Throng

FRIDAY 29TH OCTOBER, 9.00PM DISCOVERY

Let’s get physical, in a BIG way! But how? That’s the question answered in this groundbreaking special that explores the mysteries, wonders and newest evidence surrounding the ritual-courtship and mating habits of dinosaurs. How does a six-ton couple with heavy, inflexible tails overcome the force of gravity to consummate their newfound love? Did Sauropods use a chameleon-like blood vessel structure to change the colour of their plated armour and blush for their new bride? Interviews with scientists on the cutting-edge of palaeontology will bring new life to one of the last mysteries of these great beasts.

WEDNESDAY 27TH OCTOBER, 9.00PM ON DISCOVERY

The new Queen Elizabeth, will, like her predecessor, be the flagship of the British merchant fleet. Costing £500 million she is being built by Fincantieri at their Monfalcone shipyard in Italy and will be christened by the Queen in Southampton at the end of 2010. This brand new one-off gives exclusive access to the construction of what will be one of the world’s greatest liners – a 92,000 ton ship designed to double as a transatlantic express and a cruise ship.

Friday, 17 September 2010, 8:00PM - 8:30PM on ITV1

Cheetah Kingdom gives viewers a unique insight into both the conservation and behaviour of one of the fastest mammals on earth - the cheetah.

Cheetah Kingdom focuses on the rescue, rehabilitation and release of this African big cat. It follows the largest cheetah release programme attempted in Namibia, a country that is home to roughly a quarter of the world's cheetah population, where they're routinely trapped by farmers protecting their land. This episode follows the fortunes of the group of Cheetahs being prepared for life in the wild and viewers get to see the next stage of their release as the gates are opened to their new 40,000 acre home.

9.00pm Thursday 16 September on BBC FOUR

Jane Horrocks, Jessie Wallace, Celia Imrie, Lynda Baron and James Roache star in BBC Four's drama telling the story of how Coronation Street was born, as part of The Great Northern season

9.00pm Tuesday 14 September on BBC TWO

The BBC's Battle Of Britain season, marking the 70th anniversary of the most significant air battle in British history, begins with an intimate drama-documentary telling the extraordinary story of Geoffrey Wellum (Sam Heughan), one of the battle's youngest spitfire pilots (the season continues on Tuesday in Wellington Bomber)

Sunday, 12 September 2010, 7:00PM - 8:00PM on ITV1

In June 1940 the Second World War had seen Hitler conquer most of Europe before turning his attention to Britain, with plans for a sea borne invasion of our coastline.

But first he had to gain control of the airspace over the English Channel and so, on the 10th of July 1940, the Battle of Britain began and RAF pilots were called upon to defend our skies. Just 600 RAF fighters, with an average age of just 22, faced 4000 German bombers.

Now, seventy years later, in this special documentary for ITV1, actor Sir David Jason is taking a journey back to 1940 to find out how Britain managed to pull off a most unlikely and remarkable victory.

Saturday, 11 September 2010, 9:00PM - 10:00PM on ITV1

ITV1 presents a brand new adventure show, set amongst the icy glaciers and snowy landscape of Norway. ‘71 Degrees North’ mixes spectacular experiences and pure danger, with sheer entertainment and breathtaking scenery.

Culminating inside the Arctic Circle, this eight-part adventure series stars 10 celebrities, fighting their way to the most northern part of mainland Europe. Along the way, tempers will rise and temperatures will plummet. Getting there will require every ounce of strength they have.

Hosted by KATE THORNTON and GETHIN JONES, the programme sees 10 celebrities take on the adventure of a lifetime. Those taking up the challenge are: JOE ABSOLOM, SUSIE AMY, ANDREW CASTLE, DIARMUID GAVIN, GAVIN HENSON, KONNIE HUQ, MICHELLE MONE, MARCUS PATRICK, SHANE RICHIE AND LAUREN SOCHA.

UK PREMIERE ONE-OFF
SATURDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER, 8.00PM

9/11: After The Towers Fell is the definitive look at the aftermath of 9/11. The most devastating terrorist atrocity in the history of the United States bowed and bloodied the nation. But out of that tragedy rose the people of America like an unstoppable tide ready to help in whatever way they could, leading to hundreds of tales of heroism.

