Wednesday 24 Sep 2014
Programme Information
Network TV BBC Week 50: 12-18 December
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 50: Unplaced
BBC THREE Unplaced
Move Like Michael Jackson Ep 1/6
Michael Jackson was a legend – one of the world's most successful singers and an amazing dancer too. Tonight, to celebrate the greatest performer in the history of pop, who died earlier this year, BBC Three begins the search for the UK's best dance act – someone who can move as well as Michael in his prime. Hosted by Reggie Yates, this unique contest has dancers battling it out to win an amazing opportunity – to perform with the world's superstars at the Michael Jackson official tribute concert in 2010.
Dance Experts travel from the streets of Glasgow to the playing fields of Cardiff and from the bus stops of Manchester to the shopping malls of London to find the UK's best dancers.
Solo performers, duos and crews all attempt to dance their way to a place in the studio shows, but first they have to impress legendary choreographer Lavelle Smith Junior, who worked with Michael for more than 20 years, and Mark Summers, who had been tasked with finding the UK's most talented dancers for Michael Jackson's This Is It tour.
The best are invited to call backs – it's their final chance to win a place in the studio shows and perform for Jermaine Jackson – Michael's brother – as well as singer Jamelia.
Reggie goes to America to meet those who worked with Michael and find out exactly why he was the king of dance. The day starts with 25 acts, but only eight will make it through to the studio shows.
CS
Dancers battle it out in the auditions of this unique contest, hosted by Reggie Yates, to win an amazing opportunity – to perform with the world's superstars at the Michael Jackson official tribute concert in 2010.
Tonight, the programme's dance experts scour the UK for the best dancers, and another 25 talented dance acts are brought to London for the call backs, but only eight will be selected by dance agent Mark Summers and multi-award-winning choreographer and dancer Lavelle Smith Junior to perform in the studio shows.
CS
Tonight, the first eight dance acts compete in the studio for a place in the final of Move Like Michael Jackson, as the unique contest in which dancers battle it out for the chance to perform at the official Michael Jackson tribute concert in 2010, continues.
Trained by the legendary Lavelle Smith Junior – Michael's choreographer for more than 20 years – they've got one chance to impress the judges. Deciding who goes through is Michael's brother, Jermaine Jackson, R&B pop star Jamelia and European casting director for Michael's This is It concerts, Mark Summers.
Which dancers will win a place in the live final and move a step closer to performing at the official Michael Jackson tribute concert?
CS
It's the second studio semi-final and another eight dance acts battle it out to win a place in the live final, as this unique contest, hosted by Reggie Yates, continues.
Whether they're solo performers or crews, all the dancers are inspired by Michael Jackson, but who has the talent, the technique and the charisma to win over the judges? Michael's brother Jermaine Jackson, Jamelia and dance casting agent Mark Summers will decide which dancers deserve a place in the live final and a chance to perform at the official Michael Jackson tribute concert.
CS
Network TV BBC Week 50: Saturday 12 December 2009
BBC ONE Saturday 12 December 2009
When the fires of Idirsholas burn for the first time in 300 years, Gaius fears a sorcerer has revived the deadly Knights of Medhir, in the penultimate episode of the magical family drama. Morgause has returned, hell-bent on ending Uther's reign.
Arthur and Merlin ride out to face the Knights and barely escape with their lives. Upon returning home, they find everyone in Camelot is under a strange enchantment – all except for Morgana. Could she be behind the magic which threatens the Kingdom? As Morgause and her Knights attack a helpless Camelot, Merlin's loyalties are stretched to the limit.
Gaius is played by Richard Wilson, Morgause by Emilia Fox, Uther by Anthony Head, Arthur by Bradley James, Merlin by Colin Morgan and Morgana by Katie McGrath.
LH2
Strictly Come Dancing
With the title of Strictly Come Dancing Champions 2009 in their sights, the three remaining couples compete in the semi-final and penultimate show in this year's series. Viewers will be on the edge of their seats to see who will make it through to the final and be crowned the overall winners.
The competition is shaping up to be tougher than ever with each couple having to undertake two dances to win over the viewers and impress the judging panel of Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood, Alesha Dixon, Bruno Tonioli and Darcey Bussell.
Tonight's programme also promises an exclusive performance from the one and only Lily Allen singing It's Not Fair.
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
Competition for the fellowship hots up and the pressure is intense for the F2s, as the medical drama continues. Lagging behind the others, Yuki desperately needs to prove himself and, when a work outing goes disastrously wrong, he gets exactly the chance he needs.
Yuki is failing fast in the race for the fellowship and his mentor, Zoe, blames it on his lovesick glances for May. She challenges him to ask her out for a drink. However, a coach-load of crash victims proves a serious distraction.
Jim, a young man who sabotaged the bus with his best mate, Pete, for a laugh, is horrified when Becky – a girl he fancies – dies in the crash. He confesses all to Yuki, who advises him to do the right thing, but puts himself in danger in the process.
