2014-12-18

Saturday
7.00pm Frank Sinatra: Our Way BBC1 - Seven talented but unknown music acts from across the UK take to the stage to perform their own unique renditions of songs made famous by Frank Sinatra in a bid to win a slot at his centenary concert. Set against a backdrop of glitz and glamour worthy of the rat pack, the show is hosted by Alexander Armstrong and Rochelle Humes. A panel of celebrity Sinatra devotees that includes funny man and performer Rufus Hound and singer and broadcaster Mica Paris offers up a critique of each performance. The winning act will be chosen by a group of expert judges that includes musicians, composers, music journalists and vocal coaches.
8.30pm Take Me Out ITV - Paddy McGuinness returns for a brand new series of the dating game that sees 30 single girls battle it out for a dream date on the Isle of Fernandos. Tonight the love lift delivers gamekeeper Ash from East Sussex, school bus driver Scott from Newcastle, magician Steve from Somerset and student Craig from Leamington Spa.
9.30pm Take Me Out: The Gossip ITV2 - Mark Wright returns with new co-host Laura Jackson as they host the fun-packed companion series to dating show Take Me Out.
Sunday
7.00pm Diversity Live ITV - For one night only, dance crew Diversity perform in an exclusive live special, featuring a range of spectacular new routines and some very special guests.
8.00pm Kate Humble: Into the Volcano BBC2 - In this first episode of a two-part documentary, Kate Humble joins a team of geologists on a journey right to the heart of one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Located on the island of Tanna in the Vanuatu archipelago, Yasur erupts constantly, firing out red-hot lava bombs and showering the island in thick black ash. To discover whether another devastating eruption might happen, the team needs to collect a lava bomb the minute it is hurled from the crater. As they prepare for their death-defying mission, Kate explores the island and discovers how the volcano shapes the lives, traditions and beliefs of everyone who lives in its shadow.
8.00pm Foyle's War ITV - New eighth series of the crime drama set in the years immediately after the Second World War. Foyle, now working for British Intelligence, is drawn into the world of corrupt Nazi businessmen when London university professor William Knowles is found brutally murdered in a London park. When it transpires that the professor was actually working at the Nuremberg trials, Foyle realises that there are powerful people trying to conceal secrets from the war. It looks as if Knowles may have taken a bribe to carry information back to England for suspected Nazi war criminal Herman Linz.
9.00pm Reinventing the Royals BBC2 - Two-part series about the battle between the monarchy and the media over personal privacy and public image. After the tragic death of Princess Diana, Prince Charles hired a new type of royal press advisor in the form of spin doctor Mark Bolland. With the aid of the first-hand testimonies of ex-royal advisors, editors, photographers, journalists and royal correspondents, Steve Hewlett examines the controversial methods Bolland used to rebuild Prince Charles's public image and create a degree of public acceptance for Camilla Parker Bowles.
9.00pm Walking the Nile Channel 4 - British explorer Levison Wood sets out to walk the length of the River Nile from source to sea. His nine-month, seven-million-step journey takes him through jungles, savannah, deserts, cities and war zones in some of Africa's most remote and spectacular locations. Along the way, he encounters modern Africa, its people and its wildlife face-to-face and at ground level. This first episode follows Lev and his guide Boston's first 1000 miles, from the river's source in the Rwandan rainforest, through remote and lawless regions of Tanzania and into Uganda. After dodging crocodiles and hippos, and attending a wedding as VIPs, Lev and Boston are given a hero's welcome in Kampala and blessed by a witch doctor on the shores of Lake Victoria.
Notable Continuing Series: 8.00pm The Hotel, Channel 4
9.00pm  Last Tango in Halifax, BBC1
11.50pm The Celebrity Apprentice USA BBC1 - Donald Trump presents the American version of the business-based competition, with celebrity contenders including Meat Loaf, David Cassidy, Dionne Warwick, Gary Busey, Marlee Matlin, La Toya Jackson and John Rich. In this opening episode, the teams are divided into gender and the first task is to sell pizzas in the heart of New York and make as much money as possible.
Monday
9.15am Wanted Down Under BBC1 - Return of the series that lets British families experience a trial week living in Australia or New Zealand before deciding whether to move to the other side of the world for good.
11.30am Rip Off Britain BBC1 - Angela Rippon, Gloria Hunniford and Julia Somerville investigate viewers' holiday and travel disasters and share advice on how to avoid being caught out the same way.
2.15pm Father Brown BBC1 - Return of the popular daytime crime drama starring Mark Williams.  Father Brown finds himself embroiled with MI5, which puts Lady Felicia in a compromising position. To protect secrets in her own past, will she betray her friend?