With first-hand accounts from the rescue workers who navigated the treacherous, mangled steel and concrete moraine left by the collapse of the towers to reach survivors; the soldiers who were deployed to the scene – who stayed despite orders from their superiors to the contrary; family members who desperately searched for loved-ones; survivors who were pulled from the wreckage; and eyewitnesses who documented the scene from various vantage points throughout.

9:00pm Friday, September 10 on M4

Trapped in the twin towers of the World Trade Center on 11 September 2001, thousands of ordinary people struggled to survive and make contact with the outside world. Many knew that time was ticking away and wanted to speak to their loved ones for a final time; others turned to friends and relatives, as well as the emergency services, to discover what was happening and find a means of escape. 9/11: Phone Calls from the Towers features recordings of calls from people who died in the terrorist attack on New York - some broadcast for the first time - as well as interviews with their families.

Wednesday, 8 September 2010, 10:35PM - 11:35PM on ITV1

In the late summer of 1940 London came under fire as German bombers brought death and devastation to the City, night after night, week after week and month after month. Many cities were bombed but London suffered the most. This new documentary, Words of the Blitz, tells the powerful stories of those affected by the bombings, in their own words.

A cast of actors including Dominic West, Romola Garai, Sheila Hancock, Russell Tovey, Alex Jennings, Joseph Beattie and Steven Berkoff read the diaries and letters of men and women from teenagers to fire-fighters, nurses and senior government officials, offering a rich insight into how the impact of the Blitz was felt on a deeply personal level, but also evoking how it affected all levels of society.

UK PREMIERE ONE-OFF
WEDNESDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER, 9.00PM

Nostradamus is the most famous prophet the world has ever known. Nearly every major catastrophe of the last 500 years seems to appear in his predictions. But, why did he write them and what did he really predict? Why have these vaguely- worded prophecies been believed by so many for so long? Was Nostradamus really seeing into the future, or was he just gifted at selling hype?

We examine the opinions of sceptics and supporters as they attempt to answer questions such as: do prophets have specific tricks to induce belief in their predictions? Were the translations of his writings even interpreted correctly? And, most importantly, what exactly drives humanity’s desire to see into the future?

7:30pm Friday, August 27 on C4

Part of the First Cut strand, For the 50,000 children who are born prematurely each year, the incubator provides them with a chance of survival. With unique access to a neonatal intensive care ward, this film follows the journey of four different families. In a world of high emotions The Incubator shares personal family moments as parents hold their babies for the first time, see their children through life saving surgery and, after many months of sitting beside an incubator, get to take their children home.

Thursday, 26 August 2010, 9:00PM - 10:00PM on ITV1

Florida: Paradise Lost

Florida is universally known as the Sunshine State so it’s unsurprising that many British holidaymakers want to stay there for good. This programme looks at the highs and lows for some of the almost half a million Brits who have made Florida their home in the past thirty years.

While ex pats are chasing the dream of making their fortune in the sun, the insecurity of the strict visa requirements means even Brits who’ve lived in the US for years can find themselves being sent home. On top of this, fierce competition in recession-hit businesses and expensive medical treatment can lead to financial devastation.

Some Brits can make it work for them. Janet Southern and her partner John have spent the last 10 years buying and selling property in the Fort Lauderdale area.

9:00pm Thursday, August 26 on C4

Over three days in August 2005, while 90% of the population fled New Orleans, others stayed behind. Many were unable to leave, and some - including amateur cameramen, news crews, government agencies and storm-chasers - captured the unfolding chaos. Weaving together more than a hundred sources, many never seen before on network television, Hurricane Katrina: Caught on Camera reconstructs events as they happened, through the eyes of the people who experienced them. Timed to coincide with the fifth anniversary of the storm, this is a riveting portrait of a defining moment in American history.

9:00pm Wednesday, August 25 on C4

Each year in Britain, 135,000 people end up in hospital with a traumatic brain injury. The effects can be profound and life-changing for the people affected, as well as their families and friends. This powerful and moving documentary follows 20-year-old Simon Hales on a remarkable journey through rehab, as he and his family come to terms with the challenges of life after brain injury. As well as remembering nothing of the accident, or the weeks and months before, Simon needs constant attention; his mood swings violently and his mum, Jane, says it's like having a toddler all over again.