Programme Information

Joel Defries goes behind the scenes at the Household Barracks

For more than five decades, Blue Peter has gained unprecedented access to prestigious venues and events. This week the trend continues as Joel Defries and Helen Skelton go behind the scenes at the House of Lords, The Royal Mews and The Household Cavalry to help prepare for the State Opening of Parliament.

Helen dons her apron to clean Her Majesty The Queen's throne with a special vacuum cleaner. She faces a hard task ahead of her as the Royal chair, which was made in 1847, has not been cleaned for 60 years! Meanwhile, Joel is at the Household Barracks helping to muck out the horses, prepare The Queen's coach and take part in the early morning rehearsal.

Blue Peter also catches up with Kiran, who was first seen on the programme as part of the Send A Smile Appeal which asked viewers to make operation gowns. Kiran is visiting the UK for the first time and is going to meet the eagle-eyed viewer who spotted that she was wearing the gown they had made during her cleft palate operation.

Finally, a young parcour expert is in the studio to talk about their role in the new Disney film The Prince Of Persia.

VT

To top

Lucas has questions about Jordan – but no answers, as the drama continues in Albert Square.

After the recent revelations, Phil insists that Ben lay low.

Meanwhile, Stacey returns to work but it soon drives her bonkers.

Lucas is played by Don Gilet, Phil by Steve McFadden, Ben by Charlie Jones and Stacey by Lacey Turner.

JM3

To top

Mark is told that he has been accepted for the CEO job and announces to staff that he will be helping out with day-to-day duties as it is his last day, as the hospital drama continues.

When Elaine is diagnosed with brain damage, Connie is desperate to atone for her guilt. But when Kevin realises that Connie has misled them, Connie is forced to defend her position.

Meanwhile, Donna is determined to make her first day as sister a success but, when she has to manage new nurse Elizabeth, she realises her colleague's relentless efficiency is in danger of showing her up.

Mark is played by Robert Powell, Elaine by Tilly Vosburgh, Connie by Amanda Mealing, Kevin by Danny Webb, Donna by Jaye Jacobs and Elizabeth by La Charné Jolly.

JM3

To top

Luther Ep 4/6

Tuesday 25 May

9.00-10.00pm BBC ONE and BBC HD

• www.bbc.co.uk/luther

Zoe (Indira Varma) has spent the night with Luther

Having spent a night with Zoe, Luther thinks they are back together, as the dark psychological thriller continues.

Meanwhile, serial killer Henry Madsen, the man responsible for Luther's extended leave, has woken up from his coma. A worried Luther knows he must concentrate on a new case.

Across London, four young women have been murdered. Despite the hundreds of hours of CCTV footage and the huge pool of witnesses, no connection can be found between them. But the time between murders is decreasing; whoever this killer is, he's on a spree. He's going to keep killing until he's caught.

Convinced the unknown killer will strike again that night, Luther must work against the clock to identify his man. At the same time, he must seek to convince Alice that he can't see her any more. Because of Madsen, it's just too dangerous. But can Alice ever accept this?

DCI John Luther is played by Idris Elba, Zoe by Indira Varma and Alice Morgan by Ruth Wilson. This episode also features Warren Brown as Justin Ripley, Steven Mackintosh as DCI Ian Reed, Paul McGann as Mark North, Saskia Reeves as DSI Rose Teller and Dermot Crowley as Martin Schenk and guest stars Graham Shand as the murderer and Nicola Walker as the murderer's wife.

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

GJ

Tate Modern Is 10!
A Culture Show Special

Tuesday 25 May

7.00-8.00pm BBC TWO and BBC HD (Schedule addition 12 May)

• www.bbc.co.uk/cultureshow

A one-hour Culture Show special marks Tate Modern's 10th birthday. Presented by art critic and artist Matthew Collings, the programme celebrates the birthday of one of the most successful modern art museums in the world and asks what lies behind its extraordinary popularity.

The whole idea of "modern art" has radically transformed since the days when the Tate's purchase of Carl Andre's bricks was a scandal. Now, instead of being furious with modern art's obscurity, people are fascinated by it, willing to open their minds to the curious treasures of the Tate Modern. Installations, videos, happenings, blank canvases – all the hallmarks of art's previous elitism and inaccessibility – have become objects of desire for a new audience. With around 45 million visitors so far, the public has been inspired by Tate Modern to "look again, think again".

In this film, Matthew explores the story of Tate Modern's first 10 years – how this museum came to be built in the first place, how it has helped to shift society's perceptions of art and how it has changed the scale both of audiences for art and of art itself, in the work it has commissioned for its massive Turbine Hall. And he looks ahead to the next stage of development for the Tate brand, Tate Modern 2, due to open in 2012.

Matthew talks to Sir Nicholas Serota, director of Tate; artists Olafur Eliasson and Rachel Whiteread, who have made epic-scale installations for the Turbine Hall; artist Tracey Emin, who has witnessed the transformation of the British public's attitude to art first-hand; and a range of other curators, critics, artists and theorists, including Grayson Perry, Nicolas Bourriaud, Julian Stallabrass and Adrian Searle.

Tate Modern Is 10! A Culture Show Special is simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC's High Definition channel, available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.

AH

Eurovision Song Contest Semi Final One

Tuesday 25 May

8.00-10.00pm BBC THREE

• www.bbc.co.uk/eurovision
• Feature – Interview with Josh Dubovie

Tonight sees the first of two spectacular Eurovision Song Contest semi finals live from Oslo, Norway. Performers from 17 countries will be singing their hearts out in a bid to win a place in the Grand Final on Saturday 29 May. Paddy O'Connell and Sarah Cawood bring their unique take on the glitz and glamour, the weird and the wonderful.

Paddy has an exclusive look behind the scenes, while Sarah finds out just how desperate some countries are to win. The UK's entrant, Josh Dubovie, also gives his first reactions to the Eurovision spectacle.

There's also a preview of all the songs from Thursday's second semi final in which UK viewers can vote.

Viewers can also email comments about tonight's show direct to Paddy O'Connell in his commentary box at eurobooth@bbc.co.uk and find out all the latest gossip on the competition at bbc.co.uk/eurovision.

PA/JD

Stephen Fry with a statue of Wagner as he attends the Bayreuth Festival

Stephen Fry was 10 years old when he first heard Wagner's Tannhäuser Overture on his father's record player. A revelatory experience, it ignited a lifelong passion in Stephen for Wagner's music.

In Stephen Fry On Wagner, Stephen confronts Wagner's troubled legacy and explores his fascination for this controversial composer against the backdrop of preparations for the Bayreuth Festival – the annual Wagner extravaganza held in a theatre purpose-built by the composer.

Immersing himself in preparations for the Festival, Stephen eavesdrops on rehearsals and discovers more about the music he loves. He explores the labyrinthine backstage workings of the Opera house, plays music on Wagner's own piano and meets the composer's great grand-daughter, Eva Wagner-Pasquier who, with her sister, recently took control of the Festival.

Opera On The BBC is a major new season of programmes across the BBC celebrating opera.

KS4