Weekly highlights - Week 49 2009
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Casanova *Channel Premiere*
Tuesdays, 10pm (from Tuesday 1st December)
Legendary film actor Peter O'Toole joins Doctor Who himself, David Tennant, in Russell T Davis’ lavish and bawdy re-imagining of the story of the legendary 18th century libertine, Casanova.
The series starts with an older Casanova (O’Toole) living in exile. He’s persuaded to share his tales of his many and varied exploits by a star-struck maid, and he soon starts to regale her with stories of how he was introduced to Venetian high society as a young scholar and how he fell madly in love with the fiancé of a powerful and rich patrician.
The young Casanova (Tennant) also travelled Europe, enjoying financial and libidinous bounty in all the biggest Houses, but there was always one thing that haunted him – the bitter, life-long struggle with Grimani for Henriette’s affections.
Bringing 18th century high society to stunning, multi-colour life Tennant is also joined by a stellar cast that includes Rupert Penry-Jones, Laura Fraser, Rose Byrne, Nina Sosanya and Shaun Parkes.
GOLD
*24 Days Of Christmas*
Tuesday 1st to Thursday 24th December, 9pm
Throughout December G.O.L.D. provides a Christmas chuckle every day, by featuring some of the best seasonal comedy specials.
Some of G.O.L.D.’s shiny baubles include channel premieres of Green Green Grass 2006 and 2007 Christmas specials, My Family Christmas special from 2007 and After You’ve Gone, also from 2007.
Proving that you can take the boy out of Peckham but not the Peckham out of the boy, Only Fools And Horses’ Boycie and Marlene are still trying to come to terms with life in the country in Green Green Grass. In these Christmas specials Boycie manages to get two black eyes after causing a near riot in the village, and Boycie and Marlene are horrified when Earl digs up an unexploded hand grenade on their land. This find leads to the discovery that The Grange was once a US Army base in the 1970s. Ever the entrepreneur, Boycie decides to set up a military museum in his barn.
After You’ve Gone, starring Nicholas Lyndhurst and Celia Imrie in a love-hate mother-in-law/son-in-law relationship, features a Christmas school play, some dodgy set design and a romantic reunion.
Then there’s the classic Absolutely Fabulous, whose 2004’s festive laugh-fest also makes its debut on G.O.L.D. in December.
It’s just another Christmas in Patsy and Edina’s home – Edina has decided to remodel the kitchen yet again and enlists friends Bettina and Max to help (Bettina is now divorced and insane, and Max is gay), while Patsy has developed health problems and walks around with an IV stand. Saffie, meanwhile, has returned from her wedding to John in Kenya and reveals to her mother that her new husband is a polygamist.
But that’s not the end of it. After visiting Terence Conran and Kunz for some kitchen inspiration, she also hires a ‘channeller’ to help get her creative juices flow. All this does is create more chaos in the house, and when Saffie snaps, she throws both of the arguing fashionistas out onto the streets.
Dave
QI XL *Channel Premiere* *Series Continues*
Tuesdays, 9pm (from Tuesday 1st December)
Stephen Fry and Alan Davies’ journeys into the dark heart of quite interesting trivia are always entertaining but there’s always something that nags away at us after each episode of QI – often, after paddling up the river of useless information, orienteering through the jungle of tangential thought and ascending the sheer rock face of stupidness, we at Dave always find ourselves wanting more.
With QI XL we get more; many more unseen moments from series six, which means more laughs, more trivia and more Stephen Fry. And more nonsense-talking guests.
Going all bumper-sized on us in these super-quilted, John Holmes-esque editions of QI XL include Sir Terry Wogan, Rob Brydon, Phill Jupitus, Jo Brand, Sean Lock, Johnny Vegas, Jimmy Carr, Dara O’Briain, Reginald D Hunter and Clive Anderson.
Argumental *UK Premiere* *Final Episode*
Tuesday 1st December, 10pm
Dave’s very own comedy debating series continues into December with the final, unseen episode from series two.
