns how much harder his job would have been 80 years ago, when the first television announcer Leslie Mitchell was plastered in bizarre make-up and given a cue for ‘action’ that bordered on physical assault.

Secrets of Great British Castles (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 4th November 2016)

Part-dramatised history series. Dan Jones explores the history of Cardiff castle over more than 2,000 years and reveals how it became transformed from a strategically important Roman and Norman stronghold to a lavish fairy-tale Victorian home.

Britain’s Greatest Bridges (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 4th November 2016)

Documentary series. In May 1970, four boys set light to Robert Stephenson’s famous Britannia Bridge across the Menai Strait, destroying one of the most important advances in structural engineering of the last 200 years. Rob Bell recounts the story of its pioneering design and construction – and why it caused of one of the most bitter disputes in the history of bridge building.

Still Game (BBC 1/HD | 9:30pm to 10:00pm | Friday 4th November 2016)

Comedy series in which lifelong friends cope with everything modern life has to throw at them. Jack and Victor become dogsitters, and Winston’s jealousy sparks some serious pet one-upmanship. Isa prepares for the Craiglang Community Bake Off.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 4th November 2016)

Fresh from their hugely successful run at The Paralympics in Rio, the award-winning show returns live to Friday with its unique brand of irreverent satire for its ninth series. Hosts Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe examine the biggest and most entertaining news stories via the #isitok Twitter hashtag, where viewers tweet in edgy current affairs questions that other shows might duck. In this edition, celebrity guests Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer join the trio in the studio to help dissect the week’s events.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 22/10/2016

Still Game - 28-10-2016 - YouView appCoast: The Great Guide (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 26th October 2016)

Neil Oliver and Tessa Dunlop present their insiders’ guide to the Western Isles – a coastal cluster of a myriad sea-girt islets that include the Inner and Outer Hebrides, Argyll and St Kilda. Neil sets out on an island-hopping adventure that takes in three of the most stunning settings: Mull, Staffa and Gometra. Along his journey taking to the waves on a range of wonderfully restored vessels, he compiles our great guide from a wider canvas of Coast stories that stretch right across the Western Isles. He learns the secrets of crab fishing from a professional, samples a local delicacy from a surprising source, searches for stunning wildlife and meets the sole resident of one of Scotland’s most remote islands.

Little British Isles with Alison Steadman (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 26th October 2016)

Britain is made up of over 6000 islands and 267 of them are inhabited. Acclaimed film actress Alison Steadman OBE has always been fascinated with idyllic island life since holidaying on the Isle of Man as a little girl. In this series she celebrates the wild remote beauty under our noses and meets the people who call these hidden jewels their home, to discover what island life is really like. At their closest point, the Channel Islands lie just eight miles from France. Alison wants to know how they’re holding onto their unique identity in a changing world.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 26th October 2016)

Can you really build a Grand Design when you’ve only got £500 to start with? That’s what Simon and Jasmine Dale had in the bank when they started to build their unique three bedroom family house high up in the hills of rural Pembrokeshire. This is their take on 21st century low-impact self-building, featuring foraged and recycled materials. Despite the budget, their house will be open plan, have underfloor heating, an inside flushing loo, and a set of greenhouses that wouldn’t disgrace Kew Gardens. They are part of a pioneering, government-backed, sustainable village called Lammas, which has a fierce planning condition attached: in return for the right to build on open farmland, they must become self-sufficient on their seven acre plot in five years, or lose everything. It’s a huge double challenge.

Secrets of Great British Castles (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 28th October 2016)

Documentary series. Historian Dan Jones flies the flag for British castles. Edinburgh’s handsome hilltop bastion is Scotland’s most popular paid tourist attraction. With a slew of sieges to its name, it is no surprise that the site boasts some formidable defences, and Dan puts one heavy duty cannon through its paces.

Britain’s Greatest Bridges (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 28th October 2016)

Documentary series. Rob Bell tells the story behind the design and construction of Brunel’s famous bridge over the picturesque Avon gorge at Bristol – and discovers that some people question whether the great man’s ‘Darling’ was entirely the product of his own inspiration.

