Today's show: October

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Friday 31 October

• Cowgirl
A revival of the cowherding tradition has begun in Dorset. Lisa Hawthornthwaite got the job to drive herds of grazing Red Devon cattle around Dorset to stop it becoming overgrown.

• Mills and Boon
The publishing company Mills and Boon are celebrating their 100 anniversary. To commemorate, a drama which charts the witty and moving stories of three women affected by the brand. "Consuming Passion: 100 Years Of Mills & Boon" is broadcast Sunday 2 November on BBC Four at 9pm.

Thursday 30 October

• Assisted Suicide
Debbie Purdy has lost her attempt to get the High Court to clarify the law on assisted suicide. She talked to Breakfast about her case.

• Spaceman
Space tourist Richard Garriott has returned to Earth after a trip to the International Space Station. Richard fufilled a 30 year old dream to fly into space at a cost of nearly �20 million dollars.

• The Restaurant
Winners of the BBC show The Restaurant, Michele English and Russell Clement along with their new employer, chef Raymond Blanc.

Wednesday 29 October

• Off By Heart
Daisy Goodwin presents a new BBC programme which encourages children aged 7 - 11 to learn poetry "Off By Heart".

• IVF
A BBC Breakfast investigation has discovered that some foreign clinics are offering UK couples the chance to choose the sex of their babies illegally.

• Sinitta
Sinitta was a guest judge on X factor at the bootcamp stage and helped Simon Cowell decide which boys to put through to the live shows. But who does Sinitta think has the true X factor?

Tuesday 28 October

• Keyhole Mastectomy
Paula McGinley has undergone Europe's first ever keyhole mastectomy, following breast cancer. The technique offers far less bruising and scarring than standard procedures. An open forum on breast cancer and surgery is being held in London at St John & St Elizabeth hospital this evening.

• Gok Wan
Gok has a new show called Miss Naked Beauty. The winner will possess natural beauty, but also have the ability to tackle some of the uglier sides of the industry.

• Nell Bryden
New York singer songwriter Nell Bryden has just returned from a morale boosting tour of Iraq entertaining the troops.

• Enrique Iglesias
The Latin pop legend is releasing his Greatest Hits. The Album is out on November 3rd.

Monday 27 October

• Autumnwatch
Two weeks of Autumnwatch starts today on BBC Two at 8pm. Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour is the new location for presenters Bill Oddie and Kate Humble.

• Hayley Westenra
Hayley has been out in Basra visiting the troops and helped launch the 2008 Poppy Appeal. She's also got a brand new album out called River of Dreams, and started a nationwide UK tour earlier this month.

• Spooks
Richard Armitage joins Spooks as MI5 officer Lucas North. The seventh series of the spy drama starts tonight on BBC1

Friday 24 October

• Canals
40 years ago Britain's canals were nearly collapsed but the Government recognised the important role of the waterways. To celebrate British Waterways is calling on people to share their memories and magic moments in an online scrapbook.

• Little Dorrit
Breakfast talked to Sir Tom Courtenay and Claire Foy who star in 'Little Dorrit', a new dramatisation of the Charles Dickens novel for autumn. It starts this Sunday at 8pm on BBC One.

• Celebrity Scissorhands
A new series of the reality television show for Children in Need starts this Sunday. Hairdresser Lee Stafford returns to try and turn of team of celebrities into hair and beauty experts in just three weeks.

Thursday 23 October

• Land Speed
World Land Speed record breakers Richard Noble and Andy Green launch a three year project today which will result in three world record breaking attempts by 2011. By developing a new car called the Bloodhound, the team hope to break new records and reach 1000 mph.

• Fossil Detectives
The eight part television series Fossil Detectives follows a team of fossil experts, Dr Hermione Cockburn and James Wong as they travel around Britain. The Open University has also produced a free field guide to help viewers identify their own fossil finds. This can be obtained by calling 0870 010 0878 or visit the website below.

• Richard Hammond
The Top Gear star has a brand new book out called 'As You Do...Adventures with Evel, Oliver and the Vice-President of Botswana'. Moving on from his crash, Richard talks about his scrapes and adventures of the past year.

Wednesday 22 October

• Asbestos
Exposure to Asbestos is the biggest single cause of work related deaths in the UK. Today is the launch of a new campaign which aims to reduce the rising death rate by educating tradesmen about the risks. Asbestos information line 0845 3450055 (rates apply).

• Autism
Bob and Suzanne Wright's grandson was diagnosed with autism when he was two years old. Since then, they have been campaigning to raise awareness of the lifelong developmental disability and expanding research into its causes and treatment. They have also set up a charity called 'Autism Speaks'.

• Axe The Agent
A new BBC show which starts early next year looks at selling your home without the help of an estate agent. Presenter Gary McCausland talked to Breakfast about the programme and how to get involved. To find out more about taking part in Axe The Agent, you can email [email protected] or call 0161 244 3768 (standard rates apply).

