The Courier Edition 309 by TKO UK

THE WEATHER

Edition 309

www.thecourier.es

Friday 17th February 2017

UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT T

he Murcia regional president, Pedro Antonio Sánchez of the Partido Popular, is to be investigated by the National Court as part of Operation Punica that has been running for the last few years. Some 22 new names are being looked at, with Punica being centred around town halls in the Murcia, Madrid, Leon, and Valencia regions. Alleged collusion took place between local councillors and civil servants, with builders and energy service providers, and key companies. Contracts said to be worth hundreds of millions of euro have been secured over the years. National Court judge Eloy Velasco says that he wants more information over the Murcia president’s dealings back in 2014 with businessman Alejandro de Pedro,

when Antonio Sánchez was the regional education secretary. De Pedro is seen as one of the key figures in the Punica investigation and the Murcia president is being investigated by judge Velasco over allegations of signing deals with the businessman in exchange for favourable publicity boosting his political reputation. Earlier this month, Murcia’s High Court opened a file into corruption involving the building of an auditorium in the municipality of Puerto Lumbreras during the time that Antonio Sánchez was the mayor. He is being accused of the misuse of his office and public funds, as well as fraud concerning official papers. Like in the Punica case, the local investigation has not yet led to any formal charges, and Antonio Sánchez strenously

BY ALEX TRELINSKI denies the allegations. Speaking on Monday about the Punica case, the Murcia President (pictured at his briefing) told reporters half a dozen times that no contract of any kind was agreed with de Pedro or with his company. He stressed that he had over a dozen official documents that

would clear him with any involvement in the Punica affair, and that he is happy to give a full explanation when he is called to do so. He then added on Tuesday that his political opponents were looking to make capital out of the issue, but said he would resign if he was formally charged with anything.

NEVER TOO OLD

wo 59-year old women from Pilar de la Horadada have been arrested by the Guardia Civil on charges of a dozen crimes involving home robberies across the area. They struck in daylight because they thought nobody would think them capable of staging breakin’s, as they walked around urbanisations looking for any doors that might have been left open. Rojales, Pilar de la Horadada, and the Orihuela Costa were some of the areas they operated in, and they went as far north as Altea. On two occasions they were not afraid to use

violence against any homeowners they encountered, leading to residents groups exchanging information via social networks in a bid to warn people and also to try to catch them. The duo would steal small items like jewellery and mobile phones, with the Guardia releasing a CCTV image showing how they operated, with one of the women acting as a look-out, whilst the other would get into the property. Their nationality or whether they have an existing criminal record has not been made public by the Guardia.

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers in the afternoon. Thunder possible. High 16ºC. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 km/h. Chance of rain: 40% Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low 9ºC. Winds W at 15 to 30 km/h. Winds could occasionally gust over 65 km/h.

See page 2 for the week´s forecast

News

Friday 17th February 2017

Brits Rescued

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A 67-year-old British hiker was winched off to safety by a helicopter (pictured) after suffering a 40 metre fall at a northern Costa Blanca beauty spot. The unnamed man was close to the top of the Rock of Ifach in Calpe last Friday morning when he slipped and suffered multiple injuries. A fire rescue helicopter was scrambled from San Vincente del Raspeig in the Alicante area, and took him down to Calpe prome-

nade, where an ambulance was waiting to take him to Alicante General Hospital. The previous day, the same helicopter came to the aid of a British climber who found himself lost in the Sierra de Orihuela at Reguero Bonanza. The 32year-old man phoned emergency services just after 2.00 pm, and within 15 minutes he had been located, with the rescue taking place within an hour.

