The Courier Edition 303 by TKO UK

Edition 303

www.thecourier.es

Friday 23rd December 2016

AWFUL WEEKEND theory that he committed suicide. His wife called the armed forces emergency response unit after her husband went to the garage to check on his car and did not return. The rise in the levels of the River Segura saw its banks bursting in a number of parts of Orihuela City, leading to flooding for the first time since 1987, when the last such emergency happened. The Segura reached a height of six metres at various points,

BY ALEX TRELINSKI

ecember storms caused chaos in Alicante Province and the Murcia region over the weekend, with rainfall exceeding the total level accumulated for the whole of 2016, and reports suggesting that in Murcia alone, it had been the biggest December storm since 1945. Blocked roads, fallen trees, and flooding around Orihuela City after the River Segura burst its banks were amongst the main issues. The Madrid government declared Orihuela a disaster zone, after the Interior Minister, Juan Ignacio Zoido, visited the area on Tuesday morning, and promised money for the clean-up operation. Three people died in the floodwaters in the area. In the northern part of Alicante Province, a man, aged in his sixties (pictured above), drowned in Finestrat after he was swept away by the floods. He was trying to reach his car near the beach area in the Cala de Finestrat, despite neigh-

bours shouting at him to get back indoors. Guardia Civil officers were called out on Saturday morning and sent out a search party, including scrambling a helicopter, before finding the victim's body 20 minutes later in a cove. The incident was similar to that of a British couple that were swept away by floodwater in the same area over five years ago. There were two deaths in Los Alcázares on Monday, which suffered the brunt of the flooding on the Mar Menor. A 30-year-old Moroccan man drowned after the current on Calle de Las Adelfas dragged him into a private swimming pool at a property, with emergency services unable to revive him. Then in the evening, the body of a 47year-old man was found in his flooded underground garage on Calle Calixto Sánchez Madrid. Emergency servcies said on Tuesday morning that he did not die because of the flood and were working on the

them staying in the Hotel Cabo Cervera or with friends or relatives. Almoradi council evacuated as a precaution some homes in Heredades on Monday situated close to the Segura in the vicinity of the Algorfa bridge whilst 150 people in the Los Alcazares municipality were taken to a centre at Los Narejos. A Benidorm camping site had to be evacuated over the weekend, whilst motorists and residents in the Murcia Region village of

Orihuela City and in the early hours of Monday morning, it flowed over its banks around the Puente del Rey bridge in central Orihuela. Residents in the Mariano Cases area of the city had to be evacuated, whilst there was flooding outside the city on Monday between Molins and La Campaneta. Ten residents were also evacuated from Calle Ramón Rubia in the El Paraíso area of Torrevieja due to flooding on Sunday, with some of

Torreagüera threatened by a potential rockslide, had to be evacuated. Meanwhile, Guardia officers helped a women give birth at her Mazarrón-area home on Sunday as flooding meant that she and her husband could not get to hospital in Cartagena. Doctors on the end of a phone line talked them through making what was a safe delivery. Coverage continues on page 2.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and thank you for being with us during 2016. We are now off to celebrate with our loved ones, and are taking a week off for the festivities. The Courier offices will be closed for Christmas from 14:00 on Friday 23 December, and we will reopen on Monday 2 January at 11:00. If you need us, don´t worry, we´re still around, just give us a call on 966 921 003. The next edition of The Courier will be out on THURSDAY, 5th January, a day earlier than normal due to the Three Kings celebrations on the Friday. See our look-back at some of the headlines this year in our review inside. For now, stay safe, and have a very joyous Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

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News

Friday 23rd December 2016

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The weekend’s storms, as featured on the front page, ravaged Alicante Province and the Mar Manor, with countless road closures and local beaches being devastated. A weather expert said that heavy December rainfalls were not unusual over 30 years ago, as farmers were left to count the cost, with the local grape harvest ruined ahead of the New Year festivities. Many secondary roads were blocked due to flooding and fallen trees on Sunday and Monday, with problems extending to key highways, with the AP-7 and N-332 blocked at Pilar de la Horadada. A car was caught in flooding on the N-332 at La Mata

in Torrevieja (pictured above), whilst an ornamental pergola was blown over the Paseo de La Mata (pictured top right) close to a kiosk, with gusts of over 80 kilometres an hour being recorded in the early hours of Sunday morning. Roads continued to be closed in the Orihuela City area until the middle of the week, whilst Murcia emergency services said that over 350 people were rescued from their vehicles and homes, mainly in Los Alcazáres, Murcia City, San Javier and Torre Pacheco. Water company Hirdraqua warned customers around San Javier not to drink tap water, whilst flights to San Javier on Sunday and Monday,

including services from the UK, had to be diverted to Alicante-Elche airport. Many beaches were battered over the weekend including Babylon beach in Guardamar, with seafront buildings hit by waves, whilst there were many rockslides on the Orihuela Costa beaches, with the Rambla at Campoamor also affected. Streets were flooded next to Lo Pagan beach in San Pedro del Pinatar, and further north, beaches were badly ravaged at Pinet and Arenales in the Elche municipality, coupled with concerns over the safety of the Arenales de Sol hotel building, where development on the hotel’s revamp was suspended earlier in the year in a row over the project. Schools in 71 municipalities in Alicante Province and the Murcia region were closed on Monday, with Orihuela closures carrying into Tuesday. Court proceedings in Orihuela and Torrevieja were suspended whilst operations and appointments were also cancelled at Orihuela’s Vega Baja hospital. Countless festive events were postponed last weekend or cancelled altogether, along with many sports fixtures, as the weather eventually relented on Monday, with the welcome return of sunshine. Despite people being taken by surprise with the intensity of the weekend’s storms, weather expert Jorge Olcina (pictured right) from Alicante University’s climatology department told the Información newspaper that it was not a unique phenomenon. “They were more common in the seventies and eighties,” said Olcina, “and were known as December constant rain. It’s not untypical of the Mediterranean climate

where you can get barely get any rain all year long, and then you can get the full annual average coming down in just a few weeks.” The heavy downpours brought mixed blessings to local farmers who have been crying out for rain during the long period of drought. The extra water is good news in the medium and long term, but the sheer intensity of the rain has

led to most of the local Aledo grape harvest being wiped out, with the fruit being supplied across the area for the traditional New Year celebrations with the grapes being eaten on the stroke of midnight. Reports suggest that the majority of mandarin and broccoli plantations have been badly hit by the excess rain, along with many olives falling early to the ground.

News

Friday 23rd December 2016

Poppy Thanks

Local branches of the Royal British Legion raised over 73,000 euro in this year’s Poppy Appeal, with the Orihuela Costa, Torrevieja, and Gran Alacant/La Marina groups distributing poppies and collection boxes to over 500 bars, restaurants and shops across the region. RBL volunteers were found at all kinds of locations collecting, including Alicante-Elche airport, local markets, and dozens

of other venues. The final district total is yet to be declared as money is still coming in, but the local totals and counts have been concluded. Forty events and two charity days helped take the Orihuela Costa branch total (pictured) to over 40,000 euro, which was an increase on the amount accumulated in 2015. Torrevieja RBL members collected just over 22,000 euro, with nearly three

thousand euro being collected at the city’s Iceland store, and a two-thousandeuro donation from the Crescendo International Choir. The Gran Alacant/La Marina branch brought in over 10,000 euro in donations, which like the Orihuela Costa and Torrevieja branches, was up on last year’s total, with the Iceland shop in La Marina being a key focus for donations.

Balcony Crash

Two balconies collapsed from properties in a Rojales street last Friday afternoon. The incident happened

on Calle San Pedro de Rojales, with no injuries sustained and no early indication as to what caused the collapse.

Better Access

Nasty Factura An Alicante City pizza restaurant owner got an electricity bill that he won't forget in a hurry, which included the message:- "F--You! Son of a bitch!" Gustavo Rodriguez received the 600 euro invoice from Iberdrola containing the offensive words, after a row with one of the firm's employees over the telephone. The restaurant owner had lost his temper with the call centre operator and suspects that he was overheard muttering "go to hell b-----d" towards the end of the call. He acknowledged that it was an unfortunate thing to say, but he didn't expect an additional retort from Iberdrola on his bill. Iberdrola have apologised

for an "unfortunate mistake" and spoken to Mr. Rodriquez, who said:- They have told me that should not have happened. I explained that I accept their apology but this should not happen at such a big company.

Where is the Data Protection Act?" There is no information about what action Iberdrola have taken against the call centre worker, which according to some reports, was based in Chile.

Behind Bars Two Algerian men wanted for a string of offences in Elche, Torrevieja, and Murcia, have been picked up the Guardia Civil for being involved in stealing from 20 cars parked up on industrial estates in the Crevillente area over the last three months.

Officers found it difficult to track the thieves (aged 31 and 33) down as they kept switching their addresses, but they were eventually detained in Santa Pola and Alicante City. The men have been charged with 30 criminal offences including an

attempted murder, with both being refused bail.

Torrevieja's El Cura beach has become the first of three beaches in the city to have new paved walkways installed, which will be of special benefit to wheelchair users wanting easier access to local beaches. Los Náufragos and Los Locos are next on the list, with the walkways having the flexibility to be taken up for mainte-

nance work. Beaches councillor Javier Manzanares said the walkways were being put in early to iron out any issues ahead of the first big swathe of users next Easter, and claimed that the installations made Torrevieja have some of the most accessible beaches in the whole of Spain.

Cycle Penalties Elche council is get tough on cyclists who are pedalling under the influence of alcohol and drugs. An amendment to the traffic ordinance will mean fines of between 60 and 500 euro if a cyclist is deemed unfit to get onto the road, with increased penalties for refusing a drink or drug test. Doing a “wheelie” is set to be punished by a 200 euro fine, as well as penalties for having a faulty light or not wearing appropriate reflecting clothing.

Risky Gamble

Almost a third of Alicante Province teenagers aged between 13 and 17 have gambled in the last year, according to a survey produced by Elche's Miguel Hernández university. Nearly three thousand students from 23 schools took part in the survey, with the Vega Baja region said to have the most gambling youngsters. Based on percentages, around a thousand children across Alicante Province are said to have a gambling problem, with on-line betting and slot machines their main outlets. The survey was commissioned by the Alicante Provincial Council who are now planning a series of initiatives across schools and colleges in association with PTA groups next year to educate teenagers about the dangers of gambling.

Flying In

The swamps of La Pedrera have a new visitor from northern Europe in the shape of the common crane. The crane heads to warmer climates during the winter from the breeding grounds of Scandinavia and Russia, and many choose to go the Extremadura region of Spain, though there have been sightings in the Hondon Vallley. It's the first time, though, according to the Informacion newspaper, that the bird has been spotted at La Pedrera in the Orihuela area.

Animal Riddle

Forty guinea pigs were found dumped last Thursday next to the main access roundabout to Pinar de Campoverde. The strange find was made by a passerby who alerted the animal charity ADAM, who carried out a thorough search of the area, and discovered some 20 animals that were still alive. Catching the guinea pigs was not easy, but the volunteers rounded them all up, with some suggestion that because of the young age of some the animals, they would have been abandoned by a breeder. The guinea pigs are all being kept at the home of an ADAM volunteer, with the charity (in conjunction with the Pilar local police) filing a complaint to the Guardia Civil's environment team, Seprona, based in Guardamar.

Box Of Delights

A lunchbox stuffed with cockroaches was found in a Madrid park last week by local police officers, who then took them to a wildlife centre. Fiftyfour cockroaches were found in the discarded container with the insects being up to three inches long.

Friday 23rd December 2016

It’s So Quiet

Two nightclubs on Torrevieja’s Casagrande industrial estate have been ordered to close by the council due to excess noise. The authority had got complaints from residents about the Love and Ultra clubs on Calle

Mariano Ruiz Cánovas, and made several demands that they do something about the decibel levels. A bar/restaurant on Paseo Punta Margalla has also been ordered to shut down for breaking rules on noise levels.

In The Clear

Minimum Increase

The minimum wage in Spain will go up by eight percent next year as part of a gradual move towards it reaching 60 percent of the average salary in Spain, in line with European Union requirements. The aim is to reach a minimum pre-tax wage of 950 euro per month for a full-time job

within three years. At present, the minimum monthly salary for a fulltime job is 655 euro, albeit over 14 wage packets – a double one in August and at Christmas – meaning firms which pay 12 salaries a year must give their staff a minimum of just over 764 euro a month.

Self-employed workers earning less than the minimum wage are not required to pay their Social Security stamp, a fixed monthly fee of 267 euro irrespective of earnings. For employees, they will not have to pay more than three percent of their gross salary in Social Security.

Rubbish Row

A court has acquitted on appeal a Madrid city councillor who was fined for taking her top off inside a chapel during a protest five years ago. Rita Maestre, 27, had been ordered to pay 4,380 euro for "infringing on freedom of conscience and religious convictions". But an appeal court said her act was disrespectful but not desecration. Some of her colleagues went completely topless during the protest as the group of some 50 people burst into the chapel at Madrid's Complutense University and yelled anti-Vatican and women's rights slogans. They

said the protest was against the Roman Catholic Church's "antidemocratic and chauvinistic" positions. Ms Maestre, a councillor with the anti-austerity party Podemos and former student of the far-left party's leader Pablo Iglesias, took off her Tshirt, showing her bra. The protest sparked an outcry in Spain, and Ms Maestre became a target of Spanish conservatives. In March, a court found her guilty and imposed the fine. But an appeal court cancelled the sentence, considering that "inadequate clothing or certain inappropriate gestures" were not "an act of desecration."

Callosa de Segura council has taken over cleaning and rubbish collection services in the town after scrapping its deal with the Sirem company, after they claimed that it had breached its contract in a number of ways. The council had given notice a few weeks ago that it was terminating its relationship with Sirem, and a row ensued over two sweeping vehicles, that the local police said were not in a roadworthy condition and were running without the latest ITV certificates. Sirem, in turn, says that

the authority owes them around two and a half million euro, with a legal battle looking like a strong possibility. The council has hired equipment and workers to

maintain a service for a transitional period ahead of a more formal arrangement to run a municipal-based collection and cleaning operation.

Up The Workers

Robbing Trio

Last Journey A 34-year-old naked driver was arrested in Alcantarilla in Murcia, after police discovered that he was driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, as well as being illegally in Spain. The Moroccan man was the subject of a deportation order, and so officers seized his vehicle and took it to the municipal pound, whilst the motorist was passed over to the authorities for the start of his return journey to North Africa.

Three men who broke into cars parked in community garages in the Almoradi area and stole property from them, as well stealing over a hundred bicycles that they then sold off, have been arrested by the Guardia Civil. Two of the men were Moroccans, one of whom was

living illegally in Spain, and they used a 28-year-old Spaniard to sell the bikes, some via the Internet. Thirty cars had been broken into, with the illegal Moroccan resident now set to be deported, and the other two accused men made available to an Orihuela court.

Thousands of people took to the streets of Madrid on Sunday to protest against the Spanish government's austerity policies. Spain's two main trade unions, the UGT and CCOO, organised the march in the capital under the theme "People

and their rights first." The demonstration followed more than 60 smaller protests held by unions last week across the country. The unions claim that the cuts to public spending and labour reforms carried out by the Partido Popular gov-

ernment to deal with the country's five-year economic crisis, has hurt workers' rights and their purchasing power. The employment minister Fâtima Báñez said that the unions should negotiate with the Government instead of marching.

News

Friday 23rd December 2016

Spanish Welcome Spain’s population is beginning to rise, reversing a trend of falls since 2013. The first six months of 2016 has seen a 22,000 increase, compared to figures at the start of the year, with the National Statistics Institute placing the population at nearly 46 and a half million people. The death rate over the first half of the year exceeded the birth rate, but this was balanced out by a net increase in migration, with registered non-Spaniards logged at almost four point four million. The Valencian and Murcia regions both saw population rises, with the largest main groups of arrivals to Spain coming from the United Kingdom, Ecuador, and Venezuela.

Extra Chopping

An additional 11,000 trees infected by the Tomicus virus are set to be felled over the next two months in the hills of the Sierra de Orihuela. Sixty thousand diseased trees

have already been removed in the project commissioned by Orihuela council, with four workers from the Tragsa company involved in the next phase. Orihuela's environment councillor,

Miguel Ángel Fernández, said the work was crucial in helping restore vegetation in the area, with the planting of replacement species which will be important for the environment.

Making A Mark

Santa Pola’s natural park is featured on a new Correos postmark, following the recent introduction of one for Torrevieja. Three birds, including a flamenco, feature on the

postmark, which can be requested from the office on Avenida Fernando Pérez Ojeda in the town. Santa Pola Mayor, Yolanda Seva, along with other councillors and

Correos representatives, attended the launch of the postmark last week, which is part of a tourist initiative started last year by the Correos delivery firm across Spain.

Friday 23rd December 2016

We will re-open on 3rd January Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Tony Mayes - About Life

Friday 23rd December 2016

Courting An Answer First up in my final column of 2016, can I wish all of you a joyous Christmas and a prosperous New Year. This is the time of year when we make a wish and a resolution – and my wish is for everyone to be more tolerant to each other in 2017, whether they be politicians, trade unionists, bosses, motorists, or those puffed up with religion and who believe only they are right. My resolution? To practise what I preach here! Away from the festive spirit, can you tell me who's running Britain – is it the unions, the Government or big business? Got you scratching your heads? After weeks of trade union nonsense, conflicts on the railways, in prisons, now on the airlines, at the Post Office and among delivery drivers, it's got me both puzzled and sad. Clearly, newspaper revelations that at least some union bosses have been plotting to coordinate strikes in a concerted effort to discredit the Tories and bring the Government down, shows where the guilt lies. If the unions want more legislation introduced to further weaken their powers, they're going the right way

to get it! Unions have been described as being calculating and heartless in timing industrial action on the lead up to Christmas, to create the maximum disruption to the public – as if Christmas isn't stressful enough! I cannot agree more. If they think that it will endear them to the public, then they've got another thing coming - the only supporters they will have are the band of leftwing supporters of Jeremy Corbyn. Let's look first at the trouble on the railways, or Southern Rail in particular. Many thousands of commuters have faced misery for months, caused by guards and then drivers, either working to rule or striking over whether there should be guards on trains, or whether drivers should open and close doors. Firstly, management runs the railways, not the unions, and if a well-paid driver doesn't like the terms and conditions under which he works, he can do the other thing, quit and find another job. There are plenty about, but not so well paid. Although the unions will claim it’s all about safety, it is no such thing but instead

it's the prospect of job losses – just the same as it was in the printing industry and in the mines. Thirty percent of trains in the UK are already driver only, and bus companies have done away with conductors for years – and I would argue that a bus driver who also has the responsibility for taking fares and stop-starting countless times a day has a far more stressful a job than any train driver. Railways are in a total mess in Britain, operated by so many differing companies – privatisation being introduced in a massive rush in the dying days of a privatisation-obsessed Tory administration. Perhaps this is one industry which should be brought back into public ownership, but run by a management independent of government and with cash ring-fenced so that there's the money available to get the network fit for purpose. Prisons, like the railways, are a shambles. The previous Cameron government needs a massive kicking for even thinking of cutting spending at a time when the prison population was grow-

ing by leaps and bounds. The result is too few staff to cope – so prisoners can take advantage, and visitors smuggle drugs in and add to the chaos, with less chance of being detected. I put much of the present strife in Britain fairly and squarely on the Government and the British public. The Government was right in focusing on the country's over-spending and trying to bring it under control. Instead of stripping cash from essential services, like the prisons, police, the armed forces, education, social services and not financing the NHS as needed, it should have ended every subsidy to the arts, to sport, all other non-essential services and to overseas aid, particularly to those countries with known corruption and those who prefer to spend money on armaments and let their population starve. Why do I say the Government got its priorities so wrong? Because to hit the nonessentials, like the arts, with cuts would have demonstrated to those with money how serious the situation was and would have encouraged the richer

among us who plot and scheme to reduce the taxes they pay and think nothing of pouring money into charities so they can appear to their peers as do-gooders, to get their priorities right. So far I've criticised the unions and Government, the former for being scheming, selfish and acting with absolute self-interest, and the latter for being not fit for purpose and inept. Now for big business. If ever there was a group who need to be brought under control it's the so-called “captains of industry”. I'm always banging on about the selfish people who sit in boardrooms and scheme about getting their next big pay rise and how they can keep the workforce pay rise at next to nothing. Britain needs legislation to fix executive pay to a proportion of shop-floor pay so that if bosses want a 20 percent pay rise, they have to give it to every employee too. But first, executive pay has to be reduced to sensible levels, and not supplemented by shares or bonuses if that is not also given to staff. So, here's my answer to end industrial strife and to

create a far more equal Britain. We have seen in recent weeks the High Court and then the Supreme Court bring the government kicking and screaming into the legal world. Britain has a fantastic democracy, where the Government can be hauled before the court to give an account of themselves. How many other countries have such a system where the most powerful `people cannot act above the law? Can you imagine such a thing happening in Russia, the Middle East or virtually anywhere else? The British people should be justly proud of it. The court is above government and above government control. What we need now is a division of the Supreme Court acting as a top Industrial Court to sit and give judgement on industrial disputes with the right to jail for contempt any union leader or boss who doesn't obey. Strikes would be a thing of the past, workers would be sure of getting a fair deal without fighting tooth and nail for it, and commuters might get to work on time!

Lonely Find

The body of a 79-year-old man, who had died at least seven days earlier, was discovered in a Torrevieja city centre flat, after emergency services broke through into the accommodation on Tuesday evening. Concerned residents reported a strong stench coming from the man’s flat on Calle La Loma and called in the authorities. The Guardia Civil and firefighters broke down the door to his apartment and discovered a man’s body lying face down in an advanced state of decomposition. Reports say that he was a Spaniard who was an American passport holder who pretty much kept himself to himself, with residents in the block saying that they had not seen the man for a week. No further details about the man’s identity were released.

Friday 23rd December 2016

Tragic Orphans

Three youngsters lived with their mother's dead body in their home in Palma on the island of Mallorca for almost a week before getting help. The children aged five, 10, and 11, flagged down a council gardener to tell him about their predicament, saying that they had not eaten for days, as their mother was 'lying in bed'

and 'not responding'. Authorities in Palma de Mallorca say that the 40year-old mother died of natural causes, and that the youngsters, who come from North Africa, have been treated in the paediatric unit at Palma's Son Espases hospital, and are now under the care of Palma social services.

Top Festive Surprise

A couple from Derby have broken the 12-million passenger barrier at AlicanteElche airport for 2016, when they touched down last Friday, after arriving on a Jet2 flight from the East Midlands. Terence and Lesley Kilmartin were travelling to the Costa Blanca on a winter break and were sur-

prised to hear that they had become record breakers. When they disembarked from their plane, they were presented with free flights for a year from Jet2, as well flowers and greetings from airport staff, led by manager Santiago Martinez-Cava. It’s been the best year ever for passenger figures at

Alicante-Elche airport since it opened in 1967, with a 17 percent rise in numbers, with five million of those coming from the UK. Mr Kilmartin said: "I'd like to thank Jet2 for our surprise. I'm elated as we go to Alicante-Elche on a regular basis, so it will save us a few bob!”

Top Tapas

Happy Ending

Two climbers were rescued on Tuesday night in the hills above Redován, after losing their way in the La Pancha area. The man and woman from Cuenca

and Santa Pola phoned emergency services when they could not find the way down. They were escorted to safety and posed for a picture with their rescuers.

The Las Columnas restaurant in Torrevieja was voted as offering the best tapas in last month’s Torrevieja Tapas Route. The establishment on Avenida

de Los Marineros came top in the the public vote, followed by Rincón de las Jarras on Calle Maria Parodi, with the top-ranked establishments picking up

their awards from deputy mayor, Fanny Serrano, at Torrevieja’s tourist office this week. The popular routes take place twice-yearly in the city.

Friday 23rd December 2016

2016

Looking back over 2016, it has been a year where joy and happiness have been mixed with tragedy and sadness. Whatever the story, whatever the emotion, The Courier has tried to bring you the most important news stories from around the area; stories that mean something to you. We are looking ahead to 2017 with some great new developments lined up, but whilst we relax and eagerly await the New Year, we also reflect on the 12 months that made up 2016. Thank you for accompanying us, see you in January.

Friday 23rd December 2016

XMAS GIFT HUNT The Xmas Gift Hunt competition is now closed, the entries have been counted and verified, they have been double checked with Donald Trump, and now it is time to reveal the prizes and the results of the competition. First of all, let us reveal where those presents were:

Page 5 - Coachtrips, page 6 - Rosa Tours, page 7 - Carpet Heaven, TV page 2 - TKO Radio, TV page 6 - ThePocketDirectory.com, TV page 12 - TKOMagic.com, TV page 15 - The Med Bar, TV page 16 - Izzys Bar and Restaurant, page 35 - Mist Jewellery and page 40 - Chris´s Gentleman´s Barber. We were inundated with entrants, but if you were struggling, you can have a look though last week´s Courier newspaper to find them now. Thanks to the generous donations of the advertisers involved, we had some great prizes on offer. A 20€ travel voucher from Coachtrips SL. Sunday Lunch for 2 at Izzy´s Bar, Torrevieja. A free haircut from Chris´s Gentleman´s Barber. A 25€ voucher for a free cut n blow from Cut n Co. A 20€ gift voucher from Mist Jewellery. A day tip to Benidorm for 2 people from Viajes Rosa Tours. A 10€ voucher to spend in Quesada Butchers. A free consultation from Benijofar Chiropractic Clinic. A 50€ discount voucher from Carpet Heaven. Sunday lunch for 2 at The Med Bistro & Bar. We have now put all of the correct answers into a big hat and will be in contact with the lucky winners to claim your prizes soon. Well done to everybody who did take part, you are all winners in our eyes and you have shown exceptional observational skills, well done.

