SATURDAY 29 MARCH 2008

SAT 19:00 Vivaldi's Women (b0074sbz)
In the early 18th century, Antonio Vivaldi composed music for La Pieta in Venice, a home for children who were abandoned at birth. The institution had its own all-female orchestra and choir who provided entertainment in the church for visiting tourists. This film tells the story of that extraordinary partnership through the eyes of a modern group of female singers and musicians as they travel to Venice to recreate Vivaldi's music in the Pieta as it sounded 300 years ago.


SAT 20:00 Emma (b009pg3b)
Episode 6

1972 serialisation of Jane Austen's classic novel. Harriet has been rescued from an embarrassing situation and her susceptible emotions have been stirred again. Emma has been reprimanded by Mr Knightley.


SAT 20:45 10 Days to War (b009rcp0)
Episodes 5-8

Second compilation of the series of short dramas marking the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war.

War is less than a week away but a battle is being fought for the streets.

UN diplomacy has died, but on the ground in Iraq the weapons inspectors continue their fruitless search.

Two MPs face mutual crises of conscience in the face of intense lobbying and pressure from a Whip.

Colonel Tim Collins, commander of the Royal Irish Regiment stationed on the Kuwait/Iraq border, rallies his troops with an impressive speech.


SAT 21:35 The Hard Sell (b009lv1t)
House and Home

Phill Jupitus narrates a series exploring 50 years of British TV advertising. In the world of advertising few items are given a harder sell than household products. The liquids, soaps, sprays and powders on which a multi-million pound industry has been built have revolutionised domestic life and the marketing of these labour-saving devices was the foundation on which the whole industry was created. Contributors include Tim Bell, Sam Delaney, Nicola Mendelsohn, Rula Lenska, Tamara Ingram and Dave Prowse.


SAT 22:05 David Ogilvy: Original Mad Man (b009pg3d)
Documentary about pioneering British advertising executive and self-proclaimed genius, David Ogilvy, who led a revolution in advertising, feeding dreams and shaping aspirations with famous campaigns, slogans and jingles. He started what eventually would become conglomerate Ogilvy and Mather in 1948 and the film reveals the extremes and eccentricities of the man through interviews with those who knew him and worked with him, including his widow and son and authors Peter Mayle and Fay Weldon.


SAT 23:05 The Frost Report Is Back! (b009lt9r)
A celebration of the satirical comedy sketch series The Frost Report, which won the prestigious Golden Rose of Montreux in the 1960s.

Hosted by Sir David Frost, it was highly influential and proved to be the launch pad for the likes of Ronnie Barker, Ronnie Corbett, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman and Sheila Steafel.

Featuring rare archive skits, interviews with many of the old team and a complete showing of the award-winning show Frost Over England.


SAT 02:05 A Year in Tibet (b00936pn)
The Visit

Intimate documentary series following a year in the life of the society living in and around Gyantse, Tibet's third largest town. The Panchen Lama, the highest ranking Buddhist living in Tibet today, pays an unexpected visit to the local monastery and throws the monks into turmoil. A local hotel owner is worried about the lack business. In the nearby village of Tangmai, a young farmers wife is rushed into hospital with complications with her pregnancy.


SAT 03:05 The Hard Sell (b009lv1t)
[Repeat of broadcast at 21:35 today]


SAT 03:35 David Ogilvy: Original Mad Man (b009pg3d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 22:05 today]



SUNDAY 30 MARCH 2008

SUN 19:00 Sacred Music (b03d09b3)
Series 1

The Gothic Revolution

Documentary series in which actor and former chorister Simon Russell Beale explores the flowering of Western sacred music.

He begins his journey at Notre Dame in Paris, where an enigmatic medieval music manuscript provides the key to the early development of polyphony - music of 'many voices'. Featuring music performed by members of the award-winning choir The Sixteen, conducted by Harry Christophers.


SUN 20:00 Sacred Music (b009lvpl)
Series 1

Palestrina and the Popes

Documentary series in which actor and former chorister Simon Russell Beale explores the flowering of Western sacred music.

