Tag: Great Canal Journeys

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 14/11/2020

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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.

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 16/11/2019

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Great Australian Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 16th November 2019)

Michael Portillo crosses the south east of Australia from Canberra, the seat of government, to the multi-ethnic heart of its second largest city, Melbourne. Along the way he discovers the history of the Ashes at Melbourne cricket ground, learns about the exploits of outlaw Ned Kelly and visits the home of superstar soprano Dame Nellie Melba. He also rides on the Puffing Billy narrow gauge steam railway, built in 1900, and has a go at shearing a sheep.

Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 7:00pm to 8:00pm | Sunday 17th November 2019)

A look back at Timothy West and Prunella Scales’ waterway travels in Scotland – a coast-to-coast adventure that started in Edinburgh and ended on the edge of the North Sea, where monumental equine sculptures now line the route and state-of-the-art boat lifts have replaced the humble lock. The couple also travelled along the Caledonian Canal, which links Scotland’s east and west coasts, was built for ocean-going ships and comes with scenery that is rugged and stunning.

Roaming in the Wild (BBC Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Monday 18th November 2019)

Andrew O’Donnell and Mark Taylor travel from corner to corner of the north coast of the Scottish mainland, going from John O’Groats and Cape Wrath on a tandem.

Canal Boat Diaries (BBC 4/HD | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Tuesday 19th November 2019)

Robbie Cumming explores the English canal network, beginning with a journey from Shardlow to Etruria Junction, Stoke on Trent, exploring the Trent and Mersey Canal. However, not everything goes to plan, and he will have to deal with a tricky issue with his propeller as well as navigating the complicated locks on the Trent and Mersey Canal.

Canal Boat Diaries (BBC 4/HD | 7:30pm to 8:00pm Wednesday 20th November 2019)

Robbie Cumming explores the English canal network. A low canal tunnel in Staffordshire proves to be problematic, and Robbie helps out a stranded boater.

Canal Boat Diaries (BBC 4/HD | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Thursday 21st November 2019)

Robbie Cumming’s exploration of the English canal network continues across the Pennines from Marple to Huddersfield, where his journey is hampered by a fallen tree and a leaking lock pound.

Steam Train Britain (Yesterday | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 21st November 2019)

Meeting the Welsh Highland Railway’s oldest volunteer fireman, 80-year-old Cedric Lodge, who has worked on the railways for 60 years. In Devon, there is a look at the Autotrain.

The World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys (Channel 5/HD 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 22nd November 2019)

In Norway, camera follow a train journey that begins in the capital Oslo and heads all the way to Bodo inside the Arctic Circle. The first leg is the Dovre line, running from to the remote northern wonderland of Trondheim. Along the way it passes through the vast Gudbrandsdal valley and across the awe-inspiring Dovrefjell mountain plateau. The route stops at the picturesque mountain village of Dombas, before changing to the Rauma railway, which features dramatic fjords opening out along the Rauma river, dotted with some of the country’s most famous landmarks. Narrated by Bill Nighy.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 26/10/2019

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Great Australian Railway Journeys (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 26th October 2019)

Michael Portillo ventures Down Under to explore Australia by train. He begins by riding the legendary Ghan Railway, a train almost a kilometre in length and hauled by two locomotives, which covers nearly 2,000 miles across Australia’s red centre. Michael traces its route from the southern harbour of Port Augusta to Darwin on the north coast, along the way meeting the indigenous people of Alice Springs, visiting a kangaroo sanctuar

Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 27th October 2019)

Timothy West and Prunella Scales share some memories of their canal journeys overseas, including their first trip, which was to France on the Nivernais Canal. Tim is reminded of the time he tried to park his boat in Venice, at St Mark’s Square, and the couple reminisce over a moonlit gondolier trip down the Grand Canal. Having successfully mastered the waterways of Europe, Tim and Pru then set forth on even more ambitious and remote journeys across the world – to India, Canada, Argentina and a trip down the Nile.

Underground Worlds (Yesterday | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 30th October 2019)

An underground city beneath a forest in Northern France built to house 3,000 people, an ice cave under Iceland’s biggest glacier, and a subterranean power station in London.

Steam Train Britain (Yesterday | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 31st October 2019)

At South Devon, engineer Ray Lee is working to bring a loco back in to service. There is also a visit to the SS Kingswear paddle steamer In Dartmouth, the oldest vessel of its kind.

