LISTINGS TELEVISION

REESE- !

I Painting the World (B BCZ)

7.30—8.3(lpm. First in a new series in which National Gallery director Neil MacGregor selects key paintings frotn the gallery‘s collection that illustrate the western ‘world view‘ of the last four centuries.

Q Videos. gossip and the Scottish chart

THURSDAY 19

I Chart Bite (Scottish) 7.30—8pm.

presented by Mari Steven attd Ewan MacLeod.

I The Number ‘ID Show (Channel 4)

e 8—8.3(lpm. l‘igures in the public eye are

i I Classic Trucks (Channel 4) 8—8.3(lpttt. Yes. it's true —- a whole series devoted to ‘the history of the British truck'. narrated by Uncle John Peel.

I Public Eye (BBCZ) S— 830an Anew series of the documentary strand begins with a report on the Governments plans to ease traffic congestion. attd asks whether tougher 'neasures needed to prise commuters from their cars.

I Kavanagh 00 (Scottish) 8.30-10pm. John Thaw is the maverick barrister (aren‘t they always?) who is torn between family and the law in this classy legal procedural. Tonight Kavanagh represents a father who kidnapped his son during a custody battle. I Far and Away (BBCI) 9.30—1 lpm. First television showing for Ron Howard's turn-of-the-century Irish love story with Tom Cruise at the centre of two feuding families.

I Network First (Scottish)

l0.4()—l 1.40pm. The stories of four bigantists who describe the pain of

leading a double life.

I Ex-S (BBC 1) ll—-l 1.30an After Kevin Macdonald was replaced by Daniel Boyle as director of the Scottish thriller Shallow Grave he decided to do a ‘Making of' documentary about the shoot. Described

by Kevin as Hearts a/‘Darkness ‘without the jungle attd the helicopters'. this is a warts-and-all account of the making of a feature film.

WEDNESDAY 18 4

I Taggart (Scottish) ‘)—l()pm. Second instalment of the last Mark McManus story. in which the chief sits in for his boss. who‘s on sick leave.

I Bridge to Silence (BBC2) 9—10.30pm. Television premiere for this film starring Marlee Matlin. the hearing-impaired actress who won an Oscar for Children of a Lesser Gail. Matlin. the disabled survivor of a car smash which killed her husband. beComes estranged from her daughter after she goes to live with her grandparents.

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I The Good Mother (Channel 4) lOpm—midnight. Leonard Nimoy directs this fatnin tug-of-love tale about a woman (Diane Keaton) whose lover is accused of abusing her daughter.

3 cltairtnan of the Commission for Racial

I Metropolis (B BCZ) 8—8.3(lpm. Thomas Crapper‘s contribution to civilisation is "marked in this history of sewers and the

I The 3000 Mite Garden (Chattnel 4)

of each. really. Roger Phillips is a

horticulturist and cook living in London; Leslie Land is a gardening food writer;

they met at a tnushroom conference and l now they‘re pen pals. This is their story.

-; given the chance to be Prime Minister for

the day. Tonight Herman ()useley.

Equality. outlines some proposals which may surprise people who have him pegged as a knee-jerk liberal. l

flush toilet.

I The Pulse (Channel 4) 8.30—9pm. The health magazine programme looks at whether being tnale can damage your health. Statistics for everything from heart ; attacks to suicide are substantially higher for men than for women The Pulse investigates why. I The Bector’s Wife (Channel 4) ‘)—-ll)pltl. Swift repeat of the Joanna Trollope adaptation with Lindsay Duncan as the devoted rector's wife who cuts loose. in a genteel sort of way. to find her own identity. Mannered but well-made drama about posh village life. I The X Files (BBCZ) 9—9.45pm. Mulder and Scully investigate a UFO sighting i after a key witness changes his story. I Situation Vacant (BBC2) ‘).45—l().3()pm. The tried and tested formula of following new recruits continues with this series. Tonight's programme follows a group of hopefuls auditioning for ajob as an entertainments ' officer on a cruise ship. 1

I Avalon (Channel 4) l()pm—12.25am. Barry Levinson's excellent fatnin drama follows half a century in the fortunes of an immigrant Jewish family in Baltitnore.

' FRIDAY 20 1

Q I Moviewatch (Channel 4) ().3()—7pm.

Movies reviewed tonight include

Interview with a Vampire and Ixn'e, Heat 1 and Steal. plus an interview with Brad

Pitt.

8—8.30pm. Is it a travel. food or gardening programme? Well. this new series is a bit

' I Jo Brand Through the Cakehole (Channel 4) 10.30—1 1.05pm. Repeat ofJo j Brand's occasionally funtty show which

5 has two jokes food and tnett.

I Wild Geese ll (Scottish)

Rudolph Hess. Scott Glenn is a tefevi‘si l journalist trying to spring him from

j Spandau for the scoop of the year.

f I The Word (Channel 4)

I Ellen (Channel 4) 9—9.30pm. First of a new series of the entertaining sitcom based round the life of a dippy bookstore manager. Tonightuhe falls for a dentist but toothache turns to heartache.

I Bottom (BBCZ) 9—9.3(lpm. Lavatot'ial humour frottt Rik Mayall and Ade lidmondson. who-hit the town with a packet of out-of-date condoms in search ofaction.

