Tag: How Scotland Works

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 07/05/2016

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Paul Merton's Secret Stations - 08-05-2016 - YouView appAttenborough at 90 (BBC 1/HD | 7:00pm to 8:00pm | Sunday 8th May 2016)

In celebration of his ninetieth birthday, Sir David Attenborough shares extraordinary highlights of his life and career with broadcaster Kirsty Young, including the inspiring people he has met, the extraordinary journeys he has made and the remarkable animal encounters he has had across the globe. Joined by colleagues and friends, including Michael Palin and Chris Packham, Sir David shares some of the unforgettable moments from his unparalleled career, from capturing unique animal behaviour for the first time to the fast-paced advances in wildlife filming technology, as well as stories of the wonder and fragility of the natural world – stories that Sir David has spent his life exploring and championing.

Paul Merton’s Secret Stations (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 8th May 2016)

Paul Merton continues his journey around Britain’s railway request stops on the glorious West Highland Line and Beasdale, where the Special Operations Executive taught espionage in World War Two. Paul discovers a request stop just outside the centre of Bristol. And at Pontarddulais, Paul sees how a former mining town has reinvented itself as ‘the wedding village’ – with a high street full of bridal shops. Paul helps a young bride pick out her perfect dress, and has the chance to sing with the local male voice choir – the most successful choir in Wales.

The Tube: Going Underground (Channel 5/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 9th May 2016)

Documentary series following the work of the staff who keep London’s underground train service running smoothly. Engineer Anita hopes she has got her sums right as a new passenger tunnel nears completion, 192 new trains hit the tracks and legend of the line steps down.

How Scotland Works (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 10th May 2016)

Documentary series exploring life in 21st-century Scotland. In Scotland today, finding a home can be a challenge. The kinds of homes people want, and where they want them, are changing. More people are now working from home and tenements are being turned into workspaces. With land and houses in short supply, some people are turning to more radical solutions such as making their homes in houseboats or caravans to save money. Also, with people living longer lives there is the need to create homes for the elderly, which is sparking some innovative solutions. From a brand new town being developed in Aberdeenshire, to a houseboat on the canal, and even to a 200-year-old castle, this documentary tells the story of Scotland at home through a diverse range of characters and the homes they live in.

Highlands (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 11th May 2016)

Spring – Season of Extremes. Ewan McGregor narrates a series about the wildlife of the Scottish Highlands. In this edition it is spring, the most unpredictable of all seasons in the Cairngorm mountains. Ospreys, red squirrels, dippers, capercaillies, roe deer and bottlenose dolphins struggle to find food and raise their young while coping with the extremes of wind and weather.

Gareth’s Invictus Choir (BBC 1/HD | 9:000pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 12th May 2016)

Choirmaster Gareth Malone is facing his toughest challenge to date. He has been asked to form a choir of wounded ex-service personnel to perform at the Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida. In this episode the choir have survived their first public performance. With just 4 weeks before they sing at the opening ceremony in Orlando, Gareth brings his choir to Somerset House in London and announces he wants them to write their own song for the performance. The songwriting process challenges the choir to dig deep into their experiences of injury or illness and the different stages of recovery they are each in. Gareth singing them the finished song is a key moment, as the choir hear the lyrics of their own stories. Once they are happy with the song, Gareth decides to show the lyrics to an industry friend. Following some unexpected news at a recording studio, the choir finally set off to the US for their big moment.

Barging Round Britain with John Sergeant (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Friday 13th May 2016)

John Sergeant travels along some of the most impressive canals in Britain. In this episode, John is aboard his narrowboat enjoying a trip along one of the oldest and prettiest canals in Britain – the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. On the way, he marvels at ingenious feats of 18th century engineering. He also tackles – with mixed results – the difficult art of glass-blowing, and discovers a secret underground cold war bunker.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 30/04/2016

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Gareth's Invictus Choir - 05-05-2016 - YouView appPaul Merton’s Secret Stations (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 1st May 2016)