Still Game (BBC 1/HD | 9:30pm to 10:00pm | Friday 28th October 2016)

Comedy series in which lifelong friends cope with everything modern life has to throw at them. After a year of marriage, Fergie gets relationship advice from Jack and Victor. Navid and Boabby settle a dispute over whose job is the cushiest.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 28th October 2016)

Fresh from their hugely successful run at The Paralympics in Rio, the award-winning show returns live to Friday with its unique brand of irreverent satire for its ninth series. Hosts Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe examine the biggest and most entertaining news stories via the #isitok twitter handle, where viewers tweet in edgy current affairs questions that other shows might duck. A special guest joins the trio in the studio to help dissect the week’s events.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 15/10/2016

Little British Isles with Alison Steadman - 19-10-2016 - YouView appPaxman on Trump v Clinton: Divided America (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 17th October 2016)

As the American election approaches, Jeremy Paxman travels to Washington and beyond to understand how America’s democracy has come to face such an unpopular choice in its candidates for the presidency, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. From a life-size naked effigy of Donald Trump, to the stage of Avenue Q and the corridors of power, Jeremy meets political insiders and voters on both sides of the gaping political divide and casts his unsparing eye over a nation preparing for a historic election.

Little British Isles with Alison Steadman (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 19th October 2016)

Britain is made up of over 6000 islands and 267 of them are inhabited. Actress Alison Steadman OBE – best known for her roles in Gavin and Stacey and Abigail’s Party – has always been fascinated with idyllic island life since holidaying on the Isle of Man as a little girl. In this series she celebrates the wild remote beauty under our noses and meets the people who call these hidden jewels their home, to discover what island life is really like. In this first episode Alison travels to some of Scotland’s windswept and rugged Inner Hebrides. Over the course of a week she explores little-known and sparsely-populated Gigha, Jura, Colonsay and Oronsay.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 19th October 2016)

Can you really teach an old dog new tricks? Paul Rimmer trained as a bricklayer and spent over 40 years restoring and renovating the dilapidated Victorian terraces of Bolton. Now he’s taking on one last job. Turning his back on his beloved bricks, he wants to hand-build a wooden state-of-the-art contemporary home for £350k. He ropes in wife Carol, daughter Abby and favoured workmates, to take on construction of the vast, ultra-modern five-bedroom house. Hammered by extreme weather, they soon fall behind. At the point of exhaustion, it gets worse when their funding dries up and the entire project is put at risk.

The Last Leg for Su2c (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 21st October 2016)

The Last Leg boys – Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker – join in the evening’s fundraising. Then Davina McCall trawls the pavements in a special mini episode of the 90s classic show Streetmate, before handing her lucky couple to First Dates’ Fred Sirieix. Plus: Broadchurch stars Olivia Colman and David Tennant go head-to-head; there’s a special sketch featuring Hollywood stars Jon Hamm, Matthew McConaughey and Eva Longoria; and there are appearances from Gareth Bale, Abbey Clancy and Peter Crouch.

The Cars That Made Britain Great (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 21st October 2016)

Rufus Hound concludes his guide through Britain’s proud motoring history with a time warp back to the past to find the most convincing car of the future. Options include the Jensen Interceptor, the Rover P6, the Enfield 8000, the DeLorean and the Sinclair C5.

Britain’s Greatest Bridges (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 21st October 2016)

Documentary series. Engineer Rob Bell uncovers the extraordinary story of Tower Bridge, revealing how it was funded, how its design was revolutionary and how it is lucky to still be standing.

Still Game (BBC 1/HD | 9:30pn to 10:00pm | Friday 21st October 2016)

Comedy series in which lifelong friends cope with everything modern life has to throw at them. Charity begins at home as Jack and Victor offer a helping hand to Methadone Mick. A parking fine from the past comes back to haunt Winston, and Boabby’s award glory goes awry.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 08/10/2016

Britain's Greatest Bridges - 14-10-2016 - YouView appSpeed with Guy Martin (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 9th October 2016)

The inside story of Guy Martin’s fastest and most dangerous speed challenge to date: his recent attempt to become the fastest man on two wheels and break the motorcycle land speed record. The existing record is 376mph; to beat it Guy has to master a special one-off machine. The 1000-horsepower Triumph Rocket Streamliner, likened to a fighter jet without wings, uses two engines, has parachutes for brakes and is steered in a lying down position with two joysticks. The programme follows Guy through every step of the project, from his job interview in Portland, Oregon, to the ‘fastest place on Earth’: the iconic Bonneville Salt Flats in Nevada, where this daredevil has to learn how to ride all over again, using training wheel stabilisers.

Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only)

Paul Murton visits the islands lying off the Scottish coast. In this final episode, Paul’s difficult journey sees him travel to the once-inhabited island of Heisgeir, sail around the gannet city of Sula Sgeir and endure rough seas to finally make landfall on the extraordinarily remote island of North Rona.

