Highlights | February 2012

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February 2012 Highlights

Top Gear Series 15 – From Monday 6 February at 21:10 Series continues every Monday at 21:10

Get ready for more thrills, spills and mayhem as television‟s most daring trio return for the 15th series of the world‟s biggest car show.

In the first episode, Jeremy Clarkson asks why there aren‟t more three-wheeled cars in the world, and investigates the issue with a closer look at the 1980s comedians‟ favourite, the Reliant Robin. Meanwhile, James May gives Top Gear’s favourite warhorse, the Toyota Hilux pick-up, one final assignment as he attempts to drive one up an active volcano in Iceland, and the Stig rips up the track in the new Bentley Continental Supersports. Plus, Richard Hammond gives the old Chevrolet Lacetti a dignified send off before he and Jeremy host a star studded tea party to welcome in a shiny new Reasonably Priced Car.

Elsewhere in the series, Jeremy, Richard and James attempt to find a trio of cars which are equally at home on the race track as they are at transporting a family to the shops, all for a budget of £5000. They then put them through their paces in Europe‟s home of speed; Germany. James makes a rare visit to the Top Gear track to test the Porsche 911 Sport Classic and Boxster Spyder, and the boys embark on a road trip across the South of England and end up undertaking a rather special chauffeuring job.

Stars in the all-new Reasonably Priced Car in this series include ex-Labour spin doctor Alistair Campbell, Harry Potter star Rupert Grint and F1 ace Rubens Barrichello.

What the press says about Top Gear:

“One of the most informative and entertaining programmes on television.” Guardian

“It‟s the naughtiness, the boo-sucks-yah, rule-breaking that makes Top Gear such compelling viewing.” Express

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February 2012 Highlights

Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow Series 2 – From Monday 6 February at 22:00 Series continues every Monday at 22:00

He received a Best Entertainment Performance BAFTA nomination in 2010 and has been hailed as "the perfect Saturday night compere" by the UK's Observer newspaper.

Now Michael McIntyre returns with a second series of his side-splitting Comedy Roadshow. Each episode sees Michael visit an iconic UK entertainment venue where he introduces a special guest headline act, plus three burgeoning stand-ups from the UK comedy circuit.

Among those joining Michael in this series are Noel Fielding (The Mighty Boosh), north-east England‟s Sarah Millican, Father Ted’s Ardal O‟Hanlon, as well as a host of hilarious newcomers. With a finger tightly on the booming UK comedy pulse, this is a series that‟s never short on laughs.

What the press says about Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow:

“Beloved by audiences…there‟s no doubting his infectious energy.” Daily Telegraph

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February 2012 Highlights

Peep Show Series 1 – Every episode from Sunday 19 February at 20:00 Series 2 – From Monday 20 February at 22:45 Series 2 continues every Monday at 22:45

Welcome to the private world of two very ordinary weirdos. Peep Show is a narrative comedy series seen through the eyes of the core characters, and in an inventive twist, each character's inner thoughts can be heard – whether they be dark, stupid or embarrassingly over-blown.

At the centre of Peep Show is Jeremy (Robert Webb), a lazy man with big ideas about himself and his future music career. He has been thrown out by his ex-girlfriend 'Big Suze' and has ended up living with Mark (David Mitchell), his old friend, who has a completely different no-pain- no-gain view of the world.

Socially dysfunctional in their different ways, Mark and Jeremy have an unhealthy reliance on one another – a dependence that can turn to frustration. To further complicate their existence, Mark – in his cack-handed way – is in pursuit of the love of his life, co-worker Sophie (Olivia Colman), while Jeremy lives in awe of his idiotic and manipulative mate Superhans and their beautiful but brittle neighbour Toni.

Series two continues where series one left off with Jeremy finding himself a new girlfriend to emotionally violate as Mark sits in his flat waiting for „the one‟ to make herself known. In the unpredictable world of Jeremy and Mark you never know what will happen… or in Mark‟s case most likely won‟t.

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February 2012 Highlights

Derren Brown: The Events Sunday 26 February at 21:00

In 2009, Derren produced four highly complex shows of 'misdirection'. Each event has its own theme, but Derren's aim is always the same: to confuse, to confound and, of course, to control.

In this series, Derren puts his unique psychology skills to the test as he tries to predict the National Lottery results before they are announced, gets an unsuspecting viewer involved in helping him try and beat the roulette table at a casino, and conducts an experiment in remote viewing to find out whether psychic powers really exist. He also attempts to control the nation in an event that promises to have you glued to your seats.

In How to Beat the Casino, Derren examines whether it is possible to take down a casino and beat it at its own game. He investigates several ways to beat roulette from betting strategies to methods that depend on incredible skills of visual prediction.

