Tag: W1A

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.

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 18/04/2015

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Reggie Yates' Extreme Russia - 20-04-2015 (YouView app)Reggie Yates’ Extreme Russia (BBC 3/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 20th April 2015)

In the second of three programmes revealing the extreme side of Russia, Reggie Yates finds out what life is really like for young people in what has been described as the hardest place in Europe to be gay, a year after the introduction of the anti-propaganda law. He travels to St Petersburg for Queerfest, a 10-day arts and culture get-together for the LGBT community. Reggie spends time on both sides of the battle lines – with the Queefest team as they face the daily fight to keep their festival open, and the homophobes who want to see it closed. He also meets Dayra, a young lesbian viciously stabbed and left for dead by homophobes, and activist Kiril who is still fighting back and who shows Reggie how Putin’s repressive laws make it almost impossible to protest without risk of arrest. On the other side, Reggie meets leaders of Orthodox pressure groups like God’s Will, who would stone gays to death if the law allowed it, and Vitali Milonov, the architect of the anti-gay propaganda law.

The Restoration Man (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 22nd April 2015)

George Clarke chooses four of his favourite church conversions from the show, celebrating the creative dreamers brave enough to take on the challenge of restoring them, from a couple who hoped their old fisherman’s church in Devon would bring them together, to a young father whose single-minded dedication to restoring a medieval Welsh chapel almost broke his young family apart. In idyllic rural Cumbria, restoration novices risked financial ruin to transform the village church’s iconic spire, while a couple from Newcastle battled the elements to create a bohemian artistic retreat 400 miles away in the Outer Hebrides.

Secret Britain (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 22nd April 2015)

Series exploring the hidden corners of the UK and revealing landscape secrets. In Scotland, Adam Henson climbs the fearsome, secret side of Ben Nevis and Ellie Harrison probes a monster mystery at the heart of Britain’s deepest water, Loch Morar. The most extraordinary map of Scotland is revealed, overgrown and hidden in the landscape. In the heart of the Highlands, Adam is delighted to discover a cattle ranch that allows him to live out a boyhood dream; while on the Black Isle Ellie visits the mysterious and atmospheric Clootie Well. It’s been a shrine to healing since Celtic times, but why are its ancient rituals still popular today? Together Ellie and Adam also go hunting for Bonnie Prince Charlie’s secret hideaway, a tiny but timeless cave in the very same landscape where commando warfare was invented during the Second World War. And they conclude their journey of discovery with a magical ride on the real Hogwarts Express.

W1A (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 23rd April 2015)

A one-hour special marks the return of the award-winning comedy about the BBC. One year on and head of values Ian Fletcher has finally got his own office. He and the team have a new set of challenges to rise to, including the impending visit of HRH Prince Charles. The question is, which of the management team will get to shake the royal hand? Head of BBC brand Siobhan Sharpe and her team at Perfect Curve have been tasked with giving a makeover to the BBC coverage of Wimbledon following rumours of a bid from a rival broadcaster. Her response is a brand mash-up to end all mash-ups. Meanwhile, over on the creative frontline, entertainment-format producer David Wilkes is trying to come up with the next big factual-entertainment series after Britain’s Tastiest Village failed to fly. He’s got the title – Up Town, Down Town – he just hasn’t got a show. Finally, intern Will Humphries’s security pass won’t let him into the building. Is it a technical problem or something more significant?

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Thursday 23rd April 2015)

The award-winning gang show returns live to Channel 4 for a hat trick of the usual 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. Piers Morgan joins the team for the first of these three special episodes.

Slow Train Through Africa with Griff Rhys-Jones (itv/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 24th April 2015)

Griff Rhys Jones attempts five remarkable train journeys across the world’s most spectacular continent, Africa. In this episode, Griff attempts to zigzag his way across 1,200 miles through Kenya and Tanzania. The journey proves a challenge, with large sections of the railways relics from colonial days. Boarding a vintage steam locomotive built in Glasgow, Griff begins his journey on the high plateau of south west Kenya. Built by the British, this railway became the backbone of a colony and Griff visits a cattle ranch established by an English aristocrat a century ago. The climate of the Kenyan highlands is pleasant enough for Griff to go for a run, and he meets two young athletes who are aiming to compete in major international competitions. In Nairobi, he finds the very railway carriage which was the scene of one of the country’s most gruesome tales – the man-eating lions of Tsavo.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 05/04/2014

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Coffee Shop Hot Shots: Business Boomers (YouView app screenshot)Border Country: The Story of Britain’s Lost Middleland (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 6th April 2014)