Meanwhile, Jordan is desperate to return to the resus room from his exile in admin. Outside the hospital, he is recognised by a man who collapses in front of him. Once revived, it's clear the man has no idea who he is. Unable to get hold of Adam, who is at a school play with Jessica, Jordan decides to deal with the patient himself. But can he cope with the stressful conditions in resus?
Elsewhere, Polly attends Alistair's funeral with his friend, Abe – who is delighted when she arrives knowing that she was the only important person in Alistair's life. When she discovers exactly how fantastical he imagined their relationship to be, however, she snaps – revealing exactly what went on between them. A disgusted Abe promises to tell the hospital, threatening Polly's career.
Yuki is played by Will Sharpe, Zoe by Sunetra Sarker, May by Laura Aikman, Jim by Danny Worters, Pete by Andrew Thomas Jones, Becky by Sarah Callyn, Jordan by Michael French, Adam by Tristan Gemmill, Jessica by Gillian Kearney, Polly by Sophia di Martino and Abe by Joe McGann.
JM3
BBC TWO Saturday 12 December 2009
As the election looms, and the opposition is eyeing the prize, the word around the Westminster village is that Malcolm Tucker is running out of both options and friends, as Armando Iannucci's political comedy concludes.
He may have bitten off more than he can chew with Steve Fleming but, when an offer of help appears from an unlikely direction, Malcolm starts to set his finest trap yet.
David Haig guest stars in tonight's episode.
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 50: Sunday 13 December 2009
BBC ONE Sunday 13 December 2009
Viewers are invited to raise their voices and join Aled Jones and his guests for a spectacular Christmas Big Sing from London's Royal Albert Hall. Opera superstar Bryn Terfel sings the beautiful German carol Still, Still, Still; gospel diva Ruby Turner joins forces with the Adventist Vocal Ensemble; and Jodie Prenger, winner of the BBC's popular reality TV show I'd Do Anything, sings her version of O Holy Night.
Plus a choir of almost 1,000 voices and the Big Sing Orchestra lead a packed auditorium of more than 5,000 Songs Of Praise viewers in some of the best-loved Christmas carols, including Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, O Christmas Tree and Joy To The World.
FD
Sports Personality Of The Year
Live from the Sheffield Arena, Sue Barker, Gary Lineker and Jake Humphrey present the biggest-ever Sports Personality Of The Year, bringing a celebration of the best moments from an exceptional year of sport.
The evening climaxes with the presentation of the most prestigious award in British sport when the Sports Personality Of The Year is crowned – an award chosen by the viewers live on the night from a shortlist of 10 contenders. This year's race promises to be one of the closest for years.
The year has seen Britain's Jenson Button crowned world Formula 1 champion for the first time, while England's cricketers regained the Ashes and their female counterparts claimed a clean sweep of the Ashes, the World Cup and the World Twenty20.
Jessica Ennis and Phillips Idowu both collected gold at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin; Andy Murray reached No. 2 in the world tennis rankings; Tom Daley won a world diving title at the age of just 15; and Ireland celebrated a first Six Nations grand slam in 61 years.
David Haye became Britain's first world heavyweight champion since 2003 by beating a seven-foot opponent; Beth Tweddle thrilled the home crowd with a gold medal at the World Gymnastics Championships; and Ryan Giggs inspired Manchester United to yet another Premiership title.
This year is the biggest in the 56-year history of Sports Personality Of The Year with an audience of nearly 11,000, and it's the first time the event has ever been staged in Yorkshire. The glittering cast list also includes many of the world's biggest sporting names – including many of the former winners such as Joe Calzaghe, Lord Sebastian Coe, Sir Chris Hoy, Paula Radcliffe, Sir Steve Redgrave and Dame Kelly Holmes.
As well as the main award of Sports Personality of the Year, other awards include a special Lifetime Achievement Award, which will honour one of the world's true sporting legends. And further awards will be made to the Team Of The Year, Coach Of The Year, Overseas Sports Personality, Young Sports Personality Of The Year, Sports Unsung Hero, the Helen Rollason Award for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity and a surprise Special Award.
SB4
Small Island Ep 2/2
Hortense struggles to adjust to her new life in London in the concluding part of Small Island, adapted from Andrea Levy's best-selling, award-winning novel of the same name and starring Naomie Harris, David Oyelowo, Ruth Wilson, Benedict Cumberbatch and Ashley Walters.
As she wakes up to the sound of rats running on the floor above the room she shares with Gilbert, Hortense realises that her sweet dreams of England's promise are over.
Having encountered racism throughout his stay in London, Gilbert worries about what might happen to Hortense and asks their landlady and friend, Queenie, to look after her. Queenie obliges and consequently witnesses the racist attitudes to Hortense first-hand.
Things continue on a downward spiral for Hortense when her hopes of becoming a teacher in England are dashed. Even though she has received a private education and teacher training in Jamaica, she finds herself coldly rejected by the education authority. However, even though Gilbert has dreamt of studying in England, he selflessly declares that he will give up his plans to study so Hortense can retrain. Grateful for his sacrifice, Hortense begins to see the finer qualities of the man she so casually married and wonders if she could, in fact, one day love Gilbert.
