Website for the over 60s   February 2012
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Roger and Val

Dawn French and Alfred Molina

Starts Wednesday 8 February on BBC Two at 10.00pm - 10.30pm

Roger & Val Have Just Got In returns to BBC Two, starring Alfred Molina and Dawn French in the title roles in this new six-part series.

Married for over 20 years, Roger and Val Stevenson have work issues, love issues and supper issues. And the half hour after they’ve both got in is the perfect time to put their world to rights, and decide whether or not to have a takeaway.

Food Technology teacher Val has ambitions to climb to the dizzy heights of Deputy Headship, while botanist Roger is campaigning against unfair dismissal for sexual harassment that he claims was a misunderstanding. But a bizarre revelation is set to change everything in their safe, domestic world.

Alfred Molina and Dawn French

Episode 1 - The Shock sees Roger and Val return from a family wedding to discover whether Val's bid to become Deputy Head has fallen at the first hurdle. Val shows Roger her novel way of overcoming interview nerves with a little help from her friends .

Meanwhile, among the weekend’s post is a hand-delivered note for Roger that will change every aspect of their world and shatter the balance they have worked so hard to achieve.

Afred Molina and Dawn French

Developed from an original idea by Dawn French, Roger & Val is written by Emma & Beth Kilcoyne (Dogtown) and produced by Jon Plowman for the BBC and directed by Mandie Fletcher.

Executive Producers are Hugo Blick and Mark Freeland.

 

Unforgettable Rod Hull

Rod Hull and Emu


   February, ITV ONE

Unforgettable Rod Hull is a tribute to a very special entertainer.

Rod Hull was best known for creating and performing with his puppet sidekick Emu. In the 1970s and 80s Rod Hull enjoyed success as one of Britain's best known and loved entertainers along with a temperamental and much feared sidekick Emu.

Rod Hull

Friends and family talk about this much loved man who survived bankruptcy and a turbulent career with his free spirit intact.

His youngest son reflects on wonderful times sharing a tumbledown cottage with him in the months before he died in a bizarre accident adjusting the aerial on his roof.

Rod Hull and Emu

The programme includes contributions from Warren Mitchell, Rolf Harris and emu victim Michael Parkinson.

Rod Hull and Emu

Unforgettable Rod Hull is a North One TV production for ITV.

 

Take Me Out

Paddy McGuinness

  Presented by Paddy McGuinness, Saturday nights on ITV1
from 7:45PM - 9:00PM

Cheer up your Saturday nights with Take Me Out, presented by Paddy McGuinness.

Paddy McGuinness presents this smash hit dating show and attempts to play cupid for his line up of 30 single girls.

Paddy McGuinness in Take Me Out

Up for grabs is a dream date on the Isle of Fernandos, but which single boy will bag him himself a beauty and who will face the dreaded blackout?

Tune in on Saturday nights at 7.45pm - 9.00pm.

Take Me Out also has its own website at www.itv.com/takemeout

 

Entertainment

 

The Diamond Queen

 

HM The Queen

Starts, Monday 6 February, BBC One from 9.00-10.00pm (3 episodes)
 

In the first of this three-part series which looks at the life and achievements of The Queen, Andrew Marr tells the story of the young girl who never expected to reign over us. 60 years after she acceded to the throne, he looks at what she actually does for us both at home and abroad.

Marr observes the day-to-day duties of the Royal Family and hears from The Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry, The Earl of Wessex, The Princess Royal and Princess Eugenie about the remarkable skills The Queen has acquired in 60 years of walkabouts, state visits and receptions.

HM The Queen

The Queen has a private motto – “I have to be seen to be believed” - this programme bears witness to the extraordinary energy that she puts into every engagement, however small, however grand.

The film looks closely at the influence of The Queen’s grandfather, father and mother, the impact of the abdication, and the unique relationship between the Head of State and her Government. The Queen has seen 12 Prime Ministers in her reign and Marr looks at the special relationships she has had with them, hearing from David Cameron, Tony Blair and Sir John Major.

HM The Queen

Marr also follows The Queen to the Middle East and the USA to assess the global impact of The Queen on British trade and international relations. The Duke of York gives his perspective on The Queen’s impact on overseas trade and Foreign Secretary William Hague and David Cameron gauge her effect on British standing abroad.