The World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 1st November 2019)

Cameras capture a route through Spain, beginning near Leon, part of the famous north Spanish Pilgrimage, in the Picos de Europa mountains. The railway then runs through the Basque country before the famous Guggenheim Museum greets travellers in Bilbao. In Galicia, the gorges, coastline and sea bridges are a sight for sore eyes, and a speciality cider tour refreshes the train’s guests. The journey ends in Ferrol, a spectacular harbour that has been a major shipbuilding centre for most of its history and has been a key city in many wars. Narrated by Bill Nighy.

Caravanning with Shane Richie (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 1st November 2019)

The presenter visits a vast campsite in North Yorkshire, which has its own theme park and zoo. The place is so big that guests can call for a golf-buggy taxi just to take them to their room. Once, settled in, Shane hops on the cable cars for an aerial view of the park’s rollercoasters and wild animal enclosures. He also explores the local area, taking in a steam train trip from inside the driver’s cabin and a fishing trip out of Whitby. Following in his father’s footsteps as an performer, Shane’s son arrives with his band to perform as the site’s entertainment.

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

? UK TV programmes to watch this week : 15/06/2019

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Britain’s Most Historic Towns (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 15th June 2019)

Alice Roberts visits Canterbury to explore the Plantagenet era, when the powerful house held the throne between 1154 and 1485. She discovers the secrets of the city’s cathedral, a centre of ecclesiastical power and also the site of the shocking murder of Thomas Becket. She also discovers the lasting impact of the Black Death and joins a modern-day pilgrimage in medieval garb. Aerial archaeologist Ben Robinson provides a bird’s-eye view of how the religious institutions of the era still dominate the city’s topography.

Top Gear (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 16th June 2019)

Freddie Flintoff, Chris Harris and Paddy McGuinness take over as the latest hosting team of the motoring show. Their first episode takes them to Ethiopia, where they test cars to see how they can endure in the searing heat. Back at the track, Chris puts the Ferrari 488 Pista and McLaren 600LT through their paces.

Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 16th June 2019)

Part two of two. Timothy West and Prunella Scales’ final journey takes them through Vietnam’s Mekong Delta and across the border into Cambodia. They visit the capital city of Phenom Penh, and conclude their travels at Angkor Wat, an ancient temple built by the clever use of canals.

Thatcher: A Very British Revolution (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 17th June 2019)

The concluding part of the documentary looks at how Margaret Thatcher’s leadership style and the issues of Europe and the poll tax split her cabinet and created public anger, leading to her downfall. Protests against the poll tax resulted in violence in central London, but more damagingly there was widespread disenchantment in Tory strongholds across the country. Fractures emerge with senior cabinet colleagues, worsened by her European policy and Geoffrey Howe’s resignation leads to a leadership challenge.

The Thames: Britain’s Great River with Tony Robinson (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 18th June 2019)

Reaching central London, the actor and presenter boards an industrial working ship on the Thames, learning it is a route not without risks as ships must squeeze under bridges at high tide and avoid running aground at low tide. At the Chelsea embankment, Tony explores the Physic Gardens where early botanical remedies were created from exotic plants brought in by river from all over the world. On the south bank, he goes mudlarking, scouring the shore at low tide for objects discarded by revellers past, before getting a bird’s-eye-view of the river from the Shard. Tony’s final stop is Tower Bridge.

The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 21st June 2019)

Under pressure to bring in extra revenue now that the somewhat challenging season is nearing its end, the North York Moors Railway team decides to put on a special `curry train” night together with a massive bash for Halloween. Visitors and staff alike put in the effort to make it a night to remember, though proceedings are threatened when the lights in the carriages suddenly stop working. The Bishop of Wakefield comes to bless Eric Treacy, an engine that has been through a £500,000 overhaul taking over two years.

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

? UK TV programmes to watch this week : 10/11/2018

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Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 7:00pm to 7:50pm | Sunday 11th November 2018)

The Doctor and her friends arrive in the Punjab in 1947, as India is being torn apart. While Yaz attempts to discover her grandmother’s hidden history, the Doctor discovers demons haunting the land. Who are they, and what do they want?

Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 7:30pm to 8:30pm | Sunday 11th November 2018)

Timothy West and Prunella Scales return to the English canal system as they navigate the Lancaster Canal. An early masterpiece of the waterways, ‘The Lanky’ wends its way north, through the city of Lancaster and along the coast at Morecambe Bay. The waterway is largely rural, running through rolling open countryside and deep woods. It also boasts one of the most elegant pieces of canal architecture in the country, the Lune Aqueduct. When their journey reaches Carnforth, Tim and Pru visit its train station, which was used as the key location in the film Brief Encounter. This is a very personal voyage for Pru. Long-forgotten memories rise to the surface as she visits the lakeland village of Near Sawrey, where her family lived during much of the war and as a child she once saw Beatrix Potter.