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A report for Orihuela council that shows satisfaction levels at 80 percent for local beaches has been queried by the Federación de Asociaciones de Orihuela Costa (FAOC), who say that the overall figure masks concerns that were raised by people that were questioned. Recently appointed beaches and coastal councillor Luisa Boné (pictured left), along with tourism councillor Sofía Álvarez, said that approval ratings by beach users had gone up six percent in 2016 compared to a year earlier. The

most valued spots by residents and tourists were Punta Prima, Cala Mosca and Cala Estaca. The councillors stressed that it was an independent company that compiled the survey and that the results would be used for the "Q" Quality awards that are handed to municipalities across Spain. FAOC claim that the figures, which produce an overall rating, take in many factors like sunshine, the temperature, as well as water and sand quality. FAOC say that the survey makes it clear that in the sample of 1,500 peo-

Park’s First Steps

ple questioned, only 20 percent were totally happy with the state of the beaches, citing issues like algae, the short length of walkways, and access issues. Boné said that the comments from the people surveyed would be taken on board, and that would include better access to Cala Mosca; more sand to be brought onto Punta Prima beach; and an increase in the number of footbaths. "We will continue working to maintain the satisfaction levels, and produce even better figures next year", Boné added.

On Parade

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San Javier mayor, José Miguel Luengo (pictured right), has pledged the council’s support to the union representing workers at San Javier airport, who are worried about the loss of jobs or enforced relocation when the facility is eventually closed and moved to Corvera. The mayor met with local union leader Cayetano

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DEADLINES

Conesa, who represents the interests of 72 workers at the airport, and made it clear that his members were very uneasy about all the uncertainty. A demonstration was then held outside the terminal building, with no fresh developments over the retendering of the management contract for the facility at Corvera.

After 30 years of campaigning, the first formal move to make the Sierra Escalona a protected natural park has been put into motion, according to Julia Alvaro of Valencia's environment department. Speaking to municipal

representatives and environmentalists from the local authority areas that the Sierra Escalona covers (Orihuela, San Miguel, and Pilar), Alvaro stated that it would take at least two years for the process to be completed.

The first of the two Torrevieja Carnival parades will be staged this Sunday afternoon (February 19th), starting at 4.00 pm from the Plaza de María Asunción. The procession will wind through Calle Ramón Gallud and Calle Patricio Pérez. 37 floats with 1,500 participants were involved in last year’s Sunday parade. The night parade is a more informal affair and will be held on Saturday February 25th, also beginning at the same start point at 10.00 pm.

News Thursday 12:00 Stop Press Thursday 18:00 Published by TKO Media & Entertainment S.L. Printed by Localprint S.L Depósito legal A - 188 - 2014 The Courier, its publishers, members of staff and its agents do not accept responsibility for any readers letters or claims by advertisers nor can it be held responsible for any errors in advertisements which are reproduced from poor artwork, low quality electronic data or inadequate instructions for text or other layout features. Further no responsibility is accepted for any loss or damage caused by an error, inaccuracy or nonappearance of any advertisement, although all advertisements produced are checked prior to insertion. We regret that we cannot accept responsibility for more than ONE incorrect insertion and that no re-publication will be granted in the case of typographical or minor changes which do not affect the value of the advertisement. E&OE. NO PART OF THIS NEWSPAPER MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE PUBLISHERS.

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News

Friday 17th February 2017

Caterpillar Hassles

Recent strong winds and rising temperatures have seen processionary caterpillars, who nest in pine trees, causing problems in the Elche area, especially to children. The spit from the caterpillars can cause very unpleasant skin irritations with stinging, itching and redness which need to be treated. Touching pine cones and tree trunks or anything that the caterpillars have come in contact with, can lead to problems.

Around 30 people, mostly young children, have been treated at Elche health centres, with four youngsters coming into the Santa Pola health centre, and a further four at El Altet, plus 20 pupils aged between three and four years at the Menendez Pelayo de Elche school needed treatment, with the caterpillars offering the biggest nuisance in areas close to schools, as well as parks close to pine tree

areas. A total of 32 schools in the Elche area have now called for fumigation to take place to eradicate the caterpillars. However, environmentalists point out that caterpillars become butterflies and butterflies are the second most important insect in the pollination process, second only to bees, and so attempts to destroy them could lead to an environmental disaster.

Name That Driver!

Opposition socialist councillors on Orihuela council have given the mayor, Emilio Bascuñana an ultimatum to reveal who was behind the wheel of the official mayor's car, which received at least four tickets for speeding violations. Councillor Victor Ruiz says that the PSOE will push for an official inquiry if they don't get answers before the end of the month, after a series of speed tickets were issued, including one in the Madrid area. Ruiz accepts that Bascuñana was not behind the wheel, but wants

to find out who the offender was, as well as getting an assurance that the accumulated 500 euro fines will not come out of municipal funds. Ruiz added that he had written a letter asking for details last November and had not yet got a reply, and that the element of withholding information and a "lack of interest" to his query was behind the latest move. Bascuñana has previously said that the mayor's car is available to councillors and officials, as well as to advisers to the Orihuela government team.