More than 150 of Britain’s railway stations are request stops. You have to put out your arm to get the train to stop at the platform. In this series, Paul Merton travels around the country by train, only getting off at request stops. Paul hops on and off at a variety of different request stops to tell the story of why they are there, and who uses them. Meeting railways experts and enthusiasts, he explores the history of the stations and learns more about life in and around the stops. Paul’s journey begins in the Highlands, travelling on the stunning Kyle Line to the request stop of Attadale, where he meets Joanna and Alec Macpherson, who’ve recently moved from Peckham to look after a vast 30,000-acre estate at the shore of Lochcarron. Paul’s next two request stops are on the Cumbrian Coast Line.

The Tube: Going Underground (Channel 5 | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 2nd May 2016)

Documentary series following the work of the staff who keep London’s underground train service running smoothly. The Tube takes on more than a thousand new staff. But the newbies are joining a system that now faces a level of terror threat unknown in the past.
(Subtitles, Audio Described, Episode 7)

How Scotland Works (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 3rd May 2016)

Documentary series exploring life in 21st-century Scotland. Today, life in Scotland’s most remote communities is changing, with new jobs and industries evolving, and the population growing. Innovative types of tourism like wreck diving and eagle spotting are being developed. Land-ownership laws are changing to give communities more of a stake in their crofts, and traditional work such as forestry is being transformed by 21st-century technology. Better communications keep the smallest island communities connected to the outside world, allowing new kinds of businesses and even international charities to be based there. This documentary tells the story of Scotland’s wild places through a diverse cast of characters including a dive guide, flying tree doctors, a global charity based on Coll and the world-famous Mull Rally.

Gareth’s Invictus Choir (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 5th May 2016)

Choirmaster Gareth Malone is facing his toughest challenge to date. He has been asked to form a choir of wounded ex-servicemen and -women to perform at the Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida. This first episode sees Gareth arrive at Kensington Palace to meet with Prince Harry, the founder of the games. Gareth wants to find out more about the challenges he faces in trying to form this unique choir. Next step is to set off around the UK to put his choir of 12 together, but Gareth is not looking just for singers, he is looking for people with stories to tell of the battles and struggles they have faced since their medical discharge. Next, he takes them off for three days to teach them how to sing but discovers it’s he who has something to learn – how to work with such a fragile group. The choir is surprised with his choice of song, and it soon triggers off unexpected emotions. Finally, Gareth makes a shock announcement after just four weeks.

Barging Round Britain with John Sergeant (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Friday 6th May 2016)

John Sergeant enjoys some of the best canal journeys Britain has to offer. He takes in the delights of the Lancaster Canal, which runs along the coast through the ancient city of Lancaster. On the way, he gets to re-enact his favourite scene from Brief Encounter, marvel at the amazing Lune Aqueduct and learns to smoke kippers before tucking into one of the little beauties.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 09/05/2015

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W1A - 14-05-2015 (YouView app)Damned Designs (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Monday 11th May 2015)

Damned Designs: Don’t Demolish My Home follows a group of determined homeowners in Britain who are in a desperate and extremely costly battle to save their dream house from demolition. All have fallen foul of the planning authorities and are in real danger of losing their prized homes. Each episode reveals how some of these incredibly designed homes are saved, or torn down at their own expense. Each house reveals a dramatic tale of battles between planners, politicians, neighbours and home owners.

How Scotland Works (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 12th May 2015)

Documentary series exploring life in 21st-century Scotland. With the population at an all-time high and people living longer, the final programme meets Scots of all ages and tells the story of life in modern Scotland from birth through to old age.

