Here's a collection of some recent interesting programs for those of you with your thinking caps on.
Martin Clunes Horsepower. It looks like ITV is still trying to come up with the dosh to produce another Doc Martin series, so they're keeping Marty busy doing this and that. Remember A Man and His Dogs? Then he did Islands of Britain (and almost crapped his pants every episode). Now we have Horsepower. With Doc Martin still a couple years away maybe next year we'll get something more exotic like A Man and His Goats or CamelPower.
"From remotest Mongolia to the Windsor Greys of Buckingham Palace, horse lover Martin Clunes travels the world to unlock the secrets of a partnership which shaped the world. For many centuries humankind was dependent on equine power for warfare, ceremony, farming, transport and pleasure. Today, the horse is still an important part of our world in many ways. Martin unravels the true story of how humans and horses first got together, and what the horse still means to us in the modern era. In Italy he watches the colourful Palio horse race, which dates back to the 13th century. Then he rides into battle in a suit of armour at Warwick Castle before witnessing the pomp and ceremony as horses and carriages are prepared for the State Opening of Parliament. On a visit to the USA, he sees how rodeo horses are treated like kings in Las Vegas. Finally, he travels to the remotest parts of central Asia to meet some of the world's greatest horsepeople."
Secret Britain, from the BBC, with Julia Bradbury and some other lucky geezer.
Matt Baker and Julia Bradbury embark on an epic adventure to unlock the astonishing beauty of Secret Britain.
They start in the far South West of England, and the first leg of their journey takes them all the way to Dover across some of the most crowded parts of the UK. Yet even here there are hidden corners and forgotten stories. Matt explores Britain's only desert, while Julia goes off the beaten track to discover the shady green world of Dorset's holloways.
Next, they explore the hidden heart of the UK on the second leg of their journey across Secret Britain. It is a journey of revelation, that takes them from the eerie flatlands of East Anglia to the staggering sea cliffs of Pembrokeshire. Matt searches for a mysterious island in the enigmatic waterworld of the Norfolk Broads, while Julia discovers a secret side to Swindon.
Next they're on the road north on the third leg of their epic adventure to unlock Secret Britain. Even here, in the best loved areas of the Peaks and Lakes, there are still hidden corners of the countryside just waiting to be discovered. Julia takes a trip into the stunning underground limestone world beneath Yorkshire, while Matt relives childhood memories as he explores a secret ancient woodland on the Durham coast.
On the final leg of their epic journey across Secret Britain, Matt Baker and Julia Bradbury head for the borderlands and beyond to discover that there is much more to this wild landscape than meets the eye. Intrepid Victorians, Roman Emperors and imaginative locals have all left their mark; their secret stories all hidden in this astonishing landscape. Matt takes the train to Britain's most remote railway station while Julia explores Glencoe in search of a hidden valley that lives up to its name.
Stephen Tompkinson's Australian Balloon Adventure....from ITV. Last year Stephen padded his time in Africa while shooting Wild At Heart by taking a balloon more-or-less across the continent. This year he's off to see the wizard in Oz.
"Having previously journeyed across Africa in a hot-air balloon, the actor now explores the diverse landscape and wildlife of Australia and takes part in the country's largest balloon competition, the Canowindra Challenge. The trip kicks off in dramatic fashion when Stephen's maiden flight over South Australia's Flinders Ranges ends in a crash-landing. Undeterred, he and pilot Robin Bachelor press on to the Barossa Valley, where they learn wine-making techniques, before completing a flight over the River Murray.
The actor's bid to win Australia's largest balloon competition, the Canowindra Challenge, continues in Melbourne, where he fulfils a childhood dream by walking on to the pitch of the Melbourne Cricket Ground during an Aussie Rules game - and flying through the goalposts the next morning. An invitation to join in the city's Greek festival nearly ends in a diplomatic incident, and heavy rain then prevents Stephen flying over Canberra, forcing him into desperate action to get his training back on track.
The actor takes part in a mock balloon competition, then heads for Sydney, where he helps judge a drag contest and explores the city's cosmopolitan cuisine. He receives backing from Britain's High Commissioner Valerie Amos in her office overlooking the harbour - and hears a surprising confession from his co-pilot Robin - before heading 200 miles west to take on Australia's best balloon pilots in the skies above Canowindra."
From BBC Four we have The Yorkshire Dales on Film. A collection of vintage film clips. Those of you that enjoy Last of the Summer Wine, Heartbeat, All Creatures Great And Small, might enjoy this.
"Using moving images from across the decades, this documentary goes on a short trip to one of the most beautiful parts of the UK, the Yorkshire Dales. Encompassing newsreels, documentaries and home movies, these rarely-seen archive gems come together to reveal all aspects of life in the Dales, from sheep farming to cheese making, railway lines to dry stone walls and hill runners to potholing."
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