Host John ‘The Sarge’ Sergeant once again oversees proceedings with his trademark ribald personality, as team captains Marcus Brigstocke and Rufus Hound are asked to argue against received wisdom, as well as defend comments that most people would struggle to find any good in at all.
With star guests from the world of comedy, things get heated. No chance of getting the mistletoe and having a make up snog between this lot.
Rob Brydon’s Annually Retentive *Channel Premiere* *Series Continues*
Wednesdays 12.40am, (from Wednesday 2nd December)
A parody, a comedy and a post-modernist take-off of the genre, Annually Retentive continues this month with Rob Brydon playing himself, as the role of a comedy panel show host.
Confused? Don’t be.
Ron Brydon the character has an ego the size of Norfolk, argues with producers and all in all is a bit of diva. Unlike the real Rob Brydon, who’s lovely. Within the whole take-off there’s actually a quiz show to be had, and this series’ guests (who are also in on the joke) include Rhys Thomas, Abi Titmuss, June Sarpong, Olivia Lee, James Cordon, Frankie Boyle and Kate Lawler.
Men Behaving Badly *Channel Premiere* *Series Continues*
Thursdays, 9.40pm (from Thursday 3rd December)
That shining beacon of laddishness, Men behaving Badly, continues on Dave this month with more episodes that prove men are the greatest thing ever created (apart from women).
This month’s episodes find poor old Gary (Martin Clunes) feeling a bit old and sad and Tony having to fight for Deborah’s affections when she starts spending time with her new student chums. So what do two men approaching a pre-middle-life crisis do? They go out to a rave and get banjaxed.
Elsewhere in the month, Gary unexpectedly finds £30k in his bank account and the boys decide to build the ultimate bachelor home accessory – the home sauna.
Fifth Gear *Channel Premiere* *Series Continues*
Fridays, 8pm (from Friday 4th December)
Tiff Needell, Chris Ryan, Jason Plato and Vicki Butler-Henderson make for a formidable team, and Fifth Gear consistently provides some of the best car journalism you’ll ever see on television.
Series 16 continues on Dave this month with more channel premiere episodes that feature race-offs, reviews and even more celebrity petrol head appearances.
This month’s episodes see Jason and Tiff race a pair of double-decker buses, John Barrowman gets some rallying lessons, and Jason takes TV chef James Martin for a spin at Silverstone in a 1996 Benetton.
Alibi
Hunter *Channel Premiere*
Sunday 29th November, 9pm
Hugh Bonneville and Janet McTier star as detective team Barclay and Foster in this gripping kidnap mystery.
Following on from the Five Days series, Hunter sees Det Supt Iain Barclay and DS Amy Foster and their team dropped into the middle of a sensitive crime.
When extremists kidnap two seven-year-old boys from very different backgrounds, they promise to release them only when their radical demands are met. With faithful friend Foster brought in by Barclay to ruffle a few features, it’s a race against time to find the boys and the people behind the kidnapping – anonymous email images showing the boys unconscious with ‘SACRED’ scrawled on their bodies are being sent to Barclay’s office from untraceable mobile phones.
The clock is ticking…
55 Degrees North *Channel Premiere* *Series Continues*
Tuesdays, 8pm (from Tuesday 1st December)
The gritty culture clash cop show continues on Alibi this month with more channel premiere episodes from series two.
After blowing the whistle on police corruption in London, detective Nicky Cole (Don Gilet) is unceremoniously shipped off to Newcastle and has to come to terms with an unwanted career change. His only friend is Claire Maxwell (Dirvla Kirwan), an ambitious solicitor.
This month’s episodes see Nicky’s uncle Errol arrested on suspicion of a girl’s murder during a weekend break to Lindisfarne, prompting Nicky to conduct his own investigation to clear his name. Elsewhere, Claire struggles to balance motherhood and a heavy caseload and makes a mistake in a manslaughter case.