Penelope Keith’s Hidden Villages (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 12th October 2016)

In the final episode of the series, Penelope travels coast to coast across the stunning Welsh peninsula of Pembrokeshire. Although remote, this area is nonetheless a magnet for fascinating villages, clinging to cliffs and estuaries, or nestled beside beaches, farms and castles. Penelope visits Manorbier, with its tea shops and connections to both Virginia Woolf and Narnia. Then it’s the waterside villages of the Cleddau Estuary, from Llangwm to Lawrenny. In the wild Preselli Hills to the north, Penelope encounters the Welsh-speaking villages of Cwm Gwaun and Mynachlogddu. There is also St Dogmaels, home of one of Britain’s best food markets, and Abereiddy, one of the venues for the cliff diving World Series.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 12th October 2016)

After artist and teacher Michelle Parsons recovered from serious illness, she and her architect husband David decided it was time to seize the day and build the private hideaway they’d always yearned for. David devised a sleek, black-clad, three bedroom house for a beautiful plot in an Essex woodland, with a separate studio for Michelle. The couple project manage the build, which gets off to a sticky start, including a dangerous gas leak and torrential rain. As the building finally starts to take shape, the big question remains: by choosing to eliminate windows on two sides of the property, could their new home turn out to be a gloomy bunker?

The Cars That Made Britain Great (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 14th October 2016)

Rufus Hound continues his guide through Britain’s ‘proud’ motoring history, with some celebrity-selected models that have rightly been consigned to history including the Robin Reliant and the Austin Allegro.

Britain’s Greatest Bridges (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 14th October 2016)

Documentary series. Engineer Rob Bell sets out on a journey to discover how six of Britain’s most iconic bridges were designed, and reveals the sweat, sacrifice and scandals that went into their construction. The last of the truly great Victorian Engineering triumphs, the Forth Rail Bridge has grown to symbolise Scotland as much as Edinburgh Castle, bagpipes or kilts. But, as Rob discovers, this incredible engineering achievement was born from tragedy and paid for in blood.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 14th October 2016)

Fresh from their hugely successful run at The Paralympics in Rio, the award-winning show returns live to Friday with its unique brand of irreverent satire for its ninth series. Hosts Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe examine the biggest and most entertaining news stories via the #isitok twitter handle, where viewers tweet in edgy current affairs questions that other shows might duck. Guest John Bishop joins the trio in the studio to help dissect the week’s events.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 01/10/2016

Grand Designs - 05-10-2016 - YouView appRailway Nation: A Journey in Verse (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Saturday 1st October 2016)

Following in the footsteps of WH Auden’s classic 1936 documentary Night Mail, six of Britain’s best poets take the train from London to Glasgow, discovering stories of love, loss and longing among the passengers today, and capturing the journey in verse. Maxine Peake narrates.

Speed with Guy Martin (Channel 4/HD 7:30pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 2nd October 2016)

Guy Martin wants to beat the 25-year-old speed record for a human-powered boat. It means pedalling a specially-built boat along a 100-metre course at an average speed of 21mph: a speed normally reserved for expensive speedboats or racing yachts. It’s Guy’s most physically and technically challenging record attempt yet, so he employs the services of two Olympic legends: Sir Chris Hoy trains Guy like an Olympic cyclist, and Sir Ben Ainslie hands over the helm of one of his multi-million-pound America’s Cup yachts to demonstrate the cutting-edge technology of hydrofoils: underwater wings that help a boat fly across water. Guy then builds two different machines that use hydrofoils: a carbon-fibre catamaran made with help from the University of Lincoln, and a canoe fitted with a giant aeroplane propeller, assembled in his own back garden.

Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 3rd October 2016)

Paul Murton visits the islands lying off the Scottish coast. In this episode, Paul crosses the great natural harbour of Scapa Flow to the island of Flotta, before heading round the main island of Orkney to Stronsay, and from there travelling north to the stunning beaches of Sanday. Along the way, Paul discovers stories of World War One, a mysterious beast and Orkney Selkies.

Homes by the Sea (more4 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 4th October 2016)

Charlie Luxton heads to one of the birthplaces of the classic British holiday resort: Sussex. The tour starts in Eastbourne and continues to a luxury mansion in Aldwick, close to Bognor Regis. He visits a quirky bohemian cottage in Cuckmere Haven that’s off the grid and an upside down house in Shoreham. There’s also a striking café in Littlehampton, the fisherman’s huts of Hastings, and a stylish pad in St Leonards, including a circular bed.

