Wednesday 24 Sep 2014
Programme Information
Network TV BBC Week 49:
5-11 December 2009
Transmission details in the Network TV Programme Information 7-day version are not updated after publication. For updates, please see individual day pages.
Network TV BBC Week 49: Saturday 5 December 2009
BBC ONE Saturday 5 December 2009
Rugby Union – Barbarians v New Zealand
John Inverdale presents live coverage as New Zealand round off their European tour by facing the Barbarians, whose squad this year features star names including Bryan Habana, Matt Giteau and Bakkies Botha. The All Blacks' only previous defeat to the Baa-Baas was back in 1973 in a match of mesmeric quality which has gone down in rugby folklore. The game featured an unforgettable try by Wales legend Gareth Edwards.
Studio guests include Jeremy Guscott and Jonathan Davies while match commentary comes from Eddie Butler and Brian Moore.
NA
The ruthless warlock Alvarr is determined to destroy Camelot and allow magic to reign again, as the magical family drama continues. To fight Uther, however, Alvarr must reclaim the Crystal of Neahtid – a precious magical relic of the Old Religion. Few can harness its power, but Alvarr believes Mordred can use it to further their cause.
The crystal is safely locked up in Uther's vaults and many have lost their lives trying to reclaim it. Alvarr, though, has a secret weapon – Morgana's powerful bond with the druid boy. Morgana has always protected Mordred but will she go as far as turning into a thief and traitor to help him and the charismatic Alvarr?
Merlin is shocked by her choice and by the true power of the mysterious crystal.
Alvarr is played by Joseph Mawle, Uther by Anthony Head, Mordred by Asa Butterfield, Morgana by Katie McGrath and Merlin by Colin Morgan.
LH2
Strictly Come Dancing
9.40-10.10pm BBC ONE (results show)
With the title of this year's Strictly Come Dancing Champions 2009 in sight, the competition hots up as the remaining couples compete in the semi-final of this year's series.
Helping to put the couples through their paces, world-renown former ballet star Darcey Bussell joins the judging panel as a guest judge. Sitting alongside the regular panel of Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli, Darcey will be offering her opinion of the performances from now until the grand final.
Strictly Come Dancing is simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC's High Definition channel, available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.
RB/IV/KS3
Ruth's brother Jonathan, the black sheep of the family, makes an unwelcome visit to Holby City Hospital, fresh from serving a prison sentence, as the medical drama continues.
Ruth is horrified when Jonathan turns up in the Emergency Department (ED) looking for her help – much to Jay's surprise, who didn't even realise she had a brother. Jonathan swears to Ruth that he has turned over a new leaf but she sees the track marks in his arms and refuses to believe that he's changed.
Later, a group of hard-drinking homeless men cause havoc in ED when they start stealing bottles of alcohol-based hand sanitiser from the wards and take it back to an unsafe hospital annexe to enjoy in private. Tragedy strikes when young security guard Mick, desperate to win Ruth's approval, confronts the homeless men on his own, but Jonathan, who has seen the commotion, is quick to get help. Will his part in the events convince Ruth that he's changed and that she can help him make a fresh start?
Meanwhile, Jessica and Adam's wedding arrangements continue apace but Adam struggles to maintain his composure when interference comes from an unwelcome source...
Ruth is played by Georgia Taylor, Jay by Ben Turner, Jessica by Gillian Kearney and Adam by Tristan Gemill. Anthony Grundy guest stars as Jonathan and Thomas Morrison as Mick.
JM3
Jon Culshaw and Debra Stephenson are at it again as the series featuring their assortment of uncanny impressions continues.
This week, the impressions include Gordon Ramsay's debut on CBeebies; Kate Winslet appearing in the Bad Jobs For Celebrities slot; Davina McCall and Claudia Winkleman having yet another dilemma; and Kirstie and Phil from Location, Location, Location getting themselves into a bit of a pickle.
There's also a showdown between Simon Cowell and Anne Robinson; Ant and Dec trying to find their way in the jungle; and Hollywood stars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are also parodied.
SM4
BBC TWO Saturday 5 December 2009
David Tennant, Georgia Moffett, David Warner, Stuart Milligan and Clark Peters are among the roll call of talent appearing in the new, animated Doctor Who special, Dreamland, set in the infamous alien hotspot Roswell and described by writer Phil Ford as "Doctor Who meets a Fifties monster B-movie".
The new high-definition animated adventure serves up all the traditional Doctor Who ingredients, including excitement, drama and humour.
Dry Springs, Nevada, 1958. During a visit to a local diner, the Doctor befriends a young waitress, Cassie, and her friend Jimmy. When he stumbles across a strange alien artefact, the Doctor is led to the mysterious Area 51 in Roswell, also known as Dreamland, the most secret base in the USA. There, he has a dark encounter with the sinister Colonel Stark.