Friday 23rd December 2016

Fighter Feast

An insight into the budding “Top Guns” of tomorrow was given recently to members of the Hondon Valley branch of the Royal British Legion, who were able to check out the leadership programme that’s run at the

Los Llanos airbase in Albacete, which is frequently used by NATO for pilot training courses. The guided tour took in 35 fighter aircraft in what ended up as a very memorable visit.

Christmas Cheer

Rascals Sing-along Stagestruck Gives

The Rascals showgroup have had a busy fortnight raising just over, a 1,000 euro for childrens charities around the Torrevieja area, singing carols in various open-air venues, as well as performing at events like the Age Concern Xmas dinner and hosting a party for students who are members of the Torrevieja-based ALPE

charity. The Rascals meet again at 11.00 am on Monday January 9th at Sacko’s Bar in the El Limonar area of Torrevieja, as they start rehearsals for their next show which is called On Broadway. New members are welcome, and for more details, call Jill on 966 727 282.

Crescendo Gift

The Stagestruck Theatre Group have been handing out the fruits of their labours, with 4,000 euro raised through last month’s production of Aladdin at San Fulgencio’s Cardenal Belluga theatre. Stagestruck presented three thousand euro to the Torrevieja branch of the Alzheimer's Association and 400 euro to the San Fulgencio Alzheimer’s branch. Three hundred euro each

was also donated to the Butterfly Children Charity, DEBRA, and to the Cardenal Belluga theatre. The summer Stagestruck production will be a musical comedy, with Roman togas at the ready, as it will be themed on the TV comedy, Up Pompeii. For news of Stagestruck shows and events, you can get onto a mailing list, by sending an e-mail to leigh.humphries58@gmail.c om.

A Helping Hand The ADAPT (The Association of English Speakers of San Pedro del Pinatar) Choir have been busy this month performing traditional seasonal songs at venues like the Aidemar centre in San Pedro; as well as retirement homes in Torre de la Horadada and Villamartin. English carols were sung

under choirmaster David Blakey, mixed in with some popular Spanish songs. ADAPT will resume their monthly meetings on Saturday February 4th 2017 at 10:30 am in the Pensionista Hogar, Lo Pagan. More details can be found on their website, www.adaptsanpedro.com.

Seasonal Spirit Two members of the Torrevieja-based Crescendo International choir recently dropped in to the Debra Butterfly Children Charity shop in Pueblo Bravo, Rojales to hand over a 50-

euro donation. Crescendo’s Mags Vaughn and Helen Tudor handed over the money to the shop, which also has an outlet at La Age Concern, Costa Marina, selling all kinds of Blanca South, is looking for items. volunteers to help them out in a wide range of activities in the New Year. The charity needs extra hands at their centre in the La Siesta area Quesada, with everybody of Torrevieja, as well helpers meeting up at the Spanglish in their charity shops in Los Bar at 10.30 am, and then Montesinos and Torrevieja. finishing off with a round of Volunteers are needed crazy golf! across the region by the For more details about the Lifeline Team, especially club, call Ron on 966 791 around Dolores, the 212, or check out the web- Orihuela Costa and Rojales, s i t e , where people are visited in www.ClubTorrevieja.com. their own homes to give a

Classic Lunch Festive cheer was served up by members of Torrevieja’s International Christian Assembly Church as visitors to the city’s Quiron Hospital were greeted with a selection of

Christmas carols. People waiting for appointments were entertained by the seasonal songs, and even the ward doors were opened up so that the patients could enjoy the entertainment.

Thirty-six members of the Torrevieja Classic Car Club, along with their friends and partners, recently enjoyed a hearty Christmas lunch in Cabo Roig. Now they are set for their next event on Wednesday December 28th, which will take the form of a driving skills test in

little help where required, as so many expats live alone and need some form of social contact. The Residential Home Visiting Team visit Englishspeaking people in a home in Rojales for a couple of hours each week on a monthly rota basis, taking them out either walking or in wheelchairs, as well stopping off at a bar for a chat and a drink. For more details call Age Concern at La Siesta on 966 786 887.

Pets

Friday 23rd December 2016

Hungry Horses

Eighty horses have been left to starve in a field in the Fortuna area of Murcia according to reports sent to the Rojales-based Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre this week. Centre cofounder Sue Weeding understands concerned residents have reported the neglect cases to police, but officers are hamstrung as no rescue centre has the funding or facilities to take so many horses at once, with another neglect case involving 80 horses also reported in Albacete. Sue told The Courier that she had offered to take two horses from Albacete – the maximum the sanctuary could house on top of its current 99 rescued horses, ponies and donkeys – but

was told the horses’ owner was refusing to surrender his animals and police had not yet enacted a formal seizure. “It isn't just the odd horse tucked away here and there. This is a huge problem and it's going on all the while. As the crisis bites in, more and more animals are suffering and quite often in large groups, where breeders stick them out on the land and just keep the mares in foal,” Sue added. The Rojales Centre relies entirely on donations to fund its welfare work, and will stage another Open Day on Sunday, January 8th from 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm, with more details and directions via www.easyhorsecare.net.

Checking In At The Vet

Even if you keep a close eye on your pet's health, it’s important you book an annual appointment with your vet for a thorough check-up. This will give your vet the chance to spot any potential health problems and, hopefully, nip them in the bud before they become serious. You know your cat or dog needs regular check-ups to stay healthy. But how often should they get them? The answer depends on your pet's life stage:Puppy Or Kitten Up To One Year You'll need to bring your little one in for vaccines every three to four weeks until he's 16 weeks old. Dogs will get shots for rabies, distemper-parvo, and other diseases. They may also need shots to protect against health woes such as kennel cough, influenza, and Lyme disease. Cats will get tests for feline leukaemia and feline immunodeficiency virus. They also get vaccinations that cover several diseases. At this stage, your pet will also start heartworm and fleaand tick-prevention medications, if they’re recommended for your area.

The vet will examine your pup or kitten to make sure he's growing well and shows no signs of an illness. The vet will check again at around six months, when you bring your pet in to be spayed or neutered. Adult, Up To Between Seven And Ten During this stage, vets recommend yearly check-ups. The vet will give your pet a head-to-tail physical and will also take a blood sample from your dog to check for heartworms. (Cats normally don’t get tested because the results are hard to interpret.) The vet may recommend other tests based on any problems your pet has or anything unusual spotted during the exam. Distemper-parvo and rabies booster shots happen during the first yearly check-up, then the rabies booster every year, along with a heartworm shot. Your dog may get other vaccines to prevent illnesses like kennel cough, and outdoor cats should get feline leukaemia vaccines. It's helpful to bring in a stool sample from your pet, which your vet will check for intestinal parasites. Your vet will also have a

good look at your dog's teeth to decide whether or not they need cleaning and, if so, when. Dental care is particularly important in older dogs as dental disease can not only cause pain but could also lead to problems with their internal organs thanks to the nasty bacteria the diseases can create Seniors Vets suggest twice-yearly check-ups for older pets. Your cat or dog will get vaccinations when needed and will get a thorough physical exam, along with tests to follow up on any problems. Blood and urine tests can give your vet the scoop on your pet's kidney and liver health, thyroid hormone levels, and more. Mention any changes you've seen in your pet -- if, for example, your cat is drinking more water or your dog is no longer excited by his daily walks. These can be signs of a new problem such as kidney disease or arthritis. Dogs tend to get a few more aches and pains as they get older, so your vet might recommend more frequent check-ups. This is nothing to worry about; in fact it just means your vet is keeping a

good close eye on your beloved pet. You can use these check-ups to get valuable vet advice for your dog. Mention any problems you’ve noticed, however small, or any lumps and bumps you’d like a second opinion on. If your vet is concerned they might suggest taking a blood or urine sample to see if there are any underlying issues. It’s the perfect chance to discuss your dog’s food and water intake, their activity levels and any concerns you have. Just like people, senior dogs can suffer from various organ system problems, osteoarthritis, loss of vision or hearing, and even memory loss or dementia. Luckily, many problems can be successfully managed with medication or simple changes to their lifestyle. With regular check-ups and their usual doses of TLC from you, your dog should live a fulfilling long life with you.

Pets Corner: Can You Take In A Homeless Dog Or Cat?

BLANCA

DECKER

HENRY

Blanca is a pointer/Staffy crossbreed who is looking for her forever home and is aged about seven years. Blanca mixes really well with other dogs and likes people. She is an obedient dog who is very intelligent and has an amazing personality, and has been spayed. If you would like to adopt this lovely lady, then please get in touch with the K9 Club by calling 600 845 420 to learn more about her.

Decker was originally adopted from SAT Animal Rescue a year ago but sadly, 10 months later, his owner had a stroke and was no longer able to care for his dog. Decker is just over two years old, fully vaccinated, microchipped and castrated. If you think you could give this lovely boy his forever home, then please contact the SAT kennels to meet Zac on 966 710 047 or email info@satanimalrescue.com.

Henry, Oliver and their sister Holly were cuddly, fluffy puppies when they were rescued, but they didn't know when to stop growing! They have grown into large Great Dane X dogs and would be perfect for someone with a lot of space, looking for a large, gorgeous dog to love. If you would like to meet them, please call APAH on either 630 422 563 or 616 210 850.

KRISTY Kristy is a beautiful five-monthold boxer cross pup, who is now ready for her own home. She is a very loving and responsive, bright happy pup used to living in a home with lots of other dogs and cats, and she would love to meet you. She would be a perfect companion, and to learn more about Kristy, then please telephone PEPA on 650 304 746 or email p.e.p.a.animalcharity@gmail.com.

SABLE Sable is an absolutely adorable three-month-old puppy who was found wandering around and was taken to her foster mum by the people that found her. Sable is really lovely, currently weighs in at about three kilos and we do not think she will be very big. If you think you could offer this gorgeous pup a home, please phone PEPA helpline on 650 304 746 or email p.e.p.a.animalcharity@gmail.com.

ZAC Zac is a beautiful Spaniel cross and was found tied to a gate with a bag of food beside him. He is now being looked after by Pets in Spain, and is looking for a forever home. Zac is around one year old, great with other dogs and loves attention. He is in excellent health and house trained, and would love to meet you. If you are interested, please call 645 469 253. www.petsinspain.com.

Friday 23rd December 2016 BY DAVE SILVER

Merry Christmas, But Check My Hat! It was as a child with a young inquiring mind that I first asked about germs. 'They are an ethnic group native to Central Europe who share a common ancestry, culture and history,' my mother explained. 'No, Mother,' I said. 'Not Germans! Germs!' 'Sorry,' said Mother. 'I couldn't hear your question properly because your voice sounds muffled.' 'That's because I'm wearing my balaclava hat the wrong way round. YOU try speaking through thick woollen stitching!' Mother sighed. 'I make you wear your balaclava with the face hole at the back because I don't want you catching a cold. There are so many germs around these days.' 'Which brings me back to my original question,' I said. 'What ARE germs?'

Mother said: 'I still can't hear you properly through that hat. Wait until we get home and then you can take off your balaclava and you can ask me properly.' But by the time we'd got back home and I had removed my hat, Mother was already distracted by her household chores. Which reminds me. A few years ago Mrs S and I were due to go out for a Christmas Eve meal with Mrs S's best friend Phyllis and her husband Spike. However, at the last minute Spike had to cry off because he had come down with a cough. I wasn't perturbed because the thought of spending Christmas Eve (or any other day of the year) with Spike was a horrendous prospect. For Spike is the most boring person in the northern hemisphere.

So there I was, cheerfully contemplating a Spikeless Christmas Eve when Mrs S said: 'It would be a shame to cancel our booking at the restaurant. Why don't Phyllis and I have a girls night out while you keep Spike company at home.' Mrs S and Phyllis must have thought that my silence showed acceptance but in reality I was shocked into a state of dumb horror and nervous paralysis. Before I could regain my voice and the use of my legs in order to respectively scream and run away, Phyllis said: 'Before you call on Spike would you mind getting him a bottle of cough medicine.' 'No point,' I ventured. 'If Spike must die, then he must die.' Anyway, I next found myself at the chemist's. 'A bottle of your best

cough medicine,' I said. 'Expectorant?' the shop assistant asked. 'Actually, I need it now,' I responded. 'When do you expectorate the next delivery?' 'Huh? I'll fetch the pharmacist,' the woman said. A man in a white coat appeared from the dispensary. 'Can I help you?' 'Yeah,' I said. 'I need some cough mixture but apparently you've run out.' 'No,' he said. 'It was my assistant who ran out. She had a fit of the giggles after talking to you.' 'Oh,' I replied. 'Well, it's nice to know I can still make people laugh. I wanted to be a stand-up comedian, you know.' 'Dry? Tickly? Productive?' asked the chemist. I scratched my head. 'Who knows? How does one define humour?'

The chemist sighed. 'Just take a breath and cough for me . . . Hmm, it's difficult to tell what sort of cough that is. 'But why did I have to cough for you? There's nothing wrong with me. I'm actually here on behalf of someone who is no doubt feeling snotty as we speak.' 'Ah,' said the relieved pharmacist. 'Now we're getting somewhere. I do believe an expectorant is required.' I heard the shop assistant giggle again from behind the pile ointment section. 'Do you want drowsy or non-drowsy?' the chemist asked. 'It's for my friend Spike. So definitely make it drowsy. In fact, give me two bottles just in case he starts to regain full consciousness after taking the first lot.' I arrived at Spike's house as the snow started to fall. 'Merry Christmas,' I said to

Spike without really meaning it. Within seconds, Spike, the most monotonous man I have ever known, had launched into a monologue about his cough. 'You know something, Dave,' he said. 'Our bodies are pretty amazing. Day after day, they work hard. But there is a group of tiny invaders that can make our bodies sick. Yes, germs are nasty little things . . .' 'Germs?' I said, suddenly interested. 'Did you say germs? Why, I've been trying to find out what germs are since I was a kid.' Spike looked embarrassed. 'Sorry, Dave, I can't understand what you are saying. Why don't you take off your balaclava? You do realise that you are wearing it the wrong way round?

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Friday 23rd December 2016

Your Christmas TV Guide

Friday 23rd December 2016

TRELI ON THE TELLY WITH ALEX TRELINSKI

The BBC has been firing on all cyclinders over the last week with a stack of great offerings like the Strictly final won by Ore Oduba; a wonderfully compiled Sports Personality of the Year show, which appealed to viewers who don’t care that much about sport; and an exciting finale to The Apprentice, where cakemaker Alana was victorious. That was just over the weekend, as we then got a festive treat with a doublehelping of Last Tango in Halifax on BBC 1; a terrific Holby City episode where Dominic was badly treated by his pompous boyfriend; and a wonderful tribute on BBC 2 to Sir Lenny Henry, which was crammed full of rare clips and loads of insights into a great performer. The orgy that is the annual festival of Christmas TV viewing is now very much in full swing and the Courier’s TV guide brings you everything that you need to know over the next week or so. The BBC always rules the roost, as we’ve seen so far since the weekend, and it says something that on my satellite recorder, I’ve not programmed anything special from ITV for the next few days, barring Corrie. It’s sad

The Beeb’s Festive Walkover

concession scheduling from what is meant to be Britain’s premier commercial broadcaster, who instead have been plugging their offerings for the New Year including their new hotel drama, The Halcyon; a new dance show called remarkably Dance Dance Dance (complete with autocue reader Alesha Dixon hosting and an array of cheap Z-list celebrities), and the ITV debut of The Voice UK (with the return of legend Sir Tom Jones). At least next Christmas, ITV will have a festive episode of Victoria to schedule! Looking back at 2016, I would have no hesitation in putting down Planet Earth II as the best programme of the year. Every single box was ticked in a stunning piece of production and rumours abound that a third series is almost certain to be commissioned, but because of all of the work involved, it could take the best part of a decade to come to our screens. It will be worth the wait, and let’s hope that the great David Attenborough will still be with us to add his narration. I thought that 2016 was a vintage year for UK drama, and my award for the best one goes to the BBC’s Line of

Duty. Rarely have I been on the edge of my seat enjoying every twist and turn and I can’t wait for the next series in 2017. Massive plaudits also go to series two of Happy Valley with a wonderful script matched by the performances (and we will get a final series in the next two years). The BBC drama roll of honour also takes in The Hotel Manager (please another series); War and Peace; The Missing; The A Word (moving and funny, and series two on the way); Close to the Enemy (which finished last night); and Peaky Blinders (with a fabulous twist at the end). The massive BBC disappointment was the final series of The Fall which failed to catch any sort of fire until the middle of the penultimate episode, by which time most viewers (except for ardent fans) would have given it up as a lost job. There were signs of improvement in ITV drama, despite the expensive dud that was Beowulf, and the autumn stinker that was Paranoid. Ex-BBC drama head Polly Hill was poached in the spring, but it won’t be until deep into 2017 that we will see her efforts come to screen. Fortunately, she inherited two new hits with

The Durrells and Victoria, and a successful revival of Cold Feet, and there’s the final series of Broadchurch waiting in the wings for next year, along with returns for Vera and Endeavour, and there’s a debut for the Prime Suspect prequel. That’s a lot better of base for ITV drama compared to a year ago, and let’s hope under Hill’s stewardship, it returns to some of its glory days next year. A word of praise as well for Sky One’s hit drama Lucky Man starring James Nesbitt, which was great fun and would have exactly been the sort of show that ITV would done in the past. The best US offerings in 2016 were the delightful and heart warming This Is Us (Channel Four); The People vs O.J. Simpson (BBC 2); and the second series of Fargo (Channel Four, with series three set to have Ewan McGregor starring). How good that all these shows were available to non-pay viewers, as was the final run of The Good Wife (More Four), which I still miss. Game of Thrones continued to deliver, and The Walking Dead brought us the nastiest baddy possible in the shape of the deranged Negan. The

X Files (Channel Five) revival had some great moments but some duff ones as well, and I was very impressed by the way Gotham (Channel Five) had upped its game for season two. The HBO miniseries, The Night Of (Sky Atlantic:- a remake of the BBC’s first series of Criminal Justice) was outstanding; The Americans (ITV Encore) continues to be clever and enthralling; and The Last Ship (Sky One) is just a good adventure/conspiracy yarn, which also goes for The

Blacklist (Sky Living). A final word to the international co-production that is The Young Pope (Sky Atlantic) which recently ended series one, with one of the performances of the year from Jude Law in the title role. It had everything in one of my favourite shows of the year, but due to commitments and getting everything together, the word is that shooting on series two won’t start much before the summer of 2018! Happy holidays and happy viewing!

Friday 23rd December 2016

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Friday 23rd December

07:30 Bargain Hunt 08:15 Fern Britton Meets 09:15 The Prince and Me (PG) 11:00 Robot Wars 12:00 Money for Nothing 13:00 Film - Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit 14:45 Rick Stein’s Cornish Christmas 15:15 This Farming Life 16:15 World’s Sneakiest Animals 17:15 Full Steam Ahead Len 18:15 Porridge 19:00 Inside Strictly 20:00 Goodman As he prepares the Factory to grace the Strictly ballroom for the last time, Len 20:00 Christmas Goodman reminisces over a dozen years beneath the University Challenge Quiz glitter ball Featuring exclubehind-the-scenes 20:30 Wild Tales from the sive footage, wonderful archive Village A year in the life of and interviews with cast an extraordinary village, hidden away in the timeless past and present French countryside. We 21:00 EastEnders Ben and reveal the parallel world of Louise are taken aback by incredible tiny creatures that live side by side with the Phil’s behaviour unsuspecting humans 21:30 Citizen Khan In a festive 21:30 Film - Saving Mr special very episode, Mr Khan tips his Banks Walt Disney hat to Frank Capra’s becomes determined to Christmas classic, “It’s a adapt Mary Poppins into a Wonderful Life’ film, but faces an obstacle in the shape of author PL 22:00 Have I Got News for Travers, who resists the You A compilation of the idea of a sentimental popular news quiz that Hollywood version of her looks back at the big news book. As the movie mogul’s of 2016 charm offensive comes unstuck, he begins to realise 22:30 Walliams & Friend Miranda Richardson joins why the story is so important David Walliams to perform to its creator (PG) sketches in front of a live 23:30 Mock the Week 00:05 studio audience Close to the Enemy 01:05 23:00 News 23:35 The Film - And Now for Completely Graham Norton Show Something 00:25 Mrs Brown’s Boys Different (PG) 02:30 Darcey 00:55 The NFL Show 01:25 Bussell: Looking for Margot Film - Signs (14) 03:05 03:30 Back in Time for Weather for the Week Brixton 04:30 This Is BBC Ahead 03:10 News Two

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 11:00 City Christmas Christmas Kitchen 12:15 Homes Under the Hammer 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 News 14:45 Father Brown 15:40 On Angel Wings 16:10 Film - Oz the Great and Powerful (PG) 18:15 Pointless 19:00 News

07:00 Good Morning Britain 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 Local, National and International News and Weather 15:00 Judge Rinder 16:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 17:00 Tipping Point 18:00 The Chase 19:00 Local, National and International News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale Tensions are high between Cain and Moira 20:30 Coronation Street Aidan has a choice to make 21:00 Film - The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug The party of dwarves and their hobbit ally continue the quest to reclaim their lost kingdom, journeying through the forest home of ancestral enemy the elves and finally facing the dragon that drove them from their home. Meanwhile, Gandalf the wizard investigates the rise of a mysterious dark power. Part two of Peter Jackson’s fantasy adventure trilogy based on JRR Tolkien’s novel, starring Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage and Orlando Bloom (12) 00:00 Local, National and International News and Weather 00:20 Paul O’Grady’s Favourite Fairy Tales 01:15 Jackpot247 04:00 ITV Nightscreen

07:10 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:00 Frasier 08:55 The Big Bang Theory 10:15 The Simpsons 11:15 Film Space Chimps 2: Zartog Strikes Back 12:50 Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas 13:10 Film Miracle on 34th Street (U) 15:10 Countdown16:00 Coast vs Country 17:00 Deal or No Deal on Tour 18:00 Four in a Bed 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 News 21:00 Food Unwrapped With the age-old problem of dry turkey in mind, Matt Tebbutt turns to science for the answer. His experiments include cooking upside down and even strapping ice packs to the bird, but will any of them deliver? Pink champagne is fast becoming a preferred option at Christmas, so Kate Quilton sets out to discover what makes it pink 22:00 The Last Leg Hosts Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker embrace the Christmas spirit in a way only they can. The boys are joined for some festive leglessness by a variety of guests including Grayson Perry 23:00 The Windsors 00:05 Alan Carr’s 12 Stars of Christmas 01:10 8 Out of 10 Cats 01:55 Celebrity First Dates 02:50 Film The Best Man Holiday (14) 04:50 The Restoration Man

07:00 Milkshake 10:50 Giants Live Series World’s Strongest Man 11:45 Film Christmas Cookies 13:25 Film - The Snow Queen 15:00 Film - Jack and the Beanstalk 16:45 Film - Five Children and It (PG) 18:25 Film - A Christmas Star 19:55 News 20:00 Giants Live Series World’s Strongest Man Coverage from the First Direct Arena in Leeds where 10,000 fans watched history in the making as the big beasts of deadlifting attempted to change the record books 21:00 Christmas with the Double Acts A celebration of the most loved comedy double acts from Christmases past and present. This wondrous selection box of a show will be a treat for the entire family as we countdown the top ten comedy double acts 22:00 The Morecambe and Wise Story: Look Back in Laughter Celebrating the lives and careers of the greatest comedy double act ever to grace the TV screen. Combining great performances, chat show appearances and rare interviews, with contributions from family, friends and colleagues to unpick the stories behind these legends of British entertainment. 00:05 Morecambe and Wise Live! 1973 01:30 The Peter Kay Story 02:45 SuperCasino 04:10 The Funny Thing About 05:00 Michael Bublé’s Christmas in Hollywood

DON´T MISS STRICTLY LEN GOODMAN

BBC One 20:00

SOAPS

In Emmerdale, Pete explains to Cain that Moira has told him the truth about the crash. When Pete questions whether Moira will really keep it a secret, Cain decides to pay her a visit on the farm. As Moira has been downing whisky, she loses her temper in epic style by trashing the place before breaking down in Cain’s

Strictly Come Dancing’s departing head judge Len Goodman recalls the best moments of his dozen years spent arbitrating beneath the glitterball in a documentary celebrating the popular Saturday night programme, as seen through the eyes of one of the genre’s greats. Lavishly illustrated with material from the archive, it features contributors including Craig Revel Horwood, Bruno Tonioli, Darcey Bussell, Tess Daly, Jay McGuiness, Claudia Winkleman and Ed Balls reminiscing about Goodman’s contribution to the nation’s most-loved dancing show.

arms. This leads to a huge row between the former couple, but could they find a way to work things out? Meanwhile, Zak and Lisa reminisce over the past when they team up to get a Christmas tree from the grounds of Home Farm. When they hear a noise and panic they’ve been caught out, they find themselves inches apart and realise there’s still a connection between them. In Coronation Street, when Eva wonders why Aidan was so late home, he lies and makes out that he spent the night in the factory catching up on paperwork. Maria’s loved

ones later gather at her flat, determined to celebrate Christmas with her before her court appearance.