Paddington Station 24/7 (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 12th November 2018)

Swindon control jump into action when an unexploded WWII bomb is found near the line in Teignmouth, transport police seek a word with a man who jumped onto the track to retrieve something he dropped, and team leader Martyn reveals the high cost of cleaning up graffiti.

Lego Masters (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 13th November 2018)

Presenter Melvin Odoom invites the seven remaining teams to take part in the Lego Masters ‘Drop Test’. Using just 1000 bricks, the teams must create a structure that will smash to pieces when dropped from a height. The further the spread of broken bricks, the higher the score. It will be unnatural for them, and against everything they believe in, but who will win this test of brick building destruction? Next, the teams put their creative hats on, as they step ‘brick in time’ to construct a scene from history. From the Ice Age to Ancient Egypt to 1950s America, which historical scene will the judges like the best? Matthew Ashton and Fran Scott are joined on judging duty by comedian Paddy McGuinness.

100 Years of the RAF (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 16th November 2018)

Documentary marking the 100th anniversary of the Ryal Air Force, narrated by Sir Martin Lewis. Includes extraordinary and unseen historical footage of WWI and WWII, paying tribute to the determination and courage our men and women take into the theatres of war.

Portillo’s Hidden History of Britain (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 16th November 2018)

Michael Portillo explores abandoned locations. A top secret Cold War stronghold and a decommissioned Soviet nuclear submarine reveal just how close we came to nuclear armageddon, and the British military’s plans if it should come.

Mysteries at the Castle (Quest/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 16th November 2018)

An English palace is the setting for a royal tale of uncontrollable lust and limitless power. Plus, a New York arsenal falls victim to a menacing curse.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 03/11/2018

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Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 7:00pm to 7:50pm | Sunday 4th November 2018)

Injured and stranded in the wilds of a far-flung galaxy, the Doctor, Yaz, Graham and Ryan must band together with a group of strangers to survive against one of the universe’s most deadly – and unusual – creatures.

Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 4th November 2018)

Timothy West and Prunella Scales embark on their first Latin American adventure and head for Argentina. A few miles from Buenos Aires, lies a vast labyrinth of canals and rivers that meander ever deeper into the jungle. Hiring a traditional cargo boat, known as a chatta, Tim and Pru voyage into the remoter corners of the Paraná delta. ‘When you’re my age, a trip from Wandsworth to Putney on a 37 bus can seem quite an adventure,’ remarks Pru. ‘And here I am in South America on a tramp steamer, heading into the jungle – I mean I can’t believe it.’ Tim and Pru discover the Belle Epoque splendour of the jungle town of Tigre. They visit a remote enclave of Anglo Argentines, who still drink G and T and toast the Queen. They also learn about the ‘dirty war’ of the 1970s. They marvel at the local flora and fauna and admire the hummingbirds, and perform Argentina’s national dance.

Paddington Station 24/7 (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 5th November 2018)

The bank holiday works schedule is disrupted when reports come in of a trespasser on the relief lines outside of London, forcing the cancellation of all trains leaving Paddington station. However, the total shutdown allows the engineers onto the track to renew large sections of the ageing rail infrastructure.

Lego Masters (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 6th November 2018)

Lego Masters returns – the show in which some of the most skilled brick fanatics do battle to be crowned Lego Master. This year Lego Masters is bigger than ever. From thousands of applications, eight of the best amateur brick-building duos in the British Isles prepare to plunge their skills, creativity and imaginations into a series of challenges, to claim the title of Lego Masters Champion 2018. Melvin Odoom hosts and is joined by scientist and engineer-at-heart Fran Scott to co-judge alongside Matthew Ashton, the LEGO Group’s Vice President of Design. In the first episode, the eight teams must construct a 1.3m-long bridge, with no prior planning, over which Melvin will be driving a weighted remote-controlled dumper truck. Which bridges will come crashing down to earth?

