TELEVISION LISTINGS

TUESDAY 25 I

I Open Space (BBC2) 7.30—8pm New series of the open access documentary slot starts with an alternative perspective on sport’s doping scandals from Ben Johnson to Jason Livingstone. Professor Ellis Cashmore. author of several books on the politics of sport. argues that drug regulations in sport are redundant and actually infringe the rights of athletes. He calls for the money spent on drug testing to be ploughed into researching the effects of drug use.

I Against All Odds (BBCl) 9.30—10.20pm. New series of five fact- based dramas starts with the story of a Liverpool mother who attempts to snatch her children from her estranged husband in Northern Cyprus.

I Alan Bleasdale Presents: Pleasure (Channel 4) lOpm—midnight. The final film in Bleasdale’s selection of work by four young screen writers is by Christopher Hood. with a story of an unhappily married woman who answers a lonely hearts ad in the local newspaper and meets conman Gustave (Adrian Dunbar).

I The Fast Show (BBC2) lO—lO.30pm. Harry Enfield stalwarts Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson branch out with their own series. featuring character-based sketches.

I Omnibus (BBCI) 10.20-11.10pm. in- depth profile of Quentin Tarantino (see feature) whose new film Pulp Fiction controversially won him the Palme d’Or at Cannes. Contributions from collaborators including Harvey Keitel. who was breathtaking in Tarantino’s first feature Reservoir Dogs. plus fellow directors Allison Anders and Terry Gilliam.

WEDNESDAY 26

I Ricki Lake (Channel 4) 5—5.50pm. imported American chatshow that’s

hipper than Oprah. Today the theme is: ‘We hate the fact our sister is gay’.

I All Black (BBC2) 7.30—8pm. Experiences of three black fathers, including a ‘baby father’ who had children with two different mothers and continues to juggle a relationship with both

I Ellington (Scottish) 8.30—10pm. One- off drama set in the world of sports promotion with Chris Ellison (DI Burnside from The Bill). Ellington is a basically honest promoter in a shady world of dodgy boxing matches and smoke-filled snooker halls.

I lonely Planet (Channel 4) 8.30—9pm. The intrepid backpackers head to Ecuador, where they eat guinea pigs, and the Galapagos Islands to check out the iguanas.

THURSDAY 27

I Critical Eye (Channel 4) 9—10pm. Photojournalist Paul Hailiday examines the effect the headquarters of the British National Party has had on the surrounding community in the London Borough of Greenwich. The film includes interviews

' with the families of two teenagers who were murdered in racist attacks.

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WATERST‘ONE'S BOOKSELLERS

Free tickets are available from the branch

\_ WATERSTONE'S WEST END EVENTS 128 PRINCES STREET. EDINBURGH 031-226 2666

FFYONA CAMPBELL

hiday 28th October, 7pm Fresh from her round-the-world walk, nyona Campbell will be reading from. and signing. her latest book On Foot through Africa (Orion £16.99)

RODERICK AN SCOMBE

Tuesday lst November, 7pm Roderick Anscombe will be signing and reading from his latest book The Secret Life of Laszlo,

Count Dracula (Bloomsbury. £15.99)

Wine will be served

I Taggart (Scottish) 9-10pm. First of a new two-parter called Hellfire; a story involving a millionaire. murder and satanic rituals.

I Bakersfield P.D. (Channel 4)

10.30—1 1.05pm. American comedy revolving around an ill-matched police duo; one black. one white.

I Hookers, Hustlers, Pimps and Their Johns (Channel 4) 11.05pm—l2.35am. Another chance to see this documentary about New York’s sex market. where anything can be bought if the price is right. Meet Maurice. 86, who has Miss Scarlet. a student vet. whip him with a fish-hook-tipped cat-o-nine-tails now his wife is no longer alive to perform the task. This film tells stories from all sides of the sex industry. from the high class prostitute to the Hunts Point crack ,addict to the pimps who live off them.