4.00pm Fat Pets: Slimmer of The Year ITV - This series celebrates owners who have helped their pets battle the bulge. From overweight terriers to portly pussies, we see how they have managed to shed the pounds - and watch some of the extraordinary pet plus-size stories from across the world.
8.00pm Richard Wilson on The Road ITV - Richard is using Shell Guides first published in the 1930s to cater for young motorists using their newly-acquired cars as a means of discovering the British countryside. In the first programme, Richard visits the landlocked county of Derbyshire where he has the 1935 edition with him.
8.00pm Waterloo Road BBC3 - The school drama moves to BBC3 for final 10 episodes. It's a new term and Waterloo Road is under threat, as the council wants to merge it with Havelock High. But Vaughan is ready for battle and his plan involves volatile new pupils Kenzie and Scott. Now all he's got to do is let the staff in on his radical strategy. Repeated at 10,35pm on BBC1
8.00pm 70 Stone Man: The Last Days Five - Follow-up documentary focusing on one man's mission to lose weight and save his own life. Keith Martin has successfully lost 25 stone in a bid to be able to stand by himself and is now awaiting high-risk bariatric surgery. The programme follows his progress before, during and after the operation both in hospital and at home when he discharges himself against medical advice.
9.00pm Rich, Russian and Living in London BBC2 - Documentary looking at the Russian elite who have chosen to settle in London. From multimillionaire wine merchants and uncompromising art-loving oligarchs to country set princesses and beautiful supermodels, this takes us into the lives of the uber wealthy who have made London their playground home.
9.00pm Broadchurch ITV - Highly anticipated second series of the hugely popular crime drama. David Tennant and Olivia Colman for the new series.
9.00pm The Undateables Channel 4 - The uplifting dating series returns to follow extraordinary singletons as they look for love.
9.00pm Benefits: Too Fat to Work Five - Documentary series about people who live on welfare. Amy is 18, weighs 30 stone and is housebound, but her mother claims that being on benefits has contributed to her daughter's problems. Stephen and Michelle are unemployed and struggling to make ends meet, but determined to pull out all the stops for their wedding. Single mum Rachel thinks that a gastric bypass will make her more employable.
9.00pm The Wrong Mans Gold - Beginning a repeat of the first of the award winning comedy from James Corden and Matthew Banyton.
10.00pm Backchat BBC2 - Jack Whitehall joins his dad for a new series of the chat show with guests David Walliams and Michael Ball.
10.00pm Bodyshockers Channel 4 - In Bodyshockers: Nips, Tucks and Tattoos, Katie Piper meets the people who regret having tampered with their faces and bodies and introduces them to those hell-bent on modifying them
Tuesday
7.30pm River Monsters ITV - Extreme angler Jeremy Wade embarks on another mission in South America to follow up reports of a colossal fish that is said to swallow men whole. Some call it the lau-lau, to others it is known as the piraiba.
8.00pm Six Puppies & Us BBC2 - 2-part documentary following six British households taking on the potentially life-changing responsibility of a puppy. The first few weeks of having a puppy are probably the most challenging. As this two-part series follows the puppies through the first two months in their new homes, a trying and sometimes shocking time, the fascinating science behind their development and behaviour is explained. Why they bite and chew, why early socialisation is so crucial, and how to manage the 'fear imprint' stage. Concludes Tomorrow
8.00pm Britain's Best Back Gardens ITV - Brand new series in which Alan Titchmarsh goes on a search for the best back gardens in Britain. To celebrate his 50 years as a gardener, Alan has appealed to the nation to nominate their plots. He has received more than 600 applicants and has shortlisted the top 30. Each episode features ten gardens and Alan has divided them into three categories. In this episode, Alan reveals his ten favourite gardens which have been created under the most challenging circumstances - space, shape or with limited cash.
8.00pm Weighing Up the Enemy Channel 4 - In this brand new series Dr Christian Jessen tackles the number one reason for diet failure head on - motivation. A revolutionary website, based on Yale University research, has found that dieters who put their own money on the line have a 73% success rate when it comes to hitting their weight loss targets. That figure jumps to over 80% if there's a risk they'll see their hard-earned dollars going to a cause they hate. Dr Christian wants to use this ground-breaking approach to motivate people who have consistently failed to stick to diets and shed the fat. Each week, two diet rivals with wildly clashing opinions on a hot topic will bet their own money on losing more body fat than their opposition
9.00pm Silent Witness BBC1 - Return of the forensic drama. In the first of the five 2-part stories DCI Jane De Freitas's personal fallout with boss and partner Chief Superintendent Robert Drake is the least of her worries when three people are shot dead in a petrol station. Nikki and Jack conclude that it is the work of a concealed shooter from long range. A sniper is at a large in London. They combine ballistics and wound pathology with DCI De Freitas's expertise in victim and killer profiling to narrow down the suspects. Continues Tomorrow at 9.00pm
9.00pm Billionaire's Paradise: Inside Necker Island BBC2 - A behind-the-scenes look at one of the most exclusive holiday destinations in the world - Necker Island. This film is an intimate portrait of how the rich, powerful and famous holiday, and what it's like for the staff who serve them. While Necker is home to Sir Richard Branson and his family, it is also a serious commercial venture. Selling the Caribbean dream to the most demanding guests in the world is a daily pressure.