Finally Nicky and Claire disagree over a complicated land dispute involving a campaign to remove Irish travellers from a field.
Eden
Ants – Nature’s Secret Power *UK Premiere*
Wednesday 2nd December, 5pm
This exploratory documentary transports us into the world of ants through the eyes of renowned expert Bert Hoelldobler.
Just listing some ant stats reveals just how impressive they are - they wage wars and administer medicines; they live in a world of coded communications and lightning chains of command; they make secret poison mixtures and have prodigious strength; and they have inhabited our planet for millions of years.
It’s only their tiny size and the human race’s ego that allows us to continue to foster the myth of our supremacy. In reality, ants may well rule the planet.
This film uses cutting-edge macro-cinematography to bring us face-to-face with the mysterious world of ants – their nations, complexity, social dynamics and versatility.
Gorillas: A Journey For Survival *UK Premiere*
Thursday 3rd December, 5pm
In late 2001, in the rainforests of Cameroon, four helpless baby gorillas were taken away after their mothers had been killed by poachers. But this was not the end of their story.
Following this traumatic experience an incredible journey of survival began for the gorillas, a journey that included forged documents, numerous zoos and cross-continental travel.
After being taken to a Nigerian zoo for safe keeping, forged documents were created to help keep them at their safe, temporary home. They were then moved on to South Africa, to Malaysia and then back to South Africa, where their final journey back to Cameroon was planned.
This UK premiere documentary chronicles the excitement of South African biologists returning the Taiping Four home and features the gorillas’ emotional and intensive journey from South Africa up into the Limbe Wildlife Centre in Cameroon.
Aside from the emotional journey of the apes, Gorillas: A Journey For Survival also reveals the harsh truths about the bush meat trade and lifts the lid on the world of poachers and gorilla hunters in Cameroon.
Gorillas Revisited With David Attenborough *Channel Premiere*
Thursday 3rd December, 7pm
Sir David Attenborough's encounter with mountain gorillas during the filming of the landmark series in Life On Earth in1978 is one of the greatest moments in television history. In this channel premiere journey of rediscovery, Sir David recounts his very personal experiences with the mountain gorillas of Rwanda.
Ever since they were discovered over a century ago, the gorillas have been threatened by loss of habitat, poaching, disease and political instability. But despite all odds, their numbers have actually increased.
Sir David tells the extraordinary story of how conservationists like the late Dian Fossey have battled to save the mountain gorilla from the brink of extinction. This stirring insight reveals how these magnificent great apes have triumphed over adversity to become a true success in the world of conservation.
Killer Elephants *UK Premiere*
Friday 4th December, 5pm
This new documentary provides the answer to a riddle that has been puzzling the staff of a South African nature reserve for decades.
For years the staff of the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi reserve in Natal, South Africa, have been trying to find out who or what is killing their rhinos.
After years of research and detective work staff have reached a disturbing and unlikely conclusion – elephants on the reserve may be to blame and, what’s more, humans might ultimately be behind the catastrophe.
The films asks whether a well-intentioned human intervention in the 1990s has resulted in the unforeseen consequence that adolescent male elephants on the reserve without normal adult role models have become juvenile delinquents.
The parallels with human development are astonishing, and this documentary shows a side of to an animal we think we know well but in reality we’re only just beginning to understand.
Blighty
Hair Wars
Friday 4th November, 8pm
Documentary by Morgan Matthews following two stories of competition hairdressers. One is the tale of the British hairdressing team and their quest for success at the 2006 World Hairdressing Championships in Moscow. Held every two years, the biggest and most prestigious of all hairdressing competitions attracts the best competitive cutters from 49 countries for a showdown in a frenzy of hairspray and scissors. While the British team is on an international tour in the run-up to the event, rivalries and relationships unravel. The second story is about John Phelps, a double world champion hairdresser whose rise and fall in the 1990s made him a legend in competition hairdressing.