So begins a momentous mission for the Doctor who, with the help of his new companions and Jimmy's grandfather, Night Eagle, sets out to rescue the stranded alien, Rivesh Mantilax, and his wife, Saruba Valek, from the threat of the ruthless Viperox, led by Lord Azlok, and the clutches of the American military.
As sunset falls the Viperox battle drones start to attack the US army base. Can the Doctor find a way to halt the seemingly unstoppable aliens in their tracks?
The cast of Dreamland includes: David Tennant (Doctor Who, Casanova, Hamlet) as the Doctor; Georgia Moffett (Doctor Who, Spooks, Marple) as Cassie; Tim Howar (Last Chance Harvey) as Jimmy; David Warner (The Omen, Star Trek VI, Titanic) as Lord Azlok; Stuart Milligan (Jonathan Creek, Lewis) as Colonel Stark; Peter Guinness (Sleepy Hollow, City Of Vice) as Mr Dread; Nicholas Rowe (Margaret, Hotel Babylon) as Rivesh Mantilax; Clarke Peters (The Wire) as Night Eagle; and Lisa Bowerman (Casualty, Spooks) as Saruba Velak.
Dreamland will also be shown on the HD channel – the BBC's High Definition channel, available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media (time to be confirmed).
VT
Nicola Murray and her team are desperate to find a major sports personality to be the face of the Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship's new Healthy Choices campaign, in the penultimate episode of Armando Iannucci's political comedy.
Malcolm is away on holiday and doesn't want to be disturbed, so they have to take advice from Steve Fleming, who is back on the scene as the Prime Minister's new fixer.
Is Fleming really as nice as he seems? And everyone knows Malcolm never takes holidays – so what is he up to?
Nicola is played by Rebecca Front and Malcolm by Peter Capaldi.
The Thick Of It is simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC's High Definition channel, available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.
Digital viewers who press the Red Button after the programme can find exclusive additional content. Exclusive features on key members of the cast and crew can also be found on the BBC Comedy blog, at bbc.co.uk/blogs/comedy.
PA/JD
Defying Gravity – Eve Ate The Apple Ep 9/13
As the Antares draws closer to Venus, the mysterious secret in Pod 4 is finally exposed, revealing the incredible true nature of the space mission, as the science-fiction drama continues.
Entranced by a haunting song, the Antares crew is inexorably drawn to storage Pod 4 where the otherworldly object awaits them. In Mission Control, Ajay and Arnel also see the strange object for the first time as Goss announces that they are now all sworn to secrecy about the real nature of the space mission. Ted struggles to take in the fact that Eve has known the truth all along. Meanwhile, Paula is shaken to the core of her religious convictions and Rollie confesses to Jen that he was also in on the secret.
When a second enthralling song suddenly emanates from Venus, Donner understands that a similar object is calling to the object in Pod 4. He and Zoe and the others are awestruck by the realisation of the true nature of their mission.
Ajay is played by Zahf Paroo, Arnel by William Vaughan, Goss by Andrew Airlie, Ted by Malik Yoba, Paula by Paula Garces, Rollie by Ty Olsson, Jen by Christina Cox, Donner by Ron Livingston and Zoe by Laura Harris.
Defying Gravity is simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC's High Definition channel, available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.
AF
Network TV BBC Week 49: Sunday 6 December 2009
BBC ONE Sunday 6 December 2009
Archbishop Desmond Tutu has spent a lifetime fighting injustice in South Africa and other parts of the world. It won him the Nobel Peace Prize. In this frank and moving interview in the lead up to Christmas, he tells Fern Britton he is not an optimist but "a prisoner of hope".
He also gives her a unique insight into his ideas about God. "I never doubted that this was an omnipotent God", he says, "but when I meet him I will certainly ask: why is it that you test us ... couldn't you think of a better way?"
Tutu risked his life for freedom. He was as ready to rescue a suspected Government informer from an angry township mob as he was to take on the feared white security forces of South Africa.
"I used to say to God. Look here – if I'm going to do your work you are jolly well going to look after me."
When Nelson Mandela was released, he spent his first night of freedom under Tutu's roof. Even after the election of a black majority Government, Tutu's work was not over. He presided over truth and reconciliation hearings and heard harrowing stories of persecution, torture and murder. That experience affected him deeply but he says he never despaired.
"It was the knowledge that, ultimately, truth is going to prevail. Goodness is going to prevail – no matter how long it takes."
In the next programme in this series, Fern Britton talks to former Prime Minister Tony Blair about the significance of his conversion to Catholicism; why he's set up a faith foundation to get people of different religions to work together; and why faith is so important in the modern world.
In the final programme, Fern meets Sheila Hancock, renowned for being one of Britain's best-loved actors but less well known for being a Quaker. She lost two husbands to cancer and after the death of the second, actor John Thaw, wrote two inspiring books.
GD/JF
Small Island Ep 1/2
Adapted from Andrea Levy's best-selling, award-winning novel, BBC One's two-part drama, Small Island, starring Ruth Wilson, David Oyelowo, Naomie Harris, Benedict Cumberbatch and Ashley Walters, is an epic love story about the determined pursuit of dreams in the face of seemingly insurmountable barriers.
