BBC WEEK 1, 31 December – 6 January 2012 Programme Information, Television & Radio BBC Press Office .co.uk/pressoffice bbc.co.uk/iplayer

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS TELEVISION & RADIO / BBC WEEK 1

SATURDAY 31 DECEMBER Only An Excuse? › NEW BBC One Scotland Hogmanay Live 2011, Prog 1/1 › NEW BBC One Scotland Hogmanay Show, Prog 1/1 › NEW BBC Radio Scotland Ceilidh na Bliadhn’ Uire / Hogmanay Ceilidh› NEW BBC Alba/Radio Nan Gaidheal

SUNDAY 1 JANUARY Elizabeth, Queen of Scots Prog 1/1 › NEW BBC One Scotland

MONDAY 2 JANUARY Behind the Fairytale, Prog 1/1 › NEW BBC Radio Scotland

TUESDAY 3 JANUARY Laughed Off the Page, Prog 1/5 › NEW BBC Radio Scotland Bob’s Ballad Bases, Prog 1/1 › NEW BBC Radio Scotland

WEDNESDAY 4 JANUARY The People Fixers, Prog 1/5 › NEW BBC Radio Scotland

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SATURDAY 31 DECEMBER TELEVISION & RADIO HIGHLIGHTS / BBC WEEK 1

Still Game Saturday, 31 December BBC One Scotland, 10.45-11.15 pm

Another chance to see a Still Game Hogmanay special. Jack and Victor race Winston and Tam to a highland retreat for Hogmanay. Navid finds himself at a loose end when Meena visits India.

Suzanne Vickers ______

Only An Excuse? › NEW Saturday, 31 December BBC One Scotland, 11.15 – 11.45 pm

Jonathan Watson and the team get stuck into the big talking points from another eventful year for Scottish football. The highs and lows of the beautiful game will be tackled in the satirical show which is always a popular fixture on the festive schedule. Look out for some new characters making their debuts among the familiar faces as Jonathan takes a sideways look at the triumphs and disasters on and off the field over the past year.

Jim Gough ______

Hogmanay Live 2011, Prog 1/1 › NEW Saturday, 31 December BBC One Scotland. 11.45pm – 12.45am

Jackie Bird brings in the New Year in splendid musical company for Hogmanay Live 2011. Phil Cunningham and the Hogmanay house band will lead off proceedings joined by, amongst others, upcoming indie folk band Admiral Fallow and one of Scotland's finest young traditional bands Breabach. More guests to be announced soon for Scotland's annual appointment to view live Hogmanay show.

Suzanne Vickers

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Hogmanay Show, Prog 1/1 › NEW Saturday, 31 December BBC Radio Scotland, 10am – 1am bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Join Bryan Burnett and Janice Forsyth for the best party in town featuring live music from Ceilidh Minogue and That Swing Sensation Dance Band.

Suzanne Vickers

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Ceilidh na Bliadhn’ Uire / Hogmanay Ceilidh Saturday 31 December BBC ALBA, 11.30pm – 1.00am

Hosts, John Carmichael and Kirsteen MacDonald are throwing open the doors of the Duisdale Hall in Sleat, Isle of Skye for a live Hogmanay cèilidh - Cèilidh na Bliadhn' Ùire 2011 to say farewell to 2011 and a big Gaelic fàilte (welcome) to 2012. Joining in the New Year party celebrations are a wealth of Gaelic singers: Donnie Munro, Julie Fowlis, Christine Primrose, Arthur Cormack with Norrie MacIver and Mànran, along with a host of Gàidhealach musicians joining in - Éamon Doorley, Ingrid Henderson and Ross Martin. Fiona MacKenzie will be bringing you the craic from Am Pràban Bar at Hotel Eilean Iarmain, where The Angus Nicolson Trio will be raising the roof with their cèilidh sets. Also, several stars from the world of Gaelic broadcasting will appear with special messages and expect fireworks and fantastic first footers after the bells. The celebrations will also be simulcast on Radio Nan Gaidheal.