When Eva finds out how Aidan punched Adam out of allegiance to Maria, she’s proud of him and Aidan feels terrible. Extracting himself from the party, Aidan heads to the factory where he texts Maria to join him. Promising Maria that he’s

07:00 You’ve Been Framed! 07:25 Ellen DeGeneres 08:05 The Cube 09:00 Emmerdale 10:00 You’ve Been Framed! 10:30 Ninja Warrior UK 11:30 Film Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure 13:25 Emmerdale 14:20 You’ve Been Framed! 14:50 All Star Family Fortunes 15:50 Take Me Out 17:00 Snow Dogs 19:05 You’ve Been Framed! 20:05 Film - Uncle Buck (PG) 22:00 Film Casino Royale (14) 00:55 Family Guy 01:50 American Dad! 02:50 Celebrity Juice 03:45 Film Forgetting Sarah Marshall (18) ITV3 07:00 You’re Only Young Twice 07:25 Film - The Four Musketeers (PG) 09:35 Film - Bertie & Elizabeth 11:35 Agatha Christie’s Marple 15:35 Film - A Christmas Carol 17:10 Film - Carry on Camping (PG) 19:00 Long Lost Family 20:00 Film - By the Pricking of My Thumbs 22:00 Murder on the Home Front 00:05 Lewis 02:05 Film - Wimbledon (12) 03:40 Film - A Christmas Carol ITV4 07:00 The Wine Show 07:55 Goodwood Festival of Speed 08:45 Quincy, ME 09:45 Ironside 10:50 The Professionals 11:55 Goodwood Revival 12:55 Cash Cowboys 13:55 Pawn Stars 14:50 Minder 15:50 Quincy, ME 16:55 Ironside 18:00 British Superbikes Motorcycle Racing 20:00 Pawn Stars 21:00 River Monsters 22:00 Benidorm 23:00 Film - Inside Man (14) 01:40 Film - The Specialist (15) 03:45 Ironside 04:35 The Wine Show

08:00 Peter Hurst, 11:00 Trev Massey, 14:00 Alex Trelinski, 16:00 Gordon Lack going to finish with Eva, Aidan and Maria kiss passionately, unaware of Johnny watching them. Is the game up? Meanwhile, the Barlows gather at Number 1 for an early Christmas. When Peter furtively removes a present from under the tree and stuffs it in a drawer, Nick is intrigued. Simon is underwhelmed with his present from Peter, a console game he’s already played. But when Nick presents him with a drone, Simon’s ecstatic. As Leanne rails at Nick for trying to upstage Peter, Peter slips out of Number 1 and surreptitiously

books a hotel room. Who is his mystery woman? Elsewhere, the police question Sarah about Bethany’s disappearance. When Gary reveals that Bethany has become involved with an older man, Sarah is horrified. Norris reveals that he saw Bethany on Maxine’s bench and Luke had his arm round her. In Eastenders, when Phil suddenly starts acting kind, Ben and Louise are highly confused. Soon afterwards, Phil visits the launderette and Dot urges him to carry on fighting, but he admits that he’s had enough now and is

ready to die. Later, Sharon catches Phil as he’s about to sneak off and go without saying goodbye. Phil insists that he can’t spend Christmas with his family and goes ahead with his plan to leave, ignoring a devastated Sharon’s protests. Meanwhile, the Walford Christmas Show goes out on stage for its second night. Will it go to plan?

Saturday 24th December Christmas Eve 07:15 Film - Mars Needs Moms (PG) 08:40 The NFL Show 09:10 Film - Hans Christian Andersen 11:00 Robot Wars 12:00 Film Wallace and Gromit: A Close Shave 12:30 Nigella’s Christmas Kitchen 13:00 The Cook Who Changed Our Lives 14:00 Film Splash (PG) 15:45 Snow Chick: A Penguin’s Tale 16:45 Gorilla Family and Me Pointless 18:45 Carols from King’s 19:30 A special Celebrities celebrity Christmas edition 20:00 Dad’s Army Captain of the general knowledge Mainwaring tries to get out quiz. Featuring Lesley of attending a big church Joseph and Duncan James, Faye Tozer and Bobby parade Davro, Joe Pasquale and Alan Bennett’s Wendi Peters, and Natasha 21:00 Keith Diaries Intimate encounand Hamilton ters, filmed over a year, Chegwin reveal a writer who is 20:25 Michael McIntyre’s bemused by his own popuBig Show Michael is joined larity and is still as angry on stage by comedy heroes and irreverent in his 80s as Harry Enfield and Catherine he was in his 20s. Leafing Tate, and there’s a special through private photographs duet from West End legend Bennett reflects on his modMichael Ball and opera star est beginnings and his Alfie Boe enduring gratitude to a Welfare State that paid for 21:25 EastEnders Phil is his education and looked left to contemplate his after his parents in their old actions age.

07:00 Breakfast 11:00 Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30 Film - A Christmas Carol (PG) 14:00 News 14:15 Summer: Earth’s Seasonal Secrets 15:15 Film - The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (PG) 17:30 Shrek the Halls 17:50 Film - Penguins of M a d a g a s c a r 19:15 News

22:00 David Walliams Celebrates Dame Shirley Bassey Join Dame Shirley Bassey for a special night of entertainment from the global icon, ahead of her 80th birthday in January 23:05 Peter Kay’s Comedy Shuffle 23:50 The Vicar of Dibley 00:30 News 00:45 Midnight Mass from St Chad’s Catholic Cathedral 02:00 Film - Surviving Christmas (PG) 03:25 Weather for the Week Ahead 03:30 News

07:00 CITV 10:50 The Chase 11:50 You’ve Been Framed! 12:20 Film Despicable Me 14:20 News 14:30 Film - Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (PG) 17:20 Film One Hundred and One Dalmatians 19:00 News 19:30 Blankety Blank David Walliams brings back the legendary game-show for a Christmas special. Expect plenty of festive fun as the contestants and celebrities attempt to fill in the blanks 20:30 Coronation Street Will Maria be spending Christmas behind bars?

21:00 Birds of a Feather Travis has finally been allowed to fly the nest on a gap year to Spain, but nobody has heard from him in four days and he was last seen getting on a ferry to Morocco with his girlfriend. Tracey is convinced something terrible has happened to him so she heads off to Tangier to track him down and bring him back home for Christmas, accompanied by Sharon 22:00 Film - The Lady in and Dorien. the Van The true story of Miss Shepherd, an eccentric 22:00 Grantchester woman of uncertain origins, Pregnant Amanda leaves who ‘temporarily’ parked her her husband for Sidney, but broken-down van in writer can a vicar in the 1950s Alan Bennett’s London really be romantically driveway, and proceeded to involved with a married, live there for the next 15 pregnant woman? years (PG) 23:30 Through the Keyhole 23:40 The National Lottery 00:30 News 00:45 Live 23:50 TOTP 2 01:20 Christmas Carols on ITV Film - Viva Las Vegas 02:40 01:40 All Star Mr & Mrs Countryfile 03:40 Holby City 02:30 Jackpot247 04:00 04:40 This Is BBC Two ITV Nightscreen

07:15 Olive, the Other Reindeer 08:05 Film - A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures 09:40 Father Christmas 10:10 Painting the Bear Hunt 10:15 Sunday Brunch 13:15 Jamie’s Ultimate Christmas 14:15 The Simpsons 15:45 Film Scrooged (PG) 17:40 News 17:45 The Snowman 18:15 The Snowman and the Snowdog 18:50 Film The Muppet Christmas Carol

07:00 Milkshake 10:05 Film - Doctor Zhivago (PG) 13:50 Film - The Vikings (PG) 16:05 Film - Jason and the Argonauts 18:10 Film - Scrooge

20:30 We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Following the Intrepid adventures of siblings Stan, Katie, Rosie, Max, the baby and Rufus the dog, who decide one day to “catch a big one” and set off on an expedition in search of bears

21:00 The Yorkshire Vet The veterinary documentary series concludes with a festive trip to Skeldale. Elderly farmer Jean, one of the show's most colourful characters, makes a Christmas cake with ingredients that have been `maturing' for seven years, and vet Peter Wright fears the worst when he is called to tend to a cow that has collapsed and Julian has to make a difficult decision regarding Barney, a spaniel with a huge, fast-growing tumour on his leg.

21:00 Gogglesprogs The UK’s youngest TV critics have cast their eyes over a range of programmes from 2016 22:00 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Jimmy Carr hosts this festive show with Sean Lock and Kathy Burke, who take on Jon Richardson and Russell Howard Joe Lycett joins Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner. With Rachel Riley and Joe Wilkinson 23:00 Rude Tube 00:00 Trigger Happy Christmas Special 00:30 The Inbetweeners 02:30 Friday Night Dinner 03:25 The Last Leg 04:20 My Crazy Christmas Lights

19:55 Andre Rieu in London The celebrated violinist and conductor André Rieu performs in London, where he and his orchestra perform Christmas carols and other favourites including Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”

22:00 Eamonn and Ruth: How the Other Half Lives On a mission to find the most expensive ways one can enjoy the season of goodwill, Ruth and Eamonn sample a £10,000 rare whiskey calendar, millionpound diamond crackers and a festive Cointreau cocktail, all wrapped up in £20,000-a-sheet paper 23:00 Greatest Ever Christmas Movies 01:55 Film - Scrooge 03:25 SuperCasino

DON´T MISS ALAN BENNETT´S It’s the week before DIARIES GRANTCHESTER Christmas, and Sidney and

ITV 22:00

SOAPS

In Coronation Street, Aidan admits to Johnny that he’s in love with Maria. Johnny warns him that Maria is a nightmare compared to Eva, who worships the ground he walks on. Maria returns home to find that Eva has worked her socks off preparing dinner for everybody. Masking her guilt, Maria thanks her.

A tearful Maria then explains to Liam that she might be going away for a while but she loves him very much.

Geordie are drawn into a case with echoes of an unsolved murder from nine years previously when a bride-to-be reports the disappearance of her groom on their wedding day. After finding the man dead with the wedding rings lodged in his mouth, the unlikely duo hunt for the killer. Drama set in the 1950s, starring James Norton, Robson Green, Morven Christie and Al Weaver.

behaviour. Leanne is pleased, but as she and Peter reminisce about their shared love of Bros, Nick feels left out.

When Eva confides in Aidan over how worried she is about Maria, will Aidan be able to bring himself to tell her his guilty secret and break her heart? Later, Maria heads to court. Will she be spending Christmas behind bars? Meanwhile, as the Barlows settle down to a board game, a sheepish Nick returns and apologises to Peter for his earlier

While nobody is around, Nick pulls out the present which Peter stuffed in a drawer. He’s gutted to see it’s a Bros tape labelled “to the love of my life”. Is Peter planning to make a move on Leanne? Elsewhere, as Luke and Gary square up to each

BBC TWO 21:00 other, they spot Bethany heading for Number 8. When a baffled Bethany assures Gary that she’s been with a mate and not Luke, Gary apologises to Luke for the misunderstanding. Sarah tears a strip off Bethany for causing so much worry and demands to know who the older man is. Wishing the ground would swallow her up, will Bethany reveal that the older man is Gary? Later, alone and deeply troubled, Bethany swallows more diet pills. Also today, Todd wonders if Billy regrets his decision to leave the church as he

writes Christmas cards to his old parishioners, while Andy is disgusted at what he’s become as he stares at the stolen painkillers. Finally, having bought a replacement TV, Tim and Craig carry it inside. Assuming it to be her Christmas present, Sally is thrilled, but how will Steve react when Tim is forced to come clean? In Eastenders, the Mitchell family reel from Phil’s actions. With Phil still adamant that he wants to be alone at Christmas, he gets some tough love from Shirley. Later, Phil visits Peggy’s

5 07:00 The Hot Desk 07:10 Emmerdale Omnibus 09:45 Coronation Street Omnibus 11:45 All Star Family Fortunes 12:50The Nation’s Favourite Disney Song 13:50 Film - Santa Paws II: The Santa Pups 15:35 Film - Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas 17:00 The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol 17:25 You’ve Been Framed! 18:30 Catchphrase 19:30 You’ve Been Framed! 19:55 Film The Polar Express 22:00 Film - Quantum of Solace (14) 00:15 Family Guy 01:15 American Dad! 02:40 Celebrity Juice 03:35 Film Derailed (15) 05:20 Educating Joey Essex ITV3 07:00 Doctor At Large 07:25 Where the Heart Is 08:40 Film - Clash of the Santas 10:35 Film - Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory 12:45 Columbo 14:50 Hans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairy Tale 16:50 The Sound of Music Live 19:30 The Making of The Sound of Music Live 20:00 Lewis 22:00 It’ll Be Alright on the Night 23:00 Michael Flatley: A Night to Remember 00:00 The Suspicions of Mr Whicher 02:05 Inspector Morse ITV4 07:00 Sporting Funnies 07:10 Bundesliga Football Highlights 08:00 Bundesliga Football Highlights 08:55 Pawn 13:10 Film - The Searchers 15:30 Film - The Horse Soldiers 18:00 Film - Rio Bravo 20:50 Film Cannonball Run II (PG) 23:00 Film - The Devil’s Advocate (18) 01:50 Film Road (PG) 04:00 Hell on Wheels 04:45 ITV4 Nightscreen 09:00 Breakfast with Tim Bridge 12:00 Paul Norman 15:00 Saturday Sports with Alex Trelinski 18:00 Entertainment Power grave and comes across Denise by chance. Denise also has some tough words for him, but Phil is adamant that he’s doing the right thing for the rest of the Mitchells by keeping to himself over the festive season. Meanwhile, Linda receives some devastating news and it’s the end of an era when Dot closes up at the launderette for the final time.

Sunday 25th December Christmas Day

6 07:00 Breakfast 10:00 CBeebies: The Nutcracker 10:45 Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon 11:00 Christmas Day Service Live from Bristol Cathedral 12:00 Songs of Praise 12:40 News 12:50 Film The Croods 14:20 The Farmer’s Llamas 14:50 Top of the Pops 15:50 News Queen’s The 16:00 Christmas Broadcast 16:10 Film - Frozen 17:45 The Great British Bake Off 18:45 Doctor Who

07:40 Countryfile 08:35 Film - The Cat in the Hat (PG) 09:50 Film - Tom Thumb (U) 11:20 Film - Bee Movie 12:40 Carols from King’s 13:55 Wild Tales from the Village 14:55 Film - The Good Life 15:25 Film - The Artist (PG) 17:00 Dancing the Nutcracker: Inside the Royal Ballet 18:30 The Queen’s Christmas Broadcast 18:40 The Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show 19:45 Christmas University Challenge

Come Strictly 19:45 Dancing The couples pay tribute to some of the most Christmas memorable movies of all time. The night promises to be a spectacular celebration of the movies that families love to watch at Christmas.

20:15 Blackadder’s Christmas Carol It’s Christmas Eve, 1850. Ebenezer Blackadder is a decent, kind, generous human being. However, as far as his loathsome ancestors are concerned, he’s a wrong ‘un. So as soon as he 21:00 Call the Midwife As is snuggled up in bed they Poplar enjoys celebrating a decide to pay him a visit white Christmas, an unexpected SOS call from the 21:00 Dad’s Army The Guard platoon Mother House interrupts Home festivities Hope Clinic, a tiny decides to give a turkey dinmission hospital that has ner to the old-age pensionlinks to The Order, is threat- ers of Walmington-on-Sea ened with closure 21:30 Gospel Christmas Knight and 22:30 EastEnders The res- Beverley idents of Albert Square are Gregory Porter introduce a determined to have a feast of uplifting festive peaceful Christmas this music from the cream of the British gospel scene year

23:30 Mrs Brown’s Boys 00:00 Tracey Ullman’s Show 00:30 News 00:45 On Christmas Night 00:50 Would I Lie to You? 01:20 Have I Got a Bit More News for You 02:05 Citizen Khan 02:35 Film - While You Were Sleeping (PG) 04:10 Weather for the Week Ahead 04:15 News

07:00 CITV 09:25 Weekend at Christmas 10:25 Countrywise 10:55 Film - Despicable Me 2 12:55 Film - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (PG) 16:00 The Queen’s Christmas Broadcast 16:10 Film - The Lion King 17:55 News 18:15 You’ve Been Framed! 18:45 Emmerdale Joanie worries that she is losing Zak when she sees how much Christmas with his family means to him 19:45 Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs The comedian visits Battersea Dogs & Cats Home at Christmas, and tries to get a snaggle-toothed shih tzu the royal seal of approval when the Duchess of Cornwall drops by to open a new building. Paul also arranges an ultrasound for a heavily pregnant pug cross and nurses a dog with painfully bowed legs through a series of operations 20:45 News 21:00 Coronation Street Nick and Peter’s ding-dong is far from merry

22:00 Maigret Maigret’s determination to find the murderer of a man who called him just a few hours before being killed eventually leads to a gang who QI XL 00:15 Film - slaughtered families in Expectations (12) Picardie Film - A Hard Day’s 03:40 This Is BBC 00:00 Film - Love Actually (14) 02:30 ITV Nightscreen

22:30 Victorian Bakers Looking at how the Victorians invented Christmas as we know it today 23:30 Great 02:15 Night Two

07:20 Prep & Landing: Naughty vs Nice 07:40 The Bear 08:10 Painting the Bear Hunt 08:15 Film Animals United (PG) 09:55 The Simpsons 11:50 Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas 12:15 Painting the Bear Hunt 12:20 Father Christmas 12:50 The Snowman 13:20 Film The Sword in the Stone 15:05 The Alternative Christmas Message 15:15 News 15:20 Film - It’s a Wonderful Life (PG) 17:55 The Snowman and the Snowdog 18:25 We’re Going on a Bear Hunt 19:00 Film - Home Alone Left behind when his family goes away for Christmas vacation, Kevin McCallister enjoys unprecedented freedom of the house and the possessions of his siblings (PG) 21:00 Travel Man: 48 Hours in Florence Hollywood actress Rebel Wilson joins Richard Ayoade for a ridiculously overloaded 48 hours in Florence. In a Christmas special, Richard and Rebel blitz the Tuscan capital in a mini-break mixing art, action, food and fun 22:00 Gogglebox A special programme providing a chance to revisit some of the best and funniest moments from the most recent series of Gogglebox 23:30 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 01:35 Film - Four Christmases (PG) 03:05 Rude Tube 04:05 Very British Problems 05:00 Location, Location, Location

07:00 Milkshake 08:40 Film - An American in Paris 10:55 Film - On the Town 12:55 Film - Scrooge 15:10 Film - The Wizard of Oz (PG) 17:15 Film - Singin’ in the Rain 19:20 Britain’s Favourite Christmas Songs A countdown of popular songs that are guaranteed to make any Christmas party go with a swing. Highlights include the Jackson 5’s Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, Greg Lake’s I Believe in Father Christmas, the Waitresses’ Christmas Wrapping and the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl’s Fairytale of New York. Is Mud’s Lonely This Christmas past its sell-by date? Will Jona Lewie ever Stop the Cavalry? And where would any Christmas party be without Slade and their classic anthem Merry Xmas Everybody? 21:30 When Celebrities Go Pop A countdown of the 40 most memorable musical efforts by celebrities who have decided to diversify into music. The programme features performances by Mr T, Katie Price, Vinnie Jones, Sam Fox, Eddie `The Eagle' Edwards, David Hasselhoff, an assortment of soap stars and Christopher Lee, who embarked on a second career as a heavy-metal singer in his 80s.

BBC One 21:00

SOAPS

In Emmerdale, following Zak and Lisa’s tree-stealing escapades, Belle tells her mum that it’s obvious Zak still makes her happy. When Zak and Joanie arrive for Christmas at the Dingles’, Joanie also spots how much Zak is enjoying being with his family and she worries it could be the end for their relationship. Later, a secret recording is

played via Belle’s new laptop and everyone hears Zak confessing to Lisa about how he doesn’t want to move away with Joanie. When a heartbroken Joanie walks out, will Zak follow her or confess his love for Lisa instead? Meanwhile, Ashley doesn’t realise that it’s Christmas and Gabby’s birthday. However, Gabby is touched when she finds a box of wrapped presents underneath the Christmas tree and realises they’re from Ashley, meaning that he did remember after all. In Coronation Street, as Nick and Leanne exchange gifts, they’re

taken aback when Toyah pulls up in her car and announces that Christmas is off. She soon admits to Leanne that her marriage is over and she’s been having an affair.

With dinner in Liverpool cancelled, Ken insists that Nick, Leanne and Simon join them at Number 1. Nick does his best to paint on a smile, while Peter is delighted to have Christmas with his son.

ITV 22:00 Later, when Nick spots Peter heading out, he’s immediately suspicious. Realising the Bros tape is missing from the drawer, Nick confronts Peter and is still convinced that he’s after Leanne. Nick punches Peter and the two men are soon brawling in the street. Afterwards, Nick grabs the Bros tape from Peter’s pocket and thrusts it at Leanne, ordering her to open it. Leanne is horrified as she reads the message. What is Peter’s game? Meanwhile, Gary, Anna and Faye join the Platts as they open presents.

ITV3 07:00 Doctor At Large 07:25 Wycliffe 08:25 Fresh Fields 09:10 Heartbeat 10:15 Santa Claus: The Movie 12:30 Film - Carry on Cleo (PG) 14:25 Film Carry on Girls (PG) 16:15 Film - Carry on Camping (PG) 18:05 Film - Carry on Up the Jungle 20:00 Film Carry On Cowboy (PG) 22:00 Film - Steptoe and Son Ride Again (PG) 00:00 Film - The Sting (PG) ITV4

23:30 Film - Dallas Buyers Club (18) 01:45 Greatest Ever Christmas Songs 02:10 SuperCasino

MAIGRET DON´T MISS Christmas special of the period CALL THE MIDWIFE drama, which catches up with the nurses and midwives of Nonnatus House in 1962. They receive a letter from a doctor running a mission clinic on the Eastern Cape of South Africa, who is in desperate need of their help to save her urgently needed hospital from closure. The nurses head to Africa to lend a hand, finding the clinic understaffed, underfunded and with a poor water supply, but overwhelmed with patients who need their help more than anyone ever has before.

07:00 The Hot Desk 07:10 Emmerdale 07:30 Coronation Street 08:20 Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas 09:20 The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol 09:45 Film - Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure 11:35 You’ve Been Framed! 12:35 Emmerdale 13:00 Coronation Street 14:05 Film - The Polar Express 16:10 You’ve Been Framed! 17:15 Catchphrase18:15 Despicable Me: Minion Madness 18:30 Film - One Hundred and One Dalmatians 20:15 Film - Mr Bean’s Holiday 22:00 Film Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (14) 00:15 Family Guy 02:10 American Dad! 03:05 The Cleveland Show

Bethany is thrilled with her smart watch, but she’s snappy towards Gary and Sarah is embarrassed by her behaviour. Bethany soon assures Faye that she no longer fancies Gary. However, when Sarah reads a text on Bethany’s phone from Faye telling her she’s glad she’s over her crush on Gary, Sarah is stunned and Bethany is mortified. In Eastenders, It’s Christmas Day and Max Branning makes his longawaited return to Walford. Where has Max been for the past few months? What has made him want to return now? And will he

07:00 Barcelona’s European Glory 07:10 Fifth Gear 08:00 Steve McQueen: Motorcycle Star 09:55 Pawn Stars 10:20 Storage Wars 11:20 Mr Bean 12:30 Film - The Green Berets (PG) 15:20 Film -Dunkirk 18:05 Where Eagles Dare (PG) 21:10 Film - Jaws the Revenge (12) 23:00 Film Body of Lies (14) 01:35 Film - The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (18) Hell on Wheels 09:00 Breakfast with Tim Bridge 12:00 Trev Massey´s Bit in the Middle 15:00 The Retro Chart 17:00 Classic Country be getting revenge on those who have wronged him? Meanwhile, time is running out for Phil, leaving the Mitchells more worried than ever that this could be his last Christmas. Will their worst fears be realised? Elsewhere, Lee’s secrets are becoming increasingly difficult to keep under wraps. Will he finally come clean this Christmas?