Meanwhile, Queenie is shocked when she comes home to find Bernard on her doorstep, years after he went missing. His return forces Queenie to think seriously about how she will handle the dark secret that she has been harbouring.
Bernard struggles to cope with Gilbert and Hortense living in his house and a furious argument ensues after he is caught rifling through their room. The commotion sends a pregnant Queenie into labour and Hortense has to deliver the baby while Gilbert tries to find a doctor.
Shocked to discover the baby is black, Hortense jumps to the wrong conclusion and runs into the night. However, Gilbert convinces Hortense that he is not the father and they both return to Queenie's side. Queenie knows that she cannot keep her baby and turns to the Josephs for the ultimate sacrifice that will bind them together for the rest of their lives.
Hortense is played by Naomie Harris; Gilbert by David Oyelowo; Queenie by Ruth Wilson; Bernard by Benedict Cumberbatch; and Michael by Ashley Walters.
Small Island is simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC's High Definition channel, available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.
LH2
BBC TWO Sunday 13 December 2009
Athletics – European Cross-Country Championships
Jonathan Edwards introduces live coverage of the senior women's race at the European cross-country championships, as three-time junior winner Steph Twell leads the British challenge in Dublin.
Twell ended her junior career at last year's event in Brussels with an unprecedented third successive individual title, helping Great Britain clinch a record haul of 12 medals. Twell has endured a difficult first year in the senior ranks but is vying for an upset against Dutch defending champion Hilda Kibet and recently crowned world steeplechase gold medallist Marta Dominguez of Spain.
There is also full coverage on the Red Button of the junior and Under-23 races from 10.15am, as well as Mo Farah's attempt to regain the men's senior title from eight-time champion Sergey Lebid at 2.25pm. Highlights of Mo Farah's race will be shown during the mid-session interval of the snooker at approximately 3pm.
Commentary is provided by Steve Cram and Brendan Foster.
CH2
Ski Sunday returns for another winter season as Graham Bell and Ed Leigh host coverage of the Men's Super Giant Slalom from the French resort of Val D'Isere.
Last year's overall World Cup champion, Aksel Lund-Svindal of Norway, will be battling it out for the title with American legend Bode Miller and Didier Cuche of Switzerland – already a winner on the tour this year. It will be a busy year for the world's top racers as they gear up for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver next February.
CH2
Network TV BBC Week 50: Monday 14 December 2009
BBC ONE Monday 14 December 2009
An alien encounter, an attractive newcomer and a fancy dress party are among the farmyard adventures provided by Shaun and his friends, as the current run of the popular stop-motion animation series draws to a close this week.
Everything must go on Monday when the farmer sets up a stall by the side of the road and leaves Bitzer in charge. The lazy sheepdog soon tires of his role and gives Shaun the job. He proves to be a much better salesman than Bitzer and the flock are only too happy to get stuck in, selling pretty much all the farmer's worldly possessions.
Tuesday sees the farmer throw a fancy-dress house party for his birthday. When Bitzer loses all the invitations, however, Shaun saves the day again. Disguised in their own ingenious costumes, the sheep stand in as the guests and have a good old knees-up. But can they fool the farmer into believing he is surrounded by his friends?
On Wednesday, two bungling alien scientists transport Pidsley the cat and Shaun aboard their flying saucer. Unfortunately, a foolish error causes the aliens to swap the animals' brains around. Shaun and Pidsley are dumped back to Earth, not realising they are in the wrong bodies – leading to much confusion around the farm before the aliens return to correct their mistake.
Shaun is smitten on Thursday when a bedraggled new sheep lands among the flock. After a wash in the sheep dip, the newcomer turns out to be quite attractive and Shaun immediately falls head over hoof for her. While Bitzer goes on a journey to find her rightful owner, the flock are kept amused by Shaun's romantic antics.
Finally, on Friday, Bitzer's kennel is accidentally destroyed and the canny canine hopes the farmer will replace it with a new deluxe model. But when he sees his master's clumsy attempt to build a new kennel, Bitzer is so horrified that he packs his bags and leaves home. Shaun, however, hopes to tempt Bitzer to return with the kennel of his dreams.
VT
Ian struggles to cope without Jane, in tonight's first visit of the week to Albert Square. With a little help from Lucy, however, he is determined to find her and bring her home.
Elsewhere, Billy's festive cheer is on the wane as he faces stiff market competition from Mo, while Honey is reluctant to let him see his children over the Christmas period.
Ian is played by Adam Woodyatt, Jane by Laurie Brett, Lucy by Melissa Suffield, Billy by Perry Fenwick and Mo by Laila Morse.
JM3
Primates come under the Life spotlight tonight, as the BBC Natural History Unit series, narrated by David Attenborough, concludes.
Intelligence and adaptability allow primates to tackle the many challenges of life. Hamadryas baboons live in groups up to 400 strong, as numbers give them some protection from potential predators. There can be all-out battle with other baboon troupes, as males try to steal females from one another.
Japanese macaques beat the freezing conditions in their northerly habitat by having access to a thermal spa in the middle of winter. But this privilege is only for those born of the right female bloodline.
For western lowland gorillas in Congo, it's the male silverback that leads his family group. He advertises his status with a powerful chest-beating display.