FRIDAY 28

I Family Business (BBC!) 9.30—10.55pm. Sean Connery. Dustin Hoffman and Matthew Broderick are the male line of the same family. Basically Connery was a crook. his son went straight. while the grandson rebels against his father and Opts for the criminal route. I Have I Got News For You (BBC2) 10—10.30pm. Deayton. Hilep and Merton return for another series of the chattering classes favourite parlour game. Look out for Teddy Taylor. Glenda Jackson and Hattie Hayridge during the series’ run.

I Comfort and Joy (Scottish) lO.30pm—12.25am. Reshowing of Bill Forsyth’s enduring and witty film about Glasgow ice cream wars through the eyes of local radio DJ Bill Paterson.

I Clive Anderson Talks Back (Channel 4) 10.30—11.10pm. More verbal jousting from the Sober-Suited One. with tonight’s guests including Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

I Eurotrash (Channel 4) 11.10—11.45pm. More excuses to show European porn stars or just about anybody with few clothes on, including ‘ltaly’s sexiest man’ Franco Lombardi.

it a is

I The living End (Channel 4)

11.45pm-l .20am. New season of independent movies kicks off with this film from 1992 about two HIV positive men who enter into a violent and nihilistic relationship. influenced by the American queercore scene which takes a radical and aggressive stance on gay issues.

SATURDAY 29

I Ilenry V (BBC2) 3-5.15pm. More from the Beeb’s ’Bard on the Box’ season. with Laurence Olivier’s 1944 masterful translation of Shakespeare from stage to screen.

I Walking the Wall (BBC2) 8—9.30pm. Start of a short season of Berlin-related programmes marking five years since the wall came down. See feature.

I The Running Man (Scottish) 9—10.55pm. Update on the Rollerball theme of violent. futuristic entertainment. starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as a convicted killer who becomes the star of a sicko game show.

I Comedy liules (Scottish) Midnight—12.50am. More stand-up recorded at this year’s Edinburgh Festival.

SUNDAY 30

I Don’t look Down (Scottish) 10.45—11.30pm. Scottish arts magazine hosted by Janice Forsyth.

I South Bank Show (Scottish) 11.30pm—12.30am. Playwright Alan Aykboum gives an insight into the art of dramatic characterisation.

MONDAY 31

I World in Action (Scottish) 8.30—9pm. Up-to-the-minute investigative series which seems to go increasingly for the human interest angle.

I Cutting Edge (Channel 4) 9—10pm. What does it take to be a bodyguard? Would you put yourself in the line of fire? Find out when Cutting Edge follows the induction of six raw recruits who are put through. their paces by a specialist ‘close protection’ company.

I Cracker (Scottish) 9—lOpm. First part of a new story in which Fitz (Robbie Coltrane) gets his man without hardly trying.

I The Good Sex Guide (Scottish) 11—11.30pm. Margi Clarke. more agony aunt than big sister. skirts round the issues of love, sex and relationships.

TUESDAY 1

I The Crying Same (Channel 4) 10pm—midnight. The new series of Film 0n Four starts with Neil Jordan’s massively successful political thriller with Forest Whitaker as a British soldier abducted by the IRA. His guard Stephen Rea becomes disillusioned by the Provos and heads for London where he contacts Whitaker’s lover. The twist-in-the-tale was kept secret by most reviewers but it’s hard to believe it’ll be a surprise to anyone now.

I Network First (Scottish)

10.40-1 1.40pm. Former Manchester police chief John Stalker reopens a murder case which has all the elements of a good consipracy theory. The fatal stabbing ten years ago of pensioner Hilda Murrell. rose-grower and anti-nuclear campaigner, has never been adequately explained but. at the time of the murder, there were rumours of connections with M15. the Falklands War and Sizewell B.

WEDNESDAY 2

I Charthlte (Scottish) 6.55—7.20pm. Pop’s little and large show. featuring new videos. up-to~date charts and Smash Hits- style interviews. infinitely cooler than Top of the Pops.

I Grace Under Fire (BBC2) 9—9.30pm. Often sparky American sitcom starring

Southern gal Brett Butler.

= THURSDAY 3

I Taggart (Scottish) 9—10pm. Middle episode of the three-parter ‘Hellfire' about the murder of a whisky millionaire in one of Glasgow's posher suburbs. DS Reid goes under cover to befriend the chief suspect.

SD The List 21 October—3 November 1994