Programme Information

A troubled Janine stares at herself in the mirror while putting her make-up on, as the drama in Albert Square continues. Looking down at her bare ring finger, she begins to cry.

Elsewhere, Bianca shows Ricky some wedding invitations that she loves but that they can't afford and then suggests they will have to make their own.

Janine is played by Charlie Brooks, Bianca by Patsy Palmer and Ricky by Sid Owen.

JM3

To top

Material Girl Ep 1/6

Thursday 14 January

8.00-9.00pm BBC ONE (Schedule addition 18 December)

• www.bbc.co.uk/drama
• Press pack

A hectic Paris Fashion Week kicks off in this new romantic comedy about young fashion designer Ali. Backstage, at the Davina Bailey show, the stress levels peak. A creative flare-up between Ali and Davina prompts Ali to make the rash decision of walking out, leaving a furious Davina in her wake.

As the weight of her actions sink in, Ali is thrown a life-line by revered fashion critic Mitchell Crompton. He promises her a fantastic job in return for a new level of intimacy. Shocked, Ali rebuffs Mitchell, making herself another powerful enemy.

Back in the UK, Ali searches for a new job. Entrepreneur Marco offers her the opportunity to design her own label. However, aware of his unscrupulous nature and warned off him by friends Alex, Mimi and Lydia, Ali is cautious. It's not long before Ali and Marco clash over which celebrity to dress at the upcoming BAFTA awards ceremony. But Ali finds that Marco comes through and she relaxes into her business relationship.

Meanwhile, Ali meets gorgeous Chris. Keen to pursue a relationship with Ali, Chris is disappointed when he's given the brush off. However, when Ali has her first taste of business success, she feels ready to take a chance with Chris.

Ali Redcliffe is played by Lenora Crichlow; Davina Bailey by Dervla Kirwan; Mitchell Crompton by Malcolm Sinclair; Marco by Michael Landes; Alex by Nick Blood; Mimi by Ingrid Oliver; Lydia by Anna Brewster; and Chris by OT Fagbenle.

Material Girl is also being simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC's high-definition channel available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.

GJ

To top

Silent Witness – Voids: Part 1 Ep 3/10

Thursday 14 January

9.00-10.00pm BBC ONE (Schedule addition 11 December)

Harry and Nikki find themselves on opposite sides of a high-profile case involving the suspicious death of wealthy banker Bridget Flannery, in the second two-part episode of the forensic science drama. Suspicion quickly falls on the victim's husband, media personality Tom Flannery, who says she fell down the stairs.

Harry conducts the official post-mortem for the police investigation while Nikki is hired to do a second one by Flannery's solicitor. The results are very different, with Harry's report concluding the deceased was struck repeatedly on the head with a sharp object.

The police have not been able to find a murder weapon or a clear motive for Flannery. Despite this, Detective Superintendent Jenkins wants to pin the murder on him, using evidence of a botched attempt to clean up the blood.

Nikki's belief in Flannery is immediately challenged when she learns that his first wife, Olga, was also found dead at the bottom of the stairs in their Prague home, 20 years ago.

Tom Ward plays Dr Harry Cunningham, Emilia Fox plays Dr Nikki Alexander, Josephine Butler plays Bridget Flannery and John Lynch plays Tom Flannery.

The concluding part of this episode of Silent Witness can be seen tomorrow.

Silent Witness is simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC's High Definition channel, available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.

MO

Michael Portillo reaches the wild border country in today's leg of his journey from Preston to Kirkcaldy.

His first stop is Carlisle, where he meets artist Gordon Young, a descendant of the Border Reivers, a bunch of ancient lawless clansmen from the area who are mentioned in Bradshaw's guide. Michael then visits a pub where a local band plays the ballads of the Reivers, as collected by Sir Walter Scott.

Michael's next stop is Gretna Green, where blacksmith Alistaire Houston tells Michael about the town's famous marriage business. Bradshaw predicted the end of Gretna's marriage trade, but it is still going strong today. Michael congratulates a newlywed couple who, true to form, eloped over the border.

Just outside Gretna, Michael heads to an old Ministry of Defence munitions site to meet manager David Watt. David shows Michael around the site on its internal railway system and explains how, in the First World War, thousands of women made a lethal explosive concoction called Devil's Porridge.

Michael's last stop in this programme is the great Scottish city of Glasgow. In a Victorian version of poverty tourism, Bradshaw guides Michael to Calton, an area of great social deprivation in Victorian times. Today, Michael meets writer and resident Janey Godley who tells him the area isn't that different now – residents of Calton have one of the lowest life expectancies in the country. He also visits the centre of Glasgow, which is enjoying a renaissance in popularity.

SD2

Cage Fighting, or Mixed Martial Arts as it's also known, is one of the world's fastest-growing sports. It is brutal, violent, shocking and some say barbaric, but it is ultimately hugely popular. Inside the cage, punching, kneeing, kicking, elbowing and choking are all allowed – in fact, very little isn't.

While men dominate the sport, female fights are now becoming an increasing attraction.

Women Cage Fighters follows the fortunes of two British female fighters as they travel to America for the biggest bouts of their lives. Lisa Higo is a mother of two from Leeds and Rosi Sexton has a degree in maths from Cambridge and a PhD from Manchester. Both women have their own reasons for stepping into the cage, but both are prepared to lay their safety on the line in search of glory.

CD3