Monday 26th December 07:00 Breakfast 10:00 Film - Tinkerbell and the Pirate Fairy 11:10 Film - Planes 12:30 The Great British Bake Off 13:30 News 13:50 Countryfile 14:50 The Moonstone 15:40 Film Brave 17:05 Film - The Gruffalo 17:30 Film - How to Train Your Dragon 2 (PG) 19:30 News 19:05 Revolting Rhymes 20:00 The Great British Bake Off A festive welcome awaits four more returning bakers 21:00 EastEnders Lee finds himself in an impossible situation - will the truth come out? 21:30 Still Open All Hours Granville and Gastric find themselves playing marriage counsellors 22:00 The Witness for the Prosecution A murder, brutal and bloodthirsty, has stained the plush carpets of a handsome London townhouse - the victim is the beautiful widow Emily French. All evidence points to Leonard, who seduced her into leaving him her vast fortune before ruthlessly taking her life At least, this is the story that Emily’s housekeeper Janet stands by in court

07:15 Natural World 08:15 Nature’s Weirdest Events 09:15 Film - Around the World in 80 Days 12:00 Film - The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn (PG) 13:40 Film - Dances With Wolves (15) 16:30 Victorian Bakers 17:30 Final Score 18:20 West Side Stories: The Making of a Classic 19:20 Christmas University Challenge

07:00 CITV 09:55 Mr Bean 10:25 Film The Flintstones 12:05 Film Liar Liar (12) 13:40 Hilda Ogden’s Last Ta-Ra - A Tribute To Jean Alexander 14:40 The Nation’s Favourite Disney Song 15:40 Film - Sleeping Beauty 17:10 Film - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (PG) 19:45 News

20:00 Emmerdale Joanie 19:50 Dad’s Army Capt makes a decision Mainwaring has an unexpected and most unwel- 20:30 Coronation Street come guest, his twin brother Peter prepares to break 20:30 Nature’s Weirdest some news Events Chris Packham You’ve Been uncovers nature’s super sur- 21:00 vivors, such as a frog whose Framed! Harry Hill nardinner is fighting back, a rates a comical selection of shark with the secret to long Christmas mishaps filmed life and a prehistoric fish by viewers, featuring everywith a thirst for blood that thing from a Nativity being almost destroyed an entire destroyed by a drone, hoverboards smashing decorafishing industry tions, and the dangers of 21:30 Gordon Buchanan: eating sprouts and taking Elephant Family and Me selfies Gordon tries to gain the trust of an elephant mother and 21:30 Coronation Street her baby in the Kenyan Peter’s secret is outed by a wilderness spy in the sky

22:30 The Entire Universe Eric Idle persuades Professor Brian Cox to present a lecture on the birth of the entire universe but Brian soon realises Eric is actually hosting a comedy and musical extravaganza with Warwick Davis, Noel Fielding, Hannah Waddingham and Robin 23:00 Outnumbered 23:40 Ince, alongside a chorus of News 23:55 Match of the singers and dancers. Day 01:25 Fleabag 01:55 Fleabag 02:25 Walliams & 23:30 Pride (14) 01:25 Friend 02:55 Weather for Gospel Christmas 02:25 the Week Ahead 03:00 Tommy (15) 04:10 Inside the Factory News

22:00 Film - Captain Phillips An American cargo ship sets a dangerous course around the coast of Somalia, while inland, four men are pressed into service as pirates by the local warlords. The captain is taken hostage when the raiding party hijacks the vessel, resulting in a tense five-day crisis. Fact-based thriller, starring Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi (PG) 00:35 News 00:55 Through the Keyhole 01:50 Jackpot247

07:25 Film - Planet 51 09:00 The Morning Line10:00 Film - Aliens in the Attic (PG) 11:40 The Simpsons 12:35 Film - Spy Kids: All the Time in the World (PG) 14:15 Racing: Kempton Park and Wetherby 16:45 The Simpsons 17:10 Film - The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (PG) 19:50 News 20:00 The World’s Most Expensive Toys While the rest of us search out bargain toys on the high street and online, the UK’s millionaires and billionaires use a network of bespoke, high-end suppliers of luxurious gifts and entertainment 21:00 Lego’s Big Christmas A look behind the scenes as the world’s biggest Lego store prepares to open in London’s Leicester Square. The one-off film also follows Duncan, Britain’s only certified Lego professional, who is attempting to build the largest Lego model ever 22:00 Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2016 Quizmaster Jimmy Carr tests a panel of A-list comics to see how closely they were paying attention for the last 12 months 00:10 Film - Pitch Perfect (PG) 02:20 Travel Man: 48 Hours in Florence 03:20 Celebrity First Dates 04:15 Hollyoaks Omnibus

07:00 Milkshake 08:45 Live: Big Bash League T20 Cricket 12:20 Giants Live Series World’s Strongest Man 13:20 Film - Seven Brides for Seven Brothers 15:20 Film - West Side Story (PG) 18:20 Film - The Love Punch (PG) 20:00 Giants Live Series World’s Strongest Man The battle for the title of Europe’s Strongest Man includes all of the major power-brokers of strongman including reigning champ Hafthor Bjornsson, and it is going to take a lot to wrestle the crown off the two-time winner 21:00 Mega Builders Documentary following the progress of artistic director Ake Larson and architect Arne Bergh as they embark on a six-week project to build Icehotel, a sophisticated structure constructed in the Swedish village of Jukkasjarvi - more than 120 miles inside the Arctic Circle. 22:00 Football George Riley and Lynsey Hipgrave introduce action from the Boxing Day fixtures, which included Aston Villa v Burton Albion at Villa Park, Reading v Norwich City at the Madejski Stadium and Newcastle United v Sheffield Wednesday at St James’ Park 23:30 Britain’s Favourite ABBA Songs 01:05 Film Muriel’s Wedding (15) 02:55 SuperCasino 04:10 Penguins Make You Laugh Out Loud 05:00 Tattoo Disasters UK

DON´T MISS THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE Wealthy widow Emily French THE WITNESS FOR THE is murdered in her London townhouse and all the evidence points to Leonard Vole, PROSECUTION who the victim’s housekeeper claims seduced the older woman into leaving him her vast fortune before killing her. Penniless solicitor John Mayhew is put in charge of defending Leonard, who is certain his innocence can be proved by his wife, enigmatic chorus girl Romaine. Will she testify and save her husband or will his infidelity make her vengeful?

BBC One 22:00

SOAPS

In Emmerdale, Joanie makes a life-changing decision of her own, telling Zak that they can’t even be friends after yesterday’s events.

Christmas. Later, Chrissie gets suspicious when she overhears Ronnie on the phone doing a deal. Elsewhere, Bernice tells Jimmy that she didn’t buy the necklace that Nicola is wearing. Jimmy can’t help wondering where it’s come from, especially when Dan confirms that it wasn’t him either.

Later, Joanie decides to take charge of her life.

Also today, Leyla invites the Bartons around to celebrate Jacob’s homecoming, but she ends up offending Emma.

Meanwhile, Ronnie feels self-conscious about the expensive watch that Lawrence got him for

In Coronation Street, Toyah calls at Nick’s flat, but she’s taken aback to find her husband Toby

there. Suggesting they need to talk, Leanne makes herself scarce.

Toby begs Toyah to give their marriage another chance and try for a baby again, but Toyah is adamant that it’s over between them. With Toby gone, Leanne reveals that she’s been struck with a terrible headache and Toyah calls the hospital. Meanwhile, Bethany wakes up to find herself in

BBC TWO 22:30 hospital. Sarah explains how she collapsed in the ginnel after swallowing a load of diet pills. Having returned home, Bethany confesses to Sarah how she fell in love with Gary and is totally ashamed. Sarah’s heart breaks for her troubled daughter, but how can she help? Elsewhere, Mary gets an unexpected offer. Also today, as Kevin helps Anna, Gary and Faye to move their things into Number 13, Eileen approaches and suggests they bury the hatchet. Will they agree? Finally, a loved-up Peter is

aware that today is the day he must break the news of his relationship to the street. In the second episode, Peter kisses his mystery woman in the ginnel, unaware that Simon’s drone is hovering above and a shocked Simon is watching them on his phone. Meanwhile, putting her own feelings aside, Sarah tells Gary they are finished as she has to put Bethany first. Will Gary accept this? Later, Bethany discovers a guy called Nathan, who works at a tanning salon nearby, saved her life. Having tracked him down, Bethany thanks Nathan

07:00 The Hot Desk 07:10 I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! 08:00 You’ve Been Framed! 08:50 Emmerdale 09:55 Coronation Street 10:55 Film - Yogi Bear 12:35 Film - The Smurfs 14:40 Emmerdale 15:40 Coronation Street 16:45 Catchphrase 17:50 Film Uncle Buck (PG) 19:50 Despicable Me: Minion Madness 20:05 Film Despicable Me 22:00 Film Love Actually (14) 00:40 Family Guy 02:45 American Dad! ITV3 07:00 Wycliffe 07:50 Film Anne of Green Gables (PG) 09:35 Film - On the Buses (PG) 11:20 Film Holiday on the Buses (PG) 13:10 Film - Mutiny on the Buses (PG) 15:00 Film - By the Pricking of My Thumbs 17:05 Film - Carry on Jack (PG) 19:00 Long Lost Family 20:00 Agatha Christie’s Marple 22:00 An Audience with Victoria Wood 23:10 Housewife 49 00:40 Family Guy 02:45 American Dad! ITV4 07:00 Goodwood Revival 07:50 Silverstone Classic Motor Racing 08:40 The Hand of God: 30 Years On 09:35 Pawn Stars 10:30 Cash Cowboys 11:25 The Professionals 12:30 Bond Girls Are Forever 13:30 Film - Jeremiah Johnson (PG) 15:45 Film - Chisum 18:00 Film - The Searchers 20:25 Mr Bean 20:55 Film - National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 23:00 Film - The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (PG) 00:45 Film Beetlejuice (PG) 02:40 River Monsters

08:00 Peter Hurst, 11:00 Trev Massey, 14:00 Alex Trelinski, 16:00 Gordon Lack who puts his number into her phone. Eastenders, the Beales are celebrating Steven’s birthday, but Lauren is stunned when Max texts her to reveal his return and ask her to meet up. When Lauren asks Jane whether Max can attend Steven’s birthday drinks, a nervous Jane is forced to tell Ian what’s going on.

Tuesday 27th December

8 07:00 Breakfast 08:35 Match of the Day 10:10 Film - Gnomeo and Juliet 11:25 The Furchester Hotel 11:50 Film - Cars 2 13:30 News 13:50 The Moonstone 14:35 Film Raiders of the Lost Ark (14) 16:25 The Gruffalo’s Child 16:50 Film - Mr Peabody & Sherman 18:15 Pointless 19:00 News 19:30 Revolting Rhymes 20:00 Celebrity Mastermind 20:30 EastEnders Roxy drops a bombshell on Ronnie 21:00 Holby City Mo strives to suppress her true feelings for Mr T but, with his wedding looming, can she lie? 22:00 The Witness for the Prosecution Romaine, whose testimony was Leonard’s one hope to save him from the gallows, has turned on him, leaving Mayhew’s case hopeless and Leonard’s fatal verdict imminent. Nonetheless Mayhew’s firm belief in Leonard’s innocence spurs him on, with a steely conviction. Mayhew desperately tries to discredit Romaine and even to lay the blame on Emily’s obsessive housekeeper Janet, whose word is the bulwark of evidence keeping Leonard behind bars. His efforts stall, leaving Mayhew on the verge of defeat… 23:00 Walliams & Friend 23:40 News 00:00 Mrs Brown’s Boys 00:35 Outnumbered 01:15 Fleabag 01:45 Fleabag 02:15 Weather 02:20 News

07:50 Fern Britton Meets 08:50 Herbie Rides Again (G) 10:15 This Farming Life 11:15 Money for Nothing 12:15 The Password Is Courage (U) 14:05 The Heroes of Telemark (U) 16:15 Nature’s Weirdest Events 17:00 Inside the Factory: How our Favourite Foods are Made 18:00 Tribes, Predators & Me 19:00 New Zealand: Earth’s Mythical Islands 20:00 Dad’s Army The platoon decide to help the vicar with his bazaar to raise money for comforts for the troops. Three oranges are to be auctioned, and Captain Mainwaring is determined to get one for his wife 20:30 University Quiz

Christmas Challenge

21:00 Gordon Buchanan: Elephant Family and Me Gordon returns to Kenya to follow baby elephant Wiva and her family in the height of the dry season 22:00 The Real Marigold on Tour The team jet off to Florida, a major retirement hotspot thanks to its low taxes and sunny weather 23:00 Inside No 9 23:30 Live at the Apollo 00:00 Insert Name Here 00:30 NFL This Week 01:20 David Walliams Celebrates Dame Shirley Bassey 02:25 Planet Earth II 03:25 Who Do You Think You Are? 04:25 This Is BBC Two

07:00 CITV 09:55 Mr Bean 10:25 Film - The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas 12:05 This Time Next Year 13:05 Tipping Point 14:05 News 14:10 Puppy Secrets: First Six Months 15:10 Film Happy Feet 17:10 50 Greatest Harry Potter Moments 18:40 Fantastic Beasts and JK Rowling 19:40 News

07:50 Film - Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer 09:30 Film Magic in the Water (PG) 11:30 The Simpsons 12:30 Film - Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen 14:15 Racing: Kempton Park and Chepstow 17:15 News 17:20 Film - Stuart Little (PG) 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks

20:00 Emmerdale Will Lisa talk Joanie round?

20:00 Posh Pawn James takes his team for an icebreaking Christmas excursion with jewellery expert Ian. A luxury yacht moored in London’s most exclusive location comes up for sale for £200,000

20:30 Film - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Harry is mysteriously selected to compete in the prestigious Triwizard Tournament, a thrilling competition that pits him against more experienced students from Hogwarts and two rival wizarding schools. Meanwhile, supporters of the evil Lord Voldemort send a shockwave of fear throughout the wizard community when their Dark Mark scorches the sky at the Quidditch World Cup, signalling a return to power (PG) 23:30 News 23:45 Pompeii with Michael Buerk Documentary `resurrecting’ the city buried under volcanic ash. Michael takes viewers through 24 hours in the area, from the commute to work in the morning, to brutal sports at noon and a plenitude of vices by night 00:45 Aviva Premiership Rugby 01:35 Jackpot247 04:00 ITV Nightscreen

21:00 George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces In a festive edition, architect George Clarke and Will Hardie embark on a snowcovered design odyssey across the mountain ranges of Western Canada. This journey showcases the most ingenious Canadian structures built to survive the snowy surroundings 22:00 This Is Us Rebecca and Jack take their three kids to the community swimming pool, and Kevin auditions for his first Broadway play. Meanwhile, Toby bumps into his exwife at a restaurant, and William is mistaken as a loiterer 23:00 Gogglebox 00:35 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 01:40 Film The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (18) 04:20 Food Unwrapped

07:00 CITV 09:25 PAW Patrol 09:35 Football 11:05 Film - SpaceCamp (PG) 13:10 Film - Teen Wolf (PG) 15:00 Film - Harry and the Hendersons (PG) 17:10 Film - Labyrinth 19:15 BattleBots The World’s 20:00 Strongest Man This year’s World’s Strongest Man Finals come from the Chobe National Park in Botswana. This opening heat sees Brits Mark Felix and Luke Stoltman among the challengers for the two spots available for The Grand Final 21:00 There’s a Croc in My Kitchen Documentary about people who share their homes with unusual pets including a man in Kent who has converted his home to accommodate a crocodile, and a couple who share their house with a 20-stone Kimodo Dragon 22:00 Film Dirty Dancing Coming-of-age drama about a sheltered 17-year-old girl who learns a lot about life from the hotel dance instructor during a family summer vacation in the Catskills in 1963. Featuring the Oscarwinning song “I’ve Had the Time of My Life”, performed by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes (PG) 00:05 The Greatest 80s Movies 02:50 SuperCasino 04:10 The Dog Rescuers 05:00 Tattoo Disasters UK 05:25 Criminals: Caught on Camera

DON´T MISS THE REAL MARIGOLD HOTEL

BBC Two 22:00

SOAPS

Inspired by their stay in India, Miriam Margolyes, Wayne Sleep, Bobby George and Rosemary Shrager are reunited, this time to road-test retirement in the places reputed to be the best in the world to grow old. In this episode they travel to Florida, one of the retirement capitals of the world, with low taxes and yearlong warm weather. Visiting two different retirement villages at either end of the scale, the group join the millions of Americans who are seeing out their golden years in Florida’s vast gated communities

how much Kyle loves his dad. Will Joanie listen? Meanwhile, Elliot has a confession to make to Jimmy over the necklace. Jimmy tells him they’ll have to give it back, but they’re both worried about Nicola’s reaction. And they’re right to be...

In Emmerdale, After taking a look at Kerry’s phone, Liv tells Cain that she’s managed to track down Joanie. Lisa then steps in and suggests that she should be the one to confront Joanie. When Lisa comes face-toface with Joanie, she urges her to come back to the village and points out

Elsewhere, Chrissie sees Pollard with Ronnie’s watch and buys it in order to hand it back to Ronnie. How will Ronnie react?

that Kerry should have a meeting with the Sharmas to discuss settling out of court.

Aunt Sal reminiscing about Peggy, she’s left to reconsider her own relationship with Roxy.

Later, when Max attempts to get back on good terms with his family, is he really being genuine?

Also today, Kasim isn’t happy when Emma suggests he should move in with the Bartons. Finally, Pierce suggests

Later, when Ronnie hears

ITV3 07:00 Doctor At Large 07:25 Wycliffe 08:25 Film On the Buses (PG) 10:15 Film - Death on the Nile (PG) 13:05 Lewis 15:05 Agatha Christie’s Marple 17:05 Film - That’s Carry On (PG) 19:00 Long Lost Family 20:00 Doc Martin 22:00 Foyle’s War 00:00 Lewis 02:00 Film - If I Had You 03:45 Film - Santa Claus: The Movie ITV4 07:00 The Professionals 07:50 The Goodwood Members Meeting 2016 08:40 Cash Cowboys 12:30 Everything or Nothing: The Untold Stories of 007 14:35 Mr Bean 15:05 Film - National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 17:10 Film Dunkirk 19:55 Mr Bean 20:30 Mr Bean 21:00 Aviva Premiership Rugby 22:00 Benidorm 23:00 Film - The Devil’s Advocate (18) 01:55 Film - Gangs of New York (18) 05:00 ITV4 Nightscreen

08:00 Peter Hurst, 11:00 Trev Massey, 14:00 Alex Trelinski, 16:00 Gordon Lack

Meanwhile, Lauren tells Abi that Max has returned.

In Eastenders, Although Ronnie has insisted that she wants a quiet hen party, she changes her mind and vows to party like the old days. While this should be good news for Roxy, she soon drops a bombshell.

07:00 The Hot Desk 07:10 The Xtra Factor 08:05 Britain’s Got More Talent 08:55 Emmerdale 09:25 Coronation Street 10:25 You’ve Been Framed! 11:25 Film - Small Soldiers (PG) 13:40 Emmerdale 14:10 Coronation Street 15:10 You’ve Been Framed! 15:40 Film Inspector Gadget (PG) 17:25 Film - Sleeping Beauty 19:05 Film - The Lion King 21:00 Film Skyfall (14) 23:55 Family Guy 01:45 American Dad! 02:45 The Cleveland Show 03:15 Film - Couples Retreat (PG) 05:10 The Almost Impossible Gameshow 06:00 The Planet’s Funniest Animals

In Holby City, Mo arrives back at Holby after Christmas and a lovely time with Zosia and Ollie, only to hear some alarming news from Mr T regarding Inga. An incoming gynaecological-cardio case then demands Mr T’s attention on Mo’s patient. Trouble looms as they

wrestle over the best course of action for their needy charge. Mo and Mr T also argue about Mo’s perceived lack of interest in his upcoming nuptials. Secretly pregnant with Mr T’s baby, and hating Inga, the question is: will Mo crack and tell the truth? Meanwhile, a dejected Jasmine faces her first shift on AAU - and possibly her last in medicine. Serena is deeply dubious and unfortunately Jasmine is immediately party to her concerns. Fortunately, all Jasmine has to do today is look

after Serena’s daughter Eleanor, who is chalk to Jasmine’s cheese. On a swelteringly busy shift on AAU with a perversely difficult patient, pressures soon rise and Jasmine’s ability to bite her lip and tow the line is sorely tested. Is this the end for Jas? Elsewhere, hungover and secretly deeply unhappy, Essie tries to put on a brave face to get through her New Year Keller shift.

Wednesday 28th December 07:00 Breakfast 10:00 Film - Tinker Bell and the Secret of the Wings 11:10 Justin’s House 11:30 Film - Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit 12:50 Bargain Hunt 13:40 News 14:00 The Moonstone 14:45 Film - Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (14) 16:35 Film - Muppets Most Wanted 18:15 Pointless 19:00 News

07:40 Coastal Path 08:10 Great British Menu 08:40 Film - Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo 10:20 This Farming Life 11:20 Money for Nothing 12:20 Film The Alamo (14) 14:25 Film - Up Periscope 16:15 Nature’s Weirdest Events 17:00 Inside the Factory 18:00 Tribes, Predators & Me 19:00 New Zealand: Earth’s Mythical Islands

19:30 Antiques Roadshow Fiona Bruce looks at the most talked about finds of 2016 and reveals surprising updates

20:00 The Good Life When Jerry takes out yet another endowment policy, the Goods begin to have misgivings about their oldage plans

20:30 Film - Ethel & Ernest Raymond Briggs’ graphic novel following the lives of his parents, from their chance meeting in 1928 through the next 40 years of their marriage, an era marked by sweeping social changes from the hardships of the Great Depression and the Second World War to the cultural transformation of the 1960s 22:00 Jonathan Creek The dark, forbidding edifice of Daemons’ Roost does not readily yield its evil secrets. Here it was, according to legend, that a 19th-century sorcerer named Jacob Surtees would summon the powers of hell to terrorise and subjugate his victims 23:30 News 23:50 Mrs Brown’s Boys 00:25 Sport Relief 2016 01:25 Fleabag 02:20 Weather for the Week Ahead 02:25 News

20:30 University Quiz

07:00 Good Morning Britain 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Film - Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home 12:15 Film - Bean (PG) 13:55 News 14:15 Puppy Secrets: First Six Months 15:20 Film - Father of the Bride 17:25 Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs 18:30 Blankety Blank 19:25 News 20:00 Emmerdale Nicola and Jimmy are forced to reconcile

Christmas Challenge

21:00 Robot Wars: Battle of the Stars Olympic athletes’ the Brownlee brothers, DJ Scott Mills, space scientist Dr Maggie AderinPocock and sport’s presenter Suzi Perry help design their own fighting robots 22:00 Dragons’ Den A Scottish entrepreneur bearing chocolate gifts, a couple of city slickers selling socks and a teacher trying to get the party started with his dance mats are all hoping the Dragons are feeling generous in the season of goodwill 23:00 Live at the Apollo 23:30 The Real Marigold on Tour 00:30 Film - Song for Marion (PG) 02:00 Alan Bennett’s Diaries 03:00 Film - The Lady in the Van (PG) 04:40 This Is BBC Two

20:30 Film - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Harry is dismayed when the Ministry of Magic denies Voldemort’s return and appoints a nasty new teacher at Hogwarts to keep an eye on Dumbledore. The new teacher’s constant meddling with the curriculum convinces the students that school cannot prepare them for the battle ahead, so they form a secret duelling club with Harry as their tutor (PG) 23:10 ITV News 23:25 Film - Jaws (12) 01:40 Jackpot247 04:00 ITV Nightscreen

9 07:40 Film - California Man (PG) 09:10 Film - Dunston Checks In 10:50 The Simpsons 11:45 Film - The Muppet Movie 13:50 Film Vice Versa (PG) 15:45 Film - Stuart Little 2 17:15 Lego’s Big Christmas 18:15 News 18:30 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 The Arrivals A refreshingly warm and intimate insight into the lives of some of the thousands of people travelling in today’s ever-shrinking world as they pass through the Heathrow airport arrivals halls 21:00 What Britain Bought in 2016 Mary Portas catches up with some of the nation’s leading retailers, including John Lewis, Maplin, Waterstones, ASOS, Superdrug, Hobbycraft and Waitrose, to find out where and how the UK’s hardearned cash has been spent in 2016 22:00 24 Hours in A&E Phil is rushed in after suffering multiple injuries following a short fall from a ladder at work, and his business partner Paul discusses how the pair bonded over the course of 28 years. Meanwhile, 93-yearold widow Violet arrives after fracturing her leg while preparing to go out for lunch with the friends 23:00 David Blaine: Beyond Magic 00:00 Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2016 02:00 Film - The Girl Who Played With Fire (18) 04:10 Gillette World Sport

07:00 Milkshake 10:20 SpongeBob Square Pants 10:55 The World’s Strongest Man 11:55 Film The African Queen 14:00 Film - The Glenn Miller Story 16:20 Film - Kelly’s 19:10 Heroes (PG) BattleBots The World’s 20:00 Strongest Man The mighty Eddie Hall takes on five other athletes for the two available spots for The Grand Final. Known as The Beast, he will have to overcome a qualifying field including Polish star Grzegorz Szymanski, America’s Nick Best and Jon Lane, and Norway’s Jon Olav Granli 21:00 Kitten Rescuers: Unwrap on Christmas Day Presenter Jo Brand talks to vets who operate on injured kittens, witnesses heart-warming rehomes of cats in desperate need of love, and follows the inspectors as they investigate reports of maltreatment 22:00 Most Shocking Celebrity Moments of 2016 A look at the most outlandish antics by the rich and famous this year Brangelina’s break-up, Hiddleswift’shook-up, and Ed Balls and Honey G’s reality TV dalliances. Contributors include Louis Walsh, Michelle Visage, Chloe Khan and Len Goodman 01:05 Pete Burns: The Last Interview 02:05 SuperCasino 04:10 Santa Makes You Laugh Out Loud

DON´T MISS JONATHAN CREEK BBC One 22:00 According to legend, a 19th century sorcerer named Jacob Surtees would summon the powers of Hell to terrorise and subjugate his victims at his home, Daemons’ Roost. Contemporaneous accounts describe his impossible feats of telekinesis, which have remained unexplained to this day. One hundred and fifty years after his death, the house is occupied by another, equally macabre, figure: veteran film director Nathan Clore (Ken Bones), whose output of horror movies in the 1970s generated its own brand of terror. With his health failing, Clore has summoned home his stepdaughter Alison (Georgie Lord), to finally share with her the chilling truth of what happened to her family there when she was a child. However, days before her arrival Clore suffers a debilitating stroke, rendering him paralysed and unable to communicate the truth Alison has hoped to learn. Within the house the ghostly presence of Jacob Surtees can still be felt, as Alison and her husband Stephen (Emun Elliot) unearth clues to the mystery that become more challenging and opaque, the deeper they probe. Stephen’s own life has been marred by tragedy. When his first wife Imelda was found poisoned to death in a bizarre locked room case it was only through the

deductive talents of Jonathan Creek (Alan Davies) that the puzzle was eventually solved. Can Jonathan assist again? Or perhaps his wife Polly (Sarah Alexander), and her understandable aversion to hideous deaths, will persuade him to pass up the challenge - especially as there’s already a psychopathic killer on her husband’s trail, with a score to settle. In the meantime help may be at hand in the shape of the Reverend Wendell Wilkie (Warwick Davis) - a devotee of the impossible crime puzzle and Jonathan Creek fan - who becomes drawn into the mystery when he calls round to perform an exorcism. As the puzzle unfolds, with ever more sinister twists and turns, the gruesome rituals that were once enacted in the dungeon of Daemons’ Roost are frighteningly revived - with horrifying consequences

07:00 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 07:20 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 07:50 You’ve Been Framed! 08:40 Emmerdale 09:10 Britain’s Got More Talent 10:05 Ninja Warrior UK 11:05 Catchphrase 11:50 Film - See Spot Run (PG) 13:45 Emmerdale 14:20 You’ve Been Framed! 15:20 Film - Yogi Bear 17:00 Catchphrase 18:05 Film - One Hundred and One Dalmatians 19:50 Film - Kindergarten Cop (12) 22:00 Film - Casino Royale (14) 00:55 Family Guy 02:25 American Dad! 03:20 The Cleveland Show 03:45 Film - Wild Target (12) ITV3 07:00 In Loving Memory 07:25 Film - Holiday on the Buses (PG) 09:10 Margery and Gladys 11:10 Film Sparkling Cyanide 13:10 Lewis 15:05 Agatha Christie’s Marple 17:10 Film - Carry on Cruising 19:00 Lewis 20:55 Les Dawson Forever 22:00 Foyle’s War 00:00 Lewis 02:00 Film - Sparkling Cyanide 03:45 Film Agatha (PG) 05:25 Wycliffe ITV4 07:00 British Touring Car Crashes 07:10 The Professionals 08:00 Minder 08:50 Quincy, ME 09:55 Ironside 11:00 The Professionals 12:00 The Isle of Man TTPG 15:05 Quincy, ME 16:10 Film The Land That Time Forgot (PG) 18:00 Film - The Train Robbers 20:05 Pawn Stars 21:00 River Monsters 22:00 Film - The Kingdom (14) 00:15 Film - Awake (14) 02:00 Aviva Premiership Rugby 03:00 The Hand of God: 30 Years On

08:00 Peter Hurst, 11:00 Trev Massey, 14:00 Alex Trelinski, 16:00 Gordon Lack

SOAPS

In Emmerdale, Elliot has some awkward questions for Nicola, wanting to know when Jimmy is coming home. When Jimmy does return, the children face further disappointment and he

argues with Nicola. The kids have an idea to fix things and sneak off upstairs. Not long afterwards, Nicola and Jimmy realise the have disappeared. Where are they? Meanwhile, Kerry attends her compensation hearing with Jai, Rishi and Rakesh. Once a price is agreed, Pollard is left speechless by Kerry’s demands back at the B&B. Kerry is also jealous when Dan buys a ticket for singles night at the Woolpack. Elsewhere, Joanie returns

to the village but has some tough words for Cain regarding where he stands with Kyle. Also today, Leyla infuriates Emma again by joking about her and Finn’s behaviour with Kasim.

