BBC WEEK 51 & 52, 17 - 30 December 2011 Programme Information, Television & Radio BBC Scotland Press Office bbc.co.uk/mediacentre bbc.co.uk/iplayer THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS TELEVISION & RADIO / BBC WEEK 51 & 52 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ SUNDAY 18 DECEMBER Young James Herriot, Prog 1/3 NEW BBC One Scotland MONDAY 19 DECEMBER Young James Herriot, Prog 2/3 NEW BBC One Scotland TUESDAY 20 DECEMBER Young James Herriot, Prog 3/3 NEW BBC One Scotland WEDNESDAY 21 DECEMBER Rowing the Arctic NEW BBC One Scotland THURSDAY 22 DECEMBER Rowing the Arctic; Mark’s Story NEW BBC Radio Scotland SATURDAY 24 DECEMBER – CHRISTMAS EVE Christmas Celebration 2011 NEW BBC One Scotland Stark Talk Christmas Special with Patrick Doyle, Prog 1/1 NEW BBC Radio Scotland SUNDAY 25 DECEMBER – CHRISTMAS DAY Christmas Morning with…Cathy Macdonald & Ricky Ross, Prog 1/1 NEW BBC Radio Scotland Get It On….At Christmas with Bryan Burnett BBC Radio Scotland My Life in Five Songs, Prog 1/8 NEW BBC Radio Scotland Superscot – The Return!, Prog 1/2 NEW BBC Radio Scotland Gilbert on Gilbert, Prog 1/1 NEW BBC Radio Scotland The Quest of Donal Q, Prog 1/1 NEW BBC Radio Scotland Christmas Classics, Prog 1/1 NEW BBC Radio Scotland Edith Bowman’s Album Show – Best of the Guests, Prog 1/1 NEW BBC Radio Scotland MONDAY 26 DECEMBER – BOXING DAY Christmas at the Stand, Prog 1/1 NEW BBC Radio Scotland Life is Sweeties, Prog 1/1 NEW BBC Radio Scotland TUESDAY 27 DECEMBER Adventure Show Special: Scotland – Coast to Coast NEW BBC Two Scotland WEDNESDAY 28 DECEMBER From Manhattan to Morningside: The Story of Lach, Prog 1/1 NEW BBC Radio Scotland FRIDAY 30 DECEMBER Wojtek: The Bear That Went To War Prog 1/1 NEW BBC Two Scotland EDITORIAL _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dynamic duo behind club for athletes with disabilities named as BBC Scotland Sports Unsung Hero 2011 winners The founders, coaches and organisers of a 21 year old club for athletes with disabilities in Glasgow have jointly won the BBC Scotland Sports Unsung Hero award for 2011. Janice Eaglesham, 53, and Ian Mirfin, 52, have helped more than a hundred and fifty athletes achieve their potential at the Red Star Athletics Club at Crownpoint in Dennistoun, Glasgow, since it opened its doors in 1990. The Cambuslang couple now progress to the Unsung Hero final as the winners for Scotland. BBC Sports Unsung Hero is one of the categories at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, which will be held at MediaCityUK in Salford on 22 December. This year's programme will be screened live on BBC One and BBC One HD from 8pm, and broadcast on BBC Radio 5 live. Janice, who recently retired as a sports development officer with Glasgow City Council, said: “We get as much out of running the club as the athletes do by taking part. It’s a pleasure - we have been very fortunate to have worked with so many exceptional people.” Ian, a staff development officer with South Lanarkshire Council, added: “We have gained far more in return than we have ever invested. It’s humbling to work with these athletes and to watch them progress and achieve their goals.” Veteran athletics coach Tommy Boyle, who has worked with many top Scottish athletes such as Tom McKean and Yvonne Murray, presented the BBC Scotland Sports Unsung Hero 2011 trophy to Janice and Ian at the club. Tommy said: “It’s fantastic for Janice and Ian. They have inspired so many athletes to be the best they can in sport and in life.” The club began with just one athlete, Sam Howie, who has a visual impairment. Sam, an IT resource worker from Wishaw, provided a testimony in the nomination for Janice and Ian, thanking them for the countless times they have picked him up for training sessions and for providing full support for all the national and local competitions he has run in. Janice and Ian were nominated by Jamie Cuthbertson, who was blinded in an explosives accident while serving with the Royal Engineers. He said: “When I moved home to Glasgow, I wanted to find some way of going back to my interest in running, but no mainstream clubs had the knowledge or understanding to help. “By chance a friend suggested contacting Janice at Red Star Athletics Club. It was the best move I could have made as they helped me find a training partner and appropriate competition and fully supported my return to competitive running.” Jamie, from Bearsden, who runs a consultancy to train blind people on computers, added: “The list of athletic achievements gained by the Red Star athletes includes many medal winners and record holders at national, international, world, Para Olympic and Special Olympic level. “The whole