Bbc Week 12, 19

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BBC WEEK 12, 19 - 25 March 2016 Programme Information, Television & Radio BBC Scotland Press Office BBC Media Centre (Scotland) BBC iPlayer (Scotland) BBC Scotland BBC Scotland on Facebook @BBCScotland on Twitter

General / Carol Knight Hilda McLean Jim Gough Julie Whiteside Laura Davidson BBC Alba

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS TELEVISION & RADIO / BBC WEEK 12

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MONDAY 21 MARCH This Farming Life BBC Two Trusadh - Slainte na Sgire - Alderney / A Southern Island Practice  NEW BBC ALBA

TUESDAY 22 MARCH This Farming Life BBC Two

WEDNESDAY 23 MARCH This Farming Life BBC Two Scotland: The Promised Land  NEW BBC Two Scotland

THURSDAY 24 MARCH Leaders Debate  NEW BBC One Scotland

FRIDAY 25 MARCH Easter Rising - Ar-a-mach na Caisge, Ep1/4  NEW BBC ALBA ______

Viewers outside Scotland can access BBC One Scotland on Sky 141 (HD) & 951, Freesat 108 (HD) & 960, Virgin Media 108 (HD) & 862. BBC Two Scotland can be viewed on Sky 142 (HD) & 970, Freesat 970. BBC ALBA is on Sky 143, Freesat 110, Virgin Media 188, Freeview 8 (Scotland only). BBC Radio Scotland can be accessed on Sky 0116, Freesat 712, Freeview 719 (Scotland only). BBC One Scotland, BBC Two Scotland and BBC ALBA are also available on the BBC iPlayer bbc.co.uk/iplayer & BBC Radio Scotland on bbc.co.uk/radioscotland

EDITORIAL 2016 / BBC WEEK 12 ______

Andy Gray leads new cast set to debut in BBC Scotland’s award-winning River City

Much-loved actor of the stage and screen, Andy Gray, is among the new faces set to debut in BBC Scotland’s popular soap River City, taking on the role of silver-tongued trickster and entertainer, Peter Griffiths.

Perth-born actor Andy (Canned Laughter, City Lights) will make his screen debut in River City in July as the wayward father of troubled teen Drew McLean (Benjamin Nugent). The life and soul of any party, Peter Griffiths is a charming rogue with all the patter, a serial womaniser who shows up in Shieldinch to reconnect with the son he walked out on when he was a baby.

However, while Drew is delighted to finally find out the identity of his father, Peter’s ex-partner Caitlin McLean (Gayle Telfer Stevens) is none-too-happy with the shock family reunion. Andy will film his first River City scenes at BBC Scotland’s Dumbarton Studios in April in episodes which will air in the summer of 2016.

Andy Gray is thrilled to be joining the cast of River City: “I’m very excited about the whole idea of being part of this Scottish institution. My character Peter is someone who has an outward appearance of being ‘Mr Happy’ but there’s a darkness to him which will be great to investigate. I’m really looking forward to getting down to Dumbarton and learn more about Peter Griffiths – he sounds like quiet a character!”

Other new cast joining the drama include Edinburgh-actress Jenny Hulse and Sophia Kolinas from Canada. Jenny takes on the role of Lenny Murdoch’s daughter, Amber, who arrives back in Shieldinch in April after serving five years in prison for murdering one of her father’s criminal associates. However, gone is the girl-next-door Amber used to be. Once the apple of her daddy’s eye, Amber is now a much darker, tougher character who is set to make her mark on Shieldinch.

TV newcomer Sophia Kolinas will play Cassie Evans, an unconventional new love interest for the recently bereaved, viewers’ favourite, Angus Lindsay (Scott Fletcher). Cassie makes her River City debut in May this year.

Sara Harkins, River City’s Creative Director welcomes the new additions to the popular drama series: “River City is delighted to have such wonderful established and emerging acting talent joining the show. Andy Gray is much-loved by audiences of all ages and has a tremendous pedigree in theatre and TV and new faces Jenny Hulse and Sophia Kolinas are sure to make a big impact with the River City fans. The show is going from strength to strength at the moment. Unmissable storylines and an ensemble cast which is second to none, has made River City the jewel in Scotland’s drama crown. Bringing talent like Andy, Jenny and Sophia to the show will, I’m sure, give the fans something to look forward to in the coming weeks and months.”

