BBC highlights for the month of October include Shetland, This Is Going To Hurt, The Graham Norton Show, Dragon’s Den, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Midsomer Murderthon, Wilderness Week, Where The Wild Men Are, Animals with Cameras and Hey Duggee.
Shetland
Series 7 (M)
Australian Premiere
Starring: Douglas Henshall, Alison O’Donnell & Steven Robertson
The disappearance of a vulnerable young man draws Perez into the troubled history of a family recently arrived from Glasgow. The missing man embraced life in Shetland and the community took him to its heart.Have the vengeful ghosts of the past caught up with him, or did an intense, new relationship turn sinister? Something about this elusive figure is not as it seems. When a breakthrough in the case reveals a danger greater than anyone could have feared, it falls on Jimmy Perez to save Shetland from an unimaginable threat.
The seventh series will be Henshall’s last outing as DI Perez after nearly a decade in the iconic role.
Sundays at 8.30pm from October 2. Also available on Binge.
This Is Going To Hurt
(MA15+)
BBC First Premiere
Starring: Ben Whishaw, Rory Fleck Byrne & Harriet Walter
Golden Globe, Emmy and BAFTA winner Ben Whishaw stars in Adam Kay’s adaptation of his bestselling memoir about life as a junior doctor.
This hilarious – and often heartbreaking – series follows a fictionalised version of Adam as he juggles being a good doctor and a good person, in a system that sometimes feels like it’s against him. Set in obstetrics and gynaecology, or ‘brats and twats’ as it’s known, the series reveals the unvarnished realities of Adam’s life on and off the ward: 97-hour weeks, life and death decisions, a tsunami of bodily fluids. And a personal life forced into second place. All for an hourly rate that struggles to compete with the hospital parking meter. A stark reminder of the vital role played by medics like Adam everywhere.
Wednesdays at 8.30pm from October 5. Also available on Binge.
The Graham Norton Show
Series 30
(PG)
UKTV Premiere
Award-winning international success Graham Norton returns to our screens with a new series of The Graham Norton Show, focusing on people, trend stories and aspects of celebrity culture that interest him the most. Graham’s razor-edged comedy captivates audiences around the globe.
Coming in October
Dragon’s Den
Series 19
(PG)
UKTV Premiere
Dragon’s Den returns for its nineteenth series with a new set of eager entrepreneurs hoping to strike a life-changing deal with the toughest titans of industry; Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Tej Lalvani and Sara Davies.
Pitches include an animal lovers green solution to canine pollution, vegan handbags, an escape room business, mood-enhancing coffee products, eco-friendly deodorant, a caffeine chew for long-distance runners plus more.
Thursdays at 8.30pm from October 20
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown
Series 14B
Australian Premiere
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown follows the format of Countdown, with its compulsive play along factor as a familiar spine, but is packed with comic appearances and content that viewers wouldn’t ever see on regular Countdown: the show’s opening when Jimmy Carr affectionately roasts all the participants, a comic discussion of the players’ preparation and funny mascots for the show, visual gags while the Countdown clock runs down, and comics showcasing funny items in Dictionary Corner.
The show is hosted by Jimmy Carr, with team captain Jon Richardson and a celebrity guest captain each episode. The series also features Rachel Riley and Susie Dent on maths and dictionary duty respectively.
Guests include Jo Brand, Jamali Maddix, David O’Doherty, Richard Ayoade, Joe Wilkinson and Sara Pascoe.
Tuesdays at 8.30pm from October 11
Midsomer Murderthon
Fan Favourite Episodes
Midsomer boasts a staggering murder toll of over 300 deaths. All those residents, taken long before their time by the vengeful inhabitants of this quaint English province. Plenty of those murders will be investigated this October long weekend as we premiere your favourite ever episodes of Midsomer Murders.
Episodes including Death of the Small Coppers, Drawing Dead, Send in the Clowns, Death’s Shadow, Dead Among the Dead Men, The Miniature Murders plus more.
All October Long Weekend from Saturday October 1 at 12.30pm
Wilderness Week
(PG)
Wilderness Week on BBC Earth, explores and celebrates our wild and rugged landscapes and the people that immerse themselves within them. Venture into the wild with a week of gritty documentaries that explore our passion for adventure.
Titles include Where The Wild Men Are Series 10, Our Wildest Dreams, Life Below Zero Series 9, Wild West, India’s Wild Karnataka, Walking the Himalayas, Steve Backshall: Extreme River Challenge and more.
Every night at 7.20pm from October 24
Where The Wild Men Are
Series 10
(PG)
Australian Premiere
Presented by: Ben Fogle
Explorer Ben Fogle meets more people who’ve turned their back on the rat race and set up home in some of the most remote and inhospitable parts of the world.
In this series, Ben meets Alex, a retail whizz-kid who left the UK for his own remote Portuguese mountain. He joins Georg and Bettina, a European couple who’ve found solace in the Irish wilderness. And Ben visits Sandy, who’s swapped a career in the tourist industry to rescue animals on a Greek Island. He also meets Helen and Jason, tackling life in the Shetlands, the most northerly point in the UK. And in the US, Ben travels the deserts of Arizona with Dee, a modern-day nomad living life out of her van.
Fridays at 8.30pm from October 28
Animals with Cameras
Series 2 (PG)
Australian Premiere
Hidden cameras help scientists answer questions about the secret lives of iconic animals in the hope of better protecting these animals in the wild.
When animals wander out of sight, what do they get up to? Animals with Cameras sees animals capture unique footage about their own secret lives using discreet and lightweight devices. This series explores the mysterious lives of sharks, elephant seals and turtles – and takes to the air with a squadron of gannets. And in Australia, cameras reveal the curious lives of flying foxes, koalas and kangaroos. Along the way, scientists, experts and tech specialists join Gordon Buchanan to study the footage, revealing extraordinary discoveries about these animals’ fascinating lives.
Tuesdays at 8.30pm from October 4
Hey Duggee
Series 4
Australian Premiere
Get set for laughter, learning and exciting activities in the adventure club that every child will want to join! Meet Duggee, a big lovable dog who runs a club for pre-schoolers that inspires children to have fun, be energetic, and – most of all – to do things! Each episode starts with Duggee welcoming the Squirrels, a bunch of curious little characters who are dropped off at the club by their parents. That marks the start of laughter and learning as they discover new things about the world around them, all under the patient guidance of Duggee. Their often comic adventures encourage young viewers to actively solve a problem by moving, jumping, running and skipping. Duggee always rewards the club members with a squirrel activity badge, which they proudly show to their parents as they pick them up at the end of each show.
Weekdays at 4.40pm from October 3
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