Below Average

Cheaper Tests

The cost of having your car go through an ITV test in the Murcia region is set to be slashed by 37 percent, with a 43 percent diesel vehicle reduction, under regional government plans to advertise a new 15 year contract for ITV centres. The administration claims

that it will make the test rates some of the lowest in Spain. Part of the tender package also includes the creation of 11 new ITV centres with an extra centre proposed for the Cartagena area as well as one for Santomera, close to the

border with Alicante Province. Current ITV rates in Murcia are still substantially cheaper than for the neighbouring Valencia region, with a fair amount of "border-hopping" taking place to centres like San Pedro del Pinatar (pictured).

Waiting times for operations at Torrevieja hospital and at the Vinalopó hospital in Elche are 77 days less than the rest of the public hospitals in the Valencia region, according to official figures. The data up until the end of December shows that waiting lists average 115 days across all of the region’s hospitals, but the waits at Torrevieja and

Vinalopó come in at just 38 days. Specialist areas like cardiac and thoracic surgery come in at less than 30 days whilst for vascular operations, the waiting time at the two hospitals was five months less than in other facilities across the Valencia region. General surgery times came in at three months better than the regional average.

Sniffed Out

A canine member of the Alicante dog unit has sniffed out 12 kilos of marijuana in a routine check on a coach that stopped for a break at Alicante bus station. The dog went into action in the luggage hold of a coach travelling north from Algeciras to Barcelona, where it got very interested in a suitcase that was crammed with marijuana all package up in plastic bags. A 56-year-old Spaniard found that his journey had an unscheduled end, as he was taken off to the police station and charged with drugs offences. He is the fourth drugs carrier arrested this year in Alicante thanks to the work of the dog unit.

Smart Move

Electricity company Iberdrola says that one point one million smart meters had been installed in homes across Alicante Province by the beginning of the month. 84 percent of domestic and low user customers had already got the new meters according to Iberdrola, with the equipment allowing consumers to analyse their usage of electricity, which helps them decide what tariff is best for them.

City Link

Friday 17th February 2017

Banged To Rights

Electromar Blow

Budget air carrier Ryanair has launched a twice-weekly link between Aberdeen and Alicante-Elche airports. The all-year services will run on a Saturday and Thursday, with the Boeing 737-800 plane able to carry some 189 passengers.

Moving Forward

The former Torrevieja tourist office at Alto de la Casilla, which looks down upon La Mata, should open before the summer as a new base for the city’s local police rapid response unit (GRO). Mayor José Manuel Dolón says that the transfer should happen within two months. The GRO had to leave the ex-tourist office in the Plaza de Capdepont 16 months ago when part of the roof caved in, and have since been based temporarily in La Siesta. The council announced the move to Alto de la Casilla back in June, but there has been a row over the way the building had been previously used, with accusations that it been turned into a tourist office in 2007 without the appropriate documentation.

Switched On

Some 130 street lights around Rafal have been switched to low cost energy saving versions at a cost of 120 thousand euro. The work has been paid for by the Alicante Provincial Council, with changes around the town taking in the Plaza de España.

Several ex-Partido Popular officials from the Valencia region, including ex-regional tourist minister, Milagrosa Martínez (pictured in court), plus businessmen involved in a big corruption scandal, were given jail sentences of up to 13 years by the Valencia High Court last Friday. The scandal revolves around Francisco Correa, a businessman accused of showering PP representatives and civil servants in several places around Spain with bribes in exchange for public contracts for his companies or those of his friends. The corruption network in the socalled Gürtel scandal is suspected of having embezzled tens of millions of euros in public funds between 1999 and 2005. The Valencian regional tourist minister, Milagrosa Martínez, was jailed for nine

years for her role in the Gürtel scam, with Correa getting 13 years. Correa's right-hand men Pablo Crespo and Álvaro Pérez, known as 'El Bigotes', were sentenced to 13 and 12 years respectively. The case in Valencia involved alleged bribes in exchange for lucrative public works contracts, inflating estimates and final costs to obtain more public funds than needed and split the difference, often invoicing twice or for non-existent costs. They included the contract for Valencia's regional stand at the international FITUR tourism fair in Madrid between 2005 and 2009. It is only one section of the wider scandal surrounding Correa, who is also on trial in Madrid along with 36 other defendants in a similar case that also involves two former PP national treasurers.