The tarsier is the only purely carnivorous primate. Hunting for insects in the night, this strange creature uses its huge forward-facing eyes to judge each jump from tree to tree.
Communication is essential for success in primate society. Phayre's leaf monkeys have bright orange babies to alert other group members that they need looking after. Ring-tailed lemurs use their sense of smell for seduction, wafting their perfumed tails at each other.
Orang-utan mothers spend up to nine years teaching their infants what to eat, where to travel safely, how to build a nest and even how to deal with the regular downpours.
The biggest breakthrough in primate evolution has been the ability to use tools to get food. Clams are normally too strong for white-faced capuchins to open with their hands and teeth, so they repeatedly hammer them to weaken the clams' muscle.
The most imaginative tool use is displayed by the chimpanzees in the forests of Guinea, West Africa. They have learnt to dip for ants, pound and soften palm hearts using leaf stalks and to hammer nuts with precision and efficiency. So valuable are their tools, they will even share them with one another.
Tonight's diary section, Ninety-Nine Per Cent, shows how it took a month of intense effort for camerawoman Justine Evans, primatologist Tatyana Humle and the Life crew to earn the trust of our closest living relatives and capture some unforgettable chimpanzee behaviour.
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 14 December 2009
The discovery of a handsome stranger's lost wallet in a joke shop prompts one of Miranda and Stevie's infamous competitions, as the semi-autobiographical writing of comedy actress Miranda Hart concludes. Who will win over gorgeous "wallet-man" – will it be Stevie's allure or Miranda's wiles? It takes a Great Dane, a self-defence challenge and some partial nudity in the park to find out.
Meanwhile, the girls' planned trip to Henley Regatta leaves Miranda determined to prove she can cope in a tricky social situation, even without the help of her mother, Penny's, social training or "musical contraceptives". But can she do it in time? Gary is leaving for Hong Kong and his farewell party is Miranda's last chance to tell him how she really feels.
Miranda is played by Miranda Hart, Stevie by Sarah Hadland, "wallet man" by Phillip Brodie, Penny by Patricia Hodge and Gary by Tom Ellis.
RD4
Charles Saatchi's six chosen artists embark on their final and most important commission this week – to put on a group exhibition at his world-famous gallery in West London.
The artists must prove to Saatchi that they can create artwork that is truly original and worthy of appearing in his gallery and being unveiled to key figures from the art world.
In only three weeks they not only have to create the artwork, but also organise the event themselves. At the exhibition, Saatchi will select just one artist's work to join his current exhibition of new British art at the renowned Hermitage Museum, in St Petersburg.
One artist faces disaster when Saatchi deems his work too dangerous to exhibit. Another attempts the massive undertaking of building a full-scale caravan from scrap wood but finds it might just be too big a task. Another discovers the perfect piece of work while walking down an urban street, but can the council be persuaded to sell it?
Influential curator Ralph Rugoff, director of the Hayward Gallery, advises them how to organise the exhibition and their artwork. Plans are moving forward, but he's appalled by the invitation they plan to send to the art world's elite.
The original selection panel, which includes Tracey Emin, reassembles to help Saatchi with his final decision. They are impressed by the overall standard of work on display. There is one particularly stand-out piece, but that artist's work throughout the 10 weeks has certainly not been the most impressive. Another artist's final piece isn't quite up to scratch, but the panel feel their progress throughout has been excellent.
Charles has a major dilemma – there's only space for one of them at his exhibition in Russia, as well as the additional opportunity of studio space for three years. All is not lost, however, as he has a final surprise up his sleeve...
KA
BBC FOUR Monday 14 December 2009
Pete Postlethwaite stars as an elderly man living in the nightmarish, post-apocalyptic world of 2055, in the première of this drama documentary which was first released in cinemas in March of this year.
Runaway climate change has ravaged the planet, and Pete Postlethwaite plays the founder of The Global Archive, a storage facility located in the now melted Arctic, preserving all of humanity's achievements in the hope that the planet might become habitable again.
Pulling together clips of "archive" news and documentary from 1950 to 2008, he focuses on contrasting human stories across the globe.
These include palaeontologist Alvin Du Vernay helping Shell find more oil off the coast of New Orleans. He also rescued more than 100 people after Hurricane Katrina, which by 2055 is well known as one of the first "major climate change events".
Meanwhile, in India, Jeh Wadia aims to start up a new low-cost airline with the aim of getting millions of Indians flying. Layefa Malemi lives in absolute poverty in a small village in Nigeria from which Shell extracts millions of dollars of oil every week, and Piers Guy is a wind farm developer from Cornwall, fighting the "Nimbys" of middle England.
A campaigning film being shown by the BBC as part of its coverage of the Copenhagen climate conference, The Age Of Stupid is directed by Franny Armstrong (McLibel, Drowned Out) and produced by Oscar-winning producer John Battsek (One Day In September, Live Forever, In The Shadow Of The Moon).