Tuesday 21 October

• Superfoods
Researchers from Leeds University have put together a list of 20 superfoods that can apparently help protect you from disease because they contain polyphenois. Foods include apples, spinach, and black tea.

• All Over The Shop
Business guru Geoff Burch presents a new programme on BBC Two to help Britain's small businesses. The documentary series looks into small businesses during the credit crunch and financial instability. It starts tonight on BBC Two at 7.30pm.

• Simon Day
The comedian who famously starred in the The Fast Show talked to Breakfast about his latest project, a stand up tour called 'What a Fool Believes'.

Monday 20 October

• Happiness
Abbot Christopher Jamison is the author of 'Finding Happiness'. The book looks at the different aspects of happiness and Abbot Christopher challenges the belief that happiness comes with pleasure.

• Drinking at Home
A new campaign launches today to raise consumers' awareness of their drinking habits at home. The DrinkAware Trust highlights the dangers of excessive drinking and how many are still unaware of the daily unit guidelines.

• Thingummy
Breakfast talked to Danny Danziger and Mark McMcrum, authors of 'The Thingummy', a book which looks at the everyday objects you cant name. For example, what do you call the groove that runs between your nose and your mouth? What is the name for the stringy bits of a banana?. The book is published on the 23 October.

Friday 17 October

• Strictly Come Dancing
Anton du Beke gives us the lowdown on what we can expect from this Saturday's show.

• Young @ Heart
Young @ Heart is a documentary film about a chorus like no other. Based in Northampton, Massachusetts, the pensioners from the Young @Heart chorus have won sensational reviews performing rock classics all over the world.

• Jeremy Northam
He has the lead role in 'Dean Spanley' which also stars Peter O'Toole. The film is featured at the London Film Festival and has its European Premiere tonight.

Thursday 16 October

• Blue Peter 50th Birthday
Blue Peter - the longest running children's TV series in the world - is 50 years old today! Celebrations include a special Birthday show today at 4pm on BBC One. And a free exhibition, 'Here's One We Made Earlier' to be held from this Saturday through to January at the National Media Museum in Bradford.

• Nick Moran
The actor famous for Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is to preview 'Telstar', his directorial debut, at The London Film Festival.

• Olympic Parade
Britain's successful Olympians and Paralympians will today parade through London to celebrate there Beijing achievements.

Wednesday 15 October

• Carol Klein
Her series, Grow your own Veg was so successful, that she has now bought out a book called 'Cook your own Veg' encouraging us all to get in the kitchen and get cooking.

• Jetski Boy
Jack Moule is being tipped as a future world jetski champion. The fearless youngster - who only started out in the sport 18 months ago - has just stormed to glory as the UK jetski freestyle champion at the age of just 14.

• Shaolin Monks
The legendary Shaolin Monks return to the UK for to perform their tour 'Wheel of Life', in which they spin on their heads, bend their legs around their ears and fly through the air in a series of incredible back flips.

• Aravind Adiga
Aravind is the winner of the Man Booker Prize for Fiction, for his book 'The White Tiger'.

Tuesday 14 October

• Wayne Sleep
Dancer extraordinaire Wayne Sleep has taken to the stage in the show-stopping musical Cabaret, currently on tour around the UK.

• What on Earth Happened?
Author and Historian Christopher Lloyd has written "What on Earth Happened?- the complete story of the planet, life and people from the big bang to the present day". A chronological guide to everything you need to know about history in one easy-to-read volume.

• Josh Harnett
Hollywood screen star Josh Hartnett is making his West End debut in the stage adaptation of the 1988 Oscar-winning film Rain Man.

Monday 13 October

• Sir Michael Parkinson
The man from a humble but colourful Yorkshire mining family who can tease out the secrets of even the most reticent star guest, has released his biography, 'Parky'.

• QI
The two men behind the hit quiz show, talk about its success and a new QI book called QI: Advanced Banter - which is a compilation book of witty quotations.

• Sir Roger Moore
The legendry actor has just published his autobiography, 'My Word is My Bond', which is packed with wonderful stories.

Friday 10 October

• Sir Ian Botham
Sir Ian Botham sets off this morning on another mammoth fundraising walk in aid of Leukaemia Research. 'Beefy's Great British Walk' will start in Taunton and cover nine towns in nine days across the UK.

• Baby Art
A new hardback book called 'Art for Baby' put together by Yana Peel, is a selection of paintings by well known artists like Damien Hirst and Patrick Caulfield. The images are designed to engage babies up to 7 months old.

• Katherine Jenkins
The operatic star Katherine Jenkins talked to Breakfast about her new album 'Sacred Arias'.

Thursday 9 October

• Boy Racer
Leonardo Panayiotou is only 5 years old and races go-karts near his home in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. He already has a 3 year sponsorship deal and regularly beats racers three times his height and age.

• Sight
Today is World Sight Day and a survey has revealed that many Britons claim they fear going blind more than having a heart attack or dying prematurely. A campaign is being launched to warn Britons that they are at risk of losing their sight unnecessarily from glaucoma by ignoring regular eye tests.