As the drama begins, Hortense has travelled from Jamaica to live with her new husband, Gilbert, in Forties London. Hortense arrives at Queenie Bligh's house where Gilbert has rented them a room in the attic. Having harboured dreams about moving to England with her first love, Michael, Hortense is immediately disappointed with both her new husband and the dingy home he has found for them.
Hortense thinks back to her life in Jamaica, remembering her unspoken love for Michael; the pain of discovering him in the arms of another woman; how he was banished abroad to join the RAF; and how she was subsequently sent to Kingston to train as a teacher.
Meanwhile, Queenie also thinks back to the events that have led her to her present situation. Desperate to escape Yorkshire and her family's pig farm, she came to live with her beloved Aunt in London where she was pursued by the respectable but dull Bernard.
Like Hortense, Queenie has found herself in an unsatisfactory marriage and is forced to look after his shell-shocked father while Bernard fights in the Second World War. Queenie remembers one particular passionate meeting with a Jamaican RAF airman during the Blitz – the very same man whom Hortense loves.
Gilbert is hardly satisfied with his present situation either, knowing only too well that, in his desperation to leave Jamaica, he has allowed himself to be bought by Hortense, who has paid for his passage to England. He reflects on his first trip to England during the war as an RAF airman where he befriended Queenie in Yorkshire.
Now, years later, all three are living under the same roof, yet Hortense and Queenie have no idea of the light they carry for the same man.
Hortense is played by Naomie Harris; Gilbert by David Oyelowo; Queenie by Ruth Wilson; Michael by Ashley Walters; and Bernard by Benedict Cumberbatch.
LH2
Network TV BBC Week 49: Monday 7 December 2009
BBC ONE Monday 7 December 2009
The farmyard residents provide more animated antics this week as the highly acclaimed stop-motion series continues. Shaun makes a spectacle of himself; Bitzer gets some unappealing new head wear; and the flock try their hooves at a spot of catering.
There is a natural history feel to Monday's episode when a wildlife film inspires Pidsley the cat to play a prank on the flock by disguising himself as a leopard. Shaun is convinced there is a huge beast on the loose and concocts a plan to catch it.
Tuesday sees Shaun accidentally breaking the farmer's glasses; he and Bitzer have their work cut out trying to prevent their shortsighted master from having mishaps around the farm.
On Wednesday, the Farmer gives Bitzer a horrible new hat. Bitzer is very upset as he treasured his old hat. The flock rallies round to try to cheer him up with a selection of dashing alternative head gear.
The Farmer is terrorised when a cute mouse appears in the farmhouse on Thursday and Pidsley the cat is ordered to dispose of the rodent. When the mouse takes refuge in Shaun's fleece, the flock persuade him to protect their new friend from the pitiless cat.
Friday finds the Farmer trying to impress his new date by cooking a romantic dinner. Unfortunately, the Farmer can't cook and Bitzer is a useless maître d'. Can Shaun and the flock save the day when they take over the catering behind the scenes?
Shaun The Sheep is shot in high definition.
VT
Plants have conquered every habitat on the planet by using ingenious strategies. Their lives are mysterious and hidden but, through the use of time-lapse photography, Life, the BBC Natural History Unit series narrated by David Attenborough, reveals their dramatic battles as they face countless challenges.
Plants are dependent on sunlight, water and nutrients for survival. Sunlight is rare on the forest floor so climbers such as ivy and the "cats-claw" creeper use other plants as a ladder to get to it.
More than 20,000 different kinds of air plants spend their whole life in the forest canopy. They get nutrients by trapping dead leaves among their roots which then rot and turn to compost. The exposed roots also quickly absorb the slightest rain or mist.
Where there is little rain, plants find clever ways of trapping and retaining water. The dragon's blood tree survives in a rocky desert on moisture carried in mists. It even manages to reduce evaporation by shading its own roots. Others, such as the desert rose, shed all leaves to stop evaporation as well as storing water in its bottle-like trunk.
In boggy ground, vital nutrients are rare, so plants have to find another source. The Venus flytrap attracts insects with its pink colour and a ring of nectar. If an unsuspecting fly touches two trigger-like hairs within 20 seconds of each other, the trap snaps shut. The victim is then slowly digested.
In Life's making-of diary – Timewarp – the team reveals the complex methods used to achieve the unique shot of an entire woodland growing season. They brought together elements of time-lapse photography in both the field and studio with technological and computer wizardry.
Life is simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC's High Definition channel, available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.
BR/LS2
BBC TWO Monday 7 December 2009
After a mortifying wedding experience when the bride just passed Miranda the bouquet, her mother, Penny, is determined to find her daughter a husband, as the semi-autobiographical writing of comedy actress Miranda Hart continues. She decides to throw a Pride And Prejudice party in a bid to introduce Miranda to some eligible young men.