BR/LS2
Network TV BBC Week 50: Tuesday 15 December 2009
BBC ONE Tuesday 15 December 2009
Billy is feeling rejected by the Mitchells and overwhelmed by Archie's generosity, in tonight's visit to Walford. Archie and Janine persuade him to keep quiet about the news he overheard.
Meanwhile, Abi learns of Max's deceit to the residents of Albert Square. Understanding Max's desperation she tries her best to make amends.
Billy is played by Perry Fenwick, Archie by Larry Lamb, Janine by Charlie Brooks, Abi by Lorna Fitzgerald and Max by Jake Wood.
JM3
When Judith's teenage son, Connor, is admitted to the hospital with alcohol poisoning, Mark does his best to support her, as the medical drama continues. As Connor is stabilised, Mark helps Judith and ex-husband Paul reach an uneasy truce.
Penny is affronted when Elliot accuses her of being too close to Scott, but when Scott steps in to help her with an aggressive patient, she has to face the truth – Elliot is right.
Meanwhile, Maria wants to impress Daisha and go on a course to become a senior nurse. When Donna lets her down on the ward, Maria wonders why she remains so supportive to a friend who doesn't really support her.
Judith is played by Shelagh McLeod, Mark by Robert Powell, Penny by Emma Catherwood, Elliot by Paul Bradley, Scott by Joshua Bowman, Maria by Phoebe Thomas, Daisha by Rebecca Grant and Donna by Jaye Jacobs.
JM3
The team are still reeling over the consequences of the last set of images, aware that their intervention means a violent attacker, Stuart Taylor, is on the loose, as the high-concept, high-octane investigative drama continues.
More images arrive in the control room showing two dead bodies; one is a charred corpse and the second is twisted and broken from a fall. Other images include a petrol canister, a safety strap and a fire hydrant marker, leading the team to believe they are looking at a future fire.
While Ben and Rebecca focus on the job in hand, Callum cannot get Taylor out of his mind. He becomes convinced he has been given instructions by a higher power to protect Sonia, a beautician who he fears is in danger, but she finds his behaviour strange and demands he leaves her alone.
Back at the control room, Dr Christian King tells the team he has identified one of the images as a set of glass doors and he believes he can find their location through triangulation. As the team works quickly to track this down, Rebecca is confronted with an awful decision...
Stuart Taylor is played by Jonathan Slinger, DS Ben Holt by Mark Bonnar, DI Rebecca Flint by Tamzin Outhwaite, DC Callum Gada by Chiké Okonkwo, Sonya by Andi Osho and Dr Christian King by Emun Elliott.
PPR
As he approaches the 40th anniversary of his debut at Covent Garden, Plácido Domingo rehearses in Berlin for his first baritone role since his youth. He talks to Alan Yentob extensively about the development of the singer's voice, through lyric and dramatic tenor parts, through lower German "heldentenor" roles down into the baritone range today.
Domingo has picked out a number of roles that he considers his greatest and Yentob discusses many of them with him – from Don Jose in Carmen through Ramirez in La fanciulla del West, Cavaradossi in Tosca, the eponymous Hoffman, Lohengrin and Andrea Chenier, Samson in Samson et Dalilah and, what many critics consider his crowning achievement, Verdi's Otello. In this revealing interview, Domingo talks movingly and in detail about his reasons for singling out these particular roles and the passions that keep him pushing the boundaries, when he has already achieved more than any other operatic singer in history.
Contributors include conductor Zubin Mehta, who references Domingo as "simply the greatest singer of the 20th and 21st"; Dame Kiri Te Kanawa; and the other two "Three Tenors", Jose Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti (in archive interview).
AH
BBC FOUR Tuesday 15 December 2009
Comedienne Miranda Hart competes with poet and journalist Ian McMillan, as the anarchic comedy game show, in which celebrity guests answer questions set by the public, continues.
Each show also features a cunning physical challenge which pits the contestants against each other. This week's episode features Miranda and Ian trying to accurately guess when 60 seconds has elapsed by placing a bucket on their heads and removing it at the correct time.
CS
CBBC Tuesday 15 December 2009
CBBC's Inside Life goes behind the scenes of the BBC Natural History Unit's landmark series, Life, for the last time, finding 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.
On the island of Madagascar, there is a group of ring-tailed lemurs who have taken to fighting among themselves. The Life team embarks on a mission to track down these naughty primates and catch them red-handed. CBBC agent Bill heads to Woburn Safari Park where he is greeted by some cheeky lemurs and their keeper. His assignment is to research their behaviour, but he has no idea his mission won't be complete until he arrives in Madagascar!
MF2
Network TV BBC Week 50: Wednesday 16 December 2009
BBC ONE Wednesday 16 December 2009
Big Top – Visa
Boyco the acrobat makes his TV debut, starring in an advert for personal injury lawyers, 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.
Spurred on by jealousy, Plonky the Clown reports Boyco to the immigration authorities and Lizzie discovers that he has no UK work visa.
Lizzie is willing to do anything to keep Boyco in the country – even marry him – but Boyco will marry for nothing less than true love. Meanwhile, Plonky will do absolutely anything to prevent the wedding from happening, even if that means sabotaging the show.