Chiefs Charged The former head of Spain's central bank was charged on Monday for allegedly allowing the troubled Bankia bank to list on the stock exchange in 2011 "despite repeated warnings... that the group was unviable." Miguel Angel Fernandez Ordonez, in charge of the central bank from 2006 to 2012, was charged over the failed listing, which saw small investors lose millions of euro in investment, as was the former president of Spain's CNMV market regulator Julio Segura, a National Court order revealed.

Bankia was bailed out in May 2012 less than a year after its listing, and is accused of misrepresenting its accounts ahead of the flotation. Rodrigo Rato, a former economy minister and ex-IMF chief who headed up Bankia at the time of its listing, has also been charged over the scandal.

One of Torrevieja’s biggest public events, which attracts visitors from the whole of Spain, has had the plug pulled on it by the mayor, José Manuel Dolón. The Electromar Music Festival, which attracts around ten thousand people every July to Torrevieja’s Antonio Soria park, was scrapped as long ago as October, but the story has only just surfaced. The Informacion newspaper has reported that the decision was taken five months back, after a local resident complained to the Ombudsman about the noise, and in response Dolón said that he decided to scrap the event, though

the details have only just been made public. Electromar has been staged for the last nine years, but the 2016 festival very nearly didn’t happen after a row between the organisers and the coalition-led Torrevieja council, with the Electromar team accusing the authority of “not showing any interest”. Everything though seemed to end amiably with the organisers signing a four year deal for it to continue. Last week the council said that they were not allowing the event to go ahead because of noise complaints from residents; safety issues; and the amount of rubbish left in the area. They added that

they were more open to the festival being held at another time of year, as opposed to July when the area is already packed with tourists. Opposition Partido Popular councillor Miguel Cano attacked the mayor’s decision saying that he did not understand why he had taken it on the basis of one complaint to the Ombudsman, and why he had “kept his actions secret”. Cano went further saying that Dolón “wants to finish everything that is of benefit to Torrevieja and the community, including an important festival that is regarded highly within the Valencian region and across Spain”.

Lorente Quiz

Ex-Orihuela Partido Popular mayor Monica Lorente and seven other people, including the former sports and tax councillor, Antonio Lidón, have been questioned over grants paid out to Orihuela football club in 2007 and 2008. The sums from Orihuela council amounted to 900 thousand euro, with the National Police investigating a complaint over irregularites made by the former PSOE socialist sports councillor, Luis Galiano when he was in post during the previous council administration that took over from Lorente’s Partido Popular in 2011. In a different matter, the anti-corruption prosecutor is calling for Lorente and

another ex-Orihuela mayor, José Manuel Medina,s to be jailed for municipal fraud amounting to over six million euro. This is connected to a

pending case of the problematic award of waste disposal contracts in a case that is likely to come to court next year.

News

Friday 17th February 2017

Second Helpings A six-strong gang of house robbers that operated across urbanisations in Torrevieja have been arrested by the Guardia Civil. One of the gang members had only been released from prison back in October, after serving out his sentence for robbery, with the group having been previously detained months earlier on burglary charges. Five of the crooks, were male and of Spanish nationality, aged between 24 and 34, along with a 23year old woman. They targetted the La Siesta, El Chaparral, San Luis, El Limonar and Paraje Natural areas, with the Guardia getting reports at the end of November of a systematic series of burglaries. The gang, who all live in Torrevieja, have been charged with 10 robberies as well as assault

On The Rise

The number of people using public transport in Spain went up by two point four percent in 2016, the second consecutive increase since the one percent rise in 2015, and the biggest increase since 2005. The figures produced by the National Statistics Institute showed the number of passengers reached 4.631 billion, compared with 4.516 billion in 2015.

