Programme Information

Manish Bhasin and guests discuss what's been happening in the world of football and look ahead to the weekend's fixtures.

Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are all in action in the Barclays Premier League today with Liverpool not playing until Monday, when they tackle Everton in the Merseyside derby. Manchester United suffered just four defeats on the road last season, with one coming against Bolton at the Reebok Stadium. Today is their chance to erase that memory.

In the Coca-Cola Championship, Birmingham face Cardiff while another promotion clash features a good, old-fashioned Lancashire derby with Preston meeting Burnley. In the Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League, Rangers host Falkirk, having put nine goals past the Bairns in the two meetings at Ibrox last season. Celtic travel to Aberdeen tomorrow.

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Final Score

Saturday 17 January

4.30-5.20pm BBC ONE

www.bbc.co.uk/football

Final Score brings viewers results and reports as the final whistle blows on today's football fixtures. Manchester United are at Bolton while Chelsea host Stoke.

In the Championship, Birmingham play Cardiff while Preston and Burnley face one another in a Lancashire derby.

Digital viewers can watch Final Score from 2.30pm until 6pm by pressing the Red button on their remote controls.

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Amanda Byram and Richard
Hammond bring all the action as
the latest group of competitors
face Total Wipeout

Crashes, smashes and hilarious mud splashes continue on one of television's largest and most extreme obstacle courses. Larger-than-life characters from all walks of life compete in order to win a fabulous cash prize.

Presenting from the safety of the studio, Richard Hammond is in charge as the action unfolds. Meanwhile, Amanda Byram is trackside in Argentina to talk to the brave and foolhardy contestants.

The Qualifier saw youthful contestants receive the best times. Eighteen-year-olds Sian and Perran, 22-year-old Dan and 27-year-old Johnny all succeeded in under two minutes.

Meanwhile, 55-year-old pilot and embarrassing dad Colin did a sterling job on The Qualifier. He's proven that experience and an incredibly long pair of legs are all that's needed to get through the course in super-quick time.

The Sucker Punch became a handful for all 20 of the contestants. Some laughed and some squealed but the result was always the same – a long swim through the mud.

"Old-skool raver" Chris had been taking trampoline lessons to help with the Big Balls. He confirmed that preparation is everything on this course by hitting the first Big Ball and falling off backwards!

Finally, after three rounds of intense competition, friendships are well and truly put to one side as the three finalists battled it out for the £10,000 prize.

RL

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Eurovision – Your Country Needs You Ep 3/5

Saturday 17 January

Time to be confirmed BBC ONE

Feature

Andrew Lloyd Webber watches
closely as five acts take to the
stage in a bid to become the
UK's Eurovision entry in 2009

Graham Norton tells the best of UK talent: "Your Country Needs You", as BBC One viewers vote for which act will perform at Eurovision 2009.

The stakes are high as five specially selected acts take to the stage in tonight's live show.

Their first aim is to win enough votes to stay in the competition. Next, they battle to win the contest to represent the UK against the best of Eurovision in Moscow on 16 May 2009.

Watching closely is Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, who's composing the song and has been working with each act all week, right up to the moment they go on stage.

This week, the acts are tested on some special Euro performances – complete with Eurovision gimmicks.

Once all the acts have performed, the public cast their votes. Four acts go through to next week's show, with the once-in-a-lifetime chance of becoming the UK entry for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest.

Viewers can sing along by pressing the Red button on their remote controls.

JD/PA

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Gary Lineker presents all the goals and highlights from today's Premier League fixtures.

Manchester United made the short journey to the Reebok Stadium where Bolton upset them 1-0 last season to give Gary Megson his first win as Wanderers manager. Sir Alex Ferguson would have been hoping his team could return to the form of the previous season when they came away from Bolton with a 4-0 win, courtesy of a Wayne Rooney hat-trick.

Chelsea were aiming to do the double over Stoke while the Potters' fellow Premier League newcomers, Hull, were looking for a similar achievement over Arsenal, having enjoyed a shock win at the Emirates last September.

One of Blackburn's few victories so far this season came at Newcastle. Could Rovers repeat the feat at Ewood Park? West Brom are another side who have found victories hard to come by this season. Today, they hosted Middlesbrough, having won 1-0 at the Riverside. Aston Villa were at Sunderland, while former Manchester United captain Steve Bruce took his Wigan side to the home of Manchester City. The Latics beat City 2-1 at the JJB Stadium earlier this season, thanks to a controversial penalty.