Lorna Gardner

SUNDAY 1 JANUARY TELEVISION & RADIO HIGHLIGHTS / BBC WEEK 1 ______

Elizabeth,Queen of Scots, Prog 1/1› NEW Sunday 1 January BBC One Scotland, 6.00-7.00pm

Kirsty Young narrates an affectionate look at The Queen’s relationship with Scotland and the Scots. It is an association that has grown in strength throughout her sixty-year reign. There is no doubt that Scotland has played, and continues to play an important role in The Queen's life. As a child, she spent blissful summers with her maternal grandparents at Glamis Castle and today it is Balmoral and the Western isles that she returns to for her private time away from the eyes of the world. Each year she moves her household to Scotland for Royal Week hosting a garden party for over 8,000 people and she bestows honours on Scots from all walks of life. As she prepares to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee, this programme – made by Finestripe Productions - looks back on a very special relationship.

Hilda McLean ______

Pro 12 Live Rugby – v Edinburgh Sunday 1 January BBC ALBA, 5.30 – 7.25pm

LIVE PRO12 Rugby: Glasgow host Edinburgh in the all-important 1872 Cup decider.

Lorna Gardner

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Dha Gordon a-mhain / Just for Gordon Sunday 1 January BBC ALBA, 10.00 – 11.00pm

In December 2005 Scotland tragically lost one of its most innovative musicians and composers of the age of 41. It is surprising though that this world renowned Scottish musician was not someone that would be instantly recognised by the vast majority of the public in Scotland, yet his music is played the world over. Gordon Duncan, from Perthshire, was quite simply unique as a Piper of his generation. He was a multi instrumentalist and prolific composer. Just for Gordon is a new documentary for BBC ALBA about his life and the tunes he wrote that have quickly become a mainstay of the Scottish traditional music repertoire. His tunes had true significance, not just in their unique and original arrangement but also in their very inspiration often from entertaining occurrences in Gordon's life - Andy Renwick's Ferret, The Famous Barovan, The SleepingTune, Break Yer Bass Drone and Zito the Bubbleman - to name but a few. His tunes can be heard at , Celtic Connections, Celtic Colours in Canada, The Lorient festival in Brittany and the Fleadh Cheòil in Ireland. Gordon Duncan helped to put piping on the map for a whole new generation and for his pupils such as Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton who are now themselves making their mark in the traditional music scene by following his style. The programme features the musicians that knew and played with him and those who continue to play and be inspired by his music, especially his own pupils…. a celebration of the music and memory of Gordon Duncan.

Lorna Gardner

MONDAY 2 JANUARY TELEVISION & RADIO HIGHLIGHTS / BBC WEEK 1 ______

SPL Kilmarnock v St Mirren Monday 2 January BBC ALBA, 5.30 – 7.30pm

The latest full-match coverage from the SPL as Kilmarnock host St Mirren at Rugby Park.

Lorna Gardner ______

Behind the Fairytale, Prog 1/1 › NEW Monday, 2 January BBC Radio Scotland, 8am – 9am bbc.co.uk/radioscotland

Dermot O'Leary presents the multi-layered story behind the Christmas classic Fairytale of New York by The Pogues featuring Kirsty McColl. The programme explores the origins and journey of this iconic song, from how it came to be written to the recording process, the repercussions it has for the Irish emigrant population in New York and the lasting testament to the talents of the late Kirsty McColl.

Suzanne Vickers

TUESDAY 3 JANUARY TELEVISION & RADIO HIGHLIGHTS / BBC WEEK 1 ______

River City Tuesday 3 January BBC One Scotland, 8.00 – 9.00pm bbc.co.uk/rivercity

This week in Shieldinch…Confusion at the Hamilton’s causes problems; Stevie becomes enemy number one again; and Bob and Tattie face their future. Malcolm’s day gets off to a bad start when he drops his wallet – but luckily Stevie finds it and quickly returns it. Malcolm is delighted and gives him the job of putting up shelves in his house. Liz isn’t too keen when she finds out Malcolm has given him a key – but realises she has to trust him. Meanwhile, Stevie is keen to make use of the empty house with Nicole. When Liz returns, Nicole has left but Stevie is acting shifty so when Malcolm’s watch goes missing there’s only one person Liz suspects. However, the problem lies closer to home and it’s Eileen who will realise. Stevie is delighted to get the job at Malcolm’s and also to get some time alone with Nicole. He is surprised when he meets his old friend Cammy in Shieldinch but is firm when he is offered drugs, telling Cammy he is clean. Later when suspicions are raised about Stevie stealing Malcolm’s watch, Stevie decides he should leave town until the dust settles and the truth comes out. Meanwhile Nicole is under pressure from her dad and he puts doubts in her head about whether she really knows if Stevie is using again – especially if his old friends are hanging around. Nicole takes a sneaky look in Stevie’s bag but is caught red-handed. With Stevie realising Nicole doesn’t even trust him, it’ll take a strong will to keep him on the straight and narrow. Bob is sleeping on the couch and things are still tense with Tattie. Even a full breakfast made by his wife doesn’t soften him. Molly is ready to give him a piece of her mind. He needs to sort things out with Tattie before he loses her altogether.