In a panicked attempt to get out of going to the party, Miranda gives her mother a number of increasingly bizarre excuses, but Penny is having none of it and insists that the party is happening, regardless.
When Tilly introduces her to "dream boat Charlie", Miranda realises that, despite her hatred of being set up, this could well be her lucky escape from going to the party. Their date at Gary's restaurant starts with Charlie telling her that his nickname comes from an experience he had on a floating brothel and that he likes Miranda because she looks like she could beat him in a fight. The date ends when Miranda throws a glass of wine over herself in an attempt to make a quick exit.
In a last-ditch attempt to stop the party from happening, Miranda announces to her mother that she's a lesbian, much to Penny's delight, who admits she always had her suspicions and understands fully the "lure of the lily". The party is changed to a Tipping The Velvet-themed "coming out" party where Miranda meets someone who could well be the man of her dreams – if only it wasn't for one small problem...
Penny is played by Patricia Hodge, Miranda by Miranda Hart, Tilly by Sally Phillips, Charlie by Adrian Scarborough and Gary by Tom Ellis.
RD4
Charles Saatchi's six chosen artists are commissioned to create artworks to sit alongside the Old Masters at one of Britain's finest stately homes, Sudeley Castle, as his nationwide search to discover the next generation of artistic talent continues.
The owners of Sudeley Castle, the Dent-Brocklehurst family, have agreed to allow the artists to remove objects and artwork from three rooms in their home and replace them with contemporary pieces. The artists have just one week to create their work, which will then go on display for Saatchi and an unsuspecting public to view.
Saatchi believes it is important for contemporary artists to understand the past so that they are able to reinvent the traditions of the old masters for a new contemporary audience. The Sudeley Castle commission is designed to see if these artists can achieve this.
The artists were helped by Mat Collishaw, who was one of the notorious Young British Artists and created Bullet Hole, the infamous work which was an iconic piece in Saatchi's Sensation exhibition. Collishaw encourages the artists to create work that is big and bold, but not over-complicated.
One of the artists responds to the challenge by creating a work consisting of thousands of chapattis piled on the floor, while another struggles to build a conveyor belt that transports a tassel around the bedroom. And there's dissent between two of the artists as they tussle for sufficient space for their creations in the castle's grand library.
Ultimately, the final judgement comes down to Saatchi, who makes a visit to Sudeley to view the finished work. He is generally impressed and believes two works in particular are real stand-out pieces.
School Of Saatchi is part of The Modern Beauty Season, a range of programmes on BBC Two and BBC Four which look at the concept of beauty in modern art.
A Q&A with Charles Saatchi will shortly be available on the BBC Press Office website.
KA
BBC THREE Monday 7 December 2009
Young Chef Of The Year is the last in the series of four programmes showcasing and celebrating the very best of young talented British professionals in the UK, who are working hard to build up their careers.
Presented by George Lamb, the series of four stand-alone programmes highlight the true star of each profession. Hundreds of 16 to 24-year-old butchers, mechanics, hairdressers and chefs from across the country took part in a rigorous audition process in an attempt to be crowned the best in their profession, and were whittled down to a final five in each of the four categories.
Young Chef Of The Year sees five finalists face a number of increasingly difficult challenges designed to test their skill, knowledge, ability and passion for the job they do. Their first challenge, before the elimination begins, is to serve up four hot and perfectly cooked classic dishes at once – in just 20 minutes.
As they are pushed to their limits, the finalists have to impress two judges who are experts in their field and industry. Silvena Rowe has worked as a chef, food writer, author, food consultant and restaurateur for the past 21 years. She is the executive chef for the Baltic Restaurant group, which includes Baltic and Wodka. Tom Aiken is a classically trained chef who became the youngest-ever recipient of two Michelin stars at the age of 26. His restaurant in Chelsea earned him numerous prestigious accolades, including a Michelin star in 2004.
With three gruelling challenges which will test them to the limits, a grilling from the judges and elimination all to overcome, the last person standing will truly be able to claim the title of BBC Young Chef Of The Year.
SD2
Network TV BBC Week 49: Tuesday 8 December 2009
BBC ONE Tuesday 8 December 2009
Joseph tries to focus on work rather than on Faye's suspension but, when he suggests Lauren's slapdash nursing is responsible for Archie's death, he is accused of bullying and threatened with suspension by Vanessa, in this week's episode of the medical drama.
When Joseph explains his theory that Archie died after being given potassium, it becomes clear that Lauren may actually be the cause of Archie's death.
Elsewhere, Michael is determined to keep his Holby vision on track, but Vanessa lets him down by hiring a locum who isn't trained in robotic surgery. Michael ends up losing the robotics suite, along with his faith in Vanessa.
Penny, meanwhile, wants to shine while on the acute assessment unit but is sidelined when Scott is re-admitted.