Hadrian’s Wall cut a deep scar across Britain that would never be forgotten. A thousand years after the Romans left, the island split once again, near the line of the wall, into the Kingdoms of England and Scotland. Historian and MP Rory Stewart tells the story of how Britain was torn in two. The border country dividing Britain’s lost Middleland became a zone of anarchy, as violent as border areas in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Crimson Field (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Sunday 6th April 2014)

Drama series presenting one of the untold stories of World War I. Kitty Trevelyan tries to put past troubles behind her as she joins two other girls to volunteer at one of the busy war hospitals in northern France. For the hospital workers it is a daily battle to patch the men up and keep the war machine churning. Staff numbers are low and the volunteers are desperately needed, yet there are some who see these women as more of a threat than a lifeline. It is not just the girls who are causing a stir; one particular patient, a powerfully built and battle-scarred soldier called Molloy is facing certain death but resisting it with all the strength he can muster. The girls settle into their first day and it’s soon clear that no training could ever have prepared them for the reality of working near the front line. As the day draws to an end secrets are hinted at, rivalries loom large and for the rebellious Kitty this new adventure could turn out to be very dangerous indeed.

Coffee Shop Hot Shots: Business Boomers (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 7th April 2014)

Four-part series on businesses that have boomed despite tough economic times. Since the coffee shop brands took off in the 1990s people have embraced their caffeinated delights. Once a nation of tea drinkers, people have fallen for the super-sized cups, adopted the language of lattes and are even prepared to pay upwards of £2.20 for a caffeine hit. Not even the recession quenched our desire for coffee and now millions are hooked, spending up to £2,000 a year and pouring cash into the coffers of the coffee shop brands. This sets out to discover how the nation became so obsessed, and how the brands do battle for our custom. With behind-the-scenes access to staff on the frontline and the bosses of the big brands, this is the inside story of the coffee shop world.

Clydebuilt: The Ships That Made the Commonwealth (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 7th April 2014)

Documentary series exploring the stories of four ships built on the river Clyde. This programme tells the story of CS Mackay-Bennett, a cable repair ship which launched on the Clyde in 1884. It kept information flowing along a network of underwater cables that connected Britain to both its empire and the world. The ship and its crew also recovered the bodies of those who died when the Titanic sank. David Hayman travels to Halifax in Canada to investigate the story of CS Mackay-Bennett and to unravel a DNA mystery that’s taken over a century to solve.

Shetland (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 8th April 2014)

Crime drama set on the remote Scottish islands. Perez returns to his childhood home after the murder of a scientist on the beautiful island of Fair Isle. Tensions run high as a storm on the mainland forces Perez to work in isolation – and compels all of the suspects to remain together under one roof.

W1A (BBC 2/HD | 10:00pm to 10:30pm | Wednesday 9th April 2014)

Comedy sequel to Twenty Twelve. A national paper has not only published details of Ian Fletcher’s salary but followed up with a story of how he took Sally Owen, his PA at the Olympic Deliverance Commission, on holiday to Italy. So the BBC can either stand by their man or get him to pre-empt potential criticism by persuading him to cut his own salary. Meanwhile, a female Newsnight presenter has been accused of wearing clothes that are inappropriately watchable. When her legs get their own Twitter account there is a feeling something should be done about it. Flagship series Britain’s Tastiest Village has lost all three of the big name presenters who were attached to do the show – so the search continues. And brand consultant Siobhan Sharpe and her team unveil their barnstorming idea for a new BBC logo.

Have I Got News for You (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Friday 11th April 2014)

The popular news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop and guest panellists.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 29/03/2014

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Our Gay Wedding: The Musical (YouView app screenshot)Border Country: The Story of Britain’s Lost Middleland (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 30th March 2014)

For historian and MP Rory Stewart, the building of Hadrian’s Wall was the single most important event in Britain’s history. Meeting experts and local people, and drawing on memories from his life in Iraq and Afghanistan, he explores the impact of Rome’s occupation and departure, and tells the story of how the powerful new Kingdom of Northumbria was born in Britain’s lost Middleland.

Clydebuilt: The Ships That Made the Commonwealth (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Monday 31st March 2014)

Documentary series in which David Hayman explores the stories of four ships built on the river Clyde, that helped forge links with countries throughout the Commonwealth of Nations. In this first programme, David looks at the story of the Cutty Sark and travels to Australia to uncover the links the iconic ship forged with this Commonwealth country, and to reflect on her legacy.