9.00pm The Wonder of Britain ITV - Series in which Julia Bradbury uncovers some of the wonders that make Britain great - from the country's industrial and royal heritage to its rolling countryside, dramatic coastline and beautiful buildings.
9.00pm 24 Hours in Police Custody Channel 4 - The first episode in the second run of this landmark documentary series opens with a shocking case of attempted murder. Detectives from Luton Central Investigation Department are called to an ordinary terraced home in the town where they find an extraordinarily disturbing crime scene,
9.00pm Air Ambulance ER Sky1 - Time is of the essence in this full-throttle documentary series charting the extraordinary endeavours of Britain's emergency helicopter medical services.
9.00pm Blue Go Mad in Ibiza ITV2 - Boy band Blue hit the Balearic party destination of Ibiza as they embark on a brand new challenge to take over a chilled beach bar and turn it into a fun-seekers' hotspot. However, all is not what it seems as, unbeknown to the band, their staff and acquaintances are all actors and comedians whose deliberately outlandish comic creations are contrived to cause mischief and make their two weeks in Ibiza a stay they will never forget.
9.00pm The 100 E4 - Series 2 of the US drama.
9.00pm Selling Houses with Amanda Lamb More4 - Amanda Lamb returns for a new series where home sellers inspect their rival vendors' properties for inspiration.
10.00pm Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled Dave - No agenda or script, just side-splitting improvised chat and amusing anecdotes with Alan Davies and his comedic chums Tommy Tiernan, Jimmy Carr, Seann Walsh and Holly Walsh.
10.00pm Supernatural E4 - The ninth season of the US fantasy drama comes to E4 as demon hunters Sam and Dean Winchester combat more supernatural forces.
10.35pm Count Arthur Strong BBC1 - Second series of the comedy an out-of-work former variety star with delusions of grandeur. Michael, suffering from writer's block, returns to the cafe to find that Count Arthur has written a novel. When the book turns out to be full of salacious gossip, drastic measures are required to retrieve it from Michael's agent.
Wednesday
8.00pm The Restoration Man Channel 4 - George Clarke returns for a brand new series as he travels the country helping people from all walks of life transform neglected historic buildings into stunning and unique homes. Russell Edwards and Nadia Smith have put everything into turning a derelict farmhouse in the Shropshire countryside into their family home. They are determined to restore the 18th century building to its former glory. But their high standards soon start to cost them and after two winters in a caravan, illness and exhaustion threaten to overwhelm them. George helps with the design and hard graft and investigates the history behind this mysterious half-timber-framed building.
8.00pm The Fanatics Sky1 - Superfans square off in a fun game show hosted by Baz Ashmawy. First up are a Doctor Who devotee, a boxing aficionado and a London Underground expert.
9.00pm Super Cars v Used Cars: The Trade Off BBC2 - Two salesmen at opposite ends of the used-car market are trading places to see if they can make it in very different parts of Britain. In London, Louis sells supercars to Britain's wealthiest car enthusiasts, while Darren flogs reliable runarounds in Bridgend, Wales. They're both at the top of their game, but they're swapping jobs, customers and bosses in a bid to meet or even beat each other's targets.
9.00pm 24 Hours in A&E Channel 4 - The RTS award-winning documentary series returns for a new series from its new home, St George's in south west London, which has one of Britain's most advanced and busiest A&E departments. In this first episode staff and patients discuss how A&E is a place where support really matters, whether from a traditional family or its many variations. Thirteen-year-old Will arrives by helicopter after colliding with someone during a game of baseball.
9.00pm Celebrity Big Brother 2015 Five - Emma Willis presents the live launch of the new series where she reveals which celebrities will be entering the doors of the infamous house.
Thursday
7.30pm The Kyle Files ITV - Brand new series in which Jeremy Kyle confronts current issues of the day. In the first programme, he investigates the latest drug craze of legal highs which mimic the effects of illegal drugs. Some of the shops that are selling these substances to underage minors are put under the spotlight.