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 7th November 2018)

Kevin McCloud embarks on a nationwide journey to examine some of the most cutting-edge contemporary homes, all of them in the running for the 2018 Royal Institute of British Architects House of the Year. In each episode, he exclusively reveals which houses the Riba judges have selected for the competition’s final shortlist. The last programme of the series will announce the winner of this prestigious prize. In this first episode, Kevin and his co-presenters architect Damion Burrows, and design expert Michelle Ogundehin, visit five extraordinary homes that dare to be different: a magnificent monolithic dark-rendered block in London; a controversial cutting-edge glass modernist building in Henley; a glorious north London townhouse filled with Nicaraguan mahogany; a beautiful bright red end-of-terrace property that stands out but also blends in; and a smart semi-detached home in Newcastle built by two neighbours working together.

The Great Model Railway Challenge (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 9th November 2018)

Reality contest as railway modellers compete to create miniature masterpieces against the clock. The final five teams compete on the theme A Journey Through Time, creating models based on the Cold War, the industrial revolution, 1950s West Country railways, the 2012 Olympics, and all the way into the future.

Portillo’s Hidden History of Britain (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 9th November 2018)

Documentary series. Michael Portillo explores abandoned locations. The officers of the London Road Fire Station stood guard over the people of Manchester for 80 years through war, civil unrest and serial killers.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 27/10/2018

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Doctor Who (BBC 1/HD | 7:00pm to 7:50pm | Sunday 28th October 2018)

In Yorkshire, the Doctor and friends meet Yaz’s family – and uncover a creepy mystery at the heart of the city. What is happening to the spiders of Sheffield?

Mediterranean with Simon Reeve (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 28th October 2018)

Simon Reeve embarks on the fourth and final leg of his journey around the Mediterranean, travelling from Morocco, across the sea to Spain, and on to Corsica and the French Riviera.

Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 28th October 2018)

Beginning on Britain’s first purpose-built canal, the Bridgewater, Tim and Pru embark on a voyage through canal history, as they explore the waterways of north west England. Heading from the suburbs of Manchester to the great canal port at Ellesmere, along the way they’ll discover how canals became the veins and arteries of the early industrial revolution, and helped to transform England’s green and pleasant land into the workshop of the world. At Worsley, Tim and Pru discover how in 1761, the building of the Bridgewater Canal, more than halved the price of coal in Manchester and launched a transport revolution. In Manchester, Tim and Pru discover a lesser known aspect of canal history when visiting Canal Street, which lies at the heart of the city’s LGBT+ community.

Paddington Station 24/7 (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 29th October 2018)

Swindon control discovers an intoxicated man running around the tracks, forcing them to shut the line. Engineers at Cowley Bridge near Exeter insert 24 huge culverts to ease flooding there. In Paddington, a drink-addled dentist is convinced he has left his bag on a train.

Saving Lives at Sea (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Tuesday 30th October 2018)

The RNLI volunteers race to try and rescue a teenager being swept out to sea on an inflatable, two girls caught in a rip current and a woman who has fallen from a cliff in Cornwall.

Ambulance (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 1st November 2018)

A suspected terror incident requires a large-scale response and brings back memories of the Manchester Arena attack for the paramedics.

The Great Model Railway Challenge (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 2nd November 2018)

Reality contest as railway modellers compete to create miniature masterpieces against the clock. The Wakefield RMS, Aberdeen Model Railway Club and the Shunter Guys compete for a place in the final by creating railway layouts based on the theme ‘Waterworld’.

The Lakes with Paul Rose (BBC 2/HD | 8:30pm to 9:00pm | Friday 2nd November 2018)

Four-part series about the Lake District, the National Park that is now a World Heritage Site. Remote Eskdale is the final destination in explorer Paul Rose’s trek through the Lake District. This corner of the western Lakes is off the normal tourist track but it boasts England’s highest mountain. Before heading for the tough Lakeland summit of Scafell Pike, Paul meets the folk who run one of the country’s most scenic railways, he has a close encounter with a vulture, and gets to grips with the locals in a spot of Cumberland wrestling.

Portillo’s Hidden History of Britain (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 2nd November 2018)

Documentary series. Michael Portillo unlocks the doors to more extraordinary abandoned locations. A medical revolution was born at Cambridge that changed the face of Britain – literally.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 13/10/2018

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Mediterranean with Simon Reeve (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 14th October 2018)

Simon Reeve embarks on the second leg of his epic four-part journey around the Mediterranean. Setting off from a snowy mountain ski resort in Cyprus, Simon finds an island and a capital city still deeply divided between Turkish Cypriots in the north and Greek Cypriots in the south.

Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 14th October 2018)

Timothy West and Prunella Scales embark on more spectacular canal journeys. This time, Tim and Pru voyage across Italy’s largest lake and along Europe’s oldest working canal, to the historic heart of Milan. Travelling from Lake Maggiore to the Naviglio Grande canal, they navigate a route taken by marble-carrying barges for over five centuries. Their journey includes a visit to the Swiss lakeside town of Locarno; a speed boat; the spectacular gardens of Isola Bella; a traditional Italian barging song; wine; and a visit to Milan’s famous cathedral, the Duomo.

Paddington Station 24/7 (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 15th October 2018)

Documentary series about one of the UK’s busiest transport hubs and the western rail network it serves. Weekend works at Acton have overrun, a lorry rips the safety barriers off a level crossing as it runs the lights, and ‘the flying banana’ trails the rails for defects.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 17th October 2018)

Identical twins Nik and Jon Daughtry run a graphic design company together. They drive the same car and even own identical dogs. Now these two brothers are building two near identical houses next door to each other in Sheffield. Raised up on steel stilts on the site of an old corn mill, the houses pay tribute to Sheffield’s industrial past. Huge steel frames with exposed blockwork and black steel cladding should create two sleek and modern family homes. But Nik and Jon’s plan is incredibly ambitious. Not only do they want to build the two houses for the price of one, but the materials and finish have to be absolutely perfect. With a tight budget, it’s an almighty stretch from the start. As delays, overages and imperfections hit, it’s clear the twins’ intuitive and incredibly close relationship will be tested like never before.

Ambulance (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pn to 10:00pm | Thursday 18th October 2018)

Documentary series focusing on the work of the North West Ambulance Service. Over a busy weekend in Manchester, paramedics Andrea and Glynn attend an RTC, while Debbie and Shaun try to persuade a homeless man to go to hospital.

The Great Model Railway Challenge (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 19th October 2018)

Reality contest as railway modellers compete to create miniature masterpieces against the clock. Heat three’s theme sees the judges taking in the sights of miniature recreations inspired by locations all around the world.

The Lakes with Paul Rose (BBC 2/HD | 8:30pm to 9:00pm | Friday 19th October 2018)

Four-part series about the Lake District, the National Park that is now a World Heritage Site. In this episode, Paul Rose heads to Windermere, joining the crowds to find out why the early tourists thought the Lakes were one of the most dangerous spots in the country. He plunges into the world of long-distance swimming and helps the staff who run the boats on the lake, before meeting a Holocaust survivor who was airlifted to Windermere in 1945, as part of a mercy mission involving 300 orphans after the Second World War.

Walking Britain’s Lost Railways (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 19th October 2018)

Rob Bell explores the lost landscapes and infrastructure of some of Britain’s former railway lines. This lost line once transformed the fortunes of seaside towns, but it was expensive and difficult to maintain, and the boggy Somerset Levels presented a challenge to laying tracks.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 06/10/2018

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Mediterranean with Simon Reeve (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 7th October 2018)

Simon Reeve embarks on the first leg of an extraordinary four-part journey around the Mediterranean, travelling from Malta across the sea to southern Italy and onto Albania.

Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 7th October 2018)

A new run of the show in which Timothy West and Prunella Scales embark on spectacular canal journeys across Britain and abroad. Tim and Pru decide that they’ve had enough of kicking their heels at home in Wandsworth and head off to explore one of the world’s great waterways, the River Nile. At first Tim is unsure, but Pru is determined: ‘…all the journeys I’ve done with him have opened doors for me and given me new and thrilling experiences’. Travelling from Luxor to Aswan, Tim and Pru uncover the secrets of this great artery of an ancient civilisation and discover how some of the first-ever canals were used to build the temple at Karnak. They also visit a Nubian village; purchase aphrodisiacs in the souk; and dance by moonlight.

Monkman and Seagull’s Genius Guide to Britain (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Monday 8th October 2018)

University Challenge icons and real-life best friends Eric Monkman and Bobby Seagull visit Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales in search of hidden gems of British scientific and technological ingenuity. Their genius road trip concludes with a whistle-stop tour of some of Scotland’s most enigmatic scientific achievements. Their journey begins in Edinburgh at the birthplace of a little-known scientist who changed the face of history.

Paddington Station 24/7 (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 8th October 2018)

Documentary series about one of the UK’s busiest transport hubs and the western rail network it serves. A nasty surprise awaits engineers as they discover rotten wooden sleepers that disintegrate under foot. Even veteran train staff are shocked by the reason the 15:00 to Bristol has come to a halt – a driver tried to start the train from the wrong end.