Even as a child, Princess Elizabeth was not an ordinary young girl. For her sixth birthday Princess Elizabeth was given a grand Wendy house by the people of Wales. It has recently been restored and Marr is given a private tour of this unique building by The Queen’s granddaughter Princess Beatrice.

Andrew Marr presents The Diamond Queen

The Diamond Queen is presented by Andrew Marr and begins on Monday 6 February on BBC ONE at 9pm. There are three episodes.
 

Cricklewood Greats

 

Peter Capaldi

Sunday 5 February, 9.00-9.40pm
BBC FOUR


Peter Capaldi (The Thick Of It) writes, directs and presents Cricklewood Greats, a documentary and personal journey of discovery to reveal the greatest forgotten stars of the legendary Cricklewood Film Studios, featuring clips from the many films that were produced in this iconic North London landmark.

Except that Cricklewood Film Studios doesn't really exist, and every frame of footage has been lovingly restored from the vaults of Capaldi's fertile imagination.

Peter Capaldi

Cricklewood Greats takes viewers from the early silent movie experiments of Arthur Simm, through the 1930s comedies of Florrie Fontaine and the glory years of the "Thumbs Up" movies, to the 1970s exploitation horror movies starring Lionel Crisp.

There is  also  the  ultimate  folie  de  grandeur of Terry Gilliam's "Professor Hypochondria's Magical Odyssey" which finally destroyed the studios in the early 1980s.


Peter Capaldi

Cricklewood Greats includes interviews with Terry Gilliam (Monty Python) and Marcia Warren (Life Of Riley), and also features Alex MacQueen (The Thick Of It) and Lyndsey Marshal (Garrow's Law).
 

Jamie Cullum's Jazz Show

Jamie Cullum

Tuesday 7 February, BBC RADIO 2 7.00 - 8.00pm


Jamie Cullum showcases his love for all types of jazz and music rooted in jazz, from its heritage to the future. This week, Jamie meets Sir Paul McCartney for a special in-depth interview about Sir Paul’s love of jazz.

The two musicians discuss the role jazz has played in Sir Paul’s life, from growing up listening to his father’s jazz band to their mutual love of Fats Waller.

Sir Paul McCartney

Sir Paul reflects on his days with The Beatles, and how jazz subtly informed the way the band approached composition.

He then talks in-depth with Jamie about his current album of jazz standards and original compositions, Kisses On The Bottom.

Paul outlines how the album came together, from the initial inspiration to the great collaborations.

Presenter is Jamie Cullum and Producer is Karen Pearson for Folded Wing.
 

Sixtyplusurfers Competition

Win Endeavour

Win Endeavour

Out now on DVD from ITV Studios

Discover the untold story of a young detective with a legendary future ahead of him in a brand new Inspector Morse prequel, Endeavour, out now on DVD, courtesy of ITV Studios Home Entertainment.

We're giving three readers the chance to win a copy of this exclusive show on DVD.

Starting from the beginning, before the Jaguar and before Lewis, Endeavour takes you back to the swinging sixties. Deep in a full blown murder investigation, Endeavour Morse (Shaun Evans), discredited and sidelined by his superiors, is drawn to the place which will ultimately define his career and shaped a generation of crime solving fans – Oxford.

Beginning his own quest in the pursuit of justice, Shaun Evans (The Take, Cashback, Come Rain or Shine) provides fans and crime lovers alike with a stunning adaptation of Colin Dexter’s iconic character as Detective Constable Endeavour Morse risks it all once more in a hunt for the truth that will haunt him for the rest of his days.

Supported by Roger Allam (The Jury, V for Vendetta) as Inspector Fred Thursday and written by Russell Lewis (Lewis, Spooks, Murphy’s Law) Endeavour is a sheer masterpiece of crime drama that will captivate audiences and introduce a new generation to the excitement and brilliance of Inspector Morse.

Endeavour is available on DVD from ITV Studios Home Entertainment. Running time is 89 minutes. RRP is £12.99.

