Walking Through History (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Saturday 15th February 2014)
Tony Robinson sets off on his most curious walk yet, across the ancient and turbulent kingdom of Northumbria. In the seventh century, at the height of the Dark Ages, the rule of Northumbria stretched from Edinburgh to York: a mighty power in post-Roman Britain. But this was a land where a battle was raging for the souls of the people. Over five days, from Melrose in the Scottish Borders to Holy Island off the coast of Northumberland, Tony is on the trail of one of Northumbria’s greatest sons: Saint Cuthbert. Through the Tweed Valley and across the Cheviot Hills, it’s a journey through a murky history laden with myth. But by investigating the communities, power bases and landscape of seventh-century Northumbria, Tony aims to understand the pagan land in which Cuthbert spread his simple brand of Celtic Christianity.
Call the Midwife (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 16th February 2014)
Drama about a group of midwives in 1950s London, based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth. When a young woman with Down’s syndrome is discovered pregnant, sinister circumstances are assumed. Meanwhile, as the nuns organise celebrations for Sister Evangelina’s jubilee, Nonnatus House greets new midwife Patsy. Elsewhere, Timothy Turner takes his first steps without his callipers.
Top Gear (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Sunday 16th February 2014)
Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May demonstrate their love for compact, small-engined cars with a trip to the Ukraine. With Clarkson in a Volkswagen Up, Hammond in a Ford Fiesta and May in a Dacia Sandero the trio zoom around the Crimean Peninsula absorbing some local history, visiting an old Soviet submarine pen and enjoying their manoeuvrable, economical cars to the full. Unfortunately, their carefree time is curtailed when they are challenged to a vast drive, heading north across one of the largest countries in Europe, and they must take any steps necessary to fight the immense boredom of a long car journey. Eventually, the three arrive in Kiev only to receive one final and truly fearsome challenge.
A Great Welsh Adventure with Griff Rhys Jones (itv/HD | 8:00pm to 8:30pm | Monday 17th February 2014)
Series in which Griff Rhys Jones explores some of the most beautiful and enchanting parts of his native land. Inspecting the remains of the now forgotten Aust Ferry, once the gateway into Wales, Griff stumbles upon his challenge – to learn and perform the Welsh National Anthem. After a terrifying attempt to walk the suspension cable of the Severn Bridge and a less stressful saunter along the remains of Offa’s Dyke, Griff heads deep into the principality, determined to pick up some of the Welsh language. After perfecting his pronunciation of Llanelli, he paddles up the River Wye to Tintern, a prime destination for tourists 200 years ago. Having by now practised the tune and words of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, Griff just needs somewhere to perform. Then an encounter with the leader of a local handbell ringing group leads to a surprising solution.
The Street (BBC 1 Scotland/HD & BBC iPlayer only | 10:35pm to 11:35pm | Monday 17th February 2014)
Documentary charting a year in the lives of the people who work, live and play on Sauchiehall Street, one of Scotland’s most famous and iconic shopping and party destinations. In this first programme, Savoy Centre manager Jim faces a mutiny after he decides to implement a new plan, chef Nick puts a trainee through the mill, and the steet pastors mop up the aftermath of a busy weekend’s partying.
Death in Paradise (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 18th February 201)
Detective drama series set on a Caribbean island. When a birdwatcher is discovered murdered in the Saint-Marie jungle, the team have a particularly puzzling conundrum to solve. Is the traditionally quiet and calm world of birdwatching more cut-throat than it appears?
Waterloo Road (BBC 1/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 19th February 2014)
School-based drama. George is left in charge of the school while Christine is away – but can he handle the pressure when Maggie, Audrey and the pupils stage a spectacular protest in a bid to stop Lula being deported?
The Restoration Man (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 19th February 2014)
George Clarke revisits Keith and Sheena McIntyre to see if their struggles have paid off. They fought through terrible weather conditions, and a challenge to integrate with the local community, in order to restore a stunning but isolated Telford church. Using an inheritance from his late father, artist Keith McIntyre and his wife Sheena bought this listed, Thomas Telford designed church in the remote island of Berneray in the Outer Hebrides. Keith and Sheena’s dream of converting the church into a holiday home and artist’s studio faced extreme weather conditions and the challenge of keeping the neighbors onside, while trying to project manage the build from 400 miles way. A year later, George Clarke returns to find out if they’ve managed to transform the church into a working artist’s studio, what life is like in the new community, and to see if they’ve been successful in winning a prestigious Royal Institute of Architects award.
The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD 10:00pm to 10:50pm | Friday 21st February 2014)
The award-winning gang show continues live on Friday nights with a joyful, offbeat take on the week. Returning as host is 2013 British Comedy Award winner Adam Hills and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker. The trio are joined by Claudia Winkleman in this show to take a look at the weird and wonderful talking points of the week including the stories and highlights from the Sochi 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.