I The Plant (BBC 1 ) ‘).3()—lO.55pm. Bizarre dratna witll‘an astrological bent about a television researcher (Joanna Roth) on a gardening programme who digs up a body during a live ‘Garden of the Week' slot.

I Roseanne (Channel 4) l()-l().3()pm.

DJ. is growing up and Roseanne is having difficulty letting go.

l().30pm— l2.50am. Second string cast for this action sequel. notable as Laure ‘* ()livier's last film. itt which

l l.()5pm—12. 10am. More cringe from the couch with Dani Behr and Terry Christian. but the show has a knack of picking cool bands.

I Fantasy Football (BBCZ)

ll.lS-l 1.45pm. David Baddiel and Frank Skinner invite more celebrity managers to act as foils for their blokish humour.

SATURDAY 21

I Correspondent (BBCE) 7.15—8pm. The BBC‘s team ofexperienced foreign correspondents is respected the world over. but often the journalists don't get the chance to report in depth on the stories behind the headlines. This new foreign affairs magazine is an attempt to give correspondents the chance to do first- hand. observational reporting. The first programme is presented by veteran

foreign affairs editor John Simpson in

Nicaragua. plus a report from South Africa on Steve Biko‘s family's feelings

Q about the post-apartheid spirit of

reconciliation.

I nudkin‘s Fetch (BBC 1) 9. 15-10.05pm. Derrick O‘Connor and Anita Dobson star in the first of a new series of ghost stories. in which a hardened prisoner hits on an unusual method of escape and revenge.

I Paul Merton The Second Series (Channel 4) 10.05—10.35pm. New series of deadpan wit from the tobacconist's kiosk and an unusual butcher’s shop. plus.

E Paul joins the SAS.

I Babylon 5 (Channel 4) 10.35-l 1.30pm. ()ne-off from the excellent deep space series the best bits of Star Trek, Star Wars and Blake '3‘ Seven rolled into one which returns for a new run next month. I The Danny Baker Show (BBC!)

1 l.()5—l 1.50pm. The man from the Daz ads returns for another series of late night chat. in another attempt to bring his magical radio touch to television.

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I Alter Dark Special (Channel 4) ll.30—l.35am. Helena Kennedy cltairs a special edition of the open-ended discussion programme. Tonirght's topic is the role of the Church in he and.

SUNDAY 22

I High Interest (Channel 4) 5.10—6pm. The industry behind the healthy-eating craze is examined.

I Communion (Channel 4) lO.20pm-l2.20am. Creepy movie starring the extremely creepy Christopher Walken in Whitely Strieber's own adaptation of his best selling extraterrestrial novel.

MONDAY 23

I Cutting Edge (Channel 4) 9— lOpm. An emotional film which follows seven mothers who travel to Africa to see their abducted children for the first time in years. But how will the fathers react to the appearance of their ex-wives‘.’

I FX2 (Scottish) 9—1 1.40pm (including News at Ten). Sequel to Mun/er by Illusion about a Special Effects man who uses the tricks of his trade to help the police.

I Signs and Wonder: (BBCB) ‘).3()—l().3()pm. Second part of the intriguing thriller about a fatnin torn apart when the young daughterjoins a religious cult itt America. See preview.

I NYPD Blue (Channel 4) l()~10.55pm. Running straight on from the first series. comes the second batch of Steven Bochco's tnost excellent precinct drama. The relationship between John Kelly and Andy Sipowicz is still central . . . until actor David Caruso leaves after four episodes. leaving Sipowicz to work with a new partner.

I The Hawk and the Sparrow (Channel 4) 10.55 tn~l2.35' " 0 * . em” tauth

: - “L 7 toretcreare the "T- ml" journey of Francis of Assisi. in a philosophical and political metaphor for mankind's dilemmas.

TUESDAY 24

I Kevanth Dc (Scottish) 8.30-lOpm. John Thaw is a maverick defence lawyer in this court procedural.

I Wilt (Channel 4) 9—10.45pm. Accurate translation frotn book to screen of Tom Sharpe's humour. with a story about college lecturer Griff Rhys Jones who ends trying to ditch an inflatable sex doll.

WEDENSDAY 25

I Travelog (Channel 4) 8.30-9pm. Andy Kershaw reports from Lebanon, whose capital Beruit has been a war zone for seventeen years. This report looks at whether its former reputation as the ‘Paris of the East‘ can return with peace. Comedian Owen O‘Neill takes a warm and humorous look at Belfast. twenty years after he left Northern Ireland.

I Blood Bath (Channel 4)

lOpm- l 2.05am. Thought-provoking drama with Bryan Brown as an Australian army lawyer trying to bring tojustice the Japanese artny officers reponsible for the deaths of 300 Aussie servicemen during the war. Watch out for Donovan's cameo appearance.

I Tagged (Scottish) 9—- l ()pm. Final episode including Mark McManus. From here on. his protégés Reid and Jandine are on their own. 1 I Mark McManus - The Tagger! Years 1 (Scottish) 10.30—1 l.30pm. Shown as a tribute to McManus who died last year. coinciding with the screening of the last episode he appeared in.

THURSDAY 26

l I The Pulse (Channel 4) 8—8.30pm. The l l

truth behind the PR battle over NHS reforms - spin doctors Max Clifford and Quentin Bell give their assessment of Virginia Bottomley‘s style and substance.

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