Joseph is played by Luke Roberts, Lauren by Riann Steele, Michael by Hari Dhillon, Vanessa by Leslie Ash, Penny by Emma Catherwood and Scott by Joshua Bowman.
JM3
DI Rebecca Flint, DS Ben Holt and DC Callum Gada are alarmed to receive another set of seven images via space scientist Dr Christian King, as the intriguing, high-concept, high-octane investigative drama continues. This time the images suggest a violent attack on a woman and, with only 12 hours to prevent the assault, the team must work fast.
They split up and Callum starts investigating the images, believing they are a message from a higher power – a warning from the future. Meanwhile, Ben tracks down information on an attack which took place the previous day and shares similarities with one of the images.
While Ben conducts his research he comes across the most disturbing image of all – one of him lying dead. Alarmed, Ben confronts Rebecca and she's forced to explain that the previous set of images predicted his death and they managed to change his fate. Ben is furious with Rebecca for keeping this from him and struggles to come to terms with the idea he may be dead in a parallel universe.
The team become divided as they begin to lose sight of the investigate, but the clock is still ticking. As a vulnerable woman comes face to face with her attacker, will the detectives identify her as a potential victim before it is too late?
DI Rebecca Flint is played by Tamzin Outhwaite, DS Ben Holt by Mark Bonnar, DC Callum Gada by Chiké Okonkwo and Dr Christian King by Emun Elliott.
PPR
Legendary American folk singer Joan Baez was the most desired and admired performer of her generation, using her unique voice to get her message of peace and racial equality heard around the world.
Political ally to Martin Luther King and lover to Bob Dylan, Baez has always shunned fame. But, in this latest film in the Imagine series, presented by Alan Yentob, she gives her most candid interview yet about her complex personal life and a career spanning 50 years as America's Queen of folk – performing to sell-out tours and producing six gold-selling albums.
Featuring rare home movies and never-before-seen performance footage from the Sixties, Baez talks about her unconventional upbringing and how she broke through into the underground folk scene. Friends and collaborators Bob Dylan, David Crosby and Steve Earle talk about her immediate impact on the folk scene, paying tribute to her as one of the most original female vocalists of their generation.
However, as Baez reveals, fame came at a price. Chronic stage fright nearly led to a nervous breakdown. Buoyed by support from her beloved sister, Mimi, Baez emerged intact, using her fame to take on the injustices of her generation. Jesse Jackson and others acknowledge her tireless campaigning for civil liberties with Martin Luther King and against the Vietnam War with her husband and fellow peace protester David Harris. Son Gabe Harris also talks proudly about a mother who has remained as committed as ever to the cause of peace, most recently in Sarajevo.
What emerges from this film is a portrait of an extraordinary woman who became the conscience of a generation, and who today, 50 years after first taking to the stage, still delights in performing and recording her unique brand of folk song.
AH
BBC FOUR Tuesday 8 December 2009
Journalist and presenter Vanessa Feltz competes with actor and star of the The Inbetweeners, Simon Bird, as the anarchic comedy game show in which celebrity guests answer questions set by the public continues.
The rules are simple – contestants must match their answer to the one given by a text answering service. Questions can range from: "How many gerbils would have to be stacked on top of each other to reach the moon?" to "How heavy is the sky?" to "Is gravy is a condiment?".
Each show also features a cunning physical challenge which pits the contestants against each other. This week’s episode sees Vanessa and Simon playing Sleeping Lions.
Mark Watson hosts, Tim Key is in the question master’s chair and Alex Horne provides expert analysis from a booth.
CSCBBC Tuesday 8 December 2009
CBBC's Inside Life continues to go behind the scenes of the BBC Natural History Unit's landmark series, Life, to find out just what it takes to get footage of the world's most extraordinary wildlife.
CBBC scoured the country in search of 10 secret agents to embark on 10 fact-finding assignments across the UK to report back to the Life team. But what the 10 budding naturalists don't know is that while on location in the UK, a further special mission will be revealed on what will be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Agent James is a gadget fanatic and his task is to help the Life team test specialist underwater filming equipment. He doesn't have a clue, however, that he'll be using it for real in the Bahamas on his mission to help sink a wreck onto the sea bed and turn it into a reef. Before James can complete his mission, he has to learn how to scuba dive.
MF2
Network TV BBC Week 49:
Wednesday 9 December 2009
BBC ONE Wednesday 9 December 2009
Big Top – Skydiver Ep 2/6
(Schedule addition 12 November)
Circus Maestro has seen better days, as the colourful, upbeat and heart-warming family comedy series set in and around a travelling circus and starring Amanda Holden, John Thomson, Sophie Thompson, Ruth Madoc and Bruce Mackinnon continues.
Circus Maestro's founder is in prison for fraud and his daughter, Lizzie, is now struggling to recapture the glory days. When the Circus' most popular performer breaks both legs diving 50 feet into a suitcase, Lizzie is forced to look for a replacement.