Really
Addicted To Beauty *UK Premiere*
Weekdays, 11pm (from Monday 30th November)
This month Really takes a peek behind the curtain of one of America’s most upcoming plastic surgery clinics and spas, in this no holds barred fly-on-the-wall documentary series.
Addicted To Beauty follows the outrageous staff at Changes Plastic Surgery and Spa in southern California, where Dianne York-Goldman, socialite and marketing expert, has brought her over-the-top employees from her previous spa to help with this new venture. Respected plastic surgeon Dr Gilbert Lee is also along for the ride.
The staff includes Gary, the flamboyant and outspoken receptionist; Ronnie, the eccentric concierge; Natasha, Dianne's level-headed assistant; and Shannyn, the whip-cracking spa manager.
This lot of clashing personalities have all got to be kept in check by Melanie (aka Mel), Dr Lee's no-nonsense office manager who is not afraid of giving out tough love.
For the good of the business all the staff must learn to get on together as the pressure increases before the grand opening. But that’s easier said than done – in an industry that’s well known for the size of its egos and addiction to glamour, chaos starts to reign.
Natasha has to pick up Gary's front desk slack, Ronnie is completely averse to having Shannyn as his boss, and Mel becomes fed up with the incompetence of Dianne's staff. Just another day at Changes…
Desperately Hungry Housewives *Channel Premiere*
Wednesday 2nd December, 10pm
Anorexia and bulimia were once thought to be only suffered by teenage girls, but as more research helps to understand the disease better than ever before, a whole new set of statistics is beginning to emerge – there is now an increase in cases among older women.
This one-off documentary, new to Really, meets four housewives who, on the surface, are living happy and well-formed lives. But each of them is dealing with the fallout from their eating disorders.
Jane, Zoe, Tracey and Giorgia talk frankly and movingly about how anorexia and bulimia have affected their lives and families.
Fifty-four-year old Jane has suffered from anorexia and bulimia for more than 30 years and is trying to keep her weight at a healthier level; 36-year-old Tracey is desperate to stop her cycle of binging and vomiting; Zoe, also 36, is in recovery from severe anorexia; and Giorgia would like to lose weight after having a baby without creeping back into old habits.
Good Food
An Italian Christmas With Mario And Giada *UK Premiere*
Tuesday 1st December, 1.30pm
Good Food regular Giada De Laurentis teams up with New York restaurateur and regional Italian food expert Mario Batali to find the culinary essence of Italian Christmas food in this UK premiere.
Born in Rome, and granddaughter of legendary film producer Dino De Laurentis, Giada grew up in a large Italian family where the culture of food was taught from an early age. She’s the perfect guide in this stunning, mouth-watering Christmas special.
Together, Mario and Giada criss-cross Italy in search of festive recipes, dishes and traditions. They’ll visit bakeries, restaurants, and also prepare family recipes of their own.
Other fantastic recipes include a traditional Panettone, baked clams, stuffed turkey breast and lobster and mascarpone Christmas ravioli.
Hairy Bakers Christmas Special *Channel Premiere*
Tuesday 1st December, 9pm
Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat, and the Hairy Bakers are embarking on their first Christmas special.
On brand new motorbikes, the Hairy Bakers travel round the country cooking up their favourite festive recipes as they plan an early Christmas party for families who won't be spending Christmas together (fire fighters, nurses, police and ambulance crews).
Hairy Bakers Christmas Special takes them from an indoor ski slope where they cook up Christmas pudding and mince pies for hungry snowboarders, and to a turkey farm where they turn leftovers into a delicious turkey and ham pie.
They also visit a Christmas tree farm to rustle up a festive chestnut soup and giant cheese straws and a prison in Cumbria where they make bagels filled with salmon smoked within the prison grounds.
The journey ends with a feast in the world's largest tree house. Full of festive cheer, lashings of mulled wine, reindeer and even an elf or two this is the first ever Hairy Christmas party.