He uncovers the links between the papal intrigues of Renaissance Rome and the music of the enigmatic Palestrina, whose work is considered by many to be unsurpassed in its spiritual perfection. The art and architecture of the Italian High Renaissance are accompanied by a performance from the award-winning choir The Sixteen, conducted by founder Harry Christophers.


SUN 21:00 David Ogilvy: Original Mad Man (b009pg3d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 22:05 on Saturday]


SUN 22:00 Mad Men (b009pg6v)
Series 1

Five G

Drama series which takes an unflinching look at the world of advertising in 1960s New York. Don's past catches up to him when he wins an award and gets his picture on a prominent industry periodical. Ken makes his colleagues envious when he gets a short story published in a national monthly magazine.


SUN 22:45 Hancock and Joan (b009lv9j)
Drama which tells the story of comedian Tony Hancock's love affair with his friend's wife, and her fight to save the man and his career. Only months into her marriage to John Le Mesurier, Joan fell in love with Tony, who, despite his struggles with drink, remained charismatic and funny. They embarked on a passionate affair, but Tony's demons were never far away, and after months of turmoil Joan gave him an ultimatum: If he made a go of a new series in Australia and stayed sober, she would leave John for good. Tony left, determined to succeed.


SUN 00:15 David Ogilvy: Original Mad Man (b009pg3d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 22:05 on Saturday]


SUN 01:15 A Year in Tibet (b0094zlf)
Three Husbands and a Wedding

For twelve months, a television crew has followed a handful of ordinary Tibetan people living in and around Gyantse, Tibet's third largest town. The result is a unique and intimate portrait of life in one of the most mysterious and isolated societies on earth.

It is autumn in southern Tibet and everyone is pulling together to get in the harvest. Like all farmers, Dundan is worried most about hailstones flattening his crops. In the past his brother Tseden, the local shaman, protected the fields with his spells. Now the local government has installed guns to disperse the clouds and this has put Tseden out of a job.

In the nearby town of Gyantse, Rincheu, a local builder, struggles to find enough workers during the harvest to complete his all important first government commission.

In the monastery, the monks recover from a hectic visit by the highest ranking Buddhist Lama in Tibet. After a riotous time celebrating the success of the event, they go home to help with the harvest.

Tseden is also helping a local family to arrange their daughter's wedding. Despite months of preparation, nobody actually gets around to telling the bride she is going to be wed - nor does anybody mention that she is expected to marry her husband's brother as well.


SUN 02:15 Sacred Music (b009hpfp)
Series 1

The Gothic Revolution

Four-part documentary series in which actor and former chorister Simon Russell Beale explores the flowering of Western sacred music. He begins his journey at Notre Dame in Paris, where an enigmatic medieval music manuscript provides the key to the early development of polyphony - music of 'many voices'. Featuring music performed by members of the award-winning choir The Sixteen, conducted by Harry Christophers.


SUN 03:15 Sacred Music (b009lvpl)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:00 today]



MONDAY 31 MARCH 2008

MON 19:00 World News Today (b009pgf3)
The latest news from around the world.


MON 19:30 Play It Again (b0074rq9)
Hugh Dennis narrates a documentary recalling the Golden Age of the TV panel game in the 1950s, when programmes such as What's My Line, The Name's The Same, Animal Vegetable Mineral, Ask Your Dad and Find The Link drew huge audiences. Contributors include David Attenborough, Denis Norden and Michael Winner.


MON 20:00 Up Pompeii (b007819c)
Series 1

Brittanicus

Frankie Howerd plays Lurcio the slave in mid-70s BC Pompeii in the classic series. Lurcio is told he is to join his master in Britannicus to fight the war against the British.


MON 20:30 The Book Quiz (b009pgs9)
Series 2

Episode 2

Kirsty Wark presents as Daisy Goodwin and David Aaronovitch fight it out with AL Kennedy and Simon Hoggart for a place in the semi-finals of the literary panel game.