NA

BBC Switch continues with its series of six, five-minute modern interpretations of a selection of Greek myths with a teenaged slant. The stories revolve around the lives of several teenagers living in the fictional village of Delphi, with a special appearance from top girl band The Saturdays as The Syrens.

The Syrens' Call sees Odysseus finally return home from a gruelling, year-long cricket tour of the world, not suspecting that it is here, on home territory, that he will face his biggest challenge yet. Will Odysseus stay faithful to long-term girlfriend Penelope or will he fall for the Syrens' Call?

Other films in the series include: The Eye Of The Cyclops; The Fall Of Icarus; The Love Of Narcissus; and Escape From The Underworld.

Myths is a truly multi-platform experience. Viewers can watch Myths, explore the original Greek myths, get to know the characters and play the Myths quizes and games at bbc.co.uk/switch.

Interpreted by BBC Switch in-house writers, the series is a co-production with Ridley Scott's RSA Films and is directed by Henry Mason.

IV

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BBC Switch continues with UK sitcom Trexx & Flipside, starring Peter Dalton and David Ajala as two wannabe hip-hop stars.

Ollie, the record company assistant, has set up a break-through appearance for the boys on Big-Up TV. But she also has a little sister, Alesha, who needs babysitting. Trexx and Flip are roped in to help out, but are warned not to feed Alesha anything containing an E-number.

Meanwhile, arch-rival rapper B-Ice gets wind of the TV gig and his girlfriend, Chinaza, sends her two hottie friends over to visit Trexx and Flip, armed with a bag of additive-laden sweets to divert the boys' attention. So, who will step into the breach when the guys look like they're not going to show for Big-up TV? Meet the boys' best friend, the ABBA-loving Clinton.

Pete Dalton (1Xtra BBC's Mistajam) is Trexx, David Ajala is Flipside, Ashley Madekwe is Ollie, Tyrone Lewis is B-Ice, Emi Wokoma is Chinaza and Marcel McCalla is Clinton. Rich Fulcher (Bob Fossil of The Mighty Boosh) also stars as Mr Brilliance.

IV

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Neil Oliver examines the historical
power of Scottish bishops

BBC Two's fascinating historical documentary series continues to tell Scotland's history and tonight's programme reveals deft legal manoeuvring across international boundaries to ensure that the Scottish bishops retained independence.

Chess enthusiast English monarch Edward "Longshanks" believed his "endgame" was in sight. But he was about to make a tactical error by trying to bring Scotland's bishops to heel.

As presenter Neil Oliver says: "English bishops did as they were told. The English church was Edward's property ... Scotland's bishops had power that was independent of the Scottish crown and the privilege of direct appeal to the Pope himself. If Scotland became an English territory, the privilege disappeared. The Scottish bishops would have to bend the knee, tug the forelock ... And they didn't want to."

While they literally paid lip-service and kissed the English king's ring, the Scottish bishops were to be the driving force in the re-birth of Scotland's crown.

However, first, they needed a new Scottish king – someone worthy of the title but not so worthy that he couldn't contemplate something which looked dangerously like casting out a legitimate king, an ex-communicable act. They chose Robert Bruce.

Says Neil Oliver: "By 1309, Bruce had crushed resistance almost everywhere in Scotland. It was time to get on with the business of kingship ... The sheer scale of Bruce's task was becoming clear. His kingship was still in question. He was not a legend ... yet."

Legend has it that Bannockburn secured Bruce's position and Scotland's independence. However, it appears that it was the bishops who really made the man who would be King.

HM

Lark Rise To Candleford Ep 4/12

Sunday 18 January

7.00-8.00pm BBC ONE

www.bbc.co.uk/larkrise
Press pack

There are changes afoot for the residents of Lark Rise and Candleford tonight, as the popular adaptation of Flora Thomson's memoir of her Oxfordshire childhood continues.

When an accident happens on the path joining Lark Rise with Candleford, Dorcas Lane and James Dowland clash once again.

The death of Miss Ellison's father unites the two communities but, amongst the sadness, Miss Ellison is confronted with her brother, George, and a past she would really rather forget. Divided between her Christian values and her obligations to her late father, Miss Ellison struggles to know whether to follow her heart or her head.

The road is falling apart and needs to be repaired; George soon becomes the talk of the town when he steps in to help the residents of Lark Rise. James, again wanting to utilise his business, is aggravated by George's determination to "finish the job" without his help.