Casanova *Channel Premiere*
Tuesdays, 10pm (from Tuesday 1st December)
Legendary film actor Peter O'Toole joins Doctor Who himself, David Tennant, in Russell T Davis’ lavish and bawdy re-imagining of the story of the legendary 18th century libertine, Casanova.
The series starts with an older Casanova (O’Toole) living in exile. He’s persuaded to share his tales of his many and varied exploits by a star-struck maid, and he soon starts to regale her with stories of how he was introduced to Venetian high society as a young scholar and how he fell madly in love with the fiancé of a powerful and rich patrician.
The young Casanova (Tennant) also travelled Europe, enjoying financial and libidinous bounty in all the biggest Houses, but there was always one thing that haunted him – the bitter, life-long struggle with Grimani for Henriette’s affections.
Bringing 18th century high society to stunning, multi-colour life Tennant is also joined by a stellar cast that includes Rupert Penry-Jones, Laura Fraser, Rose Byrne, Nina Sosanya and Shaun Parkes.
GOLD
*24 Days Of Christmas*
Tuesday 1st to Thursday 24th December, 9pm
Throughout December G.O.L.D. provides a Christmas chuckle every day, by featuring some of the best seasonal comedy specials.
Some of G.O.L.D.’s shiny baubles include channel premieres of Green Green Grass 2006 and 2007 Christmas specials, My Family Christmas special from 2007 and After You’ve Gone, also from 2007.
Proving that you can take the boy out of Peckham but not the Peckham out of the boy, Only Fools And Horses’ Boycie and Marlene are still trying to come to terms with life in the country in Green Green Grass. In these Christmas specials Boycie manages to get two black eyes after causing a near riot in the village, and Boycie and Marlene are horrified when Earl digs up an unexploded hand grenade on their land. This find leads to the discovery that The Grange was once a US Army base in the 1970s. Ever the entrepreneur, Boycie decides to set up a military museum in his barn.
After You’ve Gone, starring Nicholas Lyndhurst and Celia Imrie in a love-hate mother-in-law/son-in-law relationship, features a Christmas school play, some dodgy set design and a romantic reunion.
Then there’s the classic Absolutely Fabulous, whose 2004’s festive laugh-fest also makes its debut on G.O.L.D. in December.
It’s just another Christmas in Patsy and Edina’s home – Edina has decided to remodel the kitchen yet again and enlists friends Bettina and Max to help (Bettina is now divorced and insane, and Max is gay), while Patsy has developed health problems and walks around with an IV stand. Saffie, meanwhile, has returned from her wedding to John in Kenya and reveals to her mother that her new husband is a polygamist.
But that’s not the end of it. After visiting Terence Conran and Kunz for some kitchen inspiration, she also hires a ‘channeller’ to help get her creative juices flow. All this does is create more chaos in the house, and when Saffie snaps, she throws both of the arguing fashionistas out onto the streets.
Dave
QI XL *Channel Premiere* *Series Continues*
Tuesdays, 9pm (from Tuesday 1st December)
Stephen Fry and Alan Davies’ journeys into the dark heart of quite interesting trivia are always entertaining but there’s always something that nags away at us after each episode of QI – often, after paddling up the river of useless information, orienteering through the jungle of tangential thought and ascending the sheer rock face of stupidness, we at Dave always find ourselves wanting more.
With QI XL we get more; many more unseen moments from series six, which means more laughs, more trivia and more Stephen Fry. And more nonsense-talking guests.
Going all bumper-sized on us in these super-quilted, John Holmes-esque editions of QI XL include Sir Terry Wogan, Rob Brydon, Phill Jupitus, Jo Brand, Sean Lock, Johnny Vegas, Jimmy Carr, Dara O’Briain, Reginald D Hunter and Clive Anderson.
Argumental *UK Premiere* *Final Episode*
Tuesday 1st December, 10pm
Dave’s very own comedy debating series continues into December with the final, unseen episode from series two.