Boyco is played by Bruce Mackinnon, Plonky the Clown by John Thomson and ring-mistress Lizzie by Amanda Holden.
Big Top is simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC's High Definition channel, available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.
AN
It's the day of Helen's first official inspection and she is desperate to impress, as the drama about a comprehensive school continues. Having just spent the night with Max, she now believes their romance might be reignited.
Never one to miss an opportunity, Amy offers to keep the entire class under control – if Helen pays her for the favour. Terrified about losing her job, Helen agrees and can't help but think it's £20 well spent when the inspector is obviously impressed with her "teaching ability". It's only when Helen refuses to give further bribes that Amy runs to Rachel and confesses all.
Max has been defending Helen all day but, upon learning that gossip surrounds their relationship, he attempts to sink Helen's career. Helen is forced to face the harsh truth that she's a terrible teacher and decides to leave Waterloo Road for good – although not before leaving a compromising video of her and Max for Rachel to find.
Chris learns of Max's threatening behaviour towards Rachel and is horrified. He nails his colours firmly to Rachel's flag – it's another ally Max has lost. Meanwhile, Lindsay washes her hands of the girl gangs and tries to rekindle her friendship with Ros and, after one day too many of being bullied by Amy, Siobhan ditches her best mate for boyfriend Luke.
Rachel is disgusted by the video of Max and Helen and realises how low Max will stoop – sleeping with a trainee teacher, then ousting Helen from her position to hide it. Unfortunately, Kim is oblivious to the day's drama and, learning that Max has filed for divorce, is persuaded to give him and their relationship another chance.
Helen is played by Vinette Robinson, Max by Tom Chambers, Amy by Ayesha Gwilt, Rachel by Eva Pope, Chris by William Ash, Lindsay by Jenna Louise Coleman, Ros by Sophie McShera, Siobhan by Phoebe Dynevor and Luke by Richie Reeves.
Waterloo Road is simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC's High Definition channel, available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.
JP2
When a Pakistani intelligence officer is stabbed to death in south London, Dickie, the head of the Pakistani intelligence service in London, wants to talk. Dickie tells Harry Pearce and Ros Myers that he has been running an asset who has infiltrated a group of Hindu nationalists, led by Harish Dhillon.
Dhillon's group is planning an attack targeting Muslims and, with tensions between the Hindu and Muslim communities riding high, a furious Harry demands that Dickie hand over his asset – 17-year-old Ashok Veerkal.
A Muslim with a Hindu name, Ashok is terrified of Dhillon and is desperate to cut ties with him. But there's too much at stake and Section D applies pressure to find out when and where the attack will happen.
Ashok manages to discover the details of the attack but, just as Section D are about to swoop, they learn that Dhillon's handler is working with CIA agent Sarah Caulfield.
Ashok is forced to stay undercover, but Dhillon's handler knows there is a traitor, leaving Ashok in the firing line. Section D is desperate to prevent a war breaking out on British soil between the Muslim and Hindu communities, but how far will they go to stop it?
Dickie is played by Harmage Singh Kalirai, Harry Pearce by Peter Firth, Ros Myers by Hermione Norris, Harish Dhillon by Paul Sharma, Ashok Veerkal by Ashley Kumar and Sarah Caulfield by Genevieve O'Reilly.
PPR
BBC TWO Wednesday 16 December 2009
The Hairy Bikers Celebrate
The Twelve Days Of Christmas
The Hairy Bikers Celebrate The Twelve Days Of Christmas in a one-hour special in which the famous song is interpreted through the medium of food, as only Simon King and Dave Myers know how.
For A Partridge In A Pear Tree, it's a stuffed partridge served up at BBC Radio Norfolk; Five Golden Rings inspires them to cook a gut-busting breakfast for construction workers on the Olympic site; Six Geese A-laying sees them dressed up as pantomime dames; and they join a bunch of winter swimmers for Seven Swans A-swimming.
The bikers' foodie journey through the song ends with a Christmas feast for pipers and drummers as they put up a giant Christmas tree for a full-on "hairy" Christmas celebration.
The Hairy Bikers Celebrate The Twelve Days Of Christmas is simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC's High Definition channel, available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.
FD
BBC FOUR Wednesday 16 December 2009
From the monuments of the Tsars to the sumptuous countryside, glittering palaces and Faberge eggs to the art of the avant-garde, Roads To Revolution, the second part of BBC Four's groundbreaking The Art Of Russia, explores how Russia went from being a country of aristocratic excess in the mid-18th century to a hotbed of revolution at the beginning of the 20th century.
Art critic Andrew Graham-Dixon reveals the range and exuberance of Russian art during this period, looking back at Tsarina Elizabeth I's St Petersburg, where artists were discouraged from painting in a Russian style and taught to emulate the great artists of Europe. This era led to the greatest revolt in Russia's artistic history, as a group of radical artists rebelled. The "Wanderers" were Russia's answer to the Impressionists, transforming ordinary life and the Russian landscape into the subjects of great art.
Andrew explores how these radical artists led a new bravery in Russian art in the early 20th century, culminating in the revolutionary art of Wassily Kandinsky, who created the world's first abstract art, and Kasimir Malevich, whose painting Black Square seemed to prophesise the coming revolution.