Meanwhile, overwhelmed with grief, Miss Ellison is oblivious to Thomas Brown's affections for her and his desire for her hand in marriage. Dorcas and Emma do all they can to bring them together, but Miss Ellison must first learn how to forgive if she is to learn how to love.

Julia Sawalha plays Dorcas Lane, Jason Merrells plays James Dowland, Sandy McDade plays Miss Ellison, Oliver Dimsdale plays George, Mark Heap plays Thomas Brown and Claudie Blakely plays Emma Timmins.

Lark Rise To Candleford is also being simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC's High Definition channel available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media. With up to five times more detail than standard definition television, HD gives you exceptionally vivid colours and crisp pictures to make Lark Rise To Candleford a truly cinematic TV experience.

GJ

Ski Sunday

Sunday 18 January

5.10-5.40pm BBC TWO

www.bbc.co.uk/sport

Ski Sunday returns for a new series, as Graham Bell and Ed Leigh host coverage of the longest and fastest race on the Alpine World Cup circuit – the men's downhill from Wengen, Switzerland.

Last year, Bode Miller joined an elite group of skiers after landing his second downhill victory on the famous Lauberhorn course. The American went on to claim the overall World Cup title.

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Adrian Chiles brings listeners all the goals and highlights from today's Barclays Premier League games, in the show that offers the last word on the weekend's football action.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was looking for an unusual double when his side faced Portsmouth this afternoon. Redknapp guided Pompey to a 2-0 win over Spurs in September, before leaving to take over at White Hart Lane. Former Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe was on the score sheet for Portsmouth that day and is likely to have featured in today's game – with some observers predicting that the England forward could return to his former club in this month's transfer window.

Today's other game was a London derby between West Ham and Fulham. The Hammers were looking for their fourth win in a row against Roy Hodgson's side, having plundered three points at Craven Cottage earlier this season in a match which saw Fulham striker Andy Johnson sent off.

There is also an opportunity to see all the goals from yesterday's games and a glance at the quirkier side of football in 2Good, 2Bad.

NA

Mia (Olivia Grant) is amused by
Moon's fear of water

Pint-sized private eye Fletcher "Half" Moon is forced to conquer his fear of water, as the comedy drama based on Artemis Fowl author Eoin Colfer's best-selling book continues.

When someone tries to sabotage training for St Jerome's star swimmer, Harriet "The Fish" Thompson, by putting purple dye in the swimming pool, Moon is determined to find the culprit. But his profound fear of water threatens to jeopardise the investigation.

Much to the amusement of ace reporter Mia, and Moon's embarrassment, it looks like he may fail to conquer his fear. Meanwhile, headmistress Quinn apprehends Harriet's fellow swimmer, Shell, and Moon's crime-busting partner, Red, ignoring their protests of innocence. But why are The Pinks so keen that the swimming trial be cancelled?

Detecting is everything to Moon. In search of the truth, he is willing to battle for the kids who can't fight for themselves – which is not always easy in the jungle that is the playground, where enemies lurk around every corner. But while Moon sticks to the rules, his crime-busting partner, Red, knows how to bend them.

Fletcher "Half" Moon is played by Rory Elrick, Harriet Thompson by Olivia Ross, Mia by Olivia Grant, Quinn by Jennifer Black, Shell by Rosie Day and Red by Seb Charles.

SS

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As Tanya finally arrives home, Max worries about how to break the news that Lauren is in the care of Social Services, in the first visit of the week to Albert Square. Ian, meanwhile, taunts Stacey about her family troubles, but finds that he has troubles of a different kind. And Peggy is aghast to discover that her purse is missing but, this time, it doesn't look like Jay is to blame.

Tanya is played by Jo Joyner, Max by Jake Wood, Lauren by Madeline Duggan, Ian by Adam Woodyatt, Stacey by Lacey Turner, Peggy by Barbara Windsor and Jay by Jamie Borthwick.

JM3

Eight complete amateurs struggle to master the art of city trading and cope with the worsening global debt crisis, as Million Dollar Traders, part of BBC Two's City Season, continues. By the end of the episode, it becomes clear that some of them are not going to make it to the end of the experiment.

Their task is a challenging one. Top city fund manager Lex Van Dam has put a million dollars of his own hard-earned cash on the table to prove a point – can ordinary people be taught to trade, and beat the professionals at their own game?