Host John ‘The Sarge’ Sergeant once again oversees proceedings with his trademark ribald personality, as team captains Marcus Brigstocke and Rufus Hound are asked to argue against received wisdom, as well as defend comments that most people would struggle to find any good in at all.
With star guests from the world of comedy, things get heated. No chance of getting the mistletoe and having a make up snog between this lot.
Rob Brydon’s Annually Retentive *Channel Premiere* *Series Continues*
Wednesdays 12.40am, (from Wednesday 2nd December)
A parody, a comedy and a post-modernist take-off of the genre, Annually Retentive continues this month with Rob Brydon playing himself, as the role of a comedy panel show host.
Confused? Don’t be.
Ron Brydon the character has an ego the size of Norfolk, argues with producers and all in all is a bit of diva. Unlike the real Rob Brydon, who’s lovely. Within the whole take-off there’s actually a quiz show to be had, and this series’ guests (who are also in on the joke) include Rhys Thomas, Abi Titmuss, June Sarpong, Olivia Lee, James Cordon, Frankie Boyle and Kate Lawler.
Men Behaving Badly *Channel Premiere* *Series Continues*
Thursdays, 9.40pm (from Thursday 3rd December)
That shining beacon of laddishness, Men behaving Badly, continues on Dave this month with more episodes that prove men are the greatest thing ever created (apart from women).
This month’s episodes find poor old Gary (Martin Clunes) feeling a bit old and sad and Tony having to fight for Deborah’s affections when she starts spending time with her new student chums. So what do two men approaching a pre-middle-life crisis do? They go out to a rave and get banjaxed.
Elsewhere in the month, Gary unexpectedly finds £30k in his bank account and the boys decide to build the ultimate bachelor home accessory – the home sauna.
Fifth Gear *Channel Premiere* *Series Continues*
Fridays, 8pm (from Friday 4th December)
Tiff Needell, Chris Ryan, Jason Plato and Vicki Butler-Henderson make for a formidable team, and Fifth Gear consistently provides some of the best car journalism you’ll ever see on television.
Series 16 continues on Dave this month with more channel premiere episodes that feature race-offs, reviews and even more celebrity petrol head appearances.
This month’s episodes see Jason and Tiff race a pair of double-decker buses, John Barrowman gets some rallying lessons, and Jason takes TV chef James Martin for a spin at Silverstone in a 1996 Benetton.
Alibi
Hunter *Channel Premiere*
Sunday 29th November, 9pm
Hugh Bonneville and Janet McTier star as detective team Barclay and Foster in this gripping kidnap mystery.
Following on from the Five Days series, Hunter sees Det Supt Iain Barclay and DS Amy Foster and their team dropped into the middle of a sensitive crime.
When extremists kidnap two seven-year-old boys from very different backgrounds, they promise to release them only when their radical demands are met. With faithful friend Foster brought in by Barclay to ruffle a few features, it’s a race against time to find the boys and the people behind the kidnapping – anonymous email images showing the boys unconscious with ‘SACRED’ scrawled on their bodies are being sent to Barclay’s office from untraceable mobile phones.
The clock is ticking…
55 Degrees North *Channel Premiere* *Series Continues*
Tuesdays, 8pm (from Tuesday 1st December)
The gritty culture clash cop show continues on Alibi this month with more channel premiere episodes from series two.
After blowing the whistle on police corruption in London, detective Nicky Cole (Don Gilet) is unceremoniously shipped off to Newcastle and has to come to terms with an unwanted career change. His only friend is Claire Maxwell (Dirvla Kirwan), an ambitious solicitor.
This month’s episodes see Nicky’s uncle Errol arrested on suspicion of a girl’s murder during a weekend break to Lindisfarne, prompting Nicky to conduct his own investigation to clear his name. Elsewhere, Claire struggles to balance motherhood and a heavy caseload and makes a mistake in a manslaughter case.