CODE CRACKER Code Cracker is a crossword puzzle with no clues; instead, every letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number, the same number representing the same letter throughout the puzzle. All you have to do is decide which letter is represented by which number. In this week's puzzle, 1 represents H and 22 represents Z, when these letters have been entered throughout the puzzle, you should have enough information to start guessing words and discovering other letters.

QUICKIE

In this week’s Quickie crossword, all the answers are ANAGRAMS of the clue words: Across 1 Hardest (7) 5 Purse (5) 8 Thing (5) 9 Coin urn (7) 10 Enrich gas (9) 12 Sue (3) 13 Cedars (6) 14 Bistro (6) 17 Rat (3) 18 Thin gloom (9) 20 Recipes (7) 21 North (5) 23 Stead (5) 24 Sends as (7)

Down 1 Stank (5) 2 Gar (3) 3 Recital (7) 4 Us do it (6) 5 Wings (5) 6 Nordic pug (9) 7 Nun errs (7) 11 Pet mantra (9) 13 Dampest (7) 15 Treadle (7) 16 Seldom (6) 18 Midas (5) 19 Dents (5) 22 Woe (3)

Last weeks Solution Across: 1 Laptop, 5 Screen, 8 Bandanna, 9 Afar, 10 Imp, 12 Cater, 15 Let, 17 Ear, 18 Ill, 19 Ewe, 20 Acrid, 21 Apt, 22 Vim, 23 Gem, 24 Tee, 26 Piece, 29 Ace, 33 Fail, 34 Sociable, 35 Severe, 36 Yellow. Down: 2 Alarm, 3 Tidy, 4 Panda, 5 Snake, 6 Roar, 7 Erase, 10 Inept, 11 Peeve, 12 Cramp, 13 Terse, 14 Ridge, 15 Llama, 16 Title, 25 Evade, 27 Issue, 28 Cocky, 30 Cello, 31 Flee, 32 Call.

Scribble Pad

DOUBLE CROSS-WORD Solve the Double Cross-Word puzzle using either the standard or cryptic clues, the answers are exactly the same.

CRYTPIC CLUES Across 7 Fix up extremely remarkable couple (6) 8 Raise a right row for a commotion (6) 9 Be eating the thing making for a light meal (4) 10 In casual shirt about Prince I’d be fearless (8) 11 Calls for more or scene changes (7) 13 Cathy’s replacement vessel (5) 15 The females started walk out, chaps (5) 17 Ruddy convert did hers (7) 20 Dismantle a tub, late and make a table (8) 21 Stop to get some tobacco (4) 22 Rinses out lures (6) 23 Labour leader left West African country for the peninsula (6)

Down 1 Not all umpires ignore call to quit (6) 2 Novice leads expert in tie (4) 3 Commended form of despair (7) 4 It is bogus to encompass enthusiasm (5) 5 Carte blanche for an unpaid employee (4,4) 6 Salad vegetable which is hard to chop up (6) 12 Sue drove terribly because she was worn out (8) 14 Cook the rice for the nonconformist (7) 16 Wild animals but it’s all right a park exists (6) 18 Is put off by Penny, which is daft (6) 19 Wood from tribal saplings (5) 21 Anyway take a sly look (4)

STANDARD CLUES

Down 1 Quit (6) 2 Do up (4) 3 Admired (7) 4 Enthusiasm (5) 5 Complete discretion (4,4) 6 Edible root (6) 12 Worn-out (8) 14 Dissenter (7) 16 Giraffe-like animal (6) 18 Unintelligent (6) 19 Light weight wood (5) 21 Steal a look (4)

Across 7 Mend (6) 8 Tumult (6) 9 Sink your teeth into (4) 10 Fearless (8) 11 Reappearances (7) 13 Boat (5) 15 Ladies (5) 17 Ruddy (7) 20 Put into a table (8) 21 Stopper (4) 22 Warning signals (6) 23 European peninsula (6)

Last weeks Solution Across: 7 Repair, 8 Uproar, 9 Bite, 10 Intrepid, 11 Encores, 13 Yacht, 15 Women, 17 Reddish, 20 Tabulate, 21 Plug, 22 Sirens, 23 Iberia. Down: 1 Resign, 2 Lace, 3 Praised, 4 Gusto, 5 Freehand, 6 Radish, 12 Overused, 14 Heretic, 16 Okapis, 18 Stupid, 19 Balsa, 21 Peep.

FILL IT IN Fit the words into the boxes.

2 letter words Lid As Lie Is Mid Me Nat On Pal To Rib We 4 letter words 3 letter words Agog Bee Brae Bio Dory Elm Evil Ere Lido Gel Lira Inn 5 letter words

Aloes Amass Baton Edges Eerie Metro Minim Naval Octet Opera Peril Radii Reams Shrew

Sight Style Umbra Upset 6 letter words Ebbing Stable 7 letter words Entitle Minivan 8 letter words Alliance November

SPANISH-ENGLISH CROSSWORD

Improve your Spanish - clues in Spanish, answers in English or vice versa.

Across 1 Aumentar (tamaño) (8) 7 Lesson (5) 8 Artichoke (9) 9 That (3) 10 Año (4) 11 Palancas (barras) (6) 13 Carnation (6) 14 Cockerels (6) 17 Arroyo (riachuelo) (6) 18 Cordero (zoológico) (4) 20 Edad (de persona, animal, árbol) (3) 22 Housewife (3,2,4) 23 Cobertizos (para animales, útiles) (5) 24 Hecho a mano (8)

Down 1 Italia (5) 2 Spoon (7) 3 Cada (4) 4 Orillas (del mar) (6) 5 Pasteles (5) 6 Recipes (7) 7 Heads (7) 12 Theories (7) 13 To get married (7) 15 Call (7) 16 Plátano (6) 17 Siete (5) 19 Freno (mecánico) (5) 21 Mala hierba (4)

Quiz Word Across 7 Oslo is the capital of which Scandinavian country? (6) 8 In business, what name is given to the ‘excess of revenues over outlays in a given period of time’? (6) 10 What is the name of the principal chapel of the Vatican, built for Pope Sixtus V? (7) 11 Which fine-grained sedimentary rock consists of layers of clay mineral particles? (5) 12 Fe is the chemical symbol for which metal? (4) 13 What name is given to the leather strip that forms the flexible part of a whip? (5) 17/18 Which town in Kansas is the home of the infamous Boot Hill Cemetery? (5,4) 22 Which toxic gas is formed from oxygen by electrical discharges or ultraviolet light? (5) 23 What was the surname music entrepreneur who was the manager of the Beatles from 1961 to 1967? (7) 24 What name is given to a sound that is directed through two or more speakers so that it seems to surround the listener? (6) 25 According to Shakespeare, Valentine and Proteus were from which Italian city? (6) Down 1 Which adjective means ‘of or relating to knowledge,

especially esoteric mystical knowledge’? (7) 2 Which city in NW England was the site of the first

English cotton mills? (7) 3 In Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, what is the name of the villain who trains boys as pickpockets? (5) 4 Which Hindu god is the eighth and most important avatar of Vishnu, incarnated as a handsome young man playing a flute? (7) 5 What name is usually given to the entrails and internal organs of an animal used as food? (5) 6 Which semi-aquatic fish-eating mammal of the weasel family, has an elongated body, dense fur, and webbed feet? (5) 9 Who was appointed Poet Laureate in 1984? (3,6) 14 According to German legend, what was the name of the siren who lured boatmen in the Rhine to destruction? (7) 15 What was the surname of the Belgium-born creator of Inspector Maigret? (7) 16 By what name is Burma now known? (7) 19 Which American composer was known as the ‘March King’? (5) 20 What name is given to a group or gathering of witches who meet regularly? (5) 21 Basildon, Chelmsford, Colchester, and Southend-onSea are all situated in which English county? (5)

For the Little Ones at Christmas

SUDOKU

CHRISMTMAS QUIZ 1. What date is St Stephen's Day? 2. In Charles Dickens' novel A Christmas Carol, who was Scrooge's dead business partner? 3. The song White Christmas was first performed in which 1942 film? 4. London's Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is traditionally given by which country? 5. In the song The Twelve Days of Christmas, '...my true love brought to me nine...' what? 6. Name the original eight reindeer from the 'Twas the night Before Christmas' poem? 7. Which Christmas carol includes the lyrics '...To save us all from Satan's power, when we were gone astray..'? 8. The character Jack Skellington appears in which 1993 Tim Burton film? 9. What colour are the berries of the mistletoe plant? 10. In the inspirational 1946 film, It's a Wonderful Life, what's the name of George Bailey's guardian angel? 1. 26th December. 2. Jacob Marley. 3. Holiday Inn. 4. Norway. 5. Ladies dancing. 6. Comet, Cupid, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Donner, Blitzen. 7. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. 8. The Nightmare before Christmas. 9. White 10. Clarence (Oddbody).

ANSWERS

Last Week’s Solutions Code Cracker Last weeks Quiz Wordsolution Across:7 Charon, 8 Lamour, 10 Estonia, 11 Suede, 12 Zinc, 13 Ogden, 17 Halle, 18 Mace, 22 Shout, 23 Ariadne, 24 Eleven, 25 Police. Down: 1 Scherzo, 2 Martini, 3 Boyne, 4 Parsley, 5 Bogey, 6 Aries, 9 Ian Gillan, 14 Panther, 15 Baldwin, 16 Jezebel, 19 Ashes, 20 Homer, 21 Dijon.

Soduko

Span - Eng

Quizword

Fill It In

Thursday 29th December

07:00 Breakfast 10:00 Film - Turbo 11:25 Go Jetters 11:50 Film - Chicken Run 13:10 Bargain Hunt 13:50 News 14:10 The Moonstone 14:55 Film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (PG) 16:55 Film Room on the Broom 17:20 Film - Shrek the Third (PG) 18:45 Pointless 19:30 News 20:00 Celebrity Mastermind

07:45 Coastal Path 08:15 Great British Menu 08:45 Film - Herbie Goes Bananas 10:15 This Farming Life 11:15 Money for Nothing 12:15 Film - A Distant Trumpet 14:10 Film - Hidalgo (PG) 16:15 Nature’s Weirdest Events 17:00 Inside the Factory 18:00 Tribes, Predators & Me 19:00 New Zealand: Earth’s Mythical Islands

07:00 Good Morning Britain 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Film - Free Willy 3: The Rescue 12:10 Film Mr Bean’s Holiday 13:50 News 14:15 Film - Peter Pan (PG) 16:15 Midsomer Murders 18:15 News 18:50 Film - The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (PG)

20:30 EastEnders As Ronnie’s big day approaches, the sisters secretly make plans

20:00 To the Manor Born Christmas comes but once a year. Perhaps on the Grantleigh estate, that is just as well, as Audrey is determined to carry out her responsibilities as though she still lived at the manor

22:00 Film - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince In the outstanding sixth adaptation of JK Rowling’s fantasy series, Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) lures potions professor Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent, in an entertainingly eccentric performance) back to Hogwarts. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) is then charged with trying to dislodge a key clue regarding Slughorn’s former pupil, the future Lord Voldemort, from the retired teacher’s resistant mind. This is a difficult book to adapt because it is mostly concerned with setting up the two-part finale, but screenwriter Steve Kloves does an admirable job of condensing the plot without losing the emotional depth of the surprisingly adult narrative. The dark tone of the film, as the forces of evil grow ever stronger, is leavened by the romantic entanglements and rampaging hormonal comic relief (PG)

21:00 Life in the Snow Gordon Buchanan goes in search of animals that live in snowy conditions and have adapted to survive in cold weather. The programme features polar bears raising their cubs, owls keeping their supplies of food hidden under a layer of snow, penguins that huddle together for warmth, and wolverines and ravens working alongside each other to find food 22:00 Film - To Walk Invisible The Brontë sisters face a bleak future, with their father half-blind and troubled brother Branwell in decline. As their situation worsens, Charlotte sees that writing could offer a way out. This is the story of the sisters’ great novels and their extraordinary battle for recognition (12) 00:00 News 00:20 Film Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (PG) 02:15 Weather 02:20 News

20:30 University Quiz

Christmas Challenge

21:00 Robot Wars: Battle of the Stars Paralympic gold medallist Kadeena Cox, International football legend Robbie Savage, Science and History presenter Neil Oliver and popstar Jordan from Rizzle Kicks help design their very own fighting robot to battle it out in the bulletproof Robot Wars arena 22:00 Charlie Brooker’s 2016 Wipe Charlie Brooker looks back on the ups and downs of 2016 23:00 Cunk On Christmas 23:30 Kevin Bridges: A Whole Different Story 00:30 A Gert Lush Christmas 01:30 Dragons’ Den 02:30 The Great British Bake Off 03:30 Doctor Who 04:30 This Is BBC Two

21:30 Emmerdale Joanie defends her friend

01:20 The Chase 02:05 Jackpot247 04:00 ITV Nightscreen 06:05 The Jeremy Kyle Show

06:30 Film - Mysterious Island 08:15 Film - Short Circuit 2 (PG) 10:20 The Simpsons 11:50 Film - The Great Muppet Caper 13:55 Film - The Net (12) 16:15 A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 17:15 Posh Pawn 18:15 News 18:30 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks

SOAPS

23:35 Bruce Springsteen: In His Own Words 01:05 It Was Alright in the 1970s 02:00 Film - The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (15) 04:30 The Windsors

In Eastenders, as the wedding gets ever closer, Ronnie is making some secret plans with Roxy. She encourages Roxy to get back on better terms with Jack. Later, when Roxy looks after Ricky and Amy

The writer and broadcaster takes a satirical look back at the events of the past 12 months, a year that has seen the deaths of countless cultural icons, Donald Trump being voted into the White House and the BBC losing the rights to Great British Bake Off. Charlie is joined by the everinsightful Philomena Cunk, who faces her most challenging interview yet as she tries to get some sense out of Professor Brian Cox.

alone, it doesn’t go well and she storms off. With Ronnie frustrated, will she lose faith in her sister? In Emmerdale, Kerry has a plan to attend singles’ night and make sure that nobody else gets anywhere near Dan. While there, Kerry also flirts with Tommy in order to make Dan jealous, but all she ends up doing is getting drunk and making a fool out of herself. Later, Joanie worries about her friend’s wellbeing when she spots Tommy carrying a drunken Kerry out of the event. When Tommy tries to get

Kerry into the back of his van, she insists that she owes him. However, Joanie intervenes with a drastic effort to defend Kerry.

Meanwhile, Emma’s latest attempt to make Kasim feel part of the family sees her invite him to join them for lunch at the B&B. Feeling suffocated, will

20:00 The World’s Strongest Man Contenders vying for one of two places available in the Final include Hafthor Bjornsson, and Brit Terry Hollands who presented Channel 5’s coverage in 2015

20:00 The Ballroom Boys Following a group of competitive male ballroom dancers as they head towards the biggest competition of their dancing lives so far: the UK 21:00 Biggest Dog in the Championships in World A revealing look at the highs and lows of living Bournemouth with giant dogs, including 21:00 Location, Location, crippling costs of over Location Location, £12,000 a year, constant Location, Location returns care for a pet that cannot for a new series on the be left for longer than four hours at a time, extreme cusp of a brand new year. domestic destruction and In Birmingham, Kirstie simple days out with dogs Allsopp helps sewing blog- that attract wide-eyed ger Elle and her fiance Ed, stares from passers-by who have seen 52 properties and still can’t find the 22:00 The Adele Story perfect pad Documentary charting the remarkable career trajecto22:00 Guy Martin: ry of Adele Adkins, the pop Cycling Home for and soul singer who rose Christmas Guy Martin from humble beginning in takes on his longest and Tottenham to become one hardest challenge yet as of the biggest stars of the he attempts to break a modern music industry. Now popular enough to record that has stood since warrant going by her fore1984 by cycling around the name only, Adele’s interest entire coast of Great Britain in music was encouraged - 4800 miles - in just 20 by her mother from an days early age

DON´T MISS CHARLIE BROOKER’S 2016 WIPE

BBC Two 22:00

07:00 Milkshake 11:05 The World’s Strongest Man 12:05 Film - West Side Story (PG) 15:05 Film The Family Man (PG) 17:25 Film - Serendipity (PG) 19:10 BattleBots

23:35 World’s Greatest Divas 00:35 Lip Sync Battle UK 01:00 SuperCasino 04:10 Mega Builders 05:00 Witch Hunt: A Century of Murder

07:00 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 07:20 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 07:50 You’ve Been Framed! 08:40 Emmerdale 09:10 Britain’s Got More Talent 10:05 Ninja Warrior UK 11:05 Catchphrase 11:50 Film - Looney Tunes: Back in Action 13:40 Emmerdale 14:10 You’ve Been Framed! 15:15 Hairspray Live! 17:55 Catchphrase 18:55 Film - Happy Feet 21:00 Film - Quantum of Solace (14) 23:15 Celebrity Juice 00:20 The Keith Lemon Sketch Show 00:50 Family Guy 02:15 American Dad! 03:35 Bachelorette (15) ITV3 07:00 You’re Only Young Twice 07:25 Mutiny on the Buses (PG) 08:55 Agatha Christie’s Marple 10:55 Heidi 13:05 Agatha (PG) 15:05 Agatha Christie’s Marple 17:00 Film - Carry On Screaming (PG) 19:00 Lewis 21:00 Les Dawson Forever 22:00 Foyle’s War 00:00 Lewis 02:00 Foyle’s War 03:50 Wycliffe ITV4 07:00 Football Rivalries 07:15 Tommy Cooper 07:40 The Professionals 08:35 Quincy, ME 09:30 Ironside 10:35 The Professionals 11:40 British Superbikes Motorcycle Racing 13:40 Pawn Stars 14:40 Quincy, ME 15:45 Ironside 16:50 Bond Girls Are Forever 17:55 Everything or Nothing: The Untold Stories of 007 19:50 Pawn Stars 20:45 Film Cannonball Run II (PG) 23:00 Film - Beetlejuice (PG) 00:50 Body of Lies (14) 03:30 When Football Changed Forever 04:20 ITV4 Nightscreen

08:00 Peter Hurst, 11:00 Trev Massey, 14:00 Alex Trelinski, 16:00 Gordon Lack Kasim agree?

Elsewhere, when Nicola gets suspicious about what Jimmy is up to, she tries to bribe the children to tell her. Later that day, Angelica and Elliot finally show Nicola what they have been planning. Also today, Chrissie isn’t happy that Rebecca has invited half the village to her New Year’s Eve party.

To Walk Invisible

To Walk Invisible takes a new look at the extraordinary Brontë family, telling the story of these remarkable women who, despite the obstacles they faced, came from obscurity to produce some of the greatest novels in the English language. Written and directed by multi Bafta winner Sally Wainwright was filmed in and around Yorkshire, the BBC One original one-off drama stars Jonathan Pryce, Chloe Pirrie, Finn Atkins, Charlie Murphy and Adam Nagaitis.

Friday 30th December 07:00 Breakfast 10:00 Film - Shark Tale 11:20 Film Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers 11:50 Film - Flushed Away 13:10 Bargain Hunt 14:10 News 14:35 The Moonstone 15:20 Film - Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom 16:40 Stick Man 17:10 Wreck-It Ralph 18:45 Pointless 19:30 News 20:00 Celebrity Mastermind

07:25 Natural World 08:25 Great British Menu 09:25 Film - Short Circuit (PG) 11:00 This Farming Life 12:00 Money for Nothing 13:00 Film - 84 Charing Cross Road 14:35 Film Ladies in Lavender 16:15 Nature’s Weirdest Events 17:00 Inside the Factory 18:00 Flog It! 18:30The Marvellous World of Roald Dahl

20:30 A Question of Sport Sue Barker hosts fast paced sports quiz with regular team Captains Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell. The team are joined by superstar guests from the world of sport

19:30 Film - Roald Dahl’s Esio Trot Retired bachelor Mr Hoppy is hopelessly in love with his neighbour Mrs Silver, but she is only interested in her pet tortoise Alfie, until Mr Hoppy hatches an audacious plan to win her love (PG)

21:00 EastEnders Lee reaches breaking point, while loyalties and motives in the square are questioned

21:00 Judi Dench: All The World’s Her Stage An intimate portrait of Judi Dench, one of the most outstanding and best-loved British actors of all time

21:30 Film - Captain America: The Winter Soldier The superhuman soldier becomes an operative for secret intelligence agency SHIELD, but grows suspicious of their motives. Following a battle with a mysterious cyborg assassin, he and fellow Avenger Black Widow become fugitives, and try to bring down a sinister conspiracy. Starring Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L Jackson and Robert Redford (PG)

22:00 The Real Marigold on Tour The group go East to experience living like Japanese retirees. With one of the longest life expectancies in the world, Miriam Margolyes, Wayne Sleep, Bobby George and Rosemary Shrager search for the secrets of longevity. In the city of Kyoto, they move into a homestay with 73-year-old twin sisters, and start their day with an early morning keep fit class called Radio Taiso.