Glasgow, Love and Apartheid (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 9th October 2018)

Documentary in which director Dhivya-Kate Chetty tells her family’s story. The film follows her parents Radha and Maggie on a trip from Glasgow back to South Africa and documents the effects of apartheid on one family spread across two continents – from the pain of migration, to the daily indignities of one of the abominations of the 20th century. The stories of several family members are blended to create a personal and moving account of apartheid and the fight for its downfall.

Grand Designs (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 10th October 2018)

Chiropractor Steph Wilson has spent 20 years dreaming of living on her grandfather’s farmland in Leominster, Herefordshire, which was sold when she was 16. Steph and her husband Alex have re-mortgaged their current house to buy back 27 acres of the farm. Steph has secured planning permission for a sleek contemporary cantilevered farmhouse in the old gravel pit where she played as a child. She is determined to give her two young children a version of the blissful childhood she had. Steph and Alex are told their ambitious design will cost £500k – twice what they can borrow. Regardless, the family take a leap of faith and move into a draughty old caravan on site. It’s supposed to be a temporary solution. But after six months, caravan life is starting to look like it could become permanent. The family are in desperate need of a saviour, or their dream could turn into a nightmare. Then along comes Steph’s oldest friend.

The Great Model Railway Challenge (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 12th October 2018)

Reality contest as railway modellers compete to create miniature masterpieces against the clock. Heat two’s theme sees the judges tuning in to model railway layouts inspired by beloved shows EastEnders, Doctor Who and Blackadder.

Walking Britain’s Lost Railways (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 12th October 2018)

Rob Bell explores the lost landscapes and infrastructure of some of Britain’s former railway lines. Clues that the old track through the Lake District even existed are not clear, but Rob learns that it once served mainly miners, and sustained the entire region with hard industry before becoming more of a tourist draw.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 04/11/2017

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Blue Planet II (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 5th November 2017)

Documentary series narrated by David Attenborough which explores the planet’s oceans. This episode goes on a groundbreaking journey to the deep, home to real-life aliens, from monstrous sharks to shrimps in glass cages and perhaps the origin of all life on earth.

Great Canal Journeys (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 5th November 2017)

Timothy West and Prunella Scales set off on their third adventure along the French canal system, as they travel down the Marne-Rhine Canal in Alsace and Lorraine, close to the German border. Their journey takes in enchanted forests and fairy-tale castles; mountains and valleys; the baffling French lock system; local wines; and a visit to Strasbourg and the European Parliament.

Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railway Journeys (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 6th November 2017)

Travelogue in which Chris Tarrant rides some of the world’s wildest trains. Chris traverses Morocco from west to east before heading off into the sands of the Sahara to discover whether a legendary line that stretches all the way to Timbuktu really exists.

DIY SOS (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 8th November 2017)

DIY SOS is back on veteran street in Manchester to build the final home on the road for a decorated former soldier and his young family. Two years ago, with the help of Prince William and Prince Harry, DIY SOS launched their most ambitious project yet – transforming a derelict street into a vibrant community for veterans and local people, creating new homes and a veterans’ support centre. Now, with the project almost complete, Nick Knowles and the team return to build the last remaining home for amputee and single dad Simon Flores, whose foot was blown off by a roadside bomb during a patrol in Iraq.

Donald Trump (BBC 1 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 9th November 2017)

A year ago, Donald Trump was elected President of the United States; and in that time barely a day has passed without him hitting the headlines. Scotland had an early glimpse of the man and his methods. For more than a decade, he’s attracted both praise and criticism over his development of a golf course in Aberdeenshire. A development he said was inspired by his mother coming from Stornoway. This programme examines his relationship with Scotland, and looks at the current condition and future plans for the Trump businesses here.

The World’s Greatest Bridges (Channel 5/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 10th November 2017)

Documentary series. Rob Bell explores the history and construction of iconic bridges. A symbol of the Industrial Revolution, the elegant Iron Bridge over the river Severn in rural Shropshire was the world’s first bridge to be constructed entirely from iron. Rob reveals the difficulties encountered in building it, the scepticism of contemporary engineers, how it inspired Thomas Telford to design the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and the bridge’s role as a catalyst for the birth of a civil engineering.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Friday 10th November 2017)

The live, joyous, topical comedy extravaganza hosted by Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe that examines the biggest and most entertaining news stories and rounds up the main talking points of the week. This week, comedian and presenter Harry Hill will be live in the studio.

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

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