Finally Nicky and Claire disagree over a complicated land dispute involving a campaign to remove Irish travellers from a field.
Eden
Ants – Nature’s Secret Power *UK Premiere*
Wednesday 2nd December, 5pm
This exploratory documentary transports us into the world of ants through the eyes of renowned expert Bert Hoelldobler.
Just listing some ant stats reveals just how impressive they are - they wage wars and administer medicines; they live in a world of coded communications and lightning chains of command; they make secret poison mixtures and have prodigious strength; and they have inhabited our planet for millions of years.
It’s only their tiny size and the human race’s ego that allows us to continue to foster the myth of our supremacy. In reality, ants may well rule the planet.
This film uses cutting-edge macro-cinematography to bring us face-to-face with the mysterious world of ants – their nations, complexity, social dynamics and versatility.
Gorillas: A Journey For Survival *UK Premiere*
Thursday 3rd December, 5pm
In late 2001, in the rainforests of Cameroon, four helpless baby gorillas were taken away after their mothers had been killed by poachers. But this was not the end of their story.
Following this traumatic experience an incredible journey of survival began for the gorillas, a journey that included forged documents, numerous zoos and cross-continental travel.
After being taken to a Nigerian zoo for safe keeping, forged documents were created to help keep them at their safe, temporary home. They were then moved on to South Africa, to Malaysia and then back to South Africa, where their final journey back to Cameroon was planned.
This UK premiere documentary chronicles the excitement of South African biologists returning the Taiping Four home and features the gorillas’ emotional and intensive journey from South Africa up into the Limbe Wildlife Centre in Cameroon.
Aside from the emotional journey of the apes, Gorillas: A Journey For Survival also reveals the harsh truths about the bush meat trade and lifts the lid on the world of poachers and gorilla hunters in Cameroon.
Gorillas Revisited With David Attenborough *Channel Premiere*
Thursday 3rd December, 7pm
Sir David Attenborough's encounter with mountain gorillas during the filming of the landmark series in Life On Earth in1978 is one of the greatest moments in television history. In this channel premiere journey of rediscovery, Sir David recounts his very personal experiences with the mountain gorillas of Rwanda.
Ever since they were discovered over a century ago, the gorillas have been threatened by loss of habitat, poaching, disease and political instability. But despite all odds, their numbers have actually increased.
Sir David tells the extraordinary story of how conservationists like the late Dian Fossey have battled to save the mountain gorilla from the brink of extinction. This stirring insight reveals how these magnificent great apes have triumphed over adversity to become a true success in the world of conservation.
Killer Elephants *UK Premiere*
Friday 4th December, 5pm
This new documentary provides the answer to a riddle that has been puzzling the staff of a South African nature reserve for decades.
For years the staff of the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi reserve in Natal, South Africa, have been trying to find out who or what is killing their rhinos.
After years of research and detective work staff have reached a disturbing and unlikely conclusion – elephants on the reserve may be to blame and, what’s more, humans might ultimately be behind the catastrophe.
The films asks whether a well-intentioned human intervention in the 1990s has resulted in the unforeseen consequence that adolescent male elephants on the reserve without normal adult role models have become juvenile delinquents.
The parallels with human development are astonishing, and this documentary shows a side of to an animal we think we know well but in reality we’re only just beginning to understand.
Blighty
Hair Wars
Friday 4th November, 8pm
Documentary by Morgan Matthews following two stories of competition hairdressers. One is the tale of the British hairdressing team and their quest for success at the 2006 World Hairdressing Championships in Moscow. Held every two years, the biggest and most prestigious of all hairdressing competitions attracts the best competitive cutters from 49 countries for a showdown in a frenzy of hairspray and scissors. While the British team is on an international tour in the run-up to the event, rivalries and relationships unravel. The second story is about John Phelps, a double world champion hairdresser whose rise and fall in the 1990s made him a legend in competition hairdressing.