Watched and enjoyed

 

We were delighted to receive a review copy of Endeavour. Beautifully shot, with a nostalgic 1960s atmosphere and plenty of twists and turns, we were captivated from start to finish. Shaun Evans was very convincing as a young Morse with a few carefully chosen mannerisms, intonation of voice and youthful vulnerability.

Endearing and eminently watchable, it was lovely to see the beginnings of Morse's love affair with the Jaguar, the attention to detail such as the old telephones and fashions, and the fact that John Thaw was not forgotten with clever teasers in the film. It was also lovely to see Abigail Thaw, John Thaw's daughter, taking part in the story.

I do hope there are further episodes of Endeavour to follow as I would definitely like to see more of Shaun Evans in this role and watch the character develop. I would highly recommend this DVD.

 

 For Your Chance to Win

Tell us which famous actor originally played the part of Inspector Morse?

  a) John Thaw
  b) Nigel Havers
  c) Hugh Bonneville

  d) Dennis Waterman

 To Enter the Competition

Tell us which famous actor originally played the part of Inspector Morse? Then send in your answer, together with your full name, address and telephone number to the email address shown below:
sixtypluscomp@hotmail.co.uk

  *This competition is open to
our UK readers only

 

Whitechapel

Whitechapel


Currently showing on ITV1, six
one hour, 3 x 2 part stories


Whitechapel, written by Ben Court and Caroline Ip, is produced by Carnival Films for ITV 1 and stars Rupert Penry-Jones, Phil Davis and Steve Pemberton. Other cast members include Ben Bishop, Claire Rushbrook, Sam Stockman and new team member Hannah Walters who plays DC Megan Riley.

Producer, David Boulter (He Kills Coppers) says; "Whitechapel is back, bigger and bolder than before. Gruesome present day investigations summon the ghosts of the past, screaming and restless.

"Chandler’s team must decipher their historic relevance, but history can be unreliable: convincing and confusing in equal measure. These new Whitechapel stories are dark, compelling and full of surprises."

Sam Stockman as DC Emerson Kent

  Sam Stockman as DC Emerson Kent

Chandler and his new unit are still based in Whitechapel nick but as before feel slightly removed from the prosaic and mundane day to day, run of the mill policing. They have rescued a huge crime archive, a vast but chaotic collection of files and papers beneath the incident room.

Buchan begins eagerly sorting this treasure trove of primary sources. When a new case lands on the team’s desk and the race is on to find the killer, Miles is cynical about Buchan’s value to the team, but Chandler is convinced that history holds clues. This is where the nightmares of the past help solve the horrors of the present.

Phil Davis as Ray Miles and Rupert Penry-Jones as Joe Chandler

   Phil Davis as Ray Miles and Rupert
         Penry-Jones as Joe Chandler


Whitechapel remains a dark and scary place, laden with villainy and foreboding. The series will take us through three hundred years of history, peeling back the layers of the East End.

There will be Gothic shadows, cobblestones and ancient hostelries, fear in the Huguenot weaving houses of Wilkes Street, and terrifying discoveries in the dark corners and rooftops around Brick Lane. With tinges of black comedy the series is heady, visceral and terrifying. In Whitechapel, history isn’t dead, it’s deadly.

Executive Producer, Sally Woodward Gentle says: “I am delighted we are getting the chance to tell brand new Whitechapel stories but this time as a series. The East End of London is steeped in history, secrets and gore and we now have the opportunity to take Chandler, Miles and Buchan to places darker still. If you thought the Ripper and Krays were scary, just wait.”

Hannah Walters as DC Megan Riley

   Hannah Walters as DC Megan Riley

Laura Mackie, Director of Drama, ITV says: “Whitechapel is a striking and distinctive crime drama that has struck a real chord with the ITV 1 audience.

"The longer run will allow us to tell an even richer range of stories from the Whitechapel area”

The new series is produced by David Boulter (He Kills Coppers, Prime Suspect 6) and executive produced by Sally Woodward Gentle, Creative Director of Carnival Films (Enid, Any Human Heart).

The directors are John Strickland (Bedlam, Bodies, Apparitions), Richard Clark (Life On Mars, Doctor Who) and Jon East (Summerhill, That Summer Day).