Our Gay Wedding: The Musical (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Monday 31st March 2014)

On Saturday 29 March 2014, same-sex marriage becomes legal in England and Wales. Channel 4 marks this historic milestone by offering viewers front-row seats at one of the first gay weddings to take place. And this is an extraordinary ceremony, in more ways than one. Grooms Benjamin Till and Nathan Taylor have written and are staging their entire wedding as a musical, with sung vows, sung readings and show-stopping ensembles featuring the whole congregation of family, friends and special guests, including a heartfelt duet from the grooms’ mums.

Shetland (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 1st April 2014)

Crime drama set on the remote Scottish islands. After a second body is found brutally murdered on Shetland, Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez wonders if the two killings are connected to corporate greed and corruption on the island or to just one woman – Evie Watt.

W1A (BBC 2/HD | 10:00pm to 10:30pm | Wednesday 2nd April 2014)

Comedy sequel to Twenty Twelve. A month into his job as head of values and Ian Fletcher is still trying to find somewhere to sit. But there are more important issues to get to grips with – not least the director general’s desire to shape the debate as to what the BBC is really for. Anna Rampton already knows what it is for and, in a thinly veiled move to further her own career, advocates moving Songs of Praise to radio, thus freeing up a prime slot for her own series, Britain’s Tastiest Village. The debate about the future of the BBC is not helped when Ian Fletcher’s salary comes under intense scrutiny in the press – why should the BBC’s head of values be paid more than the prime minister?

Spring’s Supermarket Secrets (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 3rd April 2014)

Gregg Wallace goes behind the scenes with Britain’s biggest food retailers over the course of a year to discover how they source, make and move the food we find on the supermarket shelves. With spring in the air, Gregg finds out what it takes to bring us millions of eggs for Pancake Day, discovers the clever technology behind Easter chocolate and reveals what our eyes tell us about the way we shop.

Have I Got News for You (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Friday 4th April 2014)

The popular news quiz returns, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Jennifer Saunders and guest panellists Sadiq Khan and Richard Osman.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 22/03/2014

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W1A 26-03-2014 (YouView app screenshot) Alex Against the Rock for Sport Relief (BBC 1/HD | 3:15pm to 3:45pm | Sunday 23rd March 2014)

The full story of Alex Jones’ attempt to climb Utah’s Moonlight Buttress, a sheer sandstone cliff taller than the Shard in London, for Sport Relief. The One Show presenter spends two nights and three days, including her birthday, on the face struggling against fatigue and her fear of heights.

Harry’s South Pole Heroes (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 23rd March 2014)

Conclusion of the two-part documentary about the Walking with the Wounded-organised South Pole Allied Challenge 2013. The three teams of wounded soldiers, representing the United Kingdom – with expedition patron Prince Harry – the United States and the Commonwealth face the challenge of racing more than 200 km across the harsh frozen wastes of the Antarctic Plateau. In the very first hours, the extreme conditions start to take a severe toll on all the teams. Over the next few days, wounded and non-wounded alike succumb to frostbite, altitude sickness and exhaustion. The race element is abandoned and what was a competition becomes a band of comrades, united in their determination to reach the South Pole together.

Bang Goes the Theory (BBC 1/HD | 7:30pm to 8:00pm | Monday 24th March 2014)

Series presenting the science behind the headlines, and looking at the issues that have a real impact on all our lives. With the technology we use every day beginning to share, store and analyse our data, the team look at how the use of our information now known as big data will change the world in ways unimaginable. Liz Bonnin looks at how big data monitors Rolls Royce jet engines dozens of times a second wherever they are in the world, and how that same system of analytics can automatically detect secondary brain injury in intensive care units. Jem Stansfield creates a low-tech computer and storage system with hacksaw blades and magnets. And with the government about to allow private companies access to our medical data, Maggie Philbin examines the dark side of big data: privacy. Just how much information on each and every one of us is out there, and how easy is it to find?

Shetland (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 25th March 2014)

Crime drama set on the remote Scottish islands. When an old acquaintance of Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez dies in a suspicious car accident on the island, he wonders whether his journalist friend had uncovered a story that cost him his life.

Keeping Britain Safe 24/7 (BBC 1/HD | 10:35pm to 11:35pm | Tuesday 25th March 2014)

The series following the everyday heroes who keep Britain safe, battling the unexpected challenges that unfold with each passing season, goes behind the scenes with the safety teams at the world’s busiest runway and the world’s busiest shipping lane as they are overrun by holidaymakers. As tented villages the size of towns pop up all over the country, the police as try to control the festival crowds. Plus, when the party’s over in Notting Hill, the country’s biggest street carnival, an army of workers are left to clean up the mess.