23:40 News 00:00 Still Game 00:30 Mrs Brown’s Boys 01:10 The NFL Show 01:40 Film - Hollywood Homicide (14) 03:30 Weather 03:35 News

23:00 QI 23:30 Dara O Briain: Crowd Tickler Live 00:30 Stag 03:30 Victorian Bakers 04:30 Wild Tales from the Village 05:30 This Is BBC Two

07:00 Good Morning Britain 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Film - Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore 12:00 Film - Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (PG) 14:05 All Star Family Fortunes 14:50 News 15:05 Film - The Dam Busters (12) 17:30 Midsomer Murders 19:25 News 20:00 Emmerdale Finn makes a grand gesture 20:30 Coronation Street It is a new year from hell for Anna

21:00 Film - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Following Dumbledore’s death, Lord Voldemort and his cronies have taken over the Ministry of Magic and are hellbent on killing Harry Potter. As a result, the good wizards of the Order of the Phoenix arrive at Harry’s home and whisk him to safety, but the Death Eaters are hot on his trail. Harry, Hermione and Ron set out on a epic quest to destroy all the locate and destroy all the horcruxes (PG) 23:40 News 00:05 Film Jaws 2 (PG) 02:10 Jackpot247 04:00 ITV Nightscreen

07:20 Film - The Parent Trap 09:35 The Simpsons 10:35 Film - A League of Their Own (PG) 13:05 Film - Cutthroat Island (PG) 15:30 Roald Dahl’s Most Marvellous Book 17:00 The Secret Life of the Zoo 18:00 News 18:30 The Simpsons 19:00 Hollyoaks

07:00 Milkshake 11:00 The World’s Strongest Man 12:00 Penguins Make You Laugh Out Loud 13:00 Santa Makes You Laugh Out Loud 14:00 Christmas Makes You Laugh Out Loud 15:00 Film Labyrinth 17:00 Film Planet of the Apes (PG) 19:15 BattleBots

20:00 Noel’s Sell or Swap Live Noel Edmonds rekindles elements of his 1970s children's show MultiColoured Swap Shop, giving guests the chance to bid on an eclectic mix of items, with up to three auctions running at the same time during the show. The item's owners may have a funny or emotive reason why they desperately need to dispose of the things they're putting up for sale

20:00 The World’s Strongest Man Brit Laurence Shahlaei is among the contenders after reversing his decision to call time on his career when another injury seemed to have got the better of him. He and his fellow contenders are looking to grab one of two places available in the Final

21:00 Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast Jamie Oliver and Jimmy Doherty hit the road getting passionate about some new campaigns, including championing community fridges and fresh blood black pudding, British mussels and free range milk 22:00 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Jimmy Car hosts while Sean Lock and Johnny Vegas take on Jon Richardson and Sara Pascoe Susie Dent is joined by David O’Doherty in Dictionary Corner, with Rachel Riley and Joe Wilkinson 23:00 Rude Tube 01:05 Tattoo Fixers 02:00 Celebrity First Dates 03:00 Film - The Omen (15) 04:55 The Windsors

21:00 Britain’s Cleverest Dog One canine brainbox attends a higher educational establishment devoted to his species. Another dubbed a canine Einstein makes the news when he masters a shape-sorting puzzle that has most toddlers struggling 22:00 Film - Petals on the Wind A woman trapped in an abusive relationship is forced to face up to the traumatic events of her childhood and her incestuous feelings for her brother. Following a tragedy, she returns to the family home, intending to take revenge on her mother by seducing her husband. (14) 23:45 Film - The Blind Side (PG) 02:05 SuperCasino 04:10 The Yorkshire Vet

DON´T MISS JUDI DENCH: ALL THE WORLD’S HER STAGE

BBC Two 21:00

SOAPS

Documentary celebrating the life and times of the veteran actress, looking back at the high points of her 60-year career. Billy Connolly recalls the time, when filming Mrs Brown, he thought she was falling in love with him, Samantha Bond remembers how she calmed Pierce Brosnan’s nerves to prepare him for his first scene with the actress, while Harvey Weinstein reveals how Dame Judi honoured him with a `tattoo’. Other contributors include Daniel Craig, Ann Mitchell, Sam Mendes and Ian McKellen.Narrated by Colin Salmon.

not to give Kasim the present, but his brother ignores him. When Finn makes a show of presenting Kasim with the tickets, what will his response be? Meanwhile, Joanie is in turmoil after getting herself into even more trouble.

In Emmerdale, Kasim confides in Leyla about how his relationship with Finn is moving too quickly. Soon afterwards, Leyla fears the worst when she finds out that Finn has already bought tickets for him and Kasim to see Kylie Minogue in Australia.

Elsewhere, Rebecca is at Home Farm looking over the slideshow ahead of the party, but she gets a surprise when she sees that Chrissie has changed the content. Later, a vengeful Rebecca is excited about her film and when it’s shown it’s clear why.

Once Pete knows what’s going on, he urges Finn

In Coronation Street, When Seb calls at Number

13 and invites Faye to his family’s New Year’s Eve party, Anna reluctantly lets her go. Without Faye and Gary, and Kevin out on a breakdown, Anna is alone with Jack when she tumbles down the stairs in the dark and lies unconscious in the hallway.

ITV3 07:00 Fresh Fields 07:40 Lewis 09:10 Heidi 11:10 Agatha Christie’s Marple 15:05 Film - Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory 17:10 Carry on Again, Doctor (PG) 19:00 Long Lost Family 20:00 Lewis 22:00 Ruth Rendell’s Thirteen Steps Down 23:00 Ruth Rendell’s Thirteen Steps Down 00:00 Lewis 02:00 Foyle’s War 03:50 Wycliffe 04:45 Film - The Sting (PG) ITV4 07:00 Football Rivalries 07:10 The Isle of Man TT 08:05 Quincy, ME 08:55 Ironside 10:00 The Professionals 11:10 British Touring Car Championship 13:10 Pawn Stars 13:40 Minder 14:45 Quincy, ME 15:45 Ironside 16:50 Film Cheyenne Autumn 20:00 Pawn Stars 21:00 Storage Wars 22:00 River Monsters 23:00 Film - The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (18) 02:15 Film - Road (PG) 04:15 Steve McQueen: Motorcycle Star

08:00 Peter Hurst, 11:00 Trev Massey, 14:00 Alex Trelinski, 16:00 Gordon Lack scared. Will anyone come to Anna’s rescue? Meanwhile, Mary’s friends gather in The Rovers to wish her well, but she’s starting to wonder whether she’s really doing the right thing. Elsewhere, clearly hurt, Simon tells Peter that he saw him kissing his new girlfriend and realises she’s the reason for his return, not him. Peter is shocked.

Unable to wake her, a frightened Jack lets himself out. In the Rovers, the regulars count down to midnight as Jack stands alone on the street, clearly

07:00 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 07:20 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 07:50 You’ve Been Framed! 08:40 Emmerdale 09:10 Britain’s Got More Talent 10:05 Ninja Warrior UK 11:05 Catchphrase 11:50 Inspector Gadget (PG) 13:30 Emmerdale 14:00 You’ve Been Framed! 14:35 Film - Looney Tunes: Back in Action 16:25 Film Sleeping Beauty 18:05 Film - The Lion King 19:55 Film - Freaky Friday 22:00 Film - Love Actually (14) 00:45 Family Guy 02:15 American Dad! 02:40 Film Wild Child (PG) 04:30 The Vampire Diaries 05:20 The Almost Impossible Gameshow

Also today, Andy is scared witless as he questions his future on the street. Desperate to get away, Andy phones a mate in Newcastle and asks him if

he can crash on his floor. While Steph, Tracy and Luke celebrate New Year in the bistro, Andy slips out. Will he make his getaway?

the events of the past few months catch up with him. Meanwhile, Max’s return is continuing to cause tensions on the Square, with Martin among those who aren’t happy to see him. Elsewhere, a high Roxy tries to grab Shrimpy’s attention when she spots him dancing with Donna at the party.

Finally, when Jenny moans to Johnny about how difficult she’s finding it living with Gemma, Johnny suggests she moves in with him. Will Jenny agree? In Eastenders, Lee finally reaches breaking point as

Saturday 31st December New Years Eve

14 07:00 Breakfast 11:00 Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30 James Martin: Home Comforts 13:00 Football Focus 14:00 News 14:15 Sport Relief 2016 15:15 The Great British Bake Off 16:15 Darcey Bussell: Looking for Margot 17:15 Final Score 18:20 Top of the Pops

07:30 This Farming Life 08:30 The NFL Show 09:00 Robot Wars: Battle of the Stars 11:00 Film You Again 12:45 Gordon Buchanan: Elephant Family and Me 14:45 Film - We Dive at Dawn 16:20 Film - The Eagle Has Landed (15) 18:30 The Olympic Golden Ball

19:20 Peter Pan Goes Wrong The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society, an amateur dramatics group, recreate the JM Barrie classic

19:00 Film - What Women Want A chauvinistic advertising executive acquires the ability to hear what women are thinking. He attempts to use this power to bring about the fall of his female boss, but as he uses this inside knowledge to outwit his superior, the bachelor begins to fall in love with her (PG)

20:25 News 20:45 Pointless Celebrities A special celebrity edition of the general knowledge quiz 21:35 Casualty Rumours spread about Seb and Dylan, and Ethan’s loyalty is pushed to the limit 22:25 The National Lottery Live The National Lottery Live including the Lotto and Thunderball draws 22:35 Mrs Brown’s Boys Agnes Brown has had enough hassle with Christmas trees to last a lifetime, so this year she refuses to have one 23:05 News 23:25 The Graham Norton Show 00:25 Robbie Rocks Big Ben Live 01:00 NYE Fireworks 01:15 Robbie Rocks Big Ben Live 01:45 Miranda Hart: My, What I Call, Live Show 02:45 Walliams & Friend 03:25 Film - Jump (15) 04:40 Weather 04:45 News

21:00 Life in Polar Bear Town with Gordon Buchanan Presenter and wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan heads to Canada at the peak of bear season, to discover what life is really like in the tiny town that’s become known as the polar bear capital of the world 22:00 Dragons’ Den Pitches to Riches returns to re-live extraordinary encounters between brave entrepreneurs and those formidable Dragon investors. Richard Osman guides us through the most outstanding, shocking and emotional pitches of the last two years 23:00 Match of the Day 00:20 Jools’ Annual Hootenanny 02:45 Glastonbury 04:55 This Is BBC Two

07:00 CITV 10:55 Film Beethoven’s 2nd 12:30 Film -Mannequin (PG) 14:15 News 14:30 Midsomer Murders 16:30 The Chase 17:30 News 20:00 Ninja Warrior UK Ben Shephard, Rochelle Humes and Chris Kamara return with the obstaclecourse challenge, in which competitors from across the nation test their strength, speed and courage though a series of outlandish physical trials 21:00 Take Me Out Paddy McGuinness invites three famous faces to take part in the dating game show. Entering the `love lift’ this evening are model and former international rugby player Thom Evans, The Xtra Factor’s social media monitor Roman Kemp, and 5ive’s Ritchie Neville

07:35 Film - Swiss Family Robinson 09:55 The Big Bang Theory 10:50 Film Big Miracle (PG) 13:00 Film - Hachi: A Dog’s Tale 14:50 The Simpsons 15:45 Film - Muppet Treasure Island 17:50 News 18:00 George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces 19:00 Winnie-ThePooh: The Most Famous Bear in the World 20:00 Britain’s Best Loved Sitcoms A countdown of Britain’s most revered sitcoms that have made us laugh over the past half century. The programme features interviews with a host of famous faces, including Brendan O’Carroll, Richard Wilson, Tony Robinson and many others

07:00 Milkshake 10:15 Film - Ben-Hur (PG) 14:20 Film - Wyatt Earp (12) 17:55 News 18:00 Another Audience With Ken Dodd 19:00 Ken Dodd In My Own Words Profile of the veteran comedian, who is still performing to packed houses at the age of 89, incorporating footage of some of his best performances alongside rare archive interviews and contributions from friends, colleagues and fellow comics. The programme reveals how he was inspired by his father's love of variety shows and reveals the truth about the town of Knotty Ash that features heavily in his act. 21:00 The World’s Strongest Man The action takes place in Botswana, and there are just two places left to be filled in the Grand Final. Reigning champion, Brian Shaw, is up against Johan Els, Gerhard Van Staden, Eben Le Roux and newcomer 23-year-old Mateusz KieliszkowskiL

22:00 Film - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 Harry, Ron and Hermione have escaped Bellatrix Lestrange’s clutches, but their getaway has come at a price. Dobby has been killed, meanwhile Lord Voldemort has acquired the highly powerful Elder Wand from Dumbledore’s tomb. Still on a quest to destroy the Horcruxes that hold the pieces of Voldemort’s soul, Harry breaks into Bellatrix’ vault, where he finds a Horcrux

21:00 Peter Cook & Dudley Moore: The Missing Sketches Peter Cook and Dudley Moore are still considered to be one of Britain’s most outstanding comedy double acts. This is a showcase of a number of new clips, which have recently come to light from sketches which were thought to have 22:00 Football George been lost forever Riley and Lynsey Hipgrave introduce action from the 22:00 Alan Carr’s New latest fixtures, which Year Specstacular 2016 included Huddersfield Witness Alan and his spe- Town v Blackburn Rovers cial celebrity guests run- at the John Smith’s ning riot around C4 HQ Stadium, Brentford v bringing in 2017 with Norwich City at Griffin Park unpredictable madness, and Wolverhampton party games and special Wanderers v Queens Park Rangers at Molineux guests

00:30 News 01:15 The Chase 02:10 Tipping Point 03:00 Rebound 03:50 ITV Nightscreen

00:05 Gogglebox 01:35 Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2016 03:30 The Restoration Man

23:30 Film - Pulp Fiction (18) 02:20 Film - Reservoir Dogs (18) 04:05 SuperCasino

DON´T MISS

ROBBIE ROCKS BIG BEN LIVE

BBC One 00:25 Monday 2 January ITV - The Halcyon. The drama, set in 1940, shows London life through the prism of war and the impact it has on families, politics, relationships and work across every social strata with a soundtrack of music from the era. BBC One - Father Brown. A dodgy London boxing promoter (Martin Kemp), a murdered novelist and a group of sinister pagans are among the problems vexing crime-solving cleric Father Brown (Mark Williams) when he returns with a brand new series of cases from the sleepy parish of Kembleford.

Melvin Odoom presents live from Central Hall in Westminster, where Robbie Williams builds up to Big Ben’s momentous chimes with a New Year’s Eve concert, featuring music from his latest album, and some of the classic tracks his fans have come to known and love. A consummate showman, Williams is hoping to welcome 2017 with a bang, and with a set-list choreographed to match Westminster’s extravagant midnight fireworks display over the Thames, viewers are guaranteed an explosive beginning to the new year when the clock strikes 12.

BBC One - Silent Witness - Identity. A severed finger is brought to the Lyell Centre by DCI Rory Goodchild and Immigration Officer Pia Butler, who ask Nikki and Thomas to test for a DNA match with 17 year-old Syrian illegal immigrant Akka Khoury.

Surprising Adventure. Ever since he was an 11year-old boy in rainy Northumberland, Robson Green has had one dream: to live on a desert island, like Robinson Crusoe. So 40 years later he gets his chance on a tiny desert island in the South China Sea.

Tuesday 3 January

Thursday 5 January

ITV - Paul O'Grady: For The Love Of Dogs - Best in Show. For this one-off hour-long special, a panel of ITV viewers voted their two favourite Paul O’Grady’s For the Love of Dogs episodes.

ITV - Unforgotten, starring Nicola Walker and Sanjeev Bhaskar, returns for a second series, exploring the investigation into another historic murder case.

ITV - Robson Crusoe: A

BBC One - Death In Paradise. Brightening up

January Highlights the winter months this January, BBC One returns to the Caribbean shores of Saint Marie for the sixth series of viewers’ favourite, Death In Paradise. Saturday 7 January ITV - The search for a new vocal superstar begins as The Voice comes to ITV. BBC One - Let It Shine. BBC One’s brand new Saturday night entertainment show Let It Shine has arrived! Starring judges Gary Barlow, Dannii Minogue and Martin Kemp, and presenters Graham Norton and Mel Giedroyc.

BBC One - Taboo. A major eight-episode drama series starring Tom Hardy. 1814. James Delaney reappears in London, a changed and haunted man, presumed dead in Africa many years before. His return finds his father,dead and a country at war with France and the United States. BBC Two - Bowie: The Last Five Years. There was nothing predictable about David Bowie everything was designed to intrigue, to challenge, to defy all expectations. But perhaps no period in David Bowie’s extraordinary career raised more fascination, more surprise,

07:00 Emmerdale Omnibus 09:55 Coronation Street Omnibus 12:50 You’ve Been Framed! 13:50 Catchphrase 14:50 Grease: Live 17:40 Film Happy Feet 19:45 Film Kindergarten Cop (12) 22:00 Family Guy 01:50 American Dad! 02:50 Celebrity Juice 04:30 The Keith Lemon Sketch Show 05:00 The Almost Impossible Gameshow 05:45 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records ITV3 07:00 Judge Judy 07:20 Film - Jane Eyre (PG) 09:20 Film - Carry on Up the Jungle 11:10 Lewis 15:00 Hans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairy Tale 16:55 Agatha Christie’s Marple 19:00 Our Queen at 90 21:00 Doc Martin 22:00 Midsomer Murders 00:00 Foyle’s War 01:55 Agatha Christie’s Marple 03:40 Hans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairy Tale 05:15 Wycliffe 06:10 George and Mildred 06:35 ITV3 Nightscreen ITV4 07:00 The Professionals 08:45 Cash Cowboys 10:40 Storage Wars 11:40 Pawn Stars 13:10 Film The Land That Time Forgot (PG) 15:05 Film - Where Eagles Dare (PG) 18:15 Film - The Green Berets (PG) 21:05 Film - Jaws the Revenge (12) 23:00 Film Gangs of New York (18) 02:15 Film - Awake (14) 03:55 Pawn Stars 04:15 ITV4 Nightscreen 04:30 Hell on Wheels 05:15 The Isle of Man TT

09:00 Breakfast with Tim Bridge 12:00 Paul Norman 15:00 Saturday Sports with Alex Trelinski 18:00 Entertainment Power and more questions, than the last five years. Sunday 8 January ITV - Reprising his role as the young Endeavour Morse, Shauns Evans stars alongside stage and screen actor Roger Allam as mentor, Detective Inspector Fred Thursday, for a brand new set of complex cases. ITV - Dance Dance Dance Dance Dance Dance, a brand new primetime entertainment series that will celebrate the most iconic pop video and dance movie sequences of all time.

Sunday 1st January, 2017 New Years Day 07:00 Breakfast 09:15 Match of the Day 10:40 Film - The Princess and the Frog 12:10 Film - The Pirates! In an Adventure With Scientists 13:35 Revolting Rhymes 14:35 News 14:50 The Archbishop of Canterbury’s New Year Message 14:55 Songs of Praise 15:30 Countryfile 16:30 Planet Earth II 18:00 Film Monsters University 19:35 News 20:00 EastEnders The day of Ronnie and Jack’s wedding has finally arrived 21:00 Still Open All Hours Granville has bought some cheap devices that promise to jump-start people’s positive emotions, but will they work? Meanwhile, Mr Newbold has a serious underwear problem which Mrs Featherstone has taken upon herself to solve with Granville’s help 21:30 Sherlock Sherlock waits to see where Moriarty will make his posthumous move. One mysterious case in particular baffles Scotland Yard, but Sherlock is more interested in a seemingly trivial detail. Why is someone destroying images of the late prime minister Margaret Thatcher? Is there a madman on the loose? 23:00 Mrs Brown’s Boys 23:35 News 00:00 Match of the Day 2 01:05 Peter Pan Goes Wrong 02:05 Weather for the Week Ahead 02:10 News

07:00 Countryfile 07:55 Film - Camelot 10:45 Saturday Kitchen Best Bites 12:15 New Year’s Day Concert Live From Vienna 2017 13:45 Grand Tours of Scotland 13:55 Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty 15:40 Talking Pictures 16:10 Film Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (PG) 17:55 The Archbishop of Canterbury’s New Year Message 18:00 Wild Tales from the Village 19:00 Croft and Perry: The Sitcoms 19:50 Dad’s Army There’s trouble in the ranks of the Home Guard when the bravery of the gentle and well-mannered Private Godfrey is called into question 21:00 Dragons’ Den Two former army captains hope to get the Dragons to stand to attention with their bespoke gifting business. A young duo pitch their innovative ticket comparison site and a pair of multi-millionaire entrepreneurs are seeking cash from the multi-millionaire Dragons’ for their new safety device 22:00 Thailand: Earth’s Tropical Paradise Exploring the wildlife and culture of the Southeast Asian nation 23:00 Film - What We Did on Our Holiday (PG) 00:30 The Real Marigold on Tour 01:30 Judi Dench: All The World’s Her Stage 02:30 Film - Henry V 04:45 Holby City 05:40 This Is BBC Two

07:00 CITV 10:25 Film Carry on Cleo (PG) 12:10 Chopping Block 13:10 News 13:15 All Star Family Fortunes 14:00 Racing: Cheltenham and Musselburgh 16:30 Ninja Warrior UK 17:30 Film ET the Extra-Terrestrial 19:40 News 20:00 Diversity Presents Steal the Show Ashley Banjo and the street dance troupe present a special event in which three members of the public compete for the chance to join Diversity on stage. Plus, co-workers compete against each other in office dance-offs 21:00 Coronation Street Anna is rescued by her arch nemesis 21:30 Morecambe and Wise’s Funniest Moments A countdown of the 20 most memorable moments from the double act’s TV shows, voted for by a panel of comedy actors and comedians. The programme intersperses the sketches with contributions from famous fans and celebrities who recall their experiences of working with Eric and Ernie, including David Walliams, Jack and Michael Whitehall, Glenda Jackson, Angela Rippon, Des O’Connor, Jimmy Tarbuck and Andre Previn 23:30 News 23:45 Prince Harry In Africa 00:45 Aviva Premiership Rugby 01:40 Jackpot247 04:00 Chopping Block 04:50 ITV Nightscreen

07:40 Film - The Love Bug 09:35 The Big Bang Theory 11:00 Sunday Brunch 13:55 The Simpsons 15:20 We’re Going on a Bear Hunt 15:50 Gogglesprogs 16:50 News 16:55 Film - Mirror Mirror 19:00 Film - Rio 2 Blu, Jewel and their three children leave the comfort of the city and travel to the Amazon jungle to learn how to live as wild birds 21:00 Titanic: The New Evidence Investigative journalist and Titanic expert Senan Molony reveals the real story behind the largest ship ever built. A previously unseen mark on the hull launches Senan into a fresh investigation into the century-old mystery of the ship’s sinking 22:00 Film - Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol After the IMF are implicated in the bombing of the Kremlin, Ethan Hunt and his new team go rogue. In order to clear their organisation’s name, they track down a dangerous terrorist named Kurt Hendricks. Hendricks has gained access to Russian nuclear launch codes and is planning a strike on the United States, but will the new team be able to stop the impending disaster? (14) 00:35 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 01:35 Rude Tube 03:25 Trigger Happy Christmas Special 03:55 Hollyoaks Omnibus

07:00 Milkshake 09:10 Football 10:45 Live: Big Bash League T20 Cricket 14:25 Film 101 Dalmatians 16:30 Film Dirty Dancing (PG) 18:35 The Adele Story 20:00 The World’s Strongest Man Coverage of the Grand Final from Botswana, as ten of the planet’s most powerful individuals flex their muscles in a bid to win the ultimate accolade in strength athletics. Presented by James Richardson, SarahJane Crawford and Magnus Ver Magnusson 20:55 News 21:00 Film - Legally Blonde A seemingly dizzy teenager is heartbroken when her boyfriend dumps her because he thinks she is not intelligent enough to help his political career. To prove him wrong she enrols at Harvard, but finds herself out of her depth as other students do their best to humiliate her (PG) 22:45 Film - Whitney Biopic of Whitney Houston, focusing on her troubled marriage to singer Bobby Brown. The pair first meet when both are at the height of their celebrity, and the pressure and rewards of fame have a devastating impact on their relationship and both of their lives (14) 00:30 Autopsy 01:30 Lip Sync Battle UK 01:55SuperCasino 05:00 Now That’s Funny 05:50 Divine Designs

DON´T MISS SHERLOCK

BBC One 21:30

SOAPS

In Eastenders, Ronnie says ‘I do’ to Jack , for the second time but it will all go horribly wrong and her and sister Roxy will meet a grisly end. At the reception, the green-eyed monster gets the better of Roxy, who has previously had a relationship with Jack, and she gets drunk and it kicks off.

The detective returns to investigate the apparent return from the dead of his old enemy Moriarty, but another strange case is soon demanding his attention. Scotland Yard is baffled by a mysterious criminal who is defacing images of Margaret Thatcher, and Sherlock is convinced there is a more sinister purpose at work behind these acts of vandalism which may have a connection to Mary Watson’s dark past as an assassin. Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman and Amanda Abbington return for a fourth series of the detective drama.

The boozed-up Roxy ends up falling into a swimming pool and drowns and is discovered by her protective sister.

Without thinking, Ronnie reportedly try to save her sister but then struggles and drowns from the weight of her wedding dress. In Coronation Street, With the New Year celebrations in full swing,

Phelan tells Eileen he’s going to head home as he’s still not feeling well. When Phelan finds Jack wandering the street alone, Jack explains that Anna’s had an accident. Phelan breaks down the door at No.13 and goes to Anna’s aid. Anna regains consciousness but is horrified to find Phelan looming over her. Kevin arrives home and is shocked to find Phelan there - what will his reaction be? Jenny’s in her element as she swans about Johnny’s flat playing hostess to Johnny’s friends. Eva watches her jealously. Having finally joined the

15 07:00 The Hot Desk 07:10 Emmerdale Omnibus 10:15 Coronation Street Omnibus 13:15 Film - Mr Bean’s Holiday 15:00 Film The Smurfs 17:05 Film Nanny McPhee 19:00 Film - Despicable Me 21:00 Film - Skyfall (14) 23:50 Family Guy 01:20 American Dad! 02:20 The Cleveland Show 03:20 Teleshopping ITV3 07:00 Where the Heart Is 07:55 Heartbeat 08:55 Heidi 13:20 Film - Carry on Cruising 15:05 Film That’s Carry On (PG) 17:00 Agatha Christie’s Marple 21:00 Endeavour 23:05 Birds of a Feather 23:40 Film - Good Will Hunting (15) 02:10 Lewis 03:50 Wycliffe 04:50 May the Best House Win 06:30 ITV3 Nightscreen ITV4 07:00 British Touring Car Crashes 07:10 The Professionals 08:00 Minder 08:50 Shed & Buried 09:50 Cash Cowboys 12:50 Pawn Stars 14:10 Film Shalako (PG) 16:25 Film Jeremiah Johnson (PG) 18:40 Film - Chisum 21:00 The Chase 22:00 Aviva Premiership Rugby 23:00 Film - On Deadly Ground (15) 01:05 Life on the Limit 03:25 Tommy Cooper 03:50 ITV4 Nightscreen 04:00 Teleshopping

09:00 Breakfast with Tim Bridge 12:00 Trev Massey´s Bit in the Middle 15:00 The Retro Chart 17:00 Classic Country with Tim Rogers party, Johnny makes an announcement that shocks his guests to the core...

