LISTINGS TELEVISION
I More Rhodes Around Britain (BBC 3) 8—8.3(lpm. The spiky-haired chef heads off to ()rkney w here he makes the most of the local rhubarb harvest.
I Scrimpers ((‘hannel 4) mo. ‘lpiii. Self confessed scrimpers Ray Brooks and Rick Ball take a tour of Britain to meet the people who are chatiipions at saving money through ingenious means.
I Postcards From The Country: The Welsh Valleys (BBC 2) 9.50- 10.30pm. This programme looks at the history and the future of the Welsh valleys and the legacy left by the mining industry. not least of which was the Aberfan disaster. I er (Channel 4) l()—l 1pm. Ross's father disappears. confirming all his suspicions: Jeanie‘s husband thinks he has flu but the diagnosis is more serious; Hathaway testifies in the investigation into Shep's violent behaviour. and Lewis overreacls when she encounters an abused child.
I Friends (Channel 4) II -I 1.30pm. Monica meets a woman who will help her live out her fantasies while Ross has to give up his monkey which is becoming a little too sexually aware.
THURSDAY 23
I Hollywood Pets (Scottish) 8.30—9pm. This programme looks at the animals who are afforded celebrity status. l.inda Gray. Bo Derek and Stephanie Powers all make a contribution.
I Airport (BBC l) 8.3()—‘)pm. More real- life trauma at Heathrow airport as a plane load of 'smokers and pokers‘ return from a v 'eekend in Amsterdam and the customs men have to ensure that none of them have brought back an illicit souvenir.
I Witness: Russia’s Holy War (Channel 4) 9—l()pm. With the advent of peresrroiku came a new era of religious freedom unheard of for most Russians. However their choice was limited: Russian Orthodox or Russian Orthodox. Needless to say the Americans rapidly spotted a gap in the market and the country is now swimming with crazed. religious right-wing Americans taking the Word of God to the noble savages. Or something.
I Absolutely Fabulous (BBC I ) 9.30-10pm. lidina is skint since her ex is refusing to hand over any more alimony payments and she‘s staring down the barrel of abject poverty. ()r at least not having her groceries delivered from Harrods anymore.
I The Poisoned Chalice (BBC 2) 9.30—10.20ptn. Penultimate programme in the series about Britain‘s queasy political relationship with Europe. In this one. Thatcher gets her fingers badly burned and the Tory party have been paying for her mistake ever since.
Herman's Hennlts under the spotllght In Without Walls, Channel 4. Tue 21
I Dropping in tor another series of BBC Scotland’s outdoors show The Big Country is
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Jenni Falconer (pictured) and tonner Deacon Blue drummer Dougie Vipond. During the series the hearty duo will go whitewater rafting, swim with tishes (though hopefully not in the Maria sense) and run down the sides of buildings. You, meanwhile, can watch from the comtort or your own living room.
The Big Country starts on Fri 24 May on BBC1.
FRIDAY 24
I Shooting Stars (BBC 2) o—o.3()pm. Reeves and Mortimer sacrifice more guests on the comic altar.
I The Big Country (BBC 1) 7—7.3(lpm. Dougie Vipond and Jenni l‘alconcr hit the great outdoors and present a thousand and one reasons as to why you should stop watching TV and go and do something more interesting.
I Tomorrow’s World (BBC 1) 7.20—8pm. Due to a rare gene. 44 people in the town of l.imone on Lake Garda in Italy can eat whatever they like without running the risk of heart disease. Scientists are now trying to synthesise the gene so that the First world can stuff their faces to the point of obesity with no fear for their health. Marvellous eh?
I We Are Hot Amused (BBC 2) 7.30—8pni. Continuation of last week's foray into the relationship between society. cartoonists and authority with particular reference to the Royal Family. I Expert Witness: Written In Blood (SCottish) 8.30—9pm. Michael Gambon presents the drama-documentary series which reveals the role of forensic science in solving crimes.
I Murder Most Horrid (BBC 2) 9—9.30pm. Dawn French stars as slaughterhouse worker Daisy Talwinning who — through a complicated set of misunderstandings — comes to be the state executioner for a dodgy banana republic.
I Lite After Birth (Channel 4) 9.3(%l()pm. Alison‘s child is two weeks old and the proud mother is dying for a decent night‘s kip. Unfortunately the Child Support Agency want the name of the father and her mother is coming down to help out.
I Hory Bremner - Who Else (Channel 4) l().3(¥l l.10pm. More rubber-faced barbs await the political hacks caught in the glare of current affairs.
I Baadass TV (Channel 4)
ll.l0—l 1.40pm. Ice-T and Andrea ()liver are the presenters in a new series of the tongue-in-cheek black. popular culture Show.