BBC Scotland’s popular weekly soap has attracted critical acclaim in recent months. In January, one of the show’s longest running writers, Louise Ironside scooped the ‘Best Long Running TV Series’ award at the prestigious Writers’ Guild of Great Britain, beating off stiff competition from Emmerdale and Holby City. On-screen talent, actor Jordan Young (who plays Alex McAllister) has also been nominated for the ‘Best Actor’ award at next months’ Scottish Variety Awards in Glasgow which will be hosted by River City’s Leah MacRae.

River City is part of BBC Scotland’s commitment to produce distinctive Scottish output and complements productions including Shetland (BBC One), One of Us (BBC One), Sunset Song, Katie Morag (CBeebies), Murder (BBC Two) and landmark series, Highlands (BBC One).

EDITORIAL 2016 / BBC WEEK 12 ______

Audience Debate Kicks Off BBC Scotland 2016 Election Coverage

BBC Scotland launches its multi-platform 2016 Scottish election coverage this month with the first of two leader debates.

The BBC’s Pacific Quay studios in Glasgow will see the first televised Leaders Debate of the campaign on Thursday, March 24, filmed in front of an audience and chaired by political correspondent Glenn Campbell. The panel will be comprised of the leaders of the Scottish National Party, the Scottish Labour Party, the Scottish Conservative Party, the Scottish Liberal Democrats, the Scottish Green Party and UKIP Scotland.

Scotland Editor Sarah Smith will then host another televised debate before an audience, just five days before polling takes place, when the party leaders will put their final pitches to the armchair voters. On the panel will be the leaders of the Scottish National Party, the Scottish Labour Party, the Scottish Conservative Party, the Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Green Party. Details of the venue for this second Leaders Debate on Sunday, 1 May, will be announced at a later date and both debates will be on BBC One Scotland.

BBC Scotland will also release the results of a poll that is being commissioned on the issues that matter the most to the electors as they weigh up their options.

The party leaders will also be put on the spot in late March on Good Morning Scotland (GMS) when Gary Robertson asks the questions which the public want answered while listeners get their chance to question directly those vying for power in special Kaye Adams programmes. GMS will also tour the country to get to the heart of the local issues that are dominating constituency contests.

As part of the wide-ranging coverage, Reporting Scotland will be extended to an hour from Monday April 25; Scotland 2016 will host a series of issue debates; and Gordon Brewer will explore with leaders the main talking points that emerge during the campaign on Sunday Politics and on his Big Debate on Radio Scotland every Friday.

Radio Scotland will also host a number of constituency debates in Shetland, Orkney, Aberdeenshire, Inverness, Dumfries, and Selkirk, and BBC Scotland online will be a key destination for interviews, features and breaking news stories throughout the campaign.

BBC Scotland will also feature a range of shareable content to engage with audiences who look to social media for all the news and views in the run-up to polling day.

BBC ALBA will kick off their campaign with special Sunday evening coverage in An Taghadh on April 3, with the emphasis on the community views of key election issues. In Radio Nan Gaidheal’s news and current affairs programming, and on its online service, there will be extensive coverage throughout the campaign period.

Full details of election night programming and results service from BBC Scotland, Radio Nan Gaidheal and BBC ALBA will be confirmed at a later date.

Gary Smith, Head of News and Current Affairs, BBC Scotland, said: ‘We are developing an in-depth and compelling range of content for our audiences across all our platforms. Voters are centre-stage and we’ll be giving them all the breaking news and views from the campaign trails, as well as expert analysis on the issues that count, as they prepare to go to the polls.’

EDITORIAL 2016 / BBC WEEK 12 ______

Coming Soon…Beechgrove Garden & Landward

It must be spring in Scotland as Beechgrove Garden and Landward will shortly be back on our screens.

Jim McColl, Carole Baxter, George Anderson and Chris Beardshaw will be back with Beechgrove to dispense horticultural advice whatever the weather on BBC Two Scotland on March 31 (network BBC Two the following Sunday).

Carole Baxter, who this year marks 30 years on screen with the series, will have a new strand Garden on a Budget, which will showcase the very best tips on how to have a pretty and productive garden on a tight budget.

While this year, Jim McColl will have a new strand How to Grow a Gardener, looking at opportunities for young people to develop practical gardening skills as a viable career option, with visits to the Breadalbane Academy in Aberfeldy, Dumfries House near Cumnock and Douneside at Tarland. After the success of last year’s Roadshows in Bute and Aboyne, there will be three Roadshows in 2016 in Nairn, Strathkinnes – near St Andrews - and Gairloch.