Peter admits he is in a relationship but begs Simon not to tell anyone just yet as he needs to wait till the time is right to break the news. Simon’s unimpressed with Peter’s web of lies, will he agree to keep his secret? Whilst watching the fireworks from the Rovers

back yard, Mary makes Norris promise that he’ll visit her in South Africa. Unable to face an emotional goodbye, Norris hugs Mary and heads home. As her friends gather round Mary and Jude’s taxi singing ‘We’ll Meet Again’, Mary’s overcome, can Mary really leave Weatherfield for good?

Meanwhile Steph’s furious to find Andy, bags packed, about to do a runner. And having found Shona on the doorstep, Sean helps her into No.11. Shona apologises but explains she had nowhere else to go. Whilst Billy helps Shona to bed, Todd’s perplexed as he makes a shocking discovery...

Food & Drink

Friday 23rd December 2016

The Best Roast Turkey WITH HERBY PORK AND APRICOT STUFFING

Ingredients 1 sprig fresh sage, leaves picked 12 strips higher-welfare pancetta or thinly sliced streaky bacon 1 bulb garlic, broken into cloves 4 medium red onions, peeled 2 sticks celery, trimmed and chopped 1 big handful breadcrumbs 1 handful dried apricots 300 g higher-welfare minced pork 1 lemon, zest of 1 pinch grated nutmeg 1 large free-range egg sea salt freshly ground black pepper 12 small sprigs of fresh rosemary, plus a few extra 4-4.5 kg higher-welfare turkey, at room temperature 2 carrots, peeled 1 large orange olive oil 2 tablespoons plain flour 1.1 litres organic chicken or vegetable stock Method Preheat the oven to maximum. Heat a saucepan until medium hot and add a splash of olive oil, the sage leaves and 6 of the pancetta or bacon strips. Peel and

chop 2 garlic cloves and 1 onion. Add the garlic, celery and onion to the saucepan and fry everything gently until soft and golden brown. Take the pan off the heat, add the breadcrumbs and, while the mix is cooling down, chop the apricots roughly and stir them in. When the stuffing has cooled down, add the pork, lemon zest, nutmeg, egg and lots of salt and pepper, and mix everything together well. Slice the remaining strips of pancetta or bacon in half and slice 1 peeled garlic clove into thin slivers. Place a rosemary sprig and a garlic sliver on one end of a halved strip of pancetta and roll it up tightly. Repeat with the other pieces of pancetta until you have 12 little rolls. Stab the thighs and drumsticks of the turkey in 6 places on each side. Push a little pancetta roll into each hole until it just peeps out. This’ll give your turkey thighs a fantastic flavour and will keep them moist while they cook. Chop the remaining onions in half and slice the carrots thickly. Give your turkey a good wipe, inside and out, with kitchen paper, and place it on a board, with the neck end towards you. Find the edge of the skin that's covering the turkey's

breasts and gently peel it back. Work your fingers and then your hand under the skin, freeing it from the meat. If you're careful you should be able to pull all the skin away from the meat, keeping it attached at the sides. Go slowly and try not to make any holes! Lift the loose skin at the neck end and spoon the stuffing between the skin and the breast, tucking the flap of skin underneath to stop anything leaking out. Pop the orange in the microwave for 30 seconds to warm it up and stuff it into the cavity. Weigh the stuffed turkey and calculate the cooking time (about 20 minutes per 500g/1lb 2oz). Place the bird on a large roasting tray, rub it all over with olive oil and season well. Surround with the chopped carrots, onions, remaining garlic, cover with tinfoil and place in the preheated oven. Turn the heat down right away to 180°C/350°F/gas 4, and roast for the calculated time, or until the juices run clear from the thigh if you pierce it with a knife or a skewer. Remove the tinfoil for the last 45 minutes to brown the bird. Carefully lift the turkey out of the tray and rest on a board that’s covered loosely with foil for at least 1 hour, prefer-

ably 2 hours for bigger birds. When the resting time's nearly up, skim the surface fat from the roasting tray and

add the flour and stock. Place the tray on the hob and bring to the boil on a high heat. When the gravy starts

to thicken, strain it into a bowl. Carve your turkey, serve with the gravy and dig in!

Food & Drink

Friday 23rd December 2016

Roast potatoes, parsnips and carrots Ingredients

Cheat's cranberry sauce

1.2 kg potatoes 6 parsnips 6 carrots 1 bulb garlic 3 sprigs fresh rosemary sea salt freshly ground black pepper olive oil Method If you’re cooking these separately and not as with my perfect roast chicken, preheat your oven to 200°C/400°F/gas 6. Peel the vegetables and halve any larger ones lengthways. Break the garlic bulb into cloves, leaving them unpeeled, and bash them slightly with the palm of your hand. Pick the rosemary leaves from the woody stalks. Put the potatoes and carrots into a large pan – you may need to use two – of salted, boiling water on a high heat and bring back to the boil. Allow to boil for 5 minutes, then add the parsnips and cook for another 4 minutes. Drain in a colander and allow to steam dry. Take out the carrots and parsnips and put to one side. Fluff up the potatoes in the colander by shaking it around a little – it’s important to ‘chuff them up’ like this if you want

them to have all those lovely crispy bits when they’re cooked. Put a large roasting tray over a medium heat and either add a few generous lugs of olive oil or carefully spoon a little of the fat from the meat you’re cooking. Add the garlic and rosemary leaves. Put the vegetables into the tray with a good pinch of salt and pepper and

stir them around to coat them in the flavours. Spread them out evenly into one layer – this is important, as you want them to roast, not steam as they will if you have them all on top of each other. Put them into the preheated oven for about 1 hour, or until golden, crisp and lovely. Serve immediately, with your roast dinner and your gravy.

Ingredients 1 eating apple 1 knob of unsalted butter 1 fresh bay leaf , optional 1 cinnamon stick, or 1 pinch of ground cinnamon 1 x 250 g jar of good-quality cranberry sauce Method Peel, core and chop the apple into 1cm cubes. Place a pan on a medium heat with the butter, cinnamon and bay (if using). Cook for just 30 to 40 seconds, or until the cinnamon starts to catch and burn – this will bring out all those lovely, toasty flavours. Stir in the apple and a swig of water, shake well to coat in the butter and leave to soften for a couple of minutes. Pour in the cranberry sauce and warm through, letting all the flavours mingle, then pour into a bowl and serve.

Friday 23rd December 2016

Record Of The Week!

Events

CHRISTMAS ON ICE

Friday 23 December Rojales Navidadlandia, Christmas concert, Teatro Capitol Orihuela Santa Parade (rescheduled due to bad weather)

Artist: New Musik Title: This World of Water This week, TKO´s Tim Bridge has picked the Record of the Week. Tim has chosen This World of Water by synth pop band New Musik who are best known for their big 80s hit, Living by Numbers. The group included Tony Mansfield and Nick Straker, both big recording artists in the 80s. "The song got as high as no 31 in the UK charts in 1980 and I particularly love that era of music in late 70s, early 80s", Tim says. "It reminds me of my very happy school days, especially in the 6th form spending most of my days listening to music, drinking coffee, playing darts and a little bit of studying too. Didnt do me much good, did it! It´s such a catchy, foot-tapping tune and you cant help but sing along too. Quite appropriately, with that recent awful wet weather, I found myself singing this tune when I was watching the rain out of my window at home." If you would like to choose your own Record of the Week, send us the details to studio@tko.fm and include the name of the track and artist, and what it means to you and next week it could be your special song played every day on TKO 91.9 & 90.8fm. The Costa Blanca’s biggest and best radio station. Love Life... Love Music... Love... TKO!

UK BOX OFFICE

TOP 10

1 Star Wars: Rogue One (3D) 2 Moana (3D) 3 Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them (3D) 4 Sully 5 Office Christmas Party 6 Trolls (3D) 7 EVENT CINEMA: Nutcracker - Bolshoi 2016 (Ballet), The 8 Arrival 9 Allied 10 It's A Wonderful Life

Saturday 24 December Torrevieja Solidarity Line, collecting for the hungry Sunday 25 December La Zenia Orihuela Christmas concert Orihuela City Symphony Orchestra Concert, Teatro Circo Wow, can you believe how quickly this year has gone! It’s now just two days until Christmas Day and just over a week until 2017. And it really does feel like December – temperatures have dropped, shop windows have been adorned with Christmas decorations and lights and the streets are bustling with busy shoppers. Hopefully, most of you will be able to enjoy at least a few days off during this festive season and are planning some trips out and about, especially between Christmas and New Year.. And it’s not all about shopping! There are plenty of activities taking place across the Costa Blanca and Costa Cálida that you’ll only be able to do at this time of the year – here are just a few of them. Get out and about and try something new or go somewhere that you’ve never been before. And have lots of fun! NADALGEL Ice Rink When was the last time you went ice skating? It’s not a common pastime, especially in this climate, so a visit to the temporary ice rink located in Alicante’s Plaza del Ayuntamiento should be at the top of your list. The rink is almost 500 square metres, has a massive fir tree in the centre and is all lit up with pretty, colourful lights. Open until 8 January. From 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 22:00 Admission: 6 euro for 45 minutes NADALNEU Toboggan Run Now this sounds like fun! If you’d rather sit the ice skating out, how about a thrilling, downhill gigantic toboggan run instead? Woooohoooo! Location: Plaza de la Montañeta

Open until 8 January. From 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 22:00 Admission: Single: 3 downhill rides for 4 euro Double: 3 downhill rides for 6 euro

Tuesday 27 December Rojales Family circus spectacular, Teatro Capitol Tuesday 27 to Thursday 29 December Guardamar Lego and robot workshop Friday 30 December Rojales End of year concert, Teatro Capitol

Other places with an ice rink this Christmas season: La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias – Valencia Centro Comercial Nuevo Centro – Valencia Plaza del Ayuntamiento – Valencia Plaza Soledad Torres Acosta (known as the Plaza de la Luna) – Madrid Plaza de Colón, Madrid – until 15 January Plaza de Puerto Rubio (La Plaza Vieja), Madrid until 15 January Cuarto de Artillería, Barrio Carmen, Murcia

Orihuela Christmas “Flash Mob” Sunday 1 January Orihuela Concert by the Almoradí Symphony Orchestra, Teatro Circo Friday 6 and Saturday 7 January 2017 Torrevieja Three Kings Concert by the Orquesta Sinfónica, International Auditorium Torrevieja Friday 6 January Orihuela Three Kings Concert Saturday 14 January Elche Zombie Road Race (rescheduled due to bad weather) Sunday 15 January Alicante Race Against Cancer Road race through the streets of Alicante, raising cancer awareness.

Dates Dec 24 Christmas Eve Dec 25 Christmas Day Dec 26 St Stephen's Day Dec 31 New Year's Eve Jan 1 New Year´s Day Jan 2 New Year Extra Holiday Jan 6 Three Kings Apr 13 Maundy Thursday Apr 14 Good Friday

Steven and Staff at the Med Bar wish all their clients a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year!

us at TKO The Courier, FM and TKO would like to everybody for pport this year, h you the very t for next.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.

The Team at Postroom Benijofar wishes everyone a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year

Mandy & Neil of Izzys Bar wish all their customers a Merry Xmas & Happy New Year

Gary and Kate at Carpet Heaven wish everyone a Merry Xmas and Happy New Year!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

The Staff at Benijofar Chiropractor Clinic wish everyone a Happy and Healthy Xmas!

Mist Jewellery wish all their customers a Merry Xmas and thank everyone for their custom!

Health

Friday 23rd December 2016

New laser therapy for low-risk prostate cancer shows promise "A drug activated by laser light successfully destroys early prostate cancer while avoiding side effects … results have shown," The Guardian reports. This new technique may offer an alternative treatment to the current "wait and see" approach, also known as active surveillance. The main challenge of treating prostate cancer judged to be low risk is that it's difficult to predict if it will spread far enough to pose a threat to health. A study we looked at in 2014 found around half of predictions about the likely outcome of "low-risk" cases of prostate cancer were incorrect. Many men are reluctant to have prostate cancer surgery unless they really have to, as it carries the risk of causing erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence.

In this study, researchers compared active surveillance with a new technique known as vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy. This involves injecting a light-sensitive drug into the prostate and activating it with a laser when it reaches cancer cells. The benefit of this approach is damage to healthy prostate tissue is minimised, reducing the risk of side effects. Two years after having this treatment, almost half of the men in the treatment group were cancer-free and only 6% of patients needed further treatment, compared with 14% being cancer-free and 30% needing further treatment in the active surveillance group. Side effects were mostly mild. Overall, these are promising results, but it's not possible to say when, this treatment will become widely available.

Christmas Gifts from HiFX

International payments and transfer experts HiFX Europe Limited hosted a spectacular evening event for its 200 partners and their guests last Tuesday at the Doña Montse Hotel in Los Balcones in order to say thank you to all those involved in the company, and to share some exciting news for the future. European Managing Director Simon Griffin flew over especially for the celebratory bash, during which he spoke at length about the company’s origins in the UK 19 years ago, how it has expanded across the globe and how HiFX plans to grow over the forthcoming year since taking over XE.com –

one of the world’s leading currency exchange Internet portals. As a result of the evening’s donations from those who attended the event, the company was

proud to announce that in excess of 1,300 euro was raised, which will be shared between local charities Debra Butterfly Children and the Elche Children’s Care Home.

A Thank You from APAH

APAH Animal Rescue Charity would like to thank all their volunteers for their hard work and commitment throughout 2016. They would also like to thank all the people who have supported them both at fundraising charity events and by not only spending in their charity shops but also with the huge amount of donations which are taken into their shops weekly. Without everyone who works for APAH and everyone who supports them, they could not rescue, rehabilitate and rehome the amount of dogs and cats that they care for. The search for volunteers never ends, and APAH is always

looking for help in their shops, kennels and cattery. If you have sometime to spare, love animals, and

want to make a difference, please contact them by calling 630 422 563 or find them on Facebook.

MedB Health Dr M. Mannu

Friday 23rd December 2016

DMT: The Spirit Chemical in the Brain?

“I went to a bright light that was both blissful and euphoric.'' ‘’More and more layers of my humanity started to peel off...’’ ‘’I saw white clouds with gods and angels.'' ‘’There was no concept of time. I was terrified of being blasted out of my DNA into the universe.” ‘’it was 1000 years of experience in 15 minutes.” Dr Rick Strassman didn’t quite know what to expect from participants taking part in his clinical trials. The trial was for a naturally occurring chemical in the body called DMT (Dimethyltryptamine). DMT was classified as a schedule one drug in the

1960s and banned – an absurdity when you consider that DMT occurs naturally in all living organisms. DMT has been in use for centuries in some South American cultures that recognise it as a consciousnessexpanding chemical and use it to cure emotional and psychological illnesses, drug and alcohol addiction, depression and also for seeking a deeper meaning and purpose to life. DMT is believed to paint a picture of one´s existence in front of their eyes to reveal the consequences of their actions. Although DMT occurs in the brain, it is destroyed very quickly in the liver when ingested through the mouth. Nevertheless, many cen-

turies ago, the indigenous tribes of the Amazon discovered a way to ingest DMT orally by boiling the leaves of a plant containing DMT with the vine of another tree containing a chemical that blocks the liver enzymes that destroy DMT. The brew locally known as Ayahuasca prolongs the effect of DMT in the body. The discovery of Ayahuasca is incredible when you consider that there are over 150,000 species of plants in the Amazon. The experiences described by participants in Dr Strassman´s research included all paranormal experiences recorded in many cultures all over the world, including contact with aliens, time travel, speaking with

gods, out of body travels and many others. Scientists speculate on the role of DMT in the body. What is clear is that DMT produces experiences that are outside our reality. The source of DMT in the body is still

unclear. Dr Strassman believes the pineal gland produces DMT. Many spiritual mystics regard the pineal gland as the third eye. Dr Strassman´s research featured in a movie available

on YouTube titled ´DMT: the spirit molecule.' For A Full Body Diagnostic Scan Call MedB Diagnostic on 965071745, 966189074. Or visit – www.medb.es

'Gender-biased infections' may exist

Viruses can evolve to become more aggressive in men than in women - at least in theory, a study suggests. The report, published in Nature Communications, argues there is a benefit to a virus "going easy" in women as it helps it spread. Some infections are known to be less deadly in women, but this is largely put down to differences in the immune system. Experts said the findings

were intriguing. Viruses have ways of spreading that are unique to women - such as to a child in the womb, during birth or breastfeeding. Scientists at Royal Holloway University in London used mathematics to model whether this altered the way viruses behaved. Their findings suggest there may be an advantage to infections being less aggressive in women as

reducing the risk of killing the mother increases the chance of infecting the child. Dr Francisco Ubeda, one of the researchers, said: "Viruses may be evolving to be less dangerous to women, looking to preserve the female population, the virus wants to be passed from mother to child, either through breastfeeding, or just through giving birth." Studies have shown that gender plays a role in the

types and severity of infections. The main ideas are differences in the immune system, hormones or sex chromosomes affecting risk. Dr Ubeda told the BBC News website: "We're turning it on its head and taking the pathogen's eye view. "We show theoretically it is possible, which is challenging, but we haven't proven what the mechanism is that would trigger this difference.

"Or that there will be a difference in the pathogen's behaviour between men and women." The researchers argue that eventually it may be possible to use drugs to trick viruses into thinking they were infecting women in order to make them less aggressive. But Dr Ubeda agrees this is firmly in the realm of "science fiction" at the moment. Prof Jonathan Ball, a virol-

ogist from the University of Nottingham, said: "The possibility that a virus - or indeed any other infection - can finetune its ability to cause disease to help its transmission in either males or females is intriguing. "Whilst the data is compelling, we have to remember that these are models nonetheless and testing them in real biological systems will be an important next step."

Friday 23rd December 2016 Advertorial

Once the festivities are over Once the festivities are over, the tinsel and lights are packed firmly back in their box, the parties have ground to a halt, and friends and relatives have gone back to work, you may well be looking for an antidote to the post-Christmas blues. What a brilliant time to go on a coach trip, meet new friends, explore some of Spain's most iconic cities, take advantage of the winter sales or just have a lazy 3 days in the Costa capital Benidorm. Choose from Benidorm, Madrid, Granada, or Valencia at incredibly low prices.

Benidorm - The capital of the Costas. There’s something for everyone in Benidorm, whether it’s sampling the wonderful food of Tapas Alley, enjoying a brandy or two on the seafront, or taking advantage of the nightly entertainment in the town. Why not recover from Christmas with a visit to Benidorm? Staying at the 4* Palm Beach on a full-board basis. Weekend Special, 3 days, 2 nights from Saturday Monday. Only 110€ per person. Dates available are: 7, 14 & 28 January & 4, 11, 18 & 25 February 2017.

Madrid - Spain's capital city offers all the excitement you would expect of a large city. With lots of big name shops, some of the most important art galleries and museums in the world (including the Prado, Thyssen & Reina Sofia museums) and a brilliant selection of cinemas, theatres, and restaurants. Also - two worldclass football teams - Real Madrid and Athletico Madrid, beautiful parks and equally beautiful architecture. The Royal Palace is worth a visit, and time spent in the large Plaza Mayor puts you right in the centre of the Madrid social life. With our city centre hotel you are in the heart of everything. Our 3-day excursions will run - January 30 - Feb 1. Only 149 euros. 3* City Hotel, B&B.

Valencia - Capital of the Valencia region. Like Madrid it offers a good selection of shops, bars, restaurants. The lovely thing about Valencia is that the dry river bed, of what was the River Turia, offers a lush green park right across the width of the city. The city centre with its particularly beautiful buildings, a magnificent cathedral and tower, flower-filled town square, and sparkling fountains surely must make Valencia one of the most pleasing city centres to visit. Not far from the centre are the spectacular futuristic buildings of the "City of Arts and Science". Within this same complex you will find one of the largest marine parks in Europe, complete with fish tunnel where you can walk amongst all types of marine life, including sharks, and also an excellent dolphin show. Other attractions include a Bio Park Zoo, the National Ceramics Museum, an impressive stone built bullring and much more. Our 3-day excursions will run, - January 16-18 or treat a loved one for Valentines February 13-16. Only 99€. 3* City hotel B&B:

Granada. - A wonderful city which simply breathes all things Spanish. The authentic soulful sounds of Spanish singing, flamenco costumes, fiery gypsy dancing in cave taverns, and all crowned by one of Spain's national jewels-The magnificent centuries-old Alhambra Palaces. Renowned throughout the world as the best example of Moorish architecture in the western world, yet in the Cathedral below lie the remains of its Christian conquerors - the Catholic Monarchs Isobel and Ferdinand. Around the Cathedral can be found a fascinating array of shops selling traditional goods, modern boutiques, and gift shops and all in the confines of the narrow streets of the old Moorish market place. Our 3-day excursions will run - January 23-25 & February 20-22. Only 107€. 4* City Hotel, B&B. All three city excursions include coach travel and are based in city centre hotels. These can all be reserved with David's Coachtrips by calling 966785910 or online at www.coachtripsonline.com.

Friday 23rd December 2016

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QUIZ MASTER Experienced quiz-master /question setter with personality. If you would like a quiz master that is entertaining, and is available to host quiz nights in local bars. Tel: 664 838 581.

CHURCH SERVICES Torrevieja Christian Fellowship at Avenida de las Cortes Valencianas 68, Torrevieja 03183, all welcome to their friendly and lively 10.30 am. Service each Sunday morning. Tele: 966700391 or visit our website on www.tcfspain.org.

International Christian Assembly, Calle Pilar de Horadada 5, Torrevieja. Evangelical non-denominational church. Sunday services 11am. Children's church 11am.. For more information lease Telephone today: 966 799 273 or 660 127 276.

REMOVALS

SECOND HAND SERVICES

966 921 003 Business Directory thecourier.es SWIMMING POOL SERVICES

TELEVISION

SITUATIONS VACENT

TUITION Guitar lessons for beginners, as well as improvers. From Only 10â&#x201A;Ź per hour. Tele 966789612 or Mobile number 629975378.

VETS

WINDOWS

SNOOKER

Solar Power - Sunlife Solar Solutions have vacancies for both a Solar Installation Engineer and a Solar Thermal Engineer (or plumber with pool heating experience). Call 965 271 717 or send your CV to info@sunlifesolarsolutions.com. Insurance Sales - The EasyCover Group have a full time vacancy available in their Torrevieja / La Zenia offices. You must have previous sales experience and have lived locally for at least 5 years. A full time contract is offered to the right candidate. Send your CV and enquiries by email to martin@easyoption.com Kleeneze has now arrived in Spain and we are seeking Independent Distributors in all areas. Contact Claire on 661 856 014 or claire.twigg@hotmail.com Hair Stylist - Flexible hours to suit, Villamartin area, please telephone 966765834. Radio Sales - RADIO COSTA MEDIA needs self-employed salesperson for Torrevieja & surrounding areas. Call 685 901 265 or please email info@radiocosta.eu Got a vacancy? Advertise it here, on TKO Radio, Facebook and the internet for just 20â&#x201A;Ź, call 966 921 003.

966 921 003 thecourier.es

Business Directory

Friday 23rd December 2016

RICHARD CAVENDER

BlueMoon Solutions www.bluemoonsolutions.es

BlueMoon Solutions is the computer and IT services company on the Costa Blanca. BlueMoon Solutions comes to you at home or at work. Their personal service covers from Alicante to Pilar de la Horadada.

Richard moved to Spain ten years ago having left his management background behind in the UK and decided to use his IT skills to help home users and small businesses with their PC problems. Now a relaxed 'computer man' he is out and about in the Spanish sun every day, making house and shop calls and using his vast experience and qualifications to sort out the problem there and then. Computers are his hobby as well as his work so don’t be surprised to get an answer to your email in the early hours!

ADVICE: Robin received an .odt file as an attachment and ADVICE: Pam wanted to know how to protect her Hotmail wanted to know how to open it. account.

Hi Richard, I have received a couple of mails with minutes of meetings attached. Unfortunately, whereas they have always previously been sent as .doc, this time they are .odt and when I try to open them, I get a page of gibberish, which looks remarkably like ms-dos. Any suggestions please. Thanks Robin

Hi Robin, these are OpenOffice text documents, you can open them with OpenOffice which is freely downloadable from openoffice.org if you don’t already have it installed on your laptop.

Hi Richard - being old and female, I'm afraid technology is hard for me! I read the mail from Trevor this week, but don't understand when you say "you can add this security to your account". How does one do this? I do keep a record of my passwords, coded of course, but, like Trevor, would not be able to remember details of messages sent etc. So please can you explain how I add this security to my account? Thanks, Oldie Pam

Hi Pam, in terms of Hotmail, you can do the following (once you have successfully logged onto your account)…

Click your profile name (top right of the screen)

Click account settings

3. Click security info and answer the relevant security question to prove you are who you say you are. 4. From the security info screen you can add or update your recovery information (phone numbers, alternative email addresses etc.) …hope that helps.