8.00pm Would I Lie To You? BBC1 - Rob Brydon hosts the popular panel game with team captains David Mitchell and Lee Mack. This time, the guests are Aisling Bea, June Brown MBE, Adrian Chiles and Seann Walsh.
8.00pm Somerset: After the Floods BBC2 - The Somerset Levels are one of the most beautiful parts of Britain, but in the winter of 2013 they faced a natural disaster. One village, Moorland, was entirely engulfed by the floods. Deluged by water, the villagers watched helplessly as their homes were washed away. This programme follows their year-long struggle to get home again after the water drained. Although the residents put on a brave face, the realities of their fate pile up, with insurance companies refusing to pay and months of delays with the builders.
8.00pm Location, Location, Location Channel 4 - Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer return with a brand new series as they search from England's south coast up to the Scottish lowlands.
8.00pm Secrets of the Egyptian Pyramids Five - Documentary in which a team of scientists and historians led by Steve Burrows, the engineer responsible for the Bird's Nest Olympic stadium in Beijing, travel to Egypt to use 3D laser scanners to digitally re-create virtual replicas of four different ancient Egyptian pyramids.
9.00pm Death in Paradise BBC1 - Fourth series of the Detective drama series set on a Caribbean island. When the owner of a rum distillery is murdered during a seance, all the clues point to the prime suspect being a ghost. With DI Humphrey Goodman and his team man down, Commissioner Selwyn steps in to help them look for a more earth-bound killer.
9.00pm The Super-Rich and Us BBC2 - In this two part series, Jacques Peretti investigates how the super-rich are transforming Britain. He looks at why the wealthy were drawn to Britain and meets the super-rich themselves - from those buying premiership football clubs to the billionaires who are breaking ranks to criticise the decisions that made them richer.
9.00pm Bring Back Borstal ITV - Four-part series which follows a social experiment in which 13 young offenders volunteer to experience the strict regime of a 1930s-style Borstal for up to four weeks.
9.00pm Shut Ins: Britain's Fattest People Channel 4 - Documentary centring around two couples - Sharon and Andrew Hill and Aftab and Millie Ali. Sharon and Aftab, like thousands hidden across the country, are so overweight they no longer leave their homes. It means the partners who care for them are also imprisoned. At 33 years old, 46-stone Sharon is Britain's biggest woman, who, despite living in the picturesque Cotswold countryside, never sees any of it, spending all her time indoors. In four years, she hasn't even been to the supermarket around the corner. Sixty miles away in West Bromwich, Aftab and his new wife Millie are also trapped.
9.00pm 50 Funniest Moments 2014 E4 - Comedians, celebrities and other famous faces help count down the funniest moments of 2014 - the year's mostly unintentionally hilarious incidents, television programmes, blogs, vlogs and snogs. The traditional seasonal mixture of sport, politics, music and television combines with the most tasteless filth the internet and social media has to offer.
10.00pm Sex Party Secrets Channel 4 - Documentary that takes viewers inside the hidden world of the UK's self-proclaimed 'sexual elite', with access to the most exclusive sex parties of the moment.
10.00pm Botched up Bodies Five - Documentary series featuring people who have had dodgy cosmetic surgery as they undergo corrective treatment. 31-year-old Laura from Hampshire suffered necrosis and lost a nipple after she had a breast augmentation. 51-year-old Paul had his ear shredded in an accident and 39-year-old Suzie's scar became infected after she had a tummy tuck in Prague.
10.00pm Crimms BBC3 - Comedy series set in a young offenders' institution. Luke finds himself banged up with his girlfriend's nightmare brother Jason. Can he survive his first day behind bars without strangling Jason or being strangled himself?
Notable Continuing Series: 8.30pm Birds of a Feather, ITV
10.00pm Scandal Sky Living - Fourth series of the US political drama.
Friday
9.00pm 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Channel 4
10.00pm The Last Leg Channel 4 - The award-winning gang show returns for a new series, live on Friday nights. Adam Hill and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker review the main talking points of the week with irreverence and satire. Each week they are joined by a live studio audience and special celebrity guest. The show sees the return of the all-encompassing question: Is It Ok? Viewers at home and the studio audience are encouraged to ask questions about anything from the week, without fear of judgement.
10.35pm The Graham Norton Show BBC1
Notable Continuing Series: 8.00pm Jamie and Jimmy's Friday Night Feast, Channel 4
8.30pm Room 101, BBC1
9.00pm The Musketeers, BBC1
9.00pm Benidorm, ITV       

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