W1A (BBC 2/HD | 10:00pm to 10:30pm | Wednesday 26th March 2014)

Comedy sequel to Twenty Twelve. BBC Head of Values Ian Fletcher has only been in the job a few weeks and already finds himself at the centre of a media storm. Spotlight South West presenter Sally Wingate believes she has been discriminated against because of her age, so Ian’s mission is to take the sting out of what has become known as ‘Wingategate’. As he journeys North to Salford for his first big live interview in the job, he finds himself unhelpfully joined by brand consultant Siobhan Sharpe, who is in serious tweeting mode. Meanwhile, things are getting complicated for the Britain’s Tastiest Village production team. Having wooed and won Carol Vorderman as Clare Balding’s replacement, they have discovered at the very last minute that Clare Balding is unexpectedly available and keen to do the show. The problem is that no-one has told Clare that they were moving on and she unhelpfully turns up for her first production meeting at the same time as Carol Vorderman is leaving.

Mayday: The Passenger Who Landed a Plane (Channel 4/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 27th March 2014)

On an early evening last October, 77-year-old great-grandfather John Wildey was being flown home by his pilot friend after a day out in north Lincolnshire. The pilot suddenly started to feel unwell. Ten minutes later he had collapsed at the controls, 1500 feet up in the air. John had no flying experience, and it was starting to get dark. This documentary tells the story of how, against all the odds, he managed to land the plane in pitch darkness, with help from a small team who were scrambled to provide instructions from the ground and air. John’s ordeal lasted for over an hour, and was made far harder because he couldn’t find the switch for the lights inside the cockpit. He made four attempts to land: his first was on a short, unlit runway that was so dark, he had to abort at the last second.

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

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 15/03/2014

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Undercover Doctor: Cure Me, I’m Gay (YouView app screenshot)Top Gear (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 16th March 2014)

Special edition of the motoring magazine show. Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May are battling across Burma in three ancient and barely functioning lorries. Having forded rivers, climbed mountains and endured a Burmese trucker stop, they must now venture into the Shan state, an area rife with civil war and normally closed to western TV crews, as they head towards Thailand and their final challenge – to build a bridge over the River Kwai.

Harry’s South Pole Heroes (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 16th March 2014)

Two-part documentary following the Walking with the Wounded South Pole Allied Challenge 2013. In the first part, four wounded British soldiers led by Prince Harry prepare to take on teams from the USA and the Commonwealth in a 200 km race to the South Pole. All sustained life-changing injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan. Brothers and sisters in arms on the battlefield, they now prepare to race each other through some of the harshest conditions on the planet. The UK team are the underdogs as they train in Iceland and struggle to get race fit. Then time in a giant deep freeze more usually used to test cars gives the five Brits some inkling of what to expect in the Antarctic. Not even last-minute words of advice from Prince Harry’s grandparents, as they are joined by their American, Canadian and Australian comrades at Buckingham Palace, can fully prepare the teams for the stark reality of what lies ahead.

The Adventure Show (BBC 2 Scotland & BBC iPlayer only | 7:00pm to 8:00pm | Monday 17th March 2014)

In this month’s programme, the team head north of Inverness for the Strathpuffer 24, one of the world’s toughest mountain bike races, which takes place in the middle of winter and 17 hours of darkness. This year’s race has attracted over 500 competitors, who are pushing themselves and their bikes to the limit. The team also join the man they call the ‘moonwalker’, who likes to explore the hills of Scotland in the dark. In contrast, Cameron McNeish enjoys the hills during the short daylight winter hours, and there is a visit to one of the coldest and most extreme places in the world, where some intrepid Scots are blazing a trail.

Shetland (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 18th March 2014)

Crime drama set on the remote Scottish islands. Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez believes he and his team are finally closing in on the killer as they discover what 17-year-old Catherine Ross was hiding from everyone in the hours before her death.

An Hour to Save Your Life (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 18th March 2014)

Medical science series exploring the life or death decisions facing doctors in the first critical hour of emergency care. Including 360-degree access to specialist clinicians both at the scene and in the hospital, plus candid testimony from the medics themselves. In this episode, medics fight to save the lives of motorcyclist Vincent, who has been critically injured on a country road; 77-year-old Gudrun, who is rushed to hospital with a suspected stroke; and Ben, a young tree surgeon who has fallen 20 feet onto the pavement.