AH
Network TV BBC Week 50: Thursday 17 December 2009
BBC ONE Thursday 17 December 2009
Combining the Christmas lunch and Aunt Sal's 70th birthday, Ronnie and Roxy do their best to ease the Mitchells's financial burden, in tonight's visit to Walford. Aunt Sal provides some unexpected yet impressive entertainment.
Meanwhile, Amira visits her father, Qadim, to inform him of her exciting news but doesn't get the reaction she expected.
Aunt Sal is played by Anna Karen, Ronnie by Samantha Womack, Roxy by Rita Simons, Amira by Preeya Kalidas and Qadim by Ramon Tikaram.
JM3
Gavin is uncomfortable with Gwen and Bryn knowing the ins and outs of his and Stacey's sex life, as the Bafta Award-winning comedy series continues. Meanwhile, Smithy goes beyond the call of friendship by making a staggering suggestion.
Later, Pete and Dawn prepare to renew their wedding vows and everyone heads to Billericay to help them celebrate. But how will Dave react to the bombshell revelation about the curry night in Essex?
Gavin is played by Mathew Horne, Gwen by Melanie Walters, Bryn by Rob Brydon, Stacey by Joanna Page, Pete by Adrian Scarborough, Dawn by Julia Davies and Dave by Steffan Rhodri.
CS
BBC TWO Thursday 17 December 2009
It's the final and just two of the nine couples remain.
Raymond Blanc and investors Sarah Willingham and David Moore must now decide which couple will become their new business partners but, first, a huge challenge lies ahead.
The two remaining chefs head for Raymond's famous restaurant in Oxfordshire for a cooking lesson, while their front-of-house partners are given a lesson in providing a high level of service at David's exclusive restaurant in London.
It's all preparation for their final challenge: to serve a prestigious banquet for Lord and Lady Arran and their exclusive guests at their stately home in Devon. The banquet will be a six-course meal and the couples will compete by making alternate courses. They then face a head-to-head cook-off with a soufflé for dessert. Lord and Lady Arran have high standards – service at Castle Hill is steeped in tradition. One wrong move and the butler could step in.
Raymond, Sarah and David are there to watch as the couples do their best to show that they should win the prize of a lifetime – a restaurant partnership with all three of them.
JD/PA
BBC THREE Thursday 17 December 2009
Viewers are invited to hang up their Christmas stockings for a festive edition of Russell Howard's Good News.
Usually seen offering his unique perspective on the big stories dominating the media across TV, online and in print, as well as picking up on those sometimes overlooked things that make him smile, this seasonal special sees Russell taking on traditional yuletide topics and considering some of the more unusual aspects of the mince pie and sherry soaked merry-go-round we call Christmas.
APR
BBC FOUR Thursday 17 December 2009
BBC Four celebrates this season's festivities with a multi-artist session featuring a host of contemporary folk talent.
Including performances by the critically acclaimed 11-piece folk group Bellowhead, 2008 Mercury nominees The Unthanks and vocalist and fiddle player Lisa Knapp, this seasonal celebration also features special guests including singer-songwriter Thea Gilmore.
The gathered artists perform seasonal songs of their own alongside yuletide favourites, ranging from beautiful ballads and folk carols to carousing dance numbers, with everyone coming together for a rousing folk finale.
At the atmospheric Shoreditch Town Hall, a new venue for BBC Four Sessions, the setting evokes an old music hall sprinkled with hints of a festive Victorian family parlour. The session sees a heady mix of rural folk traditions with a burlesque twist and promises to be a night of midwinter merriment to remember.
SG
A Child's Christmases In Wales
Ruth Jones stars in A Child's Christmases In Wales, a charming seasonal single comedy drama for BBC Four written by comedian Mark Watson.
The "child's Christmas" evoked by Dylan Thomas, and the inspiration for this captivating story, is a montage of many idyllic, colourful festive seasons rolled into one delicious dream. But for young Owen Rhys, growing up in a terraced house in Eighties South Wales, Christmas is a rather less poetic affair – though just as eventful.
Every Christmas, the peace and quiet of Owen's house – where he lives with his pessimistic father and his obsessively tidy mother – is shattered by the arrival of three family members: Owen's two uncles and his cousin, Maurice. In a series of glimpses from three Christmases across the decade, Owen and Maurice grow from boys into young men, while his dad and uncles seem to regress to a childhood of sibling rivalry and Owen's mum watches in despair.
The years change but the Christmas routine remains the same. Dad and his older brother, Hugh, bicker and undermine each other; Hugh's son, Maurice, and Owen are forced into competitive games which play out their respective fathers' rivalries; the youngest brother, Gorwel, the black sheep of the family, arrives late, hands out badly judged presents and usually destroys the bathroom; while Owen's mother, Brenda, tries to prevent everything from going to pieces.
Yet despite all this antagonism there is a peculiar joy in the certainty that they couldn't really have Christmas without the family.
Mum is played by Ruth Jones, Dad by Mark Lewis Jones, Uncle Huw by Steve Speirs and Uncle Gorwel by Paul Kaye.