• South Pole
Ben Fogle and James Cracknell appeared on Breakfast back in June appealing for a third person to join them in a race to the South Pole - the first since the famous Scott and Amundsen race in 1912. They have now been chosen and unveiled on Breakfast.

• Bill Bailey
Comedian Bill Bailey is preparing for a West End run of his show 'Tinselworm' at The Geligud Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue. He is also appearing at the Royal Albert Hall with the BBC Concert Orchestra for Bill Bailey's Remarkable Guide To The Orchestra.

Wednesday 8 October

• Car Race
The Miles Per Gallon marathon is a 400 mile 'race' from Bristol through Wales and the Midlands. The challenge is to use the least fuel to highlight the growing emphasis on environmental driving techniques.

• Everest Jump
Britain Holly Budge was one of first three skydivers to freefall at extreme altitude above Mount Everest on Sunday. Holly jumped from 29,000 feet at freezing temperatures and talked to Breakfast about her experience.

• Poetry
Ian McMillan, the Bard of Barnsley, talked to Breakfast about his life story which he's written in verse, to celebrate National Poetry Day tomorrow.

• Simon Schama
Simon's book and TV series 'The American Future: A History' follows his travels across the States to look at the country's past and how it rebuilt itself after the civil war. The programme starts 10 October at 9pm on BBC 2.

Tuesday 7 October

• Dementia
The Alzheimers Society is calling for a national campaign to change attitudes to dementia. Author Terry Pratchett talked to Breakfast about his experiences after being diagnosed with the condition.

• Ray Mears
Bushcraft survivalist Ray Mears has a new book 'Vanishing World - a life of bushcraft', a collection of Ray's personal photographs from his travels all over the world.

• Dawn French
Dawn French has published a book of her memoirs 'Dear Fatty' - her nickname for comedy partner Jennifer Saunders. The book is a series of letters written by Dawn, giving a personal insight into her relationships with family and friends. The 'French and Saunders: Still Alive!' tour is at Theatre Royal Drury Lane from October 15th.

Monday 6 October

• Police
London Mayor Boris Johnson has ordered an inquiry into concerns of black and Asian officers at the Metropolitan Police. It follows a call by the Metropolitan Black Police Association urging ethnic minorities not to join the force. Panorama talks to the most senior black policeman tonight at 8.30pm on BBC One.

• Near Death Experiences
A new study is being launched to try and find out the scientific truth about near death "out of body" experiences. Over the next three years doctors in at 25 UK and US hospitals will study 1,500 survivors to try and find out what really happens to people when their heartbeat stops.

• WW2 House
The reality TV show The Coal House is back with a new series following the life of three Welsh families living life in wartime Wales. All the comforts of 21st century life are left behind as they have to follow blackout regulations by night and manage their rations and war work by day. The programme starts on Monday October 13 at 8.30pm on BBC One Wales and BBC iplayer.

• Denis Norden
Broadcaster Denis Norden talked to Breakfast about his book 'Clips from a Life'. A mixture of anecdote and autobiography recounting his colourful career. It is published on the 6 October

Friday 3 October

• Big Cat Live
Kate Silverton and local Masai guide Jackson Looseyia join Simon King and Jonathan Scott at their camp, in the heart of Kenya's Masai Mara Reserve. The series is exploring the wildlife and its activity in the reserve throughout the day and night. It starts on Sunday 5 October on BBC One.

• Sharleen Spiteri
The Texas frontwoman is now a solo artist and with a new single 'Stop I Don't Love You Anymore' from her debut album 'Melody' out on Monday.

• Salma Hayek
Hollywood actor and producer, Salma Hayek talked to Breakfast about her role as an ambassador to UNICEF and her involvement in the Pampers 1 pack one vaccine campaign to help immunise children in the world's poorest countries against tetanus.

Thursday 2 October

• Railways
Ian Hislop looks at the background to and the impact of the notorious Beeching Report of 1963, which led to the closure of many of Britain's railway lines and stations. The programme 'Ian Hislop Goes Off The Rails' is on tonight at 9pm on BBC4.

• New Scientist
For nearly 15 years the readers of 'NewScientist' magazine have been emailing and writing in to the Last Word column with intriguing questions that have baffled them and science for years. The best of these questions and answers have been made into a book - 'Do Polar Bears Get Lonely?' edited by Michael O'Hare.

• Kevin Spacey
The UK premiere of actor Kevin Spacey's new film 'recount' is being shown on More4. The film won an Emmy this year for best TV movie and was directed by Jay Roach. It is being shown on Friday 3 October at 9pm.

Wednesday 1 October

• UK Older People's Day
Today is the UK Older People's Day, an annual event which aims to bring generations of people together at various events.

• Shelia Hancock
Shelia has written a follow up to her bestselling book. 'Just Me' is about her life after the death of her husband, John Thaw.

• Poker
Boris Becker and Victoria Cohen share there poker tips ahead of the European Poker Tour in London on 1-5 October.

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