The only volunteer is Boyco the acrobat but, as the most talented member of the troupe, Lizzie can't afford to risk injuring him. Her only other options are a Chinese hypnotist, a human cannonball with a death wish and a small, unwilling dog. With show time looming, it looks as if Lizzie will have to do the skydive herself...
Elsewhere, Plonky the Clown takes his performance to the streets and gets into a fight with a living statue.
Amanda Holden plays ring-mistress Lizzie, Bruce Mackinnon plays Boyco and John Thomson plays Plonky the Clown.
Big Top is simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC's High Definition channel, available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.
AN
When quiet Year 10 student Cassie Turner accuses Amy, Siobhan and, later, Michaela of bullying her, it looks like the girl gang problem has returned to Waterloo Road, as the school drama continues. Despite the protests of innocence from the accused girls, however, Cassie's recent detached behaviour, along with her falling grades, is enough for Kim to haul the suspected offenders off to the Cooler. Cassie's best friends, Lauren and Sam, are hurt that she didn't go to them for help, but also believe she is being bullied.
Cassie's mother has a meeting with Kim and seems relieved to find that bullying is the cause of Cassie's recent strange behaviour. During one of Ruby's lessons, Cassie flees the room terrified – grabbing Karla and harming herself while cowering in the boiler room. Cassie is rushed to hospital and, although she is physically fine, the doctors suspect the onset of a psychological disorder.
Helen's management of the pupils' behaviour, meanwhile, is more lax than ever. When Michaela discovers Helen's address via a social networking site, a gang of Waterloo Road teens turn up and wreck her flat. Desperate for help, Helen rings Tom, who rushes to her aid but leaves Helen seriously considering her future at the school.
Meanwhile, Rachel struggles to keep Max's marriage a secret from Kim. When Rachel finally tells her the truth, Kim dumps him on the spot. Later, Max storms round to Rachel's flat, furious that she told Kim he was married. When Rachel tries to shut him out, Max pushes her and only relents when Rachel threatens to call the police.
Cassie is played by Charlotte Wakefield, Siobhan by Phoebe Dynevor, Michaela by Zarrah Abrahams, Kim by Angela Griffin, Lauren by Darcy Isa, Ruby by Elizabeth Berrington, Karla by Jessica Baglow, Helen by Vinette Robinson, Tom by Jason Done, Rachel by Eva Pope and Max by Tom Chambers.
Waterloo Road is simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC's High Definition channel, available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.
JP2
Britain is on the verge of bankruptcy. The Government is unable to honour its national debt payments and Section D must retrieve more than a billion pounds of illegal earnings from the impenetrable DeWits bank, as the spy drama continues.
For the past four months, Ryan Baisley, a DeWits employee, has been working as an MI5 asset, secretly recording account details. With the country close to economic collapse, MI5 orders Baisley to hand over the information. However, Baisley has other plans.
A team of assassins breaks into Baisley's safe house, leaving him alone and on the run for his life. Harry and his team have no idea where Baisley is and, to make matters worse, they discover he has attempted to do a deal with the DeWits bank manager, Irvin Perrot.
With time running out, Section D tracks Baisley down but the assassins aren't far behind. As Ros catches up with him, she is caught in the crossfire of a shootout. Although Ros sees off the hit men, Baisley slips away – leaving Section D back at square one.
Ros forces Perrot to reveal when his exchange with Baisley will take place. She knows the hit men will be lying in wait but she will stop at nothing to get to Baisley first.
Meanwhile, Ruth's investigations into the power meeting at Basel pay off when she discovers something called "Nightingale". The team must find out what, or who, Nightingale is.
Ryan Baisley is played by Ewen Bremner, Harry by Peter Firth, Irvin Perrot by Richard Durden, Ros by Hermione Norris and Ruth by Nicola Walker.
PPR
BBC TWO Wednesday 9 December 2009
In a Horizon special, naturalist and BBC broadcaster, Sir David Attenborough investigates whether the world is heading into a population crisis. As Patron of the Optimum Population Trust, Sir David is keen to explore all sides of the issues facing population control.
David is well aware that the world exists in a delicate balance – Earth's natural resources are rapidly becoming outstripped by the seven billion people that depend on them for survival.
In his lengthy career, David has watched the human population more than double, from two and a half billion in 1950 to nearly seven billion today – and it is still growing. The United Nations estimates that the population will peak at nine billion in 2050. David reflects on the profound impacts of this rapid growth, both on humans and the environment. In Mexico, the programme finds out how a megacity is coping with water shortages; while in Rwanda, the programme explores whether the country's dense population and limited resources contributed to last century's genocide.
Improvements in social policy and global co-operation also offer hope. Although coercive population control has had a dark history of enforced sterilisations, demographers and data analysts now know that where women are emancipated and literate and family planning is available, birth rates decrease. Rwanda leads the way among sub-Saharan nations in progressive family planning solutions. With the country's population set to double by 2050, the government has made population central to its agenda. So far, family planning outreach programmes seem to be working.