W1A (BBC 2/HD | 10:00pm to 10:30pm | Thursday 14th May 2015)

Award-winning comedy about the BBC. It’s all change on the corporate merry-go-round. In his new role as senior executive, Primetime Factuality, consistently lucky David Wilkes needs to flesh out the programme idea behind One Big Family. Not having any ideas himself he turns for inspiration to Izzy Gould in her new role as development producer. On the verge of leaving the BBC, Lucy has been persuaded to take on a new job as head of Inclusivity. One of her first jobs is to head up discussion on the Way Ahead Task Force around inclusivity targets – targets which become increasingly important to hit with Charter renewal just around the corner and an imminent meeting of the Cross Parliamentary Inclusion Action Watch Dog Group at Westminster.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 02/05/2015

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The World’s Most Extreme: Railways - 02-05-2015 (YouView app)All Aboard! The Canal Trip (BBC 4/HD | 8:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 5th May 2015)

A two-hour, real-time canal boat journey down one of Britain’s most historic waterways, the Kennet and Avon Canal, from Top Lock in Bath to the Dundas Aqueduct. Using an uninterrupted single shot, the film is a rich and absorbing antidote to the frenetic pace and white noise of modern life. Taking in the images and sounds of the British countryside, underpinned by the natural soundscape of water lapping, surrounding birdsong and the noise of the chugging engine, this is a chance to spot wildlife and glimpse life on the towpath while being lulled by the comforting rhythm of a bygone era. Along the journey, graphics and archive stills embedded into the passing landscape deliver salient facts about the canal and its social history.

How Scotland Works (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 5th May 2015)

Documentary series exploring life in 21st-century Scotland. This programme tells the story of Scotland as a brand and goes behind the scenes at the Edinburgh Tattoo, a visiting cruise liner and the New York Whisky Fest to find out how the rest of the world views Scotland.

Ballot Monkeys (Channel 4/HD |10:00pm to 10:30pm | Tuesday 5th May 2015)

There are now two days to go before the country goes to the polls and this highly topical comedy – much of it written on the day of transmission – sees fear is gripping the four campaign buses. The top drawer cast includes Ben Miller as coalition-weary Lib Dem campaign co-ordinator Kevin Sturridge, Sarah Hadland as Ukip’s ex-TV presenter Kate Standen, and Hugh Dennis as Martin Frost, the Tory’s caustic Deputy Campaign Manager. Created by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin provides a wonderfully absurd slant on the climax to this roller coaster election.

The World’s Most Extreme: Railways (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 7th May 2015)

From India to Japan, Peru and the Philippines, railways mean awesome engineering in extreme environments. From high-tech to home-made and from the highest to the fastest, this programme gets on board, in the driver’s cab and even on the roof, to present the 10 most extreme railways on Earth. In Colombia, thrill-seeking kids lie down under moving trains. India’s trains can become so busy that passengers have to ride on the roof. In Thailand, a commuter train line runs directly through a busy market, passing inches away from stalls and shoppers. And in Johannesburg train surfers risk their lives for the thrill of riding trains in a way that was never intended.

The Last Leg Alternative Election Special (Channel 4/HD | 9:30pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 7th May 2015)

Adam Hills, Josh Widdecombe and Alex Brooker host an election-themed edition of the award-winning show, taking a comedic look at the campaign. Returning throughout the night, the gang are joined in the studio by special guests.

W1A (BBC 2/HD | 10:00pm to 10:30pm | Thursday 7th May 2015)

Award-winning comedy about the BBC. Former head of output Anna Rampton has been crowned director of better. No-one on the management team is quite clear what the job entails, but one thing is certain – whatever it is, the concept of better needs to be announced to the world at large. Tracey Pritchard, senior communications officer, suggests an event in the BBC Radio Theatre, but brand manager Siobhan Sharpe has altogether more awesome ideas – none of which involve the words radio or theatre. Elsewhere, format-entertainment executive David Wilkes continues his seemingly unstoppable rise through the organisation with some surprising job news, and the BBC mega-hi-tech software programme Syncopatishare (designed to make life easier for busy executives) is proving difficult to master. Especially for ex-intern Will. Finally, director of strategy Simon Harwood comes up with a brand new management structure for the BBC, which is essentially the old one rotated 90 degrees.