The traders have already been working hard for two weeks, but what do they have to show for it? They've lost £5,000 of Lex's money – and he's not amused.

In the opening programme of the series, the traders were given £25,000 each to play with but, as programme two begins, the figure is doubled to £50,000 – which scares the life out of the less confident traders such as Cleo Folkes, who is developing a phobia about making investments. Young vet Cleo has hardly invested any of her money and is showing the strain, battling tears of frustration as she loses her nerve time and time again.

Others, however, are more able to take risks. Shopkeeper Amit likes to think big – but the volatile world markets hit him hard and he loses money. Newly retired soldier Mike Tovell, meanwhile, tries to make some money when the conflict in Georgia breaks out, and retired IT expert Simon Brew reckons chocolate is worth investing in when times are hard. Environmentalist Sam Duby, however, has problems with capitalism, but single mum of twins, Caroline Taysom, and bright economics student Ohi Imoukhuede keep their heads down and ride the storm caused by the growing debt crisis.

But coping in the city is about managing pressure as well as doing your sums. By the end of the episode, one man is at his wits' end and decides to tell Lex that he's had enough.

JF

Born Survivors returns to BBC Three with a new series of hard-hitting and inspiring TV documentaries in which young people forced to live with serious issues reveal their strategies for survival. The documentaries, which tackle the subjects of young motherhood, eating disorders and under-age drinking, tell the extraordinary stories of young people surviving whatever life throws at them and gives them a unique opportunity to talk candidly about their experiences and determination to change their lives.

In this second episode, Emma is 15 years old, 5ft 7 inches and weighs just seven and a half stone. In 12 months, she's lost 14lbs. Six months ago, Emma admitted that she'd stopped eating and she blamed her dad, Grant.

Weighing in at 22-and-a-half stone, Grant is clinically obese. Discovering that his own weight was at the root of his only daughter's illness was devastating for him.

An eating disorder is a complex mental illness and, despite the fact that one in 20 young women in the UK will develop an eating disorder, getting professional help is not always easy. Fortunately, living in Lancaster means Emma can be referred to EDN (Eating Disorders Network), the area's only eating disorders charity.

In weekly sessions, counsellor Sue Hind will help Emma reach a safe weight of eight-and-a-half stone. In order to help his daughter's recovery, Grant has also signed up for therapy, too. He's tried lots of diets before and they've always failed. This time, with the help of counsellor Sue Gardner, he's going to tackle his obesity once and for all.

In addition to the weekly one-to-one sessions, the family will also get together with both therapists for fortnightly family therapy. It's an opportunity to bring to the table things they find hard to talk about when they're alone at home.

Over the course of six months, the programme follows Emma as she attempts to get to her goal weight. In order to help his daughter towards recovery, Grant works hard to shed five-and-a-half stone. Observing the family dynamic, by talking to Emma, her parents and her boyfriend, My 22 Stone Dad And Skinny Me attempts to understand the growing danger of eating disorders amongst teenagers.

The documentaries are accompanied by online minisodes – two to four-minute self-contained videos, and nine short films made by young people across the country in collaboration with the Media Trust, whose themes range from homelessness and growing up in care, to cancer and gang life. Both minisodes and short films can be found at www.bbc.co.uk/bornsurvivors

FS

Professor Jim Al-Khalili travels to Iran and Syria in search of clues that reveal how Europe's scientific revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries had its roots in the earlier world of medieval Islam, as Science And Islam concludes.

It is a commonly held view that modern science began when Polish astronomer Copernicus argued that Earth and all the planets go around the sun. This flatly contradicted the prevailing view that Earth was static and at the centre of the universe and that everything in the heavens revolved around it.

In this film, Jim finds many clues in Copernicus's great book on astronomy that suggest he got a great deal of his observational and mathematical ideas from at least three Islamic astronomers.

In fact, some of Copernicus's diagrams are taken from these earlier scientists' work. Two of them, Al-Battani and Ibn al-Shatir, lived and worked in Syria, while the third, Al-Tusi, lived in Iran, but they all pre-date Copernicus by hundreds of years.

Jim's mission is to uncover the largely forgotten but hugely important contribution of these astronomers to our understanding of the world. He sees the exquisite sundial, designed by Ibn Al-Shatir, that sits on top of a minaret in the great mosques in Damascus having long been believed to have been destroyed.

He also travels into the hills of northern Iran to visit an archaeological dig, which has uncovered a secret scientific community from medieval times.

