LIFE

Four years in the making, and with a huge budget, Life is the last word in natural history film-making. Onboard we have the first episode, Challenges of Life, which shows examples of extraordinary feeding, hunting, courting and parenting behaviour from across the animal kingdom around the globe. It really is breathtaking stuff.

THE CHOIR: UNSUNG TOWN

National sweetheart Gareth Malone attempts to persuade the residents of South Oxhey to form a community choir. They’re untutored and for the most part they’re unwilling, and all Gareth has to convince them is his charm and enthusiasm in a bid to appeal to their community spirit. Can he do it? You’ll just have to watch and see in this moving and inspirational programme that has got everyone talking.

THE WORLD'S STRICTEST PARENTS

Brilliant, redemptive television here, as troublesome teens from the UK are sent abroad to live with discipline-mad carers. In this episode Lizzie and Stefan are banished to live with Vida in Ghana. They begin to understand the virtues of their new lifestyle and the picture that emerges is of a reality TV show that has worked as a social experiment. Not to be missed!

DAREDEVILS: THE HUMAN BIRD

This series of films follows some of the world’s most extreme people – those who risk their lives pushing themselves to the limit. In this episode, we meet Jeb Corliss, who leaps off buildings wearing a Teflon flying suit. Here he attempts his most dangerous feat to-date - flying as close to the Matterhorn mountain as possible. One mistake for Jeb, and it’s all over.

HORIZON: THE SECRET LIFE OF DOGS

What makes the bond between man and dog so unique? This extraordinary Horizon special meets Betsy, the world’s smartest dog and finds that the human/dog bond is controlled by a powerful hormone…

KIRSTIE'S HOMEMADE HOME

The TV presenter, property whizz (and now FHM pin-up) gets crafty as she uses a mix of DIY, hard graft and good ideas to turn her Devon home Meadow Gate into a haven of crafts.

WOULD YOU HELP A STRANGER?

Hard-hitting film that uses witness testimony and dramatic reconstruction to examine events leading up to violent attacks, such as that on a12-year-old-girl who was beaten on a crowded bus. Watch and ask yourself: would you step in to help?

RICK STEIN'S FAR EASTERN ODYSSEY

Fish-mad Stein takes an epic culinary journey by sea, along river and over land to explore the diverse food cultures of the Far East - which have soared in popularity the world over.

RAY MEARS WILDERNESS

The fearless survival expert treks into the unforgiving - yet stunning - wilderness of Canada. Here he dispenses tips and knowledge picked up over years developing his own 'wilderness bushcraft' techniques, as well as hearing some amazing stories.

TWINS

This fascinating and eye-opening documentary studies identical twins and looks at how they can provide the clue to our own developing personalities. The answer, it seems, is all in the genes…

THE REAL CABARET

Actor Alan Cumming looks at the making of Cabaret, meeting star Liza Minnelli who played the infamous Sally Bowles in the 1972 film and current Cabaret performer Ute Lemper. He also reveals the tragic fate of many real-life cabaret artists at the hands of the Nazis and explores the more salacious side of 1930’s Weimar Berlin.

TOP GEAR

Clarkson, Hammond and May are back drive an Aston DBS Volante, a Ferrari California and a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder through Romania in search of tarmac that many hardcore drivers claim is the nothing less than the greatest road in the world. While back in the studio the star in the reasonably priced car is Hollywood Actor and self confessed petrol head Eric Bana.

THE SCANDALOUS ADVENTURES OF LORD BYRON

This installment of his biographical travelogue follows Rupert Everett to Italy and Greece where Byron, it is said, ‘participated in new levels of depravity’ – then wrote his great narrative poem, Don Juan. It’s a fascinating journey with a wonderful and risqué host.

JAMIE'S AMERICAN ROAD TRIP:LOUISIANA

Jamie Oliver's off to the States where, rather than visit fancy restaurants and top chefs, will be meeting and learning from, real cooks making honest food for working people at street stalls, off-road diners and down-to-earth local restaurants.

PREMIER LEAGUE WORLD

Full to the brim with club profiles, player interviews and match footage from what is arguably the best football league in the world.

THE SECRET CARIBBEAN WITH TREVOR MCDONALD

This epic series sees the much-loved, award-winning newsman Sir Trevor McDonald trekking the 2,000 miles across the Caribbean to see for himself the incredible extremes that make this region so unique. In this episode Sir Trevor travels to Richard Branson’s Necker Island and in contrast visits the capital of Cuba, Havana.

TOTAL RELAXATION

Sit back and enjoy a meditative journey.