Slow Train Through Africa with Griff Rhys-Jones (itv/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 8th May 2015)

Griff Rhys Jones makes five train journeys across the world’s most spectacular continent. In the final episode, Griff is in South Africa. He sets off from Pretoria, catching Africa’s most modern train on the short journey south to Johannesburg. On board he almost finds himself in trouble for attempting to eat his breakfast – against the strict train rules. Johannesburg is home to over four million people. a sprawling city that grew because of the gold discovered there in the 19th century. The goldmines needed workers and railways were built to transport them. On to Kimberley, site of the diamond mines and the largest hole dug by hand anywhere on Earth. Griff then catches one of the most luxurious trains in the world for a seven-hour journey to Cape Town. He has to work his passage serving drinks – but there is one perk to the job, a hot bath on a train travelling at 70mph. Past Cape Town is the end of the line, the little coastal settlement of Simon’s Town.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 25/04/2015

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W1A - 30-04-2015 (YouView app)How Scotland Works (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 28th April 2015)

Documentary series exploring life in 21st-century Scotland. This first programme tells the story of modern Scotland at work through a diverse cast of characters including scallop divers, call centre workers, farmers and the software companies that are defining Scotland’s economic future.

Nick and Margaret: The Trouble with Our Trains (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 29th April 2015)

Nick Hewer and Margaret Mountford climb on board Britain’s trains to find out whether they offer value for money. On the trail of the £8 billion of fares and £4 billion of public money that go into the nation’s trains each year, they discover a rail system that is struggling to contend with outdated infrastructure and more passengers than at any time in living memory. Twenty years on from privatisation, Nick and Margaret are in for a bumpy ride as they meet irate commuters, polished train operating company bosses and the head of Network Rail. They unearth some mind-boggling bureaucracy and infuriating inefficiency, but also ask if there are signs of hope that the railway may be getting back on track.

W1A (BBC 2/HD | 10:00pm to 10:30pm | Thursday 30th April 2015)

The advertising of a new and important role – namely, the head of better – leads to a game of management musical chairs. Anna Rampton, head of output, thinks she knows all about better and goes for the top job. Top of the agenda for the damage limitation team are rumours that Newsnight anchor Evan Davis is to be a contestant in the forthcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing, which does not go down well with head of news and current affairs Neil Reid. Things get more complicated when it transpires that BBC brand consultant Siobhan Sharpe is behind it. It falls to Ian Fletcher as head of BBC values and arch-limiter of damage to find an elegant solution to the problem. Meanwhile, ex-intern Will Humphries, recently appointed PA to the head of values, makes life more difficult for Izzy, the object of his desire. He accidentally hijacks her computer software while showing off his newly acquired training on the BBC’s foolproof software Syncapatico.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Thursday 30th April 2015)

The award-winning gang show returns live to Channel 4 for a hat trick of topical shenanigans, culminating in an election night extravaganza. Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker are back to take on the main talking points of the week including all the latest election news. After Alex Brooker fired the starting gun in the race to rid political campaigning of ‘bullshit’ during his hilarious interview with Nick Clegg, the team reunite at this crucial time with their upbeat, unjaundiced brand of satirical comedy. Their guests include Jeremy Paxman.

Slow Train Through Africa with Griff Rhys-Jones (itv/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 1st May 2015)

Griff Rhys Jones makes five remarkable train journeys across the world’s most spectacular continent. In this episode, Griff takes the train through Zambia and Zimbabwe, via one of the most stunning natural wonders of the world – the Victoria Falls. He begins the 1,100-mile trip in Kasama in northern Zambia where the train arrives just 33 hours late. In Zambia’s capital Lusaka, Griff reveals the reason the first railways were built – to get at Zambia’s rich mineral wealth. The old railway was the dream of Cecil Rhodes, who wanted to join all Britain’s African colonies over a hundred years ago with a line that would run from South Africa to Egypt. It was never completed, but its greatest legacy is a bridge that spans the Zambezi gorge right next to the Victoria Falls. From here, Griff crosses into Zimbabwe. On the train heading south, Griff meets more friendly folk before arriving at Zimbabwe’s second city Bulawayo, which was once the main railway hub for southern Africa.

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

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