And he visits the remains of one of the most influential observatories of the Islamic world. It was built by Al-Tusi, one of the astronomers whose ideas would heavily influence Copernicus.

Having found evidence of the debt the modern world owes Islamic science, Jim investigates why science in the Islamic world appears to go into decline after the 16th and 17th centuries and then reveals how, today, it is, in fact, alive and well and still guided by the principles of common learning.

LG

The teen spies learn more about Oscar's secretive past this week, as the exciting secret agent series continues.

Oscar's photograph has been uploaded onto the internet and has been seen by the wrong eyes – those of the Grand Master, who sends Agent X, the world's most notorious agent, after Oscar.

Team boss Frank London has calculated that Agent X, who has never failed a mission, will be at St Hope's School in four hours. Oscar must escape immediately – never to return. Determined to save their new colleague, Carrie and Rose persuade Frank to let them find Agent X before he gets to Oscar.

Starting at Oscar's old house, they find that Agent X is one step ahead of them at every turn. Much cleverer than they expected, it looks like the notorious spy is winning.

Oscar is reluctant to tell Rose and Carrie what really happened to his mum – they've long suspected that he was not telling them everything – but if the girls are to prevent Agent X from kidnapping him, or worse, Oscar will have to tell them his secrets.

Oscar is played by Ben Kerfoot, The Grand Master by Julian Bleach, Agent X by Mia Clifford, Frank London by Jonny Freeman, Carrie by Charlene Osuagwu and Rose by Rachel Petladwala.

VT

Tanya is desperate to get Lauren back, in tonight's visit to Albert Square, but at what cost?

Elsewhere, Jane has a solution to Christian and Ian's business troubles, and Billy is at the end of his tether with Janine, as she appears to have reverted to her old ways.

Tanya is played by Jo Joyner, Lauren by Madeline Duggan, Jane by Laurie Brett, Christian by John Partridge, Ian by Adam Woodyatt, Billy by Perry Fenwick and Janine by Charlie Brooks.

JM3

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Ric (Hugh Quarshie) begins a
zero-tolerance policy towards
violence

After a security guard is killed by a junkie, Ric begins a zero-tolerance policy towards violence and to people who won't help themselves, in this week's visit to Holby. After refusing to operate on an obese man, Ric must face the press and new board member, Mr Carr.

Linden, meanwhile, goes to confession and struggles with his conscience over his longing for Faye. He later tells her they must talk, but backs out at the last minute.

Elsewhere, Joseph thinks Jac may be pregnant, when she says she feels queasy and faint in theatre, and finds her a pregnancy testing kit.

Ric Griffin is played by Hugh Quarshie, Linden Cullen by Duncan Pow, Faye Morton by Patsy Kensit, Joseph Byrne by Luke Roberts and Jac by Rosie Marcel.

JM3

Davina's reputation at Waterloo Road is at stake, as the drama set in a school continues. She is is accused of racism by a Maori supply teacher, Maaka Lacey, with an alternative approach to teaching. Their relationship rapidly deteriorates and, with just her word against an experienced teacher's, will she be able to clear her name?

Tom, meanwhile, is unable to keep his struggle with the Kellys out of Waterloo Road when a determined Earl pushes him to breaking point at school, leading Tom to question his future as Head of Pastoral Care. He suffers a further blow when Chlo and Donte announce they are selling the family home – the Kellys have driven them out.

On top of a testing day for her teachers, Rachel receives a shock that leaves her reeling when she learns that her sister, Melissa, and Eddie are an item. Rachel struggles to hide her true feelings.

Later, an ill-thought out lie from Steph to save her from the clutches of Security Dave spells the end for Grantly's marriage, and Maxine is pulling the wool over Steph's eyes when it comes to her relationship with Earl.

Tom and Davina decide to buy the house from Chlo and Donte. However, there's a nasty shock in store when they return home – a dead bird is lying on their doorstep. Earl has been busy again...

Davina Shackleton is played by Christine Tremarco, Maaka Lacey by Sheraiah Larcher, Tom Clarkson by Jason Done, Earl Kelly by Reece Noi, Chlo Grainger by Katie Griffiths, Donte Charles by Adam Thomas, Rachel Mason by Eva Pope, Melissa Ryan by Katy Carmichael, Eddie Lawson by Neil Morrissey, Steph Haydock by Denise Welch, Dave Miller by Tim Healy, Grantly Budgen by Philip Martin Brown and Maxine Barlow by Ellie Paskell.