Website: www.bluemoonsolutions.es Email: office@bluemoonsolutions.es Mobile: 655 044 970 NEW: Tel: 965 987 032 Don’t forget, you can follow me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/bluemoonsolutionsspain/ Alternatively, why don’t you sign up for my newsletter. You can do this by going to:www.bluemoonsolutions.es/newsletter

Friday 23rd December 2016

Golf

Friday 23rd December 2016

Have A Hybrid Holiday

With Christmas just a couple of days away, you might want to treat yourself to some new golf clubs for that very special gift just for you. And if that golfing gift has already been purchased for you (and Santa has told you what it is), then what about marking your card for your birthday, as we point you in the direction of the Hybrid. While most golfers have at least one or two Hybrid clubs in their bag these days, there are plenty of players who would benefit from their distance

enhancing and forgiveness qualities by having them in their armoury. Even highly skilled players are benefitting from the playability of Hybrids, so why not give yourself the best chance of scoring by introducing a few of them into you own set? But rather than them just replacing the long irons, why not take a look at the other end of the club spectrum? You can get them with a similar hybrid shape to the sole to stop those thinned and fatted shots wedges too. Hybrids can give golfers

of all abilities an improved ball flight and better ball control from all types of lies, and here are five examples where they can help your game. 1: OFF THE TEE Good on long Par 3’s or short Par 4’s, when you need to carry a bunker or water hazard. They have a higher launch angle and come down at a much steeper angle than a long iron, making it easier to clear an obstacle and stop quicker on the green. 2. FROM THE FAIRWAY

Their distance control and accuracy make them good for building confidence on long approach shots to the green on Par 5’s and long Par 4’s. You could find yourself getting onto more Par 5’s in three, creating more birdie opportunities. 3: FROM THE ROUGH Long irons have a tendency to get caught up in the rough, causing them to twist, creating mishit shots. By contrast Hybrids have a bigger size and mass, helping to drive through the rough and keeping the face

square. 4: LONG BUNKER SHOTS On long bunker shots, it is important to hit the ball first, to get the ball airborne quickly and out of the sand trap. A Hybrid can come in handy, moving the ball back in the stance you get a steeper angle of attack, the larger sole and club head make it easier to swing through the sand without catching it heavy. 5: AROUND THE GREEN On bump and run shots around the green, the

Hybrid can help get the ball rolling quicker. Its shorter shaft helps hit the ball like a putt, without having to choke down the shaft, and never worry about catching it thin or taking a divot.

ARE HYBRIDS FOR YOU? Only you can decide obviously. Hybrids are increasingly playing a part in every golfer game. They simply make it that much easier – which makes it more rewarding and enjoyable.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2017

With this being the last Courier of 2016, the Golf Page takes a peek into 2017, with golf journalist T.J. Auclair from the PGA website, pga.com, listing his top five predictions for the New Year, and in reverse order! 5. Rory McIlroy will win the Masters and complete the career grand slam. It's the only one of the four glorious carrots still dangling in the face of the Ulsterman. Remember in 2011 when McIlroy looked to be in total control of the tournament going into the final nine holes and then totally derailed with a tee shot at the 10th hole and he wound up in a tie for 15th? He bounced right back a couple months

later to claim his first major victory in the U.S. Open at Congressional. Over the last three trips to Augusta National, McIlroy has finished T8, fourth and T10, respectively. Like everyone else who has earned a trip to the Masters, McIlroy has the 2017 tournament circled on his calendar... but those dates are circled twice on his calendar and coloured in with a highlighter. He wants this one baaaad!!!!! 4. Tiger Woods will win on the PGA Tour for the first time since the 2013 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. OK. I know he only beat two players in the 17-man field a few weeks back at the Hero

World Challenge, but I was encouraged by what I saw from Tiger in the Bahamas. The swing looks more in control than ever before. That's certainly not to say it's the best swing he's ever had in his career. It simply is meant to drive home the point that it isn't as violent, which -- hopefully -will alleviate some of the stress on his back and knees. I don't think we'll ever see early-2000s Tiger Woods again. That would be crazy. He's going to be 41 years old when 2017 begins. But tell me you weren't excited about that 65 in the Bahamas. It'll be all about putting four rounds together for the 14-time major champ and I

think he will still be able to do that on occasion. 3. Sergio Garcia will win a major championship. You may not realize this, but only three times since turning professional in 1999 -- 2000, 2010, 2012 -has Garcia gone an entire year without a top-10 finish in at least one of the season's four major. Yet, still, he has nothing to show for the fine play in terms of hardware... just four runner-up finishes. In recent years, we've seen the likes of Adam Scott, Jason Day and Henrik Stenson all get the major monkey off their backs. I think Garcia follows suit in 2017. 2. There will be another 58 recorded in a PGA Tour

event. Jim Furyk fired the Tour's first and only 58 at the Travelers Championship in 2016. I believe another player will step up and fire that low, low number again this season. The biggest reason? Since it has been done, players now know it's attainable. It's ridiculously stupid low, but attainable. I'd imagine that when a score like that is in reach, it's hard not to think ahead. But there has to be a part of a player where the tension is eased by the thought, "It's not like it's never been done before." With all the firepower the players on Tour possess these days, along with courses that offer driveable par 4s, we're going

to see another 58 sooner rather than later. 1. Wesley Bryan will be the PGA Tour's Rookie of the Year. One half of the Bryan Brothers trick-shot duo, Wesley had a breakout season on the Web.com Tour in 2016, winning three times to receive an automatic performance promotion to the PGA Tour. He already has a PGA Tour top 10 under his belt -- a T8 in the John Deere Classic late last summer. So far in the 2016-17 season, Bryan has made the cut in three of his four starts. He's going to carry the momentum from his days on the Web.com Tour and turn some heads in the big leagues.

The Courier Sport

The Same Old Result CF BORRIOL 2 CD TORRVIEJA 0 Torrevieja’s winless run continued on Sunday as they lost away to fellow-relegation strugglers Borriol. It would have been a blessing for Torry if the dreadful weather had postponed this fixture on Sunday, but it wasn’t to be, as the team made the long journey north to pick up another defeat, which meant they haven’t picked up three points since early November. With Hugo still out with injury and captain Lewis Allen sitting things out after being ordered to rest after his dizzy spell after the home defeat to Paterna, there was a lack of firepower upfront in this proverbial sixpointer. Torry started well in some dreadful playing conditions and had most of the early play, with Damian forcing a good save from Borriol keeper, Óscar, but eventually Borriol woke up to take control. A good shot from

Tali gave Torry keeper Buba no chance in the 28th minute, and Borriol, despite a decent Torry start, were beginning to run the show, though Robles had an opportunity for the visitors close to half-time. The second period saw Buba have a busy time of it, with Bielsa looking especially dangerous for Borriol, with Torry players forced to foul him (and get yellow-carded into the bargain) in order to control his skills. Ten minutes from time, Carrasco got his second caution as Borriol looked in a good attacking position, and he got his marching orders, but

CD ALMORADI 1 CD TORREVIEJA 1 that a seven-point gap has opened up until they hit Recambios Colon and Silla on 24 points. A decent crowd of around 500 fans saw Almoradi create a series of clear first-half chances that they did not capitilise on, as Torry welcomed back Lewis Allen, who was expected to miss the match after fainting in the aftermath of his side’s match against Paterna ten days earlier. It was an unhappy return for the British player, as he was sent off just seconds into the second half for a scrap with Coco, who also got his matching orders. Also surprisingly back in the Torry side, after injury, was Hugo Salamanca (who played for the first hour until substituted by David), and making his last outing before returning to Australia, was Pastor, who got Torry’s second-half equaliser for a priceless share of the spoils. Torry’s midfield looked disorganised in the first half, as

Weekend Wash Out

things had been pretty much wrapped up for the home side just two minutes earlier, as Bielsa had made two-nil direct from an excellent free kick. Torry’s second-half substitutions had little effect on which way the match went, and the look of the third division table on Sunday was worrying, as teams above them are beginning to stretch away. Ahead of last Wednesday night’s crucial match at Almoradi, Torry were fourth from bottom occupying the last relegation spot, with the prospect of a long hard winter for the club.

Better For Torry

A cold Wednesday night at the Sadrián stadium produced a result that Torrevieja would be happier with in this meeting of two relegationthreatened sides, after Almoradi dominated the first half, and then both teams played nearly all of the second period with ten men, after two key players got sent off. The third division table makes grim reading for Almoradi and their new coach Joserra, in official charge for the first time, as they are second from bottom and five points off getting out of the relegation area, though they do have a game in hand after last weekend’s postponement. For Torrevieja, they remain fourth from bottom, with Muro in the safety zone just above them on goal difference, having gone down three-one at Orihuela on Wednesday night. For both Torry and Muro though, the worrying read on the table is

Friday 23rd December 2016

Coco and ex-Torry man Obele came close, and eventually Almoradi got their reward in the 36th minute when Vicente Boix brought down Manu in the penalty area, who then converted the spot-kick himself. After the double-sending off at the start of the second half, Torry started to show a lot more adventure, and Pastor levelled things up in the 66th minute. Shots from Manu and Cristian Sánchez brought Torry keeper Buba into action, whilst at the other end, a Damián header could have given the visitors all three points in the final fixture before the holiday season. The first matches of the New Year on Sunday January 8th will see Torry get a tough examination at home to promotion contenders Villarreal, whilst Almoradi go to Silla. In anothert result on Wednesday night, Crevillente lost two-nil at home to Elche Ilicitano.

CD Almoradi’s home encounter with the third division’s fifth-placed side, Alzira, was postponed on Sunday as the Sadrián pitch was waterlogged, with both sides (subject to confirmation) looking to re-stage the

fixture on Wednesday December 28th. With storms forecast, the Valencian FA took the decision to postpone all of last weekend’s matches at Preferente level and below, though the third division

clashes featuring Crevillente versus Torre Levante and Orihuela against Buñol both went under, though Elche Ilicitano’s match at Recambios Colon did go ahead and finished in a nil-nil draw.

The Courier Sport

Friday 23rd December 2016

A Real Battle

Magical Barcelona

REAL MADRID 4 KASHIMA ANTLERS 2 (AET) Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid survived a scare to beat Japanese side Kashima Antlers in extra time to win the Club World Cup on Sunday in Yokohama. Real took the lead in the ninth minute through Karim Benzema, but Gaku Shibasaki scored either side of half-time to put Kashima in front. Ronaldo levelled from the penalty spot on the hour mark after Lucas Vazquez was fouled by Shuto Yamamoto. The Ballon d'Or winner then put his side ahead in extra time after being played through by Benzema, and completed his hat-trick seven minutes later. Victory gave Real their second Club World Cup and extended their unbeaten run to 37 games in all competitions. It also means nine of the past 10 winners of the competition have come from Europe. The Champions League winners looked set for a comfortable afternoon when Benzema put them ahead, and they dominated possession in the opening stages. But Kashima - the first Japanese team to reach a Club World Cup final - impressed in an entertaining game, and Shibasaki took both goals well. Indeed, after Ronaldo's equalising penalty, Kashima had the better chances late in normal time. First Keylor Navas saved a long-range strike from Fabricio, then Yasushi Endo shot wide at the back post with the final kick of the 90 minutes. At 3-2 down, Yuma Suzuki hit the bar with a header. The Japanese side also felt Real captain Sergio Ramos should have been sent off in normal time when he appeared to body-check an opponent when on a yellow card.

BARCELONA 4 ESPANYOL 1 Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi were the stars of a superb Barcelona show as Barcelona beat Espanyol in the Catalan derby on Sunday evening, with the result putting Barca three points behind leaders Real Madrid in the table, though having played a game more. Uruguayan forward Suarez celebrated his new contract by netting twice, getting his first in the 18th minute before firing home a rebounded effort from Messi after some sublime skill. Messi cut through the visiting defence once again just a minute later to set up Jordi Alba for Barcelona's third, with David Lopez hitting a fine effort in reply for Espanyol. But Messi sealed the victory on the stroke of the 90th minute as he linked up with Suarez to score the fourth goal. “In the second half we saw a spectacular display of our forward players, especially Messi,” Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said. “We shouldn’t stop praising something just because it happens so many times that it looks routine. We shouldn’t get used to it, it’s unique.” “When we are all playing well as a group, it makes it easier for the individual players to make things happen,” said Barca player Andres Iniesta. “Leo is crucial for us.”

Suarez Renews

Good News For Real

Luis Suarez has signed a new contract with Barcelona until 2021, which means that he will stay at the club until he is 34 years old and contains a release clause of 200 million euros. Suarez has scored 97 goals in 116 games for Barcelona since signing from Liverpool in 2014 for a reported 81 million euro, and has collected eight major trophies. He scored 40 times in La Liga last season, making him top scorer in Spain and landing him the European Golden Shoe award for the top marksman in Europe's top five leagues. "I feel complete happiness because I am where I want to be," Suarez said. "It's now official. I never put any obstacles in the way of a renewal. I will never lose my ambition and enthusiasm for winning trophies and scoring goals." Suarez's contract renewal comes two months after fellow striker Neymar penned a new deal with Barcelona, meaning Lionel Messi is the only member of Barcelona’s forward line who has yet to sign a new contract with the club. Suarez said he hoped Messi, whose current deal expires in 2018, would follow his lead, although he said the Argentine would make his decision on his own terms. "My renewal has nothing to do with Neymar or Messi's. Leo is a legend and he knows what he has to do and decide," added Suarez. "As a teammate, I am available to help him out but Leo is old enough to decide for himself. We are friends and we have a great relationship, but he is an adult and he has to take that decision."

Real Madrid's transfer ban was cut on Tuesday, allowing the club to sign new players sooner than expected, after they denied wrongdoing in signing young players from outside Spain who played in games since 2005. The Court of Arbitration for Sport partially upheld Madrid's appeal against FIFA, keeping the team barred from registering new players only in the January trading period. But Madrid can now sign new players in the off season transfer period starting in June. FIFA had imposed a one-year transfer ban in January. Its appeal panel confirmed the sanction to take effect for 2017. Madrid must also pay FIFA a fine of 240,000 Swiss francs, reduced from 360,000 Swiss francs by the single judge who heard the case. "Considering that the infractions committed by Real Madrid were less serious and less numerous than argued by the FIFA judiciary bodies, the (judge) ruled that the sanctions imposed on Real Madrid had to be reduced," the court said in a statement. Real Madrid were still not happy with punishment change: "The decision highlights the injustice of the original ban imposed by FIFA, although the club regrets that the CAS lacked the courage to revoke the ruling entirely," Madrid said in a statement. The court gave an urgent ruling Tuesday and is expected to publish its full reasons in several weeks.

One Bright Moment

REUS 0 ELCHE 1 Elche finished off their account for 2016 last Friday with victory in a scrappy affair at Reus thanks to an early secondhalf goal from Guillermo. The Ilicitanos’ inconsistent form has been frustrating, but at least they are still in the promotion play-off mix, after getting the three points away to a team that are above them in the Segunda division table. Heavy rain was hardly conducive to good football, and the first half offered little in the way of entertainment to the two thousand-plus spectators that braved the elements with Guillermo's goal, just thirty seconds into the second half, the only real moment of merit. Edu Albácar played a fine ball to Guillermo who slipped past two Reus defenders to score. The home side then huffed and puffed as Elche were happy to go into defensive mode, with Reus not producing a strike of any merit to worry keeper Juan Carlos. The Ilicitanos pick up their campaign on Sunday January 8th, when they entertain another team just above them in the play-off zone, Cadiz.

The Courier Sport With John McGregor

TOP AND BOTTOM

OH, ARSENAL!

47 FIXTURES Friday 23rd December 2016 LADBROKES SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP 20:45 Dundee v Heart of Midlothian 20:45 Kilmarnock v St Johnstone 20:45 Motherwell v Aberdeen 20:45 Ross County v Partick Thistle Saturday 24th December 2016

Swans Showdown

Swansea City’s manager Bob Bradley badly needs a win to get out of the relegation zone. From being a pin-up club, the Swans are now a pale parody of the spirited side of several seasons ago. On Boxing Day night, a fragile West Ham are the visitors to the valleys: is the Hammers’ recovery after a dreadful start for real, or a flash in the pan? Six-pointer for the Swans.

Barca’s Romp

BARCELONA 7 HERCULES 1 (AGG 8-1) Arda Turan notched a second-half hat-trick while Paco Alcacer finally scored his first Barcelona goal as Barcelona moved into the last 16 of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night with an emphatic second-leg win over Alicante side Hercules. Coach Luis Enrique made a number of changes to his starting line-up, with Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Luis Suarez all rested, despite the tie balanced at 1-1 following the first leg. His decision to rotate his squad paid off, though, as Barca ran riot in the second half, after leading two-nil at the interval.

Monday 26th December 2016 PREMIER LEAGUE 13:30 Watford v Crystal Palace 16:00 Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion 16:00 Burnley v Middlesbrough 16:00 Chelsea v Bournemouth 16:00 Leicester City v Everton 16:00 Manchester United v Sunderland 16:00 Swansea City v West Ham United 18:15 Hull City v Manchester City SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP 14:00 Brentford v Cardiff City 16:00 Aston Villa v Burton Albion 16:00 Barnsley v Blackburn Rovers 16:00 Huddersfield Town v Nottingham Forest 16:00 Ipswich Town v Fulham 16:00 Preston North End v Leeds United 16:00 Reading v Norwich City 16:00 Rotherham United v Wigan Athletic 16:00 Wolverhampton Wanderers v Bristol City 20:45 Newcastle United v Sheffield Wednesday SKY BET LEAGUE ONE 14:00 Southend United v AFC Wimbledon 16:00 Bolton Wanderers v Shrewsbury Town 16:00 Bradford City v Scunthorpe United 16:00 Bristol Rovers v Coventry City 16:00 Fleetwood Town v Bury 16:00 Millwall v Swindon Town 16:00 Milton Keynes Dons v Charlton Athletic 16:00 Oxford United v Northampton Town 16:00 Peterborough United v Gillingham 16:00 Port Vale v Walsall 16:00 Rochdale v Chesterfield 16:00 Sheffield United v Oldham Athletic SKY BET LEAGUE TWO 14:00 Leyton Orient v Crawley Town 16:00 Cheltenham Town v Barnet 16:00 Crewe Alexandra v Carlisle United 16:00 Grimsby Town v Accrington Stanley 16:00 Hartlepool United v Blackpool 16:00 Luton Town v Colchester United 16:00 Mansfield Town v Morecambe 16:00 Newport County v Portsmouth 16:00 Notts County v Doncaster Rovers 16:00 Plymouth Argyle v Wycombe Wanderers 16:00 Stevenage v Cambridge United 16:00 Yeovil Town v Exeter City LADBROKES SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP 16:00 Dunfermline Athletic v Falkirk LADBROKES SCOTTISH LEAGUE ONE 16:00 Peterhead v Stenhousemuir LADBROKES SCOTTISH LEAGUE TWO 16:00 Forfar Athletic v Clyde

Information correct at time of publication but subject to change at short notice.

Monday’s Boxing Day fixtures see Premier League rock bottom Hull under worried boss Mike Phelan, take on an improving Man City side in third, who may have just turned a corner with Sunday’s storming 2 – 1 against Arsenal - and that was without the banned Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho. Worringly for hapless Hull, the Blues will be back to full strength at the KC stadium, and it’s hard to see a home win with the Tigers toothless on a poor run. Neither Leicester or Everton are settled currently with results all over the place. Jamie Vardy’s controversial three-match ban after the two-footed tackle against Stoke stands, and without him the Foxes look lightweight up front. Still in flashes looking like reigning champions, Ranieri’s heroes came back to draw 2 – 2 from being two down with ten men. The Toffees tasted bitter defeat on Monday in the Merseyside derby, losing by the odd goal in stoppage time and really need some consistency to avoid slipping down to mid-table mediocrity. This looks a great game, don’t miss it.

One nil up, two one down, let’s all now see Arsene frown… Sorry Gooners, that’s a naughty twist on their old taunt, usually practiced on sour Spurs fans. Recently the Gunners were furiously firing on all four: that number of goals were belted in against Basel, whilst storming through to the final stages from their Champions League group. Shaking off the defeat by Liverpool on the opening day of the season, a comprehensive 3 – 0 win over now-leaders Chelsea looked like the wobbly days of recent years were over: successive draws in difficult games against Spurs and Man United were OK. The United game looked significant, where after losing 1 – 0 for most of the match, the Gunners snatched a draw with a late Olivier Giroud header – ah, signs of Red resilience at last? Then after three goal wins against Stoke and Bournemouth, and scintillatingly smashing five past West Ham in the new London stadium, Arsenal were looking good again, while rising to second in the Premier League. Hang on, this is Arsenal, remember… suddenly it’s all unravelling again at the Emirates. Twice in successive matches lightning has struck, both where it hurts: 2 – 1 defeats from Everton and Man City from a winning position will not have amused anyone at Arsenal, as the Gunners have sank back to fourth - one meaningful point and one precarious place over their nastiest neighbours in the Capital and the Universe: Spurs. Yet again the soft underbelly of Arsene Wenger’s side has been exposed and the all-too-familiar capitulation witnessed so often has driven the Gooners wild – again! Oh, how some defensive midfield strength was needed as both Blues’ sides dug in when behind and successfully went for the win. As Kevin De Bruyne stepped forward on Super Sunday to take the responsibility vacated by the suspended Sergio Aguero, Mesuit Ozil failed to respond, and Alexis Sanchez was vitally starved of service in the second half. Arsenal looked brittle and cracked they looked tired. Agreed, the Gunners have Champions League football to factor in where the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool have no European commitments, but these last two games will have raised all the old questions and doubts about their soft underbelly. Arsenal heads went down – again with Arsene Wenger afterwards incandescent with rage. Here the Frenchman let himself down postmatch, once again turning his guns on the referees and their decisions: dangerous targets for a manager, especially picking on top ones like Mark Clattenburg and Martin Atkinson and an attitude which plays into the hands of his critics like Everton manager Ronald Koeman. In football and luck what comes around goes around, and even the arch moaner, Wenger’s nemesis Jose Mourinho, appears to have worked that one out and – at last – is keeping schtum: - ‘It is very difficult to accept in a game of that stature but, as it is well known, the referees are protected very well like lions in the zoo, so we have to live with those decisions.’ Hmm, it’s a pity the Frenchman can’t appear more gracious in defeat. So now the Gunners have sustained three defeats in total. We’re only in December, but the problem is that the gap up to Chelsea is already nine points. Arsenal now have crucial home games coming up against West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace - and that gap cannot be allowed to get any wider.

LADBROKES SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP 13:30 Hamilton Academical v Celtic 13:30 Rangers v Inverness Caledonian Thistle LADBROKES SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP 13:30 Ayr United v Dumbarton 13:30 Dundee United v St Mirren 14:00 Hibernian v Raith Rovers 14:00 Greenock Morton v Queen of the South LADBROKES SCOTTISH LEAGUE ONE 14:00 Albion Rovers v East Fife 14:00 Alloa Athletic v Brechin City 14:00 Stranraer v Airdrieonians 15:00 Livingston v Queen's Park LADBROKES SCOTTISH LEAGUE TWO 14:00 Annan Athletic v Berwick Rangers 14:00 Cowdenbeath v Arbroath 14:00 Montrose v Stirling Albion

For the rest of the week´s listings, visit the website, thecourier.es

Merry Christmas from The Courier Sports Team

spaper/ /couriernew m o .c k o o b Face

www.TheCourier.es

FINDINGS SLAMMED

Ex-Saracens captain Alistair Hargreaves says the findings of the review into the way George North was treated for a head injury are "a disgrace". On Wednesday, a review panel decided not to punish Northampton despite concluding that North should not have played on against Leicester. Hargreaves, 30, had to retire in October because of a concussion injury. "Is that what we call player welfare? What a depressing day for rugby," said the former South Africa international.

BULGAR DEAL

German promoters Kalle and Nisse Sauerland have confirmed that their fighter Kubrat Pulev must face the winner of the contest between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko. IBF heavyweight champion Joshua will meet Klitschko at Wembley Stadium on April 29th and whoever holds the IBF belt must agree to fight the Bulgarian within 90 days.

BOXING DAY BONANZA! Moyes In Trafford Return

To knock the stuffing out of the opposition, Christmas Day means that Premier League footballers have to go easy with their lunch (writes JOHN MCGREGOR) – as there’s a big Boxing Day ahead on Monday! Early Doors, a Christmas Cracking London derby kicks off as Watford entertain Crystal Palace: the Hornets are buzzing with mid-table respectability, but a run of poor results have seen the Eagles swoop down to only one place above the Dreaded Drop Department on 15 points. One point and one crucial place behind Palace, sit seasonal strugglers Sunderland who, of the sweatees in the DDD have the biggest task. The Theatre of Dreams will be a hard place for David Moyes to return to, with nightmares of what-went-wrong… Sunderland are off the bottom at last, but away at Old Trafford taking on miserable Mourinho’s Merry Men is a huge task. With Zlatan Ibrahamovic’s eleven goals, United have put together a good run with aims of higher than their present sedate sixth place. Eleven wins on the spin and six points clear at the top of the Prem have ensured a cracking Christmas for everyone at Stamford Bridge. Maybe Eddie Howe’s remarkable Bournemouth side could be party poopers the day after the festivities, but with keeping-cool Costa bangin’ em in, Cesc back in the fold and backed by a mean defence, it’s hard to see the Cherries coming away cheerfully. Arsenal are back to doing what they do best, infuriating their legion of faithful fans with one step forward smartly followed by two back (see over): beating Stoke 2 – 1, then losing 2 – 1 to Everton followed by going down to Man City last weekend by the same score and sinking back to forlorn fourth place. Now it’s difficult-to-beat West Brom arriving at the Emirates, and with nasty neighbours Spurs just one point and one place behind, Arsene’s Army need to bounce back. There’s news of more Boxing Day goodies inside on page 47.

THE COURIER No.1 for SPORT! All the action p 44-47