Penelope Keith’s Hidden Villages (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 5th October 2016)

Penelope Keith travels to North Yorkshire, England’s largest county, and the heart of a region that’s long been billed as ‘God’s own country’ – with its dales, moors and rugged coastline. In the remote villages of Upper Swaledale, Penelope delights in the local dialect. She then visits Cracoe, the village featured in the film Calendar Girls. On the North York Moors there are Viking sword dances in Goathland, the failed seaside resort of Ravenscar, and the mystery of Captain Cook’s childhood in Great Ayton. And Penelope takes to the skies over Brompton-by-Sawdon before finishing her tour at the artist’s retreat of Staithes.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 5th October 2016)

Tom and Danielle Raffield’s lifelong passion is steam-bending wood into extraordinary curvy shapes. They’ve spent much of their working lives using the technique to make furniture and lighting. Desperate to escape their tiny gamekeeper’s lodge, they’ve decided to build a spectacular wavy wooden house in South Cornwall, with curvy cladding, twisty furniture, and interior walls covered with naturally-weathered timber. With only a £100k budget to play with, they decide to do a lot of the building themselves. But have they taken on too much?

The Cars That Made Britain Great (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 7th October 2016)

Rufus Hound continues his guide through Britain’s proud motoring history with the fastest cars ever produced, including the Lotus Seven, the AC Cobra, the Maestro Turbo, the Ford Sierra Cosworth and the McLaren F1.

Carry on Caravanning (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 7th October 2016)

Light-hearted documentary series about people with a passion for caravans. Firefighter Ashley thinks he is a thoroughly modern caravanner, but his pals at work have been mocking him for his newfound hobby. Undertaker Phil and wife Michelle set off in their camper van for a cowboys-and-indians weekend with some friends in the Chilterns. Essex girls Kelly and Freya throw their first folding caravan rally in Alcester. Newbie caravanner Mandy takes her revamped £350 back-to-basics caravan away for the first time.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 7th October 2016)

Fresh from their hugely successful run at The Paralympics in Rio, the award-winning show returns live to Friday with its unique brand of irreverent satire for its ninth series. Hosts Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe examine the biggest and most entertaining news stories via the #isitok twitter handle, where viewers tweet in edgy current affairs questions that other shows might duck. Each week, a live audience and a special celebrity guest join the trio in the studio to help dissect the week’s events. In the first show Paralympic champions Jonnie Peacock and Ellie Simmonds join the team on the sofa.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 21/11/2015

Doctor Who - 21/11/2015 (YouView app)Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 8:10pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 21st November 2015)

The Doctor and Clara, with their old friend Rigsy, find themselves in a magical alien world, hidden on a street in the heart of London. Sheltered within are some of the most fearsome creatures of the universe, and Ashildr! With a death sentence hanging over their heads, not all of the intruders will get out alive.

The Hunt (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Sunday 22nd November 2015)

Nature documentary series narrated by Sir David Attenborough, taking an intimate and detailed look at the strategies employed by hunters to catch their prey, and the hunted to escape. This episode follows blue whales, sharks, sea lions, frigatebirds, dolphins and albatrosses to reveal the strategies they use to hunt for prey in the big blue. The open ocean is an immense wilderness that covers more than half the surface of our planet, yet for the most part it’s a watery desert, largely devoid of life. Predators face an endless search to find and catch food, yet these great tracks of ocean are home to some of the most remarkable hunters on the planet.

The Mountain (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 23rd November 2015)

Series charting life around Cairngorm. In this edition, the steam railway gets overheated, the mountain team battles the midges, Rona the downhill racer’s dreams come adrift, and the pub springs a leak.

Emergency! Trains v Weather (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 24th November 2015)

What does it take to keep Britain’s railways running through some of the worst winter weather on record? This film follows the army of engineers and maintenance teams as they battle against the elements to keep the rail network open and prevent the delays that cause misery to millions of passengers every winter. Using the latest technology and sheer old-fashioned graft, they tackle floods, hurricane force winds and tracks buried under six feet of snow – not to mention the annual blight of leaves on the line. With millions depending on the trains every day, the maintenance teams are the unsung heroes of the rail network.

Loch Lomond: A Year in the Wild (Channel 5 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 24th November 2015)

Documentary series featuring the wildlife of Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park in Scotland, filmed across one year. Autumn is when stags compete to breed, osprey chicks begin a 3000-mile migration to West Africa, salmon return to the rivers where they were born and adders give birth to live young.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 25th November 2015)

In this final episode Kevin McCloud reveals the winner of the Royal Institute of British Architects House of the Year 2015. There are three extraordinary houses still to see: a simple but beautiful timber and steel clad home in Dungeness; a soaring pink brick house in Belfast with fabulous views of the surrounding landscape; and an 18th-century converted mill in a remote, rural part of Scotland. The three are vying for the last place on the finalist shortlist. And then, at the end of the show, Kevin announces the overall winner of this year’s prestigious award and visits the house to discover why it has been crowned the best new home in Britain.

TFI Friday (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 27th November 2015)

The new series of Chris Evans’ entertainment show continues, from its new home in central London, with new features, raucous stunts and guests include Ellie Goulding, The Vamps, Wolf Alice and Jamie Lawson.

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