2016 also sees the 1,000th edition of Beechgrove, which is made by Tern TV, and 20 years in its present garden, where alpine specialist Brian Cunningham, Head Gardener of Scone Palace, will be rejuvenating the alpine section, while Chris Beardshaw is setting about the heather garden.

It is landmarks all round as Landward marks 40 years on screen. The countryside magazine show first appeared on BBC Scotland in 1976.

The team Dougie Vipond, Euan McIlwraith and Sarah Mack will be back on BBC One Scotland in April 2016 with a packed schedule of items about farming, food production and countryside topics. Across the spring run, there will be many highlights. Dougie will be visiting Knoydart to find out about the novel way the population copes without mains electricity and how local landowners manage the population of red deer, while Euan will be at Scotland’s first National Alpaca show, and Sarah will be working around the clock through the lambing season.

Also in the series, the popular Landward Food Van will be back on the road with Dougie and chef Nick Nairn cooking dishes for the public with crab, lobster and rare breed pork on the menu.

Reflecting Landward’s 40th anniversary, there will also be a special one hour documentary looking at the changing face of farming and the landscape over the last four decades. And the spring run will end with the traditional highlight of the rural calendar – The Royal Highland Show at Ingliston.

Beechgrove Garden, BBC Two Scotland, Thursday March 31 at 7.30pm Landward, BBC One Scotland, Friday, April 22 at 7.30pm

SATURDAY 19 MARCH TELEVISION & RADIO HIGHLIGHTS /BBC WEEK 12 ______

Bailtean Fraoich, Ep 2/6 Monday 21 March BBC ALBA, 8.30 – 9.00pm

In Bailtean Fraoich, Islay-born Heather Dewar visits some of Scotland's most picturesque and remote coastal communities. Travelling through mainland villages, Hebridean communities and vast peninsulas she realises that you don't need to live on an island to experience the life of an islander. In this, the second programme in the series, Heather explores Applecross in Wester Ross. To get there, she drives along the steep and winding road that climbs the famous Bealach na Bà. Former road worker Duncan Murchison tells Heather about the challenges of keeping the road open during the winter months. At the beautiful Clachan church, Heather meets museum curator Gordon Cameron. He shows Heather the burial place of Maol Rubha, the saint who established a monastery in Applecross.

GM/LG

MONDAY 21 MARCH TELEVISION & RADIO HIGHLIGHTS /BBC WEEK 12 ______

Scotland’s Home Movies, Ep3/4 Monday 21 March BBC One Scotland, 7.30-8.00pm

This third episode in the series about home movie-making in Scotland looks back to the mythical 1960s and the lurid 1970s. After all the post-war hardships, there was a sense that anything was possible in the 60s. It was a truly dynamic period in British history. Revolutions in youth culture, music and fashion transformed the look and feel of the country. By the mid 1960s home movie making was a cultural phenomenon with people from all walks of life taking up the hobby. Super8 was the new format with a quality and texture that now seems forever entwined with our memories of the era.

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This Farming Life, Ep7/12 Monday 21 March BBC Two, 7.00-8.00pm

The 12-part documentary series following a year in the lives of five Scottish farming families continues. Lambing season is just a month away and in Ross-shire John Scott has an unusual case to deal with - a pedigree ewe that’s pregnant with triplets. Not surprisingly, the vet decides to perform a Caesarean. To the east, in Banffshire, Martin Irvine has 500 pregnant ewes of his own to see to, but he’s also pre- occupied by taking two of his top bulls to market. They failed to sell before and this is their last chance to fetch a decent price. In Argyll, meanwhile, George MacPherson takes a group of Belgian hunters out on a deer stalking trip.

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Trusadh - Slainte na Sgire - Alderney / A Southern Island Practice  NEW Monday 21 March BBC ALBA, 9.00 – 10.00pm

North meets south in this entertaining sequel to the previous BBC ALBA documentary An Island Practice filmed on the Island of Harris in 2013. A Southern Island Practice returns to follow lively Island Doctor Donald John Murray, crofter turned doctor, as he travels 1,000 miles from his croft in the Outer Hebrides to the tiny Channel Island of Alderney, where he spends half his working life. It's a challenging job for any doctor, single-handedly serving a community of around 2,000 and also managing a local hospital with Accident and Emergency - a 24/7 job where the doctor is never off duty. With their yachting marinas, fine architecture and affluent and eclectic European vibe, you'd expect the Channel Islands to be a stark contrast to the Outer Hebrides. But the three square mile island of Alderney is an overlooked haven amidst its better known neighbours which include Guernsey and Jersey. A week in the life at this other island practice reveals some surprising similarities. A place united by a challenging past where a sense of fun and community spirit still runs strong and where the doctor is still at the heart of the community. And for this Scottish Island Doctor, it’s clearly become a home from home.