approach within the club is ‘athlete first, disability second’ and this is entirely due to the approach taken by Janice and Ian since the club was set up.” Ewan Angus, Head of Sport, BBC Scotland says: “Janice and Ian are worthy winners of this accolade. Their record in helping athletes at the Red Star club reach their targets over many years is first class.” Last year’s overall winner was Lance Haggith, of, Bedford. Lance, aged 51, who impressed the judges with his dedication to basketball coaching, making him the overall winner from the 15 regional winners across the UK. Now in its ninth year, the BBC Sports Unsung Hero Award recognises and rewards outstanding contribution by individuals at the grassroots level of local sport, who give up their time on a voluntary basis so that sport can be played and enjoyed by people throughout the UK. Jim Gough Press and Publicity Manager BBC Scotland SUNDAY 18 DECEMBER TELEVISION & RADIO HIGHLIGHTS / BBC WEEK 51 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Young James Herriot, Ep 1/3 NEW Sunday 18 December BBC One, 9.00 – 10.00pm The adventures of James Herriot in his early years as a student vet at Glasgow Veterinary College. Inspired by the character and early works of James Herriot. It’s 1930’s Glasgow and James Herriot, an idealistic young man, arrives to study at the city’s Vet College. He would go on to become Britain’s best-known and best-loved vet but Herriot’s beginnings in the profession were not auspicious. This is the story of the making of the man, a story of a young man with hope in his heart, not much money in his pocket, and the desire to do good. His first day in Glasgow is miserable. He falls foul of his professors, he antagonises local tradesmen, and he is left homeless after his would-be landlady does a runner with his rent. His luckless introduction to veterinary medicine provides some amusement for two older students. Whirly Tyson is one of only two women at the Vet College, while Rob McAloon is a playboy and perennial student. They see something in Herriot that others don’t and take him under their wing. He moves in with them and Whirly’s glamorous aunt whose intentions towards Young James may not be as honourable as he would like. James meanwhile acquires his first patient; an ailing dray horse that he spots being mistreated by a local haulier. James insists the horse needs rest, the man needs the horse to work or he won’t be able to support his small son. With the boy facing the prospect of the poor house young Herriot has to make some crucial decisions. James Herriot is played by Iain de Caestecker, Whirly Tyson by Amy Manson and Rob McAloon by Ben Lloyd-Hughes. Wendy Kidd MONDAY 19 DECEMBER TELEVISION & RADIO HIGHLIGHTS / BBC WEEK 51 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Vets: Gach Creutair Beò, Prog 8/8 LAST IN SERIES Monday 19 December BBC ALBA, 8.30 – 9.00pm Amazing work with chimpanzees at Blair Drummond Safari Park when vet Colin Scott calls in the specialists from Edinburgh Zoo to help out and Iain MacLean in Wick tends to a working collie dog and finds more than he expected. Lorna Gardner _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Young James Herriot, Ep 2/3 Monday 19 December BBC One, 9.00 – 10.00pm On his first field trip James finds himself in the middle of what he believes is a potentially deadly cattle epidemic that threatens a local farm. The farmer and his future son-in-law are split over what to do until James intervenes. When his youth and inexperience get the better of him he makes a diagnosis that could spell slaughter for the cattle and ruin for the farm. But is he sure he has made the right decision? The smooth-talking McAloon meanwhile has a close encounter with a pampered sheep and quickly spots an opportunity to line his pockets at the expense of their anxious owners. While James and McAloon are out in the field Whirly Tyson has been tricked into staying at the Vet College. This leads to another run-in with the sexist Professor Gunnell, but this time Whirly will have her revenge. James Herriot is played by Iain de Caestecker, Rob McAloon by Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Whirly Tyson by Amy Manson and Profesor Gunnell by Gary Lewis. Wendy Kidd TUESDAY 20 DECEMBER TELEVISION & RADIO HIGHLIGHTS / BBC WEEK 51 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ River City Tuesday 20 December BBC One Scotland, 8.00 – 9.00pm bbc.co.uk/rivercity This week in Shieldinch…Gabriel and Leyla grow closer; Stella has a special present for Bob; and Deek goes overboard on his goodwill. It’s Christmas Day in Shieldinch and Michael is heading off to work giving Gabriel the job of being man of the house.