Yet, while much of the projected growth in human population is likely to come from the developing world, it is the lifestyle enjoyed by many in the West that has the most impact on the planet. Some experts claim that in the UK, people use as much as two and a half times their fair share of Earth's resources. So, finally, David examines whether it's the duty of each of us to commit not only to smaller families, but also to change the way we live for the sake of all humanity – and planet Earth.
VAA
BBC FOUR Wednesday 9 December 2009
Art critic Andrew Graham-Dixon travels to Russia on an astonishing travelogue through centuries of the art and treasures of the largest country in the world.
Following the success of Art Of Spain and Art Of Italy, Art Of Russia is a grand tour of Russian masterpieces, many of which are unknown in the West, revealing a history made up of many different cultures and peoples.
The first of three programmes opens in Moscow, where Andrew discovers relics from Russia's earliest age – objects that emphasise the mystery of the country. But it is with the arrival of Christianity that Russia creates its first incredible treasures – half sacred object, half work of art – the religious icon.
Celebrating Russia's earliest icon, the beautiful and moving Our Lady Of Vladimir, Andrew explores the country's most atmospheric church, the Trinity Cathedral at Sergiev Posad.
He examines the huge impact of Christianity on the country in the 10th century, leading to Russia developing its own mysterious traditions, including sacred icon paintings and beautifully crafted folk art. He also explores the greatest symbol of Russian cultural identity, the onion dome and reveals the incredible beauty and craftsmanship of the sacred iconostasis.
The story of Russia's turbulent early history culminates in the enlightened rule of Tsar Peter The Great, who created Russia's "'window to the west" ending centuries of isolation and founding one of the most beautiful cities in the world, St Petersburg.
Art Of Russia, British television's first series to be devoted to the history of Russian art, is a sumptuous and surprising journey through the treasures of a nation whose art should be celebrated much more than it is.
AH
Network TV BBC Week 49: Thursday 10 December 2009
BBC ONE Thursday 10 December 2009
Pam and Mick are in deep in discussions about the new conservatory, as the third and final series of Bafta-winning comedy Gavin & Stacey continues.
Meanwhile, Bryn is in his element as he awaits the arrival of his house guests; all the Essex boys are coming down for a big night out in Cardiff and having a sleepover at his place. Smithy gets in a state about seeing Nessa after their most recent embarrassing meeting, and Stacey makes a worrying discovery and can't decide whether to tell Gavin.
Pam is played by Alison Steadman, Mick by Larry Lamb, Bryn by Rob Brydon, Smithy by James Corden, Nessa by Ruth Jones, Stacey by Joanna Page and Gavin by Mathew Horne.
CS
BBC TWO Thursday 10 December 2009
It's semi-final week in The Restaurant and Raymond Blanc has really turned up the pressure in order to choose the two couples to go into next week's final.
First, the three remaining couples must stage a cookery masterclass in their restaurants. This doesn't go well for one couple though who don't get a single student.
Then they deliver what they think is their final service ... in front of Raymond.
Just when they think it's time for the result, Raymond delivers one final challenge – one which ends in tears and the closure of another restaurant.
PA/JD
Observational documentary series Wonderland concludes this week with another film seeking out the people and places that offer a glimpse of today's Britain that is usually hidden from view.
Ted's wife Hilda doesn't know who he is any more – she has lost the ability to recognise even those closest to her. Ted, a devoted husband of 50 years, calls her his "lovely little stranger". But there's one thing she has not forgotten – the tune to Que Sera, Sera.
Ted and Hilda are members of the Alzheimer's Society's Singing For The Brain, a group of singers in Bristol made up entirely of people with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia and their carers. Music is the last thing that ties many of these couples together and, as the group begins to sing, lyrics learnt long ago spring instantly back to life, and the singers are transported to a world of clarity, joy and even love.
Alzheimer's: The Musical is a film about love, time and the astonishing ability of music to give us back people we thought we had lost.
CD3
BBC THREE Thursday 10 December 2009
For the last seven weeks Russell Howard has been offering his unique perspective on the big stories dominating the media across TV, online and print, as well as picking up on those sometimes overlooked things that make him smile.
Tonight there's a chance to see some of the best bits from the series, as well as some previously unseen material.
APR
BBC FOUR Thursday 10 December 2009
Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch looks at how Christianity has fared in the face of the West's peculiar tendency to doubt, and asks what the future holds for the faith as he concludes his series A History Of Christianity.
Professor MacCulloch traces the origins of scepticism to 17th-century Amsterdam and a young Jewish philosopher, Baruch de Spinoza. While Spinoza believed in God, he refused to see "Him" as a supernatural divine being who intervened in the world. His English contemporary, Isaac Newton, quietly pursued a similar approach while maintaining his religious beliefs.
The French Philosophes then questioned the Catholic Church's authority. In Paris, the programme visits the Panthéon to document the influence of Voltaire, the leading prophet of doubt among 18th-century French philosophers, and his hatred for dogmatism, authoritarianism and the notion of a "just" God.