Undercover Doctor: Cure Me, I’m Gay (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:00pm | Tuesday 18th March 2014)

In this one-off documentary Dr Christian Jessen goes undercover to both investigate and undertake controversial gay ‘cures’ in both the UK and the USA. Christian is shocked to find that there are people who believe that homosexuality is a disorder which should be cured; as well as a growing number of therapists and self-styled healers who believe that homosexuality is a curable illness. He sets out to prove or disprove their claims by offering himself up as a suitable case for treatment. As a doctor who also happens to be gay, Christian is keen to find out what’s on offer for people who are uncomfortable with their sexual orientation and desperate for change. He wants to discover whether or not these ‘cures’ are effective by trying them on himself.

Keeping Britain Safe 24/7 (BBC 1/HD | 10:35pm to 11:35pm | Tuesday 18th March 2014)

Series meeting the everyday heroes who keep Britain safe, battling the unexpected challenges that unfold with each passing season. Julia Bradbury and Matt Allwright meet the engineers in Scotland restoring power after the worst spring storms in years, and go behind the scenes at the largest trauma centre in the Midlands as the team field the rise of sporting injuries in spring. Plus a report on the team at the largest blood processing facility in the world.

Who Needs Ibiza? The Great British Holiday (BBC 3/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 19th March 2014)

Series following the efforts of the owners, the Toms family, and their dedicated team of young staff as they try to overcome a string of wet, recession-hit summers and make 2013 a roaring success at their 18-30s campsite in Woolacombe, Devon. After being hit by one of the worst storms in decades, the Europa campsite is suffering a worrying mid-season slump. To make matters worse, key managers Joey and Vicki have fallen out. With the all-important bumper bank holiday weekend approaching, it’s critical that the team pull together and bring in the cash. They need a record-breaking theme night that’s literally out of this world.

W1A (BBC 2/HD | 10:00pm to 10:30pm | Wednesday 19th March 2014)

Comedy sequel to Twenty Twelve. With the London games successfully delivered, Ian Fletcher starts a new chapter in his life as head of values at the BBC. Ian’s first challenge is to find somewhere to sit in a building aggressively over-designed around the principle of not having a desk. Ian finds himself holding the hottest of hot potatoes when Mebyan Kernow activist Nigel Trescott complains that Cornwall and the Cornish are shamefully under-represented on the BBC. Things get worse when BBC Spotlight South West presenter Sally Wingate goes public with her feeling that her failure to progress to a national presenting role might be part of the BBC’s institutionally anti-Cornish bias. PR company Perfect Curve’s Siobhan Sharpe comes up with some interesting ideas of how best to limit the damage. Meanwhile, producer Lucy Freeman is having meetings with head of output Anna Rampton and entertainment format creative David Wilkes about a forthcoming new flagship show.

Storyville (BBC 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:00pm | Wednesday 19th March 2014)

Documentary exploring one of Japan’s biggest train crashes in modern history, caused when a driver tried to catch up with a delay of just 80 seconds. It’s a cautionary tale of what happens when punctuality, protocol and efficiency are taken to the extreme. On Monday April 25th 2005, a West Japan Railway commuter train crashed into an apartment building and killed 107 people. Just what pressures made the driver risk so much for such a minimal delay? Piecing together personal accounts of those affected by the train crash, with insights from experts and former train drivers, the film poses a question for a society that equates speed with progress. It offers a fascinating insight into the railway’s role in Japan’s post-war economic boom and the dangers of corner-cutting in the prolonged economic stagnation that followed. Through the lens of this catastrophic train crash, Brakeless considers the ultimate cost efficiency.

Davina – Beyond Breaking Point for Sport Relief (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 20th March 2014)

Documentary telling the inside story of Davina McCall’s challenge to raise money for Sport Relief, with exclusive behind the scenes access. The film follows Davina through highs and lows as she swims, cycles and runs from Edinburgh to London – 500 miles in 7 days. Davina’s husband, her parents and best friend provide a unique insight into Davina’s battle to overcome the toughest Sport Relief challenge yet. Spending 17 hours on the bike on the first day alone, Davina fights extreme fatigue and fearsome weather conditions.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 10:50pm | Friday 21st March 2014)

The final edition in the current series from the award-winning gang show live on Friday night with a joyful, offbeat take on the week. British Comedy Award winner Adam Hills and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker are joined by Frank Skinner to take a look at the weird and wonderful talking points of the week including the stories and highlights from the 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The show also includes the regular feature: Is It OK? Viewers at home and the studio audience are encouraged to ask this question about anything from the week, without fear of judgement, and the three hosts attempt to step into the minefield of sometimes difficult and delicate areas and answer the questions with their own unique insight.

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

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