GM/LG

TUESDAY 22 MARCH TELEVISION & RADIO HIGHLIGHTS / BBC WEEK 12 ______

River City Tuesday 22 March BBC One Scotland HD, 8.00 – 9.00pm facebook.com/bbcrivercity twitter.com/bbcrivercity instagram.com/bbcrivercity

This week in Shieldinch…on the run from a murder charge, Stevie tries to elude the police with Stella and Hope in tow; Annie hopes to break Eileen’s spell over Harry with a spot of match-making; and Caitlin’s trip away triggers suspicion in Drew. Having made their escape from the law, Stevie and family find themselves holed up in a hotel room, miles away from home. Stella puts on a brave face for Stevie, talking optimistically about their new future together, far away from Shieldinch, with baby Hope. However, the couple’s problems are exacerbated when Hope develops a temperature and they’re forced to take her to a nearby hospital. Worse still, Stella starts to suffer post mastectomy pains and ends up phoning Dr Annie for medical advice. Seeing Stella and Hope suffer as a result of his actions, Stevie is forced to make a far-reaching and heart-breaking decision about their future as a family. Elsewhere, hoping a new love interest will turn Harry’s head, Annie plays match-maker and arranges a tutoring session with schoolgirl Jenny. However, when her romantic plan falls short, Annie decides to play dirty after unwittingly discovering Eileen may well have played a part in Stevie’s escape from the law. Caitlin surprises the family with news she’s going on a last minute trip to Tenerife. However, when she unexpectedly returns earlier than planned, Drew finds evidence which suggests Caitlin’s trip was closer to home than she’s letting on.

Stevie is played by Paul James Corrigan, Stella by Keira Lucchesi, Annie by Dawn Steele, Harry by Manpreet Bachu, Caitlin by Gayle Telfer Stevens, Drew by Benjamin Nugent and Jenny by Christine Steel.

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This Farming Life, Ep 8/12 Tuesday 22 March BBC Two, 7.00-8.00pm

Spring arrives at last for the farmers – the busiest time of year with thousands of new lambs and calves being born. In Banffshire, Martin Irvine is trying out some new hi-tech kit to alert him when his cows are calving, but on the Isle of Lewis Ali and Sandy Granville are relying on more traditional methods. As the weather warms, the couple welcome a new Highland calf to their croft and Ali takes her new thoroughbred horse for a run on the beach. In Ross-shire, John take his son James to sell his chickens and ducks at auction and in Argyll it’s not just Sybil and George MacPherson’s farm that’s getting a spring clean – George is getting a spruce- up too as Sybil tackles his beard.

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Vets: Gach Creutair Beo, Ep9/10 Tuesday 22 March BBC ALBA, 8.30 – 9.00pm

This series takes viewers on a journey across Scotland following vets as they tend to animals from small to large to very wild. Stories of joy and stories of sadness meeting all creatures, great and small. In this programme, Saskia is a seriously ill cat that needs a blood transfusion. Vets David Mackenzie and Scott Kilpatrick need to see if her brother or sister are suitable donors, and it's a race against time as Saskia's condition deteriorates. At the Highland Wildlife Park, vet Jane Harley has to trim the markhors hooves, but catching them is no easy task. And in Caithness, Kay keeps sheep and pigs as pets, but today it is Holly the pig who needs treatment from vet Kiri Harvey. Unlike the other pets, Holly lives in Kay's house and she is very grumpy today when Kiri appears.

GM/LG

WEDNESDAY 23 MARCH TELEVISION & RADIO HIGHLIGHTS /BBC WEEK 12 ______

Scotland: The Promised Land, Ep 1/3  NEW Wednesday 23 March BBC Two Scotland, 9.00 – 10.00pm