A Child's Christmases In Wales is simulcast on the BBC HD channel – the BBC's High Definition channel, available through Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.
AF2
Network TV BBC Week 50: Friday 18 December 2009
BBC ONE Friday 18 December 2009
Amira and Syed continue planning their wedding in earnest and think speculatively about their future, in tonight's visit to Albert Square. Christian looks at the happy couple longingly.
Meanwhile, having been appointed director of the local nativity, Mo is having trouble controlling the children.
Amira is played by Preeya Kalidas, Syed by Marc Elliot, Christian by John Partridge and Mo by Laila Morse.
JM3
BBC TWO Friday 18 December 2009
Simon is plagued by school bullies and decides to leave home to be with the Beautiful People, as the glitzy comedy inspired by the memoirs of New York fashionista Simon Doonan concludes.
As usual, nothing goes according to plan and he falls madly in love with the new boy at school. Meanwhile, a heavily pregnant Ashlene is about to deliver not only a baby but also a revelation about the identity of the baby's father; and Kylie finds himself locked in a cupboard under the stairs, discovering a magical world by accident. Debbie and Andy Doonan are largely oblivious to the ongoing dramas that surround them as Debbie is recruited to act in a Crimewatch reconstruction. Convinced that she's destined for stardom, she becomes the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons.
As everybody converges for the première, things get more bonkers by the second. Simon has decided that it's time to "come out", but luckily for him he's not the only one...
Written by Jonathan Harvey, these comic tales are based on the youthful Simon Doonan's dream that one day he and his best friend Kyle, aka Kylie, will leave suburban Reading and move to London to be with the Beautiful People. First, they have to wade through their teenage years, brave their extraordinary families and cope with small-town Britain in the Nineties.
Young Simon is played by Luke Ward-Wilkinson, Ashlene by Sophie Ash, Kylie by Layton Williams, Debbie by Olivia Colman, Andy by Aidan McArdle and older Simon by Samuel Barnett.
PA/JD
CBBC Friday 18 December 2009
The dangerous dinner lady dishes up a selection of unpalatable dishes at the canteen and Jasmine and Prudith try a cappuccino, as Sorry I've Got No Head serves up another helping of comedy sketches.
Meanwhile, the fearsome Vikings prepare for the winter solstice with an advent calendar; the nine-year-old builder tells another tall bedtime tale; and it is careers day on the remote Scottish island of North Barrasay.
The comedy continues when Emily and Monty follow the yellow brick road for an audition for the Wizard Of Oz and Corporal Riley has a bad case of hiccups in the computer game sitcom Game Over.
Sorry I've Got No Head features the comic talents of Marcus Brigstocke, Mel Giedroyc, David Armand, Anna Crilly (Lead Balloon), James Bachman and Nick Mohammed.
VT
CBEEBIES Friday 18 December 2009
Can't get to the theatre to see a pantomime, this Christmas? Fear not, narrator Chris Evans is teaming up with CBeebies' much-loved presenters for a festive feast of thigh-slapping antics in The CBeebies Christmas Pantomime (oh yes they are!).
All the traditional pantomime ingredients are on the menu as the multi-talented CBeebies' team brings the story of Jack and Jill to life. There's a rather fruity pantomime dame, a naughty jester, a helpful good fairy and an udderly delightful pantomime cow. Throw in some stolen bananas, a wrongful arrest, a huge reward and some pink milk and it's a recipe for pantomime pandemonium.
Written by CBeebies' regular and self-confessed "pantomime nut", Chris Jarvis, The CBeebies Christmas Pantomime stars Justin Fletcher (aka Mr Tumble) as Queen Fruity, Sid Sloane as The King, Andy Day as Jingle Jangle the naughty jester, Alex Winters and Cerrie Burnell as Jack and Jill, Andrew Agnew (Balamory) and Pui Fan Lee as PC Plum and PC Pui, Katy Ashworth (I Can Cook) as the good fairy, Katrina Bryan (Nina And The Neurons) as the royal wizard and Mr Maker, the Kerwhizittor and Chris Jarvis as themselves. BBC Radio 2 star Chris Evans joins the festive fun to provide the mischievous tones of the narrator.
Fruit-loving monarch Queen Fruity is in a bit of a jam – the royal bananas have been stolen and she's desperate to get them back. Her adoring husband, the King, promises half of his kingdom to the person who finds out who nicked the 'nanas. It looks like the fruit filcher is naughty jester Jingle Jangle and, what's more, he plans to frame someone else for the crime and claim the King's reward for himself!
Jack and Jill look like the ideal candidates for a set-up and soon they're languishing in jail, while Jingle Jangle attempts to claim the reward. Will the Queen ever be reunited with her bananas? Will Jack and Jill ever see the light of day again? Or will PC Plum and PC Pui see justice prevail? And just how will Mr Maker and the Kerwhizzittor help the proceedings?
BW2
Programme information
Network TV
Network TV – Days
Key
- New series
- Live event/outside broadcast
- Interactive programme
BBC iD
BBC iDBBC navigation
BBC links
BBC © 2014The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.