It was a hatred that fanned the flames of the French Revolution, which in turn degenerated into the decimation of thousands of Catholic churches and priests. It was a dark period for Christianity but, not for the last time, the religion showed remarkable resilience and, thanks to Napoleon, it made a triumphant return in France.
The West's obsession with doubt then struck at the heart of Protestant Christian authority – the Bible. In Tubingen, Germany, Professor MacCulloch looks at the impact of an audacious book by a Christian theologian, David Friedrich Strauss, which stripped Jesus of all his divinity.
But the greatest damage was inflicted in the 20th century when Christianity's entanglement in two world wars undermined its moral credibility. Professor MacCulloch shows how, in the First World War, God was employed as a divine recruiting officer, and how in the Second World War the Church was fatally implicated in the Holocaust.
In St Martin-in-the-Fields in London, Professor MacCulloch discovers how since the Fifties, despite apathy and indifference, parts of the Western Church adapted to crisis and found a new moral voice that shaped much of Western humanist sensibilities.
Finally, he contemplates the future of Christianity, both in the West and around the world, and asks if the enduring truths it rediscovers in moments of crisis may even be clues to its long-term survival.
A History Of Christianity is a co-production with the Open University. Further information can be found at open2.net
GD/JF
Network TV BBC Week 49: Friday 11 December 2009
BBC TWO Friday 11 December 2009
The Doonans go deep into the world of Brit Art when they meet rabble-rouser Stacey Bile near the Kate Winslet memorial roundabout, in the penultimate episode of Jonathan Harvey's glitzy comedy inspired by the memoirs of New York fashionista – and native of Reading – Simon Doonan. This episode also features guest star Dannii Minogue.
Two accidental encounters with Stacey Bile drag the Doonan Family into the bizarre world of galleries and installations. Debbie becomes Stacey's muse when they meet in Jo Ho Yo's hairdressing salon and Debbie recognises her as the woman whose reckless driving round the Kate Winslet memorial roundabout led to a broken arm for Andy and scuffed trainers for Simon.
Meanwhile, Debbie's absence means that Simon and Kylie can learn Indian dance moves from Auntie Hayley, whose cooking results in some urgent trips to the hospital with Hayley – who is blind – at the wheel of the Doonan Drainage van. Debbie runs out of patience with Stacey which results in third party, fire, theft and the Turner Prize. Meanwhile, Hayley sets herself up as a telephone astrologer whose services are called upon by passing songstress Dannii Minogue.
Debbie is played by Olivia Colman, Andy by Aidan McArdle, older Simon by Samuel Barnett, young Simon by Luke Ward-Wilkinson, Kylie by Layton Williams and Auntie Hayley by Meera Syal. Dannii Minogue makes a guest appearance as herself.
PA/JD
BBC FOUR Friday 11 December 2009
Sergei Diaghilev's legendary company, Ballets Russes, gave its first thrilling performance at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris in May 1909.
During the following 20 years until his death, Diaghilev's company revolutionised ballet which, at that time, was an art form in decline, redefining it for the 20th century.
For Art's Sake – The Story Of Ballets Russes celebrates the achievements of Ballets Russes under Diaghilev's guidance and their continuing influences on dance, art and music today.
It features the English National Ballet performing extracts from two Ballets Russes' masterpieces, Les Sylphides and Scheherazade, as well as a new version by David Dawson of the iconic Nijinsky ballet Afternoon Of A Faun. This is in addition to Anna Pavlova's iconic solo Dying Swan as performed by the leading English National Ballet star Elena Glurdjidze, and extracts of other major ballets Les Noces, The Firebird and The Rite Of Spring.
The music from the period is discussed by great French composer and conductor Pierre Boulez, who is joined by prolific English composer and broadcaster Howard Goodall. Ninety-five-year-old Frederick Franklin recounts what it was like to see the scandalous ending of Nijinsky's Afternoon Of A Faun, while dancers, musicians, writers, critics, stylists and historians contribute to the film, painting a vivid portrait of this unique dance company and discussing the legacy of Diaghilev's genius on the creative arts.
CF2
CBBC Friday 11 December 2009
The fearsome Vikings set up a lending library and Jasmine and Prudith find out the cost of pick 'n' mix in this week's helping of comedy sketches for the whole family in Sorry I've Got No Head.
Meanwhile, Tammy has another embarrassing run-in with the storyteller when she tries to get L'il Chris's autograph and, on North Barrasay, Ross, his teacher Valerie and Archie pass the time by reading aloud when they are trapped at school by a snowstorm.
Elsewhere, Harry Bolds tackles a new sport and the snowman wants to take a holiday to sunny climes.
Sorry I've Got No Head features the comedy talents of Marcus Brigstocke, Mel Giedroyc, David Armand, Anna Crilly, James Bachman and Nick Mohammed.
VT
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