This documentary series examines how Scotland was shaped politically and culturally in the aftermath of World War One and is a cornerstone of BBC Scotland’s programming this year to commemorate the conflict. Each of the three hour-long programmes sheds light on many of the pivotal events that took place in the first ten years of the peace. The decade saw the emergence of a generation of extraordinary figures whose competing visions of the future continue to form part of Scotland’s political and cultural debate and resonate just as strongly today. Narrated by Ken Stott, the series begins with an examination of how the political landscape changed dramatically as previously marginalised citizens were enfranchised for the first time. This first episode, The Birth of Modern Scotland, highlights remarkable conflicts - including the electoral contest between Winston Churchill and the prohibitionist and pacifist, Edwin Scrymgeour, in Dundee - as well as the emergence of the Red Clydesiders including James Maxton and John Wheatley. The decade was punctuated by breakthrough moments on the political front such as the rise of Ramsay MacDonald from humble origins in North East Scotland to become the first Labour Prime Minister and the election of Jennie Lee, a charismatic miner’s daughter, to the UK Parliament – despite the fact that she was not allowed to vote herself. The episode also looks at how Scottish Conservatism, typified by John Gilmour, the MP for Glasgow Pollok and the first Secretary of State for Scotland, enjoyed electoral success on the back of continuing support for the Empire. As the decade draws to a close political change is in the air with women finally gaining electoral equality and economic hardship prompting some to re-assess Scotland’s relationship with the rest of the UK. Episode 2 will look at how veterans and their families in the Highlands and Islands were promised land for enlisting which didn’t materialise when they returned from the war, and how this fuelled mass emigration to Canada and elsewhere. The concluding episode follows a cultural revolution, as emerging writers and artists including poet Hugh MacDiarmid and sculptor William Lamb, who both served in the war, campaigned to revive Scotland’s voice and culture.

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This Farming Life, Ep 9/12 Wednesday 23 March BBC Two, 7.00-8.00pm

In Luss, near Loch Lomond, Bobby and Anne Lennox are gathering their pregnant ewes from the hills ready for lambing and all the family help out. With Bobby’s father’s 90th birthday looming, thoughts turn to who will run the farm when it’s time to hand it on to the next generation. In Banffshire, Mel Kelly and Martin Irvine move into a caravan right beside the lambing shed to deal with the imminent arrival of hundreds of lambs and Mel ends up spending several hours a day bottle- feeding some of the little ones. On the isle of Lewis, Sandy and Ali Granville are getting their holiday lets ready for Easter guests.

THURSDAY 24 MARCH TELEVISION & RADIO HIGHLIGHTS / BBC WEEK 12 ______

Leaders Debate  NEW Thursday 24 March BBC One Scotland, 9.00-10.00 pm

BBC Scotland launches its multi-platform 2016 Scottish election coverage with the first of two leader debates. The BBC’s Pacific Quay studio in Glasgow is the venue for the first televised Leaders Debate of the campaign on Thursday, 24 March, filmed in front of an audience and chaired by political correspondent Glenn Campbell. The panel will be comprised of the leaders of the Scottish National Party, the Scottish Labour Party, the Scottish Conservative Party, the Scottish Liberal Democrats, the Scottish Green Party and UKIP Scotland. Scotland Editor Sarah Smith will then host another televised debate before an audience, just five days before polling takes place, when the party leaders will put their final pitches to the armchair voters. On the panel then will be the leaders of the Scottish National Party, the Scottish Labour Party, the Scottish Conservative Party, the Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Green Party. Details of the venue for this second Leaders Debate on Sunday, 1 May, which will also be on BBC One Scotland, will be announced at a later date.

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Highland Midwives: Mnathan Gluine, Ep3/6 Thursday 23 March BBC ALBA, 8.30 – 9.00pm

On Barra, midwife Joyce is multitasking between her patients and her job as a security officer on the island's cockleshell beach. Twin Willow is admitted to the Children's Ward in Inverness, as feeding is still an issue. Midwife Anna takes a ferry to the island of Kerrera to meet a young couple expecting their first baby. Mum-to-be Rowan has only one day to her due date and new parents Heather and Kevin Baillie share their story of baby Noah's natural water birth in their living room in Point, Lewis.

GM/LG

FRIDAY 25 MARCH TELEVISION & RADIO HIGHLIGHTS / BBC WEEK 12 ______

Easter Rising - Ar-a-mach na Caisge, Ep1/4  NEW Friday 25 March BBC ALBA, 10.00 – 10.50pm

The 1916 Easter Rising changed the course of Irish history. Seven men put their names to the Proclamation of the Irish Republic and in signing it each man knew they were committing themselves to a bloody rebellion and in all likelihood signing their death warrants. Thomas Clarke was born in 1857 in Hurst Castle, of Irish parents. His father was in the British Army. They were transferred to South Africa where they lived for ten years before returning to Ireland in 1867. It was here that Clarke was first exposed to Irish history and British domination. As a result of his new found knowledge he joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood in 1880 to help rid Ireland of the British. Clarke was proactive with the group that occupied the G.P.O. during the Rising in April 1916. This programme follows Clarke's passion to free his country.

GM/LG

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