Malcolm is played by Johnny Beattie, Stevie by Paul James Corrigan, Liz by Eileen McCallum, Nicole by Holly Jack, Cammy by Neil Leiper, Bob by Tom Urie, Tattie by Magdalena Kaleta and Molly by Una McLean.

Please note, viewers outside Scotland can access this programme on Sky Channel 971, Freesat Channel 960, Virgin Media Channel 862 or the BBC's iPlayer service - bbc.co.uk/iplayer

Karen Higgins

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Laughed Off the Page, Prog 1/5 › NEW Tuesday, 3 January BBC Radio Scotland bbc.co.uk/radioscotland

Comedy writing legends Ian Le Frenais & Dick Clement discuss their most successful sitcoms with Janice Forsyth which includes national favourites, The Likely Lads and Porridge. The duo discuss how they formed their writing partnership and how their journey and lives as sitcom writers have developed over the years.

Suzanne Vickers

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Bob’s Ballad Bases, Prog 1/1 › NEW Tuesday, 3 January BBC Radio Scotland, 2pm – 2.30pm bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Julie Fowlis presents an examination and celebration of the British and Irish folksong roots of much of Bob Dylan's songwriting through the years. Featuring contributions from Jean Redpath, Liam Clancy, Martin Carthy, Clinton Heylin, Professor Simon Frith, Linda Thompson, Seth Lakeman and others, this programme examines and celebrates the British and Irish folksong roots of much of Dylan's songwriting.

Suzanne Vickers

WEDNESDAY 5 JANUARY TELEVISION & RADIO HIGHLIGHTS / BBC WEEK 1 ______

The People Fixers, Prog 1/5 › NEW Wednesday, 5 January BBC Radio Scotland, 2pm – 2.30pm bbc.co.uk/radioscotland

Susan Calman explores why people are increasingly looking to others to fix their lives in The People Fixers. Television screens are full of so called experts putting people through the mill because of their wayward children, their health or their weight. The People Fixers looks at just how sorted these ‘fixers’ are themselves and in this week's edition Susan meets with Lifecoach Pete Cohen to find out.

Suzanne Vickers

THURSDAY 5 JANUARY TELEVISION & RADIO HIGHLIGHTS / BBC WEEK 1 ______

Balaich Bhatarsaigh / Beware the Vatersay Boys Thursday 5 January BBC ALBA, 9.00 – 10.00pm

Beware The Vatersay Boys is a behind the scenes look at one of Scotland's most loved party bands. The boys give BBC ALBA exclusive access to their lives as they go about their day jobs as postman, bin man and fisherman and we join them as they head out on tour around Scotland. First it's a lively afternoon gig at their local pub in Castlebay, followed by an even more lively evening gig on the main stage in a tent at Barrafest. Life on the road with the Vatersay Boys is never dull as the onstage party continues off stage, and despite having up to four managers things don't always run to schedule. We also see the band maintain their roots with a local ceilidh in the Vatersay village hall. Not just a live act, the band have an on-board resident engineer and recording studio on Vatersay, courtesy of Donnie's brother, former Simple Minds keyboard player, Mick MacNeill. The boys lay down a few tracks in their makeshift mini aircraft hangar. In early December the band pack up and head to Glasgow for the annual festive ceilidh at the Glasgow Barrowland. As the band motto suggests, life with the Vatersay Boys is full of unexpected twists and turns and the banter is hilarious.

Lorna Gardner

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Trip to the Top, Prog 1/5 › NEW Thursday, 5 January BBC Radio Scotland, 2pm – 2.30pm bbc.co.uk/radioscotland Clare English speaks to Aberdeen Assets CEO Martin Gilbert about his ‘trip to the top’ and how he keeps motivated when he has just lost several million in investments.

Suzanne Vickers

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