MON 21:00 Legends (b009pgsc)
Marty Feldman - Six Degrees of Separation

Marty Feldman was one of the forgotten greats of British Comedy. Uniquely, Feldman's journey took him from the golden age of BBC Radio comedy, with Round the Horne, the show he co-wrote with Barry Took, through the hothouse of 1960s television comedy, where Marty worked alongside the Pythons on The Frost Report and At Last The 1948 Show before getting his own series.

He went on to Hollywood with classic movies like Young Frankenstein. Marty was a writer first and foremost, but he was also a great physical clown, who idolised Buster Keaton. In moving to Hollywood, he hoped to emulate Keaton, but the Hollywood system quickly withdrew its support when they couldn't contain his talents.

Featuring a cast of close friends including John Cleese, Michael Palin, Sir David Frost, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Dom DeLuise (and parrot), Larry Gelbart (who produced a series for US television for Marty) and the great director Barry Levinson, who was one of his writers.


MON 22:00 It's Marty Feldman (b009rm8w)
Comedy series starring Marty Feldman, who co-wrote the material with Barry Took. Also starring John Junkin and Tim Brooke-Taylor.


MON 22:30 Round the Horne... Revisited (b0074qby)
Brian Cooke, the only surviving scriptwriter from the groundbreaking 60s satirical radio comedy, adapts a selection of the original material for TV. Starring Charles Armstrong, Kate Brown, Nigel Harrison, Jonathan Rigby and Robin Sebastian.


MON 23:30 Legends (b009pgsc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 21:00 today]


MON 00:30 The Late Edition (b009lv9l)
Series 4

Episode 20

Satirical comedy show, with host Marcus Brigstocke and guests.


MON 01:00 A Year in Tibet (b009hp6b)
Faith, Hope and Charity

Documentary series following a year in the life of the society living in and around the Tibetan town of Gyantse.

The monks begin preparations for New Year, one of Tibet's biggest festivals. Lhakpa, a local rickshaw driver, struggles to earn money as winter approaches. He embarks on a scheme to buy and sell puppies, with disastrous consequences.

Hotel owner Jianzang gets involved in a court case which has a surprising outcome. In Tangmai, the doctor cannot cure Lhamo's crippling stomach pains.


MON 02:00 The Book Quiz (b009pgs9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:30 today]


MON 02:30 Legends (b009pgsc)
[Repeat of broadcast at 21:00 today]


MON 03:30 The Book Quiz (b009pgs9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:30 today]



TUESDAY 01 APRIL 2008

TUE 19:00 World News Today (b009pgzs)
The latest news from around the world.


TUE 19:30 Pop Go the Sixties (b0084cjh)
Series 1

The Who

A colourful nugget of pop by The Who, mined from the BBC's archive.


TUE 20:00 TV's Believe It Or Not (b009pgzv)
Episode 1

Comedian Sean Lock looks at some extraordinary television.


TUE 21:00 TV's Believe It Or Not (b009r5p2)
Episode 2

Comedian Sean Lock returns for a second helping of extraordinary television.


TUE 22:00 The Hard Sell (b009pgzx)
Gadgets and Gizmos

Phill Jupitus narrates a series exploring 50 years of British TV advertising, with this edition examining our love affair with technology. Adland has always made sure that people desire the latest model, from power tools and motor cars to stereo systems, flat-screen TVs and mobile phones. Contributors include Tim Bell, Sam Delaney, Alan Parker, Suzi Perry and India Knight.


TUE 22:30 A Year in Tibet (b009lvdy)
Monks Behaving Badly

Documentary series following a year in the life of the society living in and around the Tibetan town of Gyantse. In the Pel Kor monastery, the director Choephel discovers that some irreplaceable statues have been stolen and the theft gives the local Communist Party an excuse to put in a government 'work team' to weed out monks they think are behaving badly. Lhakpa heads north in search of a lucrative job on a building site, and Butri gets an unpleasant surprise as she approaches her retirement.