Really
Addicted To Beauty *UK Premiere*
Weekdays, 11pm (from Monday 30th November)
This month Really takes a peek behind the curtain of one of America’s most upcoming plastic surgery clinics and spas, in this no holds barred fly-on-the-wall documentary series.
Addicted To Beauty follows the outrageous staff at Changes Plastic Surgery and Spa in southern California, where Dianne York-Goldman, socialite and marketing expert, has brought her over-the-top employees from her previous spa to help with this new venture. Respected plastic surgeon Dr Gilbert Lee is also along for the ride.
The staff includes Gary, the flamboyant and outspoken receptionist; Ronnie, the eccentric concierge; Natasha, Dianne's level-headed assistant; and Shannyn, the whip-cracking spa manager.
This lot of clashing personalities have all got to be kept in check by Melanie (aka Mel), Dr Lee's no-nonsense office manager who is not afraid of giving out tough love.
For the good of the business all the staff must learn to get on together as the pressure increases before the grand opening. But that’s easier said than done – in an industry that’s well known for the size of its egos and addiction to glamour, chaos starts to reign.
Natasha has to pick up Gary's front desk slack, Ronnie is completely averse to having Shannyn as his boss, and Mel becomes fed up with the incompetence of Dianne's staff. Just another day at Changes…
Desperately Hungry Housewives *Channel Premiere*
Wednesday 2nd December, 10pm
Anorexia and bulimia were once thought to be only suffered by teenage girls, but as more research helps to understand the disease better than ever before, a whole new set of statistics is beginning to emerge – there is now an increase in cases among older women.
This one-off documentary, new to Really, meets four housewives who, on the surface, are living happy and well-formed lives. But each of them is dealing with the fallout from their eating disorders.
Jane, Zoe, Tracey and Giorgia talk frankly and movingly about how anorexia and bulimia have affected their lives and families.
Fifty-four-year old Jane has suffered from anorexia and bulimia for more than 30 years and is trying to keep her weight at a healthier level; 36-year-old Tracey is desperate to stop her cycle of binging and vomiting; Zoe, also 36, is in recovery from severe anorexia; and Giorgia would like to lose weight after having a baby without creeping back into old habits.
Good Food
An Italian Christmas With Mario And Giada *UK Premiere*
Tuesday 1st December, 1.30pm
Good Food regular Giada De Laurentis teams up with New York restaurateur and regional Italian food expert Mario Batali to find the culinary essence of Italian Christmas food in this UK premiere.
Born in Rome, and granddaughter of legendary film producer Dino De Laurentis, Giada grew up in a large Italian family where the culture of food was taught from an early age. She’s the perfect guide in this stunning, mouth-watering Christmas special.
Together, Mario and Giada criss-cross Italy in search of festive recipes, dishes and traditions. They’ll visit bakeries, restaurants, and also prepare family recipes of their own.
Other fantastic recipes include a traditional Panettone, baked clams, stuffed turkey breast and lobster and mascarpone Christmas ravioli.
Hairy Bakers Christmas Special *Channel Premiere*
Tuesday 1st December, 9pm
Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat, and the Hairy Bakers are embarking on their first Christmas special.
On brand new motorbikes, the Hairy Bakers travel round the country cooking up their favourite festive recipes as they plan an early Christmas party for families who won't be spending Christmas together (fire fighters, nurses, police and ambulance crews).
Hairy Bakers Christmas Special takes them from an indoor ski slope where they cook up Christmas pudding and mince pies for hungry snowboarders, and to a turkey farm where they turn leftovers into a delicious turkey and ham pie.
They also visit a Christmas tree farm to rustle up a festive chestnut soup and giant cheese straws and a prison in Cumbria where they make bagels filled with salmon smoked within the prison grounds.
The journey ends with a feast in the world's largest tree house. Full of festive cheer, lashings of mulled wine, reindeer and even an elf or two this is the first ever Hairy Christmas party.
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