SM2

Dot is anxious about how Jim will react to the surprise of meeting their granddaughter, in tonight's visit to Walford.

Tanya, meanwhile, hatches a plan to obtain Lauren's new phone number, but needs a helping hand. And Christian is frustrated when Ian doesn't share his vision for the business.

Dot is played by June Brown, Tanya by Jo Joyner, Lauren by Madeline Duggan, Christian by John Partridge and Ian by Adam Woodyatt.

JM3

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Maddy (Caroline Quentin) and
Jim (Neil Dudgeon) continue to
live the Life Of Riley

Maddy's husband, Jim, decides that her ex-husband, Robbie, is his new best friend, as the comedy starring Caroline Quentin and Neil Dudgeon as a couple who are settling down to married life – and their new extended family – continues.

While Jim and Robbie bond by putting up shelves, Maddy's stepson, Danny, decides to come out of the closet.

Maddy is played by Caroline Quentin, Jim by Neil Dudgeon, Robbie by Mark Powley and Danny by Taylor Fawcett.

JP

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Mickey wants Albert out of prison and back with the gang, as the drama about a group of con artists continues. The team plans the perfect welcome-home present; a holiday funded by conning the Honourable Sir Anthony Kent, a corrupt judge who famously presided over the notorious Fortness gold-bullion robbery in the Nineties. Rumour has it that the accused offered Kent a cut of the treasure in return for a lenient sentence, but Kent never got his hands on his bounty.

Ash is unable to front the con due to Kent sending him to prison several years earlier, so it's left to Emma to work the inside with Mickey, and Ash to babysit an over-enthusiastic Sean.

Posing as a journalist, Mickey tells Kent one of the infamous robbers has a secret love child who could have all the answers to where the gold is and, more importantly, how he can get his hands on it. However, the information comes at a price – £100,000!

Meanwhile, keen to learn the tricks of the trade, Sean is on a separate mission with Ash at a local casino, where they set about conning a gullible gambling addict.

However, the team's efforts could all be in vain as Albert's freedom is put in jeopardy. He has been accused of fronting an illegal betting ring only a week before his parole hearing. Despite all Albert's best efforts to impress her, it seems the Governor has finally got the evidence she needs to keep him behind bars for good.

Mickey Bricks is played by Adrian Lester, Anthony Kent by Tim McInnerny, Ash Morgan by Robert Glenister, Emma Kennedy by Kelly Adams, Sean Kennedy by Matt Di Angelo and The Governor by Lucy Ackhurst.

PPR

Prince Manvendra, Prince Africa
Zulu and Prince Remigius
continue in their quest to find true
love

Three bona fide bachelor princes from across the globe – Crown Prince Manvendra from India, His Royal Highness Prince Africa Zulu of Onkweni Royal House, Zululand, South Africa and His Royal Highness Prince Remigius of Jaffna, Sri Lanka – continue their search for true love in the UK.

Taking jobs as a barman, a waiter and a hotel housekeeper and sharing a terraced house in Brighton, without their trusty servants at their beck and call, the three princes hit the singles scene as they trawl the bars and clubs, join internet dating sites and even try their hand at speed dating in their bid to find princesses amid "commoners".

However, having failed to make progress so far, the princes step up a gear in their undercover love quest. And, by the end of the week, they aim to find genuine contenders to share their throne – with the help of some experts, including learning the art of the chat-up line from the pick-up artists.

Without their servants, the princes have to cook a meal for two single girls who come to visit, which involves a lot of raw meat and a microwave.

Tonight's episode sees a surprise when gay Crown Prince Manvendra has a dalliance with heterosexuality, but it is his escapades with another man and some yoghurt that lead his royal housemates to urge him to renounce his title.

Luckily, all is resolved in time for a house party the princes are throwing, in order to get as many singles round as possible. But Prince Africa is more concerned that guests have seen and signed his rules of conduct, requesting "no lewd behaviour".

Prince Remigius is successful when delving into the world of internet dating for the first time – his advisors would normally "source" potential partners for him – while Prince Africa gives new meaning to the term "booty call" by having several girls hang up on him within the space of 10 minutes.

Narrated by Dawn Porter, The Undercover Princes follows the compelling antics of three very different royals on one extraordinary mission.