TUE 23:30 The Book Quiz (b009pgs9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:30 on Monday]


TUE 00:00 BBC Proms (b007w334)
2007

Elgar's Enigma - Prom 31

Suzy Klein introduces Daniele Gatti conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in the inimitable Enigma Variations, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Elgar's birth. Also, Brahms' Variations on the St Anthony Chorale, and two works by Richard Strauss - his Oboe Concerto in D Major, performed by young Russian oboist Alexei Ogrintchouk, and the Suite from his opera Der Rosenkavalier.


TUE 02:15 TV's Believe It Or Not (b009pgzv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:00 today]


TUE 03:15 TV's Believe It Or Not (b009r5p2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 21:00 today]



WEDNESDAY 02 APRIL 2008

WED 19:00 World News Today (b009ph5v)
The latest news from around the world.


WED 19:30 Pop Go the Sixties (b008d011)
Series 1

The Scaffold

A colourful nugget of pop mined from the BBC's archive.


WED 20:00 Around the World in 80 Treasures (b0078w9h)
Series 1

Homeward Bound

At last, the end is in sight, and Dan's circumnavigation of the globe almost complete. But first there are some of the most brilliant treasures of all to enjoy. Venice, Florence and Rome revive an exhausted but ebullient Dan about to take his 92nd flight of the trip before he sails for home.

His first destination was once the most dangerous place on earth - Mostar and its famous bridge spanning the Christian and Muslim worlds. Destroyed by missiles and now rebuilt. Then on to Athens and the glories of the Parthenon before heading for the ultimate treasure trove of Italy - the beauties of Venice, the splendour of the Pantheon in Rome and the fabulous chapel of the Medici princes in Florence. Then in Spain, Dan is astonished by the unrivalled brilliance of the Alhambra, and echoes of the days when a large part of Europe was under Islamic rule.

At last, it's time for Dan to reflect on the immensity of his journey round the world - how has it changed him and what is he to make of it all? What can we all learn as human beings from the fantastic variety of mankind's creations that Dan has seen? And what single thing more than any other has inspired man to create?


WED 21:00 Hughie Green, Most Sincerely (b009ph5x)
Drama about the secret life of Opportunity Knocks and Double Your Money presenter Hughie Green, based on the inside story from his family, friends and peers. It tells of the destructive power of success and celebrity from Green's earliest days as a child star, and explores what family and fatherhood meant to this iconic character, who harboured an explosive secret that would rock the entertainment world after his death in 1997.


WED 22:20 Up Pompeii (b009rvm9)
Series 1

The Actors

Frankie Howerd plays Lurcio the slave in mid-70s BC Pompeii, in the classic series. With an acting company in town, Lurcio finds himself being roped in to replace the missing male lead of the show.


WED 22:50 Mark Lawson Talks To... (b009ph5z)
Barry Cryer

Comedy writer and raconteur Barry Cryer in conversation with Mark Lawson.


WED 23:50 Hughie Green, Most Sincerely (b009ph5x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 21:00 today]


WED 01:10 A Year in Tibet (b009lvdy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 22:30 on Tuesday]


WED 02:10 Play It Again (b0074rq9)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:30 on Monday]


WED 02:40 Mark Lawson Talks To... (b009ph5z)
[Repeat of broadcast at 22:50 today]



THURSDAY 03 APRIL 2008

THU 19:00 World News Today (b009phrp)
The latest news from around the world.


THU 19:30 Up Pompeii (b0074syy)
Series 1

Spartacus

Frankie Howerd plays Lurcio the slave in mid-70s BC Pompeii in the classic series. Lurcio finds himself unintentionally caught up in the slave revolution and is arrested trying to dissuade his master's son from becoming involved in the fight to free the slaves.


THU 20:00 Himalaya with Michael Palin (b0074qqv)
The Roof of the World

Leaving Everest Base Camp Michael Palin takes the high road to Lhasa to see for himself what the Chinese have done to Tibet. From the Potala Palace to the great monasteries of Tashilunpo and Sera he sees that religion is once again tolerated, while at the same time the old Tibetan centre of the city is being torn down and replaced with modern Chinese shopping malls and nightclubs.