How to Be a Psychic Spy looks at exploring the powers of the mind which reveals the propaganda value of psychic powers and features some incredible demonstrations of telekinesis, mind control, and remote viewing.

Finally, in How to Control the Nation, Derren takes his baffled volunteers through an amazing series of psychological experiments that reveal the myth, mystery and power of mind control.

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February 2012 Highlights

Nighty Night Series 2 – From Tuesday 14 February at 22:45 and 23:15 Series continues every Tuesday at 22:45 and 23:15

The dark sitcom returns with a further dose of wickedness…

Having successfully framed Glen for her crimes – for which he is being detained at Her Majesty‟s pleasure in an institution for the mentally insane – Jill is moving on with her life.

But first, she must visit Glen and relieve him of the burden of his chip and pin number. One unconventional marriage ceremony later, Jill drugs and kidnaps her friend Linda, and drags her along with her caravan on a crazed crusade to track down her ex-neighbours, © Baby Cow Productions Don and Cath, who are now recovering from their experiences and trying to make a fresh start in north Cornwall.

The beleaguered couple are trying to work out their marital problems at the Trees Therapy Centre in Cornwall. Until Jill arrives and takes full advantage of the situation...

What the press says about Nighty Night:

“Grotesque and rather wonderful... the return of Nighty Night is an event to be celebrated.” Financial Times

“…Nighty Night is fabulous, the funniest thing on the telly.” Guardian

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February 2012 Highlights

Doctor Who: Planet Of The Dead Saturday 11 February at 18:00

The Doctor is back. Trapped on a desert planet without the TARDIS, he must team up with a mysterious, aristocratic thief to get back to Earth.

Michelle Ryan and comic Lee Evans team up with for the first Time Lord adventure shot in High Definition.

Ryan plays the mysterious Lady Christina de Souza, who joins on a bus-trip which takes a very unexpected detour into danger, while British comedy star Lee Evans also joins the cast playing a character called Malcolm whose life becomes connected to the Doctor‟s under extraordinary circumstances…

When a bus travels through a worm-hole to an alien world, the Doctor must join forces with the extraordinary Lady Christina to help the unfortunate passengers, and themselves, get back home. But the mysterious planet holds terrifying secrets hidden in the sand, and time is running out, as the deadly swarm gets closer… © BBC

David Tennant as The Doctor Michelle Ryan as Lady Christina de Souza Lee Evans as Professor Malcolm Taylor

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February 2012 Highlights

Doctor Who: The Waters Of Mars Saturday 18 February at 18:00

Don‟t drink the water. Don‟t even touch it. Not one drop…

The Waters of Mars is a dark, scary thriller that sees the Doctor land on the planet Mars, at a base in peril. A creeping infection beneath the Martian surface threatens not only the human race, but also the Doctor‟s most fundamental beliefs.

© BBC Lindsay Duncan guest stars as Adelaide Brooke – one of the Doctor‟s most intelligent and strong-minded companions yet. Together, Adelaide and the Doctor must defeat a seemingly unstoppable menace before it can reach Earth, and wipe out Mankind.

The Doctor must fight not only the water but destiny itself… Whilst also confronting his own existence, the prophesy about his future begins to resonate. Is his song about to come to an end?

David Tennant as The Doctor Lindsay Duncan as Adelaide Brooke Peter O’Brien as Ed Gold

What the press says about The Waters Of Mars:

“It‟s a belter, a watery nightmare – scary, moving, relevant, believable.” Guardian

“A big-budget, knock-yersocks- off blockbuster.” Times

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February 2012 Highlights

Doctor Who: The End Of Time Saturday 25 February at 18:00

In this two part special, John Simm, Bernard Cribbins, , Timothy Dalton, David Harewood and June Whitfield star alongside David Tennant in his final performance as The Doctor.

It‟s the Tenth Doctor‟s final journey – but his psychotic nemesis the Master has © BBC been reborn, and the two Time Lords battle from the wastelands of London to the mysterious Immortality Gate, while the alien Ood warn of an even greater danger approaching, as a terrible shadow falls across the entire Universe. Soon the Master‟s plans hurtle out of control. With the sound of drums growing louder, and an ancient trap closing around the Earth, the Doctor and Wilf must fight alone. But sacrifices must be made, and the deadly prophecy warns: “He will knock four times.”

David Tennant as The Doctor Matt Smith as The Doctor John Simm as The Master Bernard Cribbins as Wilfred Mott Catherine Tate as Timothy Dalton as The Narrator David Harewood as Joshua Naismith June Whitfield as Mini Hooper

What the press says about The End Of Time:

“Raise a glass to the best television drama of the Noughties and the sort of show that high definition was made for.” Sunday Times

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