CI2

Janine (Charlie Brooks) continues
to squabble with Ronnie

Tanya finally manages to see Lauren, but the troubled teen won't return home, in this week's last visit to Walford.

Meanwhile, Janine and Ronnie's squabbles reach a surprising conclusion and Jane and Christian continue to plot their business venture behind Ian's back.

Tanya is played by Jo Joyner, Lauren by Madeleine Duggan, Janine by Charlie Brooks, Ronnie by Samantha Janus, Jane by Laurie Brett, Christian by John Partridge and Ian by Adam Woodyatt.

JM3

Pete Owen Jones continues his epic journey examining belief around the world. In tonight's episode, he reaches the Middle East and encounters an unknown side to a part of the world often scarred by religious strife.

In a moving and thought-provoking film, Pete travels to Israel where he meets the African-Americans who've settled in the Holy Land to live by the principles of the Old Testament – including polygamy.

He also ventures to Syria to explore Islam and the Sufi Whirling Dervishes; to Samaria to witness the 3,000-year-old Passover sacrifice; and to northern Iraq to track down the ancient and obscure Yazidi sect with its curious reputation for devil-worship.

Pete also visits Jerusalem, revered as the ultimate city of spiritual power, where he takes part in two great rituals – the Christian Via Dolorosa and the Jewish Purim festival.

JP2

Folk America Ep 1/3

Friday 23 January

9.00-10.00pm BBC FOUR

www.bbc.co.uk/music

Folk America is a landmark documentary series which tells the epic story of the American folk revival from the Twenties to the Sixties, and how nostalgia for a lost past became bound up with the idea of progress – or why America wears blue jeans.

Tonight's opening episode, Birth Of A Nation, focuses on a golden age for American music – in a release of pent-up energy, artists such as the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Mississippi John Hurt, Charlie Poole and Dock Boggs burst onto the recording scene, eager to share in the riches of the new record industry.

Most lapsed into obscurity again when the Depression struck, virtually closing the record industry. Contributors include Anna Lomax (daughter of folklorist Alan Lomax), the surviving relations of Twenties greats such as Mississippi John Hurt, the Carter Family and Uncle Dave Macon, plus three actual survivors of the era: guitarist Slim Bryant, now aged 99; banjoist Wade Mainer, aged 101; and Delta bluesman "Honeyboy" Edwards.

The series continues with This Land Is Your Land, covering the increasingly political side of folk after the Depression, featuring the emergence of Leadbelly, Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger. It concludes with Blowin' In The Wind, which details how folk was picked up by the likes of The Kingston Trio, before Bob Dylan and Joan Baez took over and a new generation threw themselves into the Civil Rights Movement, their equivalent of the idealism of the singers of the Thirties and Forties.

Contributors to the series include Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Odetta, Tom Paxton, John Sebastian, Roger McGuinn, Robbie Robertson, Country Joe and members of The Kingston Trio, The Mamas And The Papas and Peter, Paul And Mary.

The Barbican is hosting two concerts to accompany the series. Highlights from the first of these shows follow this first episode. BBC Four is also broadcasting a range of archive documentaries and sessions on American folk music.

IW

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Folk America At The Barbican

Friday 23 January

10.00-11.00pm BBC FOUR

www.bbc.co.uk/music

Seasick Steve, The Wiyos, Cedric Watson And Bijoux Creole, C.W. Stoneking, Diana Jones and Allison Williams And Chance McCoy perform in the first of two concerts from London's Barbican Centre which accompanies the BBC Four series Folk America.

Folk America – Hollerers, Stompers & Old-Time Ramblers showcases an eclectic line-up of performers reviving the old-time musical traditions first recorded in the American South in the Twenties.

The concert features mountain string band music, vaudeville swing, junk shop blues, creole dance tunes and folk country ballads, all delivered energetically and with a fresh twist.

Produced by the Barbican in association with BBC Four, the Folk America concerts are a celebration of the enduring influence of American folk music and a chance to see fresh young talent as well as bona fide legends performing live.

The second concert, Greenwich Village Revisited, featuring performances from Judy Collins, Roger McGuinn and Eric Andersen, among others, will focus on the Sixties folk revival, centring upon the extraordinary singer-songwriter talents that emerged from the clubs of New York's Greenwich Village and beyond. The line-up of originals, and those they inspired, delves into the extraordinary songbook that has proved a rich legacy of the times.

Folk America is a landmark documentary series which tells the epic story of the American folk revival from the Twenties to the Sixties.

IW