Following the pilgrims to the holy Namtso Lake he finally gets warm in an Olympic sized hotspring before learning how to milk a yak with a nomad family with whom he travels to the summer horse festival in Yushu.


THU 21:00 A Year in Tibet (b009phrr)
A Tale of Three Monks

Documentary series following a year in the life of the society living in and around the Tibetan town of Gyantse. Deputy head lama Tsultrim has to juggle running the monastery whilst complying with a myriad of government restrictions. Young monk Tsephun lives and works with his master Dondrup, a curmudgeonly old lama. Tsephun helps his master with the day-to-day jobs of cleaning and tidying; in return, Dondrup teaches Tsephun the sutras and scriptures, an essential part of becoming a monk.


THU 22:00 Ashes to Ashes (b009lyk7)
Series 1

Episode 8

Drama series following the exploits of Life on Mars DCI Gene Hunt. Alex believes that if she can go back to the day her parents were killed and prevent their death, she can leave the prison of 1981 and get back home to her daughter Molly. With Gene waylaid by a station inspection, however, Alex needs to use every ounce of her strength to stop the elements coming together.


THU 23:00 Mad Men (b009pg6v)
[Repeat of broadcast at 22:00 on Sunday]


THU 23:45 David Ogilvy: Original Mad Man (b009pg3d)
[Repeat of broadcast at 22:05 on Saturday]


THU 00:45 A Year in Tibet (b009phrr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 21:00 today]


THU 01:45 The Lost World of Tibet (b0093677)
Dan Cruickshank presents a documentary revealing the story of the Dalai Lama, his secret Himalayan kingdom and the story of his exile, using eyewitness accounts from Tibetans including the Dalai Lama himself and colour archive footage of Tibet from the 1930s to 50s.


THU 02:45 Mapping Everest (b0074phg)
Hari Kunzru investigates the Great Arc, the 50-year project begun 200 years ago to map the Indian subcontinent to the nearest inch. Britain's lack of political control of the region added to the immensity of the task, with hundreds dying as a result of disease, adversity or local resistance. It was George Everest who saw the survey through to the end and gave his name to its greatest discovery - the highest mountain in the world.


THU 03:15 A Year in Tibet (b009phrr)
[Repeat of broadcast at 21:00 today]



FRIDAY 04 APRIL 2008

FRI 19:00 World News Today (b009phyt)
The latest news from around the world.


FRI 19:30 Transatlantic Sessions (b0082hyv)
Series 3

Episode 5

Folk musicians come together in what have been called 'the greatest backporch shows ever'. Featuring harpist Catriona McKay, fiddler Bruce Molsky and Tim O'Brien.


FRI 20:00 Sacred Music (b009phyw)
Series 1

Tallis, Byrd and the Tudors

Four-part documentary series in which Simon Russell Beale explores the flowering of Western sacred music. Beale takes us back to Tudor England, a country in turmoil as monarchs change the national religion and Roman Catholicism is driven underground. In telling the story of Thomas Tallis and William Byrd, two composers at the centre of England's own musical Renaissance, Beale visits parish churches, great cathedrals and a private home where Catholic music would have been performed in secret.


FRI 21:00 The Harp (b009phyy)
Harpist Catrin Finch takes a musical journey to discover the ancient and fascinating history of the harp in Wales and the world, with interviews and performances from internationally-renowned guests including Alan Stivell, Carlos Orosco, Alemu Aga, Isabelle Perrin and Elinor Bennett.


FRI 22:00 Hughie Green, Most Sincerely (b009ph5x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 21:00 on Wednesday]


FRI 23:20 TV's Believe It Or Not (b009pgzv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:00 on Tuesday]


FRI 00:15 TV's Believe It Or Not (b009r5p2)
[Repeat of broadcast at 21:00 on Tuesday]


FRI 01:20 The Harp (b009phyy)
[Repeat of broadcast at 21:00 today]


FRI 02:20 Sacred Music (b009phyw)
[Repeat of broadcast at 20:00 today]


FRI 03:20 Transatlantic Sessions (b0082hyv)
[Repeat of broadcast at 19:30 today]