I Flava (Channel 4) l2.45—l .20am. Contemporary black music continues to strut its stuff on this dedicated showcase for all lovers of rap. swing and soul.
SATURDAY 25
I Cutting Edge: Havy Blues (Channel 4) 8—9pm. The cameras follow the Royal Navy‘s shore patrol as they bust drunken brawlers on the streets of Plymouth.
I The Cement Garden (BBC 2)
045-1 l.3()pm. Charlotte Gainsbourg. Andrew Robertson and Sinead Cusack star in this award-winning film adapted from the novel by Ian McEwan. Isolated from the real world. four orphaned children break the taboos of accepted family behaviour and create their own world and morality.
I Piranha (Channel 4) l().30pm—12.l5am. Blackly comic shocker about mutant man-eating piranhas that are accidentally released into local rivers and embark on a bloody trail of terror. Naturally.
I Whoops Apocalypse! (Scottish)
l2. l()-l.5()am. Loreta Swit and Peter Cook star in this oft hilarious and oft worrying Cold War satire and spoof.
SUNDAY 26
I An Interview With Dennis Potter (Channel 4) 3.40-5.05pm. Re-run of Potter‘s final and extremely moving interview with Melvyn Bragg only a few weeks before his death.
I Hercules In New York (Scottish) 4.20—5.55pm. In what must surely be one of his earliest screen appearances. dating back to 1967 in fact. Arnie Schwarzenegger flexes the pecs and acts like a plank.
I Cold Lazarus (Channel 4) 9-10.05pm. The second half of Potter‘s epic continues the story of Daniel Feeld only this time around the year is 2368.
I The Commitments (Channel 4) l0.0Spm—l2.lSam. Alan Parker‘s version of Roddy Doyle‘s story of a working class. Dublin soul band. At times gritty. at times cloying but often funny.
I The Clive James Show (Scottish) 10.20—1 1.05pm. The avuncular Antipodean casts his scathing eye over the world‘s broadcasting output once more and finds that all is not well.
I Don’t look Down (Scottish)
1 1.05pm—12.05am. Keith Bruce introduces the popular Scottish arts and entertainment programme.
MONDAY 27
I From Russia With love (Scottish) 5—7pm. Bond gets the woman. the baddies and the goodies in yet another spy caper for the character who has more lives than a cat home.
I Elvis In Hollywood (Channel 4) 7—8pm. A rare chance to see lilvis while still betlazzled by the glitter of the movie world but unaffected by its worst
I ND (Scottish) 7--7..‘~()pm. Scottish arts listings programme.
I The Greatest (Channel 4) 8.30—9pm. At last a nation can exhale as the votes are counted and the greatest sportitig figure of the 20th century. as chosen by viewers. is announced.
I Shops And Robbers (Channel 4) ‘)>-|()pm. Shoplifting costs Britain‘s shopkeepers two billion pounds a year. This documentary follows the thieves and those who try to catch them as the doors open for business each day.
I Reversal Of Fortune (Channel 4) l()pm-« l 2.05am. let'ettty lrons puts in a superb performance as the aristocratic Claus von Bulow accused of poisoning his wife.
TUESDAY 28
I Human Jungle (Channel 4) 8—8.30pm. Start of a series looking at how humans have adapted to the world which we have shaped for ourselves. Tonight focuses on the speed at which we live our lifes.
I Painted ladies (Channel 4) ‘).3()—l()pm. Vivienne \VCSIWOOd takes a final look at the connections between fashion. ideas and progress.
WEDNESDAY 29
I Chart Bite (Scottish) 5.10—5.40pm. All the news and views from the Scottish charts courtesy of the ever ebullient Euan and Marie.
I ER (Channel 4) lO—l 1pm. Last in the current series of the hands-on hospital drama. .
I Friends (Channel 4) 11—1 1.30pm. Monica discovers that her latest love is less than she thought he was while Ross is confused with a male prostitute.
THURSDAY 30
I Hollywood Pets (Scottish) 8.30—9.30pm. More flesh-curdling tales of pets who have more lavished on their weekly manicures than some families spend on food for the week.
I Witness: When Women Kill (Channel 4) 9—10pm. When Melissa Stewart's husband began beating her on her wedding night. it marked the beginning of a nightmare that was to end with his death and her imprisonment for manslaughter.
I HYPD Blue (Channel 4) lO—lO.55pm. While one suspect admits to murdering
his aunt. Medavoy and Martinez search for a biker suspected of murdering a bouncer
I ls This Your Lite? (Channel 4)
12. l0—l2.55am. Andrew Neil asks the question of Olivia Newton John
The late Dennls Potter discusses cancer, Karaoke and Cold taunts \vlth Melvyn Bragg on Sun 26
The List 17-30 May 1996 85