BBC Week 16 Week Commencing 19 / 4 / 2014

Programme Information Television & Radio

BBC Northern Press Office

Email: [email protected]

bbc.co.uk/mediacentre bbc.co.uk/iplayer

Pictures are available at: www.bbcpictures.co.uk

@bbconeni

@bbctwoni

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS TELEVISION & RADIO / BBC WEEK 16

______

SUNDAY 20 APRIL

Lord of the Sleigh  NEW BBC Radio Ulster

MONDAY 21 APRIL

Michael Smiley: Something to Ride Home About  NEW BBC One

______

SUNDAY 20 APRIL TELEVISION & RADIO HIGHLIGHTS / BBC WEEK 16 ______

Lord of the Sleigh Sunday 20 April BBC Radio Ulster, 12pm bbc.co.uk/radioulster

Fifty years ago, Robin Dixon, along with team-mate Tony Nash, made British sporting history when the pair won gold in the two-man bobsleigh at the 1964 Innsbruck Winter Olympic Games – it remains the only time that Great Britain has won a gold in an Olympic Bobsleigh event. And Dixon, now Lord Glentoran, remains the only man from Northern Ireland to have won a gold at the Winter Olympics.

In Lord of the Sleigh, Mark Sidebottom accompanies Dixon and Nash as, half a century later, they head back to Innsbruck, the site of their moment of fame; he learns how Dixon, a former Eton schoolboy and Grenadier Guard, got involved in the sport of bobsleigh through a chance conversation with his cousin, the now notorious Lord Lucan and was set on the path to gold.

We hear of the perils of competing in Winter Sports in the Sixties, the stiff ‘toots’ of whiskey needed to calm the nerves, how the sportsmanship of an Italian rival helped to clinch the gold medal and the slightly farcical scenes after the gold medal triumph when Dixon couldn’t actually get into his own presentation ceremony!

JM

______

MONDAY 21 APRIL TELEVISION & RADIO HIGHLIGHTS / BBC WEEK 16 ______

Michael Smiley: Something to Ride Home About Monday 21 April BBC One Northern Ireland, 10.20pm

Michael Smiley left Northern Ireland in 1983. Now, more than 30 years later, his journey comes full cycle and he’s got ‘Something to Ride Home About’.

The Holywood man lives in nowadays and is a star of stand up, comedy, TV and film - but his true love is cycling. In a new three-part BBC Northern Ireland TV series, Michael pays a visit back to his old stomping grounds and gets on his bike to give viewers his own unique comic insight into the places and the people who share his zeal for two wheels.

Michael Smiley: Something to Ride Home About, starts on BBC One Northern Ireland on Monday, April 21 at 10.20pm following Michael as he indulges his passion for cycling.

On his travels he rides some of the most stunning local scenery, tries some alternative cycling disciplines and meets the people who share his passion for bikes including a world record holder; a gold medallist- and BBC NI Sports Personality of The Year 2013- Martyn Irvine; and a group of steady ladies.

Michael begins his journey in and visits St George’s Market – a place with close ties to his own family. With an interest in cycling history, in Ormeau Park Michael meets one of only six Penny Farthing owners in Northern Ireland. Will Michael swap his road wheels for the iconic high wheeler?

Viewers get a sneak peek behind the doors of a community cycle workshop which provides repairs and servicing for bikes in the city and shares Michael’s passion for two wheels helping to keep some famous frames on the road.

And after a visit to his home town of Holywood, Michael gets to meet keen cyclist, acclaimed photographer and one of his own personal heroes, Bill Kirk, in Newtownards.

During the series, made for BBC Northern Ireland by independent production company, Green Inc, Michael will be visiting places the length and breadth of Northern Ireland and getting on his bike while there to get a closer look and meet the locals. These include; experiencing a hairy moment with a ladies cycling club in Armagh, dropping in on a world record holder in Lisburn, putting himself on trial against the clock in Dungannon and meeting a fellow comic on the banks of the Foyle.

Producer Chris Jones, from Green Inc said:

“In my opinion, Smiley is our finest actor and funniest . We were thrilled to be working with him on this series that lets Michel revel in two things he’s brilliant at: cycling and telling funny stories. It’s his first outing as a presenter on a BBC NI series and you won’t need to be a cyclist to enjoy it. Yes, although Smiley is a keen cyclist he didn't cover the full length and breadth of Northern Ireland but he certainly brings us to some breath-taking and interesting places and we get to meet some very fascinating people with great stories to tell with a lot of laughs guaranteed along the way with Michael. Maybe it might inspire some people to get on their bike.”

The three-part series, Michael Smiley: Something to Ride Home About starts on BBC One Northern Ireland on Monday, April 21 at 10.20pm.

KMC

______

www.youtube.com/bbcnorthernireland bbc.co.uk/tv/programmes/a-z/by/a

All Programme Information copy may be used free of charge on condition that it credits the relevant BBC programme or service. The material contained on the Programme Information pages is protected by copyright which is owned by the BBC. Material may not be reproduced or used other than in respect to BBC programmes © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013.

Please note that television & radio programmes are subject to change. Schedule additions will be submitted in the event of any significant change.

Transcripts of BBC Radio Ulster and Foyle programmes are not available.

Additional copy on a wide range of BBC network programmes is available from the main the BBC Media Centre website: bbc.co.uk/mediacentre