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AND FRIGHTENING WORLD OF MARK E SMITH BBC4, Fri 21 Jan. 9pm 0...

A’, ’ll/,liil’/ll€tl. euriiiu'lgeoril.z lip Diddle/ losiia’; ,'l‘li")",«'t“ geniuses ()0. Mark E Smith is piett, niiir,h tie only one. llll‘, hourlovtg documentary is a diligent "HUN; ot the Falls roots from the pre punk grime of [Us Englanrl through ‘1‘.)

The Afternoon Play BBC], Mon 24-Wed 26 Jan, 2. 05pm; Thu 27 8 Fri 28 Jan.

2. 30pm. A new batch of mini-dramas starring the likes of Lisa Faulkner and Reece Dinsdale (pictured). Joe McFadden, Claire Goose. Samantha Janus. Hugh Ouarshie and Peter Capaldi.

Dispatches Live Special: After the Tsunami Channel 4, Mon 24 Jan, 8pm Jon Snow hosts a discussion on whether such widespread devastation can ever be prevented. Clare Short and Chris Martin are among those chucking in some tuppenceworth. Like Father, Like Son Scottish, Mon 24 8 Tue 25 Jan, 9pm. Jemma Redgrave. Robson Green. Phil Davis and Tara

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lex.’ punches are pullerl throughout Tl‘ia iletailetl recounting the Fall") lll'ttélll‘.‘; ant: (,ritira! peaks anti troughs although the programme resists prissing Judgement ’)ll Smith's ‘.'lESl()ll£t.", xeal and his ilix/ying musical anrl management st;.les. lhey sguirm. shimmer anil hellox'.’ through numerous rarer seen lV appearances. the most memorable perhaps heing Miehael Clark (laneing around them With the arse out of his trousers on Whist/e Test. John Peel. Paul Morley. long, Wilson and Ham Ferdinand all make scholarly attempts at defining the band's enduring appeal and satisfyineg enough, Just one COHCIUSIOH is drawn: they're great because . . . they're the Fall. (Mark Rehei'tsoni SCILNCE Rfik¥8Nfi$Yson BEGINNERS Channel 4, Mon 24—Wed 26 Jan, 11.05pm; Thu 27 Jan, 11.30pm 00

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CLUB BBC2, Wed 26 Jan, 9pm .00

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Sky One, Sun 30 Jan. 9pm .00.

He’s seen his wife killed by an ex-lover, sunk a bullet in his boss‘ cranium, chopped his partner‘s hand off and been clinically dead for two minutes. You can hardly blame Jack Bauer for wanting an easy life. So, when he gets the sack from CTU (for becoming a junkie in the line of duty), it not only provokes Jack to utter the first ‘f‘ word in a show filled with situations which would have the Dalai Lama cussing to high heaven, it gives him a chance to get the hell out. And when he lands a cushy number working as an advisor in the Defense Department and humping his boss' divorcee daughter, all seems to be going swimmingly.

But this is 24, and nothing ever stays cushy for long. So, when Jack heads back to CTU for a meeting, he does so just at the point when a new terrorist threat is about to kick off. And guess what, his boss (William Devane, the human thunderbird who used to be in dross like Knots Landing) is a target for Middle East militants. Ardent fans maybe disappointed at the lack of familiar faces; we hear about Kim Bauer's happy life in the sticks but we’re still in the dark about the fates of ex- President Palmer, Tony and Michelle. But as the pace heightens and the twists become more ludicrous by the hour, we'll all but have forgotten that Kim isn’t around to fall into the hands of notorious baddies every ten minutes. We’ll leave that job to Jack’s new woman. (Brian Donaldson)

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Fitzgerald Star in 8 families. This mas. after " 1 . I tWQ'Dart tale about a all, the ‘.'.’orl(l that OF THE .‘3' .: 1 :' : : Woman trying to Clement and La Frena's Scottish. Sun 30 Jan " 2. :., " -- '- fOrget her sinister inhahitetl when tl‘ei. first 9pm .. marital 0331- sat glo.'.n to .'.'ork on CSI Five. Tue 7 Feb, tlrat s of then 17:; 33:34; l‘.’ ‘.'."“:r‘ “ezi'r' aafu' 1" : 9pm. Everyone's comedies Po'rgrge anti La.'.'e' ': », ,. .: . favourite forensics Meeker; Laos. t:, 2m!" :-: :5' cop Show returns for In a series of tour Faith, taitht’u! to the (fur r r e ' r ' a fifth series. shows. datt German book. this first ensure " . .:, . How to Sleep quack Gunther \Ol) of four :ntr'tlekfes Ben. sir i i: i r 2 Better BBC], Wedg Hagens dissects a Doug and pllillt‘, nest in ' ttr, . . Feb. 8pm Hairy number of human mates at a regressine faiu » t «i. -' ‘i ' clever Clogs Robert bodies in front of an hots gi‘a'r‘mar school. it t w ' i ' Winston gets back on audience in what is. Directeu n. Tor“. Smith. 1;" .g;' f the box after ten ostens‘iblt. a seieitce averse credits an»: ' :" i a < ' ' minutes away with Class. Of Course. this Pawnee a" We e. '.‘.f' . this one-off interactive has been popular to" and E'}; Emefis 1:. " event about our kip hundreds of years. an: the opener ' :, Check out really no one either i"; consummate t. Liistaxe. :1' < . , _ . , .. wwwhbccouw the audience or ant: beauti‘aq. caste-:1 ' . .' r: ' sleep watching on tele\.is‘io't :3 by among others. c s: ' here to find but about Hugo Spee'. Sara" 3. ' '

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