Gang Busted The National Police have smashed a drug smuggling ring that has been running for around 15 years. 200 officers were involved in 18 searches in the provinces Cadiz and Malaga and made 21 arrests of people who face crimes against public health, money laundering, illegal possession of firearms and illicit association. The investigation into a "group of Bulgarians, Croatians and Spaniards, based in Malaga and Cadiz" who had a "solid structure" began in 2015, according to the interior ministry. The first phase of the operation led to the detention of a truck with Estonian registration which had a false bottom containing 130 thousand euro, while the stopping of a second tuck in southern France led to the discovery of 111 kilos of hashish and a third, close to Malaga, saw 103 kilos of hashish recovered.

and drug trafficking. The Guardia say they broke into as many as five homes in one evening. In one case, they smashed a window to gain access and were surprised to see the residents inside, who they then proceeded to attack. In another instance, a witness to one of their crimes was violently assaulted, as they fled from a home with the stolen goods. A search of two

Torrevieja addresses yielded a host of stolen items reported by victims of the gang, including three large-screen televisions, a laptop computer, and various other electrical items. The Guardia discovered various implements that were used to force into people's homes, as well as a quantity of drugs and a measuring scale that was hidden amongst some toys.

No Contest Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has been re-elected as the leader of the rightwing Partido Popular for a fourth term. The 61-year-old ran unopposed and won last Saturday night with 95 percent of the vote at the party congress in Madrid. Rajoy thanked party members, saying "it's an honour because I have spent all my life in this party." He has kept most of the party's leadership, including Maria Dolores de Cospedal, the minister of defence, as the party's second-in-command. Rajoy has been prime minister since 2011, when he took power during a severe economic recession, and is credited in some quarters with helping Spain

avoid an international bailout. Rajoy has led a minority government since October when other parties, notably the centrist Ciudadanos backed him, whilst most of the socialist PSOE abstained in order to prevent a third general election within a year.

The Real Reason

Failure of some of the building work to meet minimum siesmic standards has led to a delay in redeveloping the Playas de Orihuela school at La Florida. Nothing has happened on the site this year, and Orihuela council had been told that the “builder might have to make changes to the project”. The parents association

AMPAS at the school were told by regional education chiefs that part of the front façade construction doesn’t come up to scratch under 2002 regulations in regards to earth termors, and that extra money will have to be spent . What kind of a delay to the project and how much will have to budgeted for has not been declared.

Friday 17th February 2017

Pabloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Big Win

Supporters of the left-wing Podemos party that is barely three years old, gave Pablo Iglesias a massive victory on Sunday at the end of a vicious power struggle, reelecting him as party leader and backing his tactics to fight on as an anti-establishment grouping. More than 155 thousand voted to re-elect the 38year-old as the leader, along with supporting a large bulk of his preferred candidates for the party's governing council. Over 89 percent of party members backed Iglesias as secretary general, while 56 percent endorsed his vision for Podemos, in results that met with wild applause from thousands of Podemos fol-

lowers gathered in a conference centre in Madrid, who shouted "yes we can" and "unity". Iglesias had been challanged by his deputy and once close friend Inigo Errejon, creating a rift in the entire party over how to achieve its goal of replacing the PSOE socialists as the main opposition party, and eventually to take power. Errejon had argued that the Podemos should work more to attract moderate voters who might have been put off with the party's image, whilst Iglesias has continued to argue a more anti-establishment line and arguing for more mass demonstrations across the country should the need arise.

Pirates Grounded

The National Police have released details about a raid on an internet service provider based on the Costa del Sol which is suspected of hosting an illegal TV streaming business. Y Internet allegedly provided unauthorised online subscription services for payTV channels. The investigation was initiated by the English Premier League as part of a crackdown on illegal redistribution of its live football broadcasts. According to police, the ISP, which was based in Malaga, allegedly sold subscriptions to pubs, hotels and individuals on the Costa

del Sol. No-one was arrested in the raid, which happened in September, but equipment was seized and the investigation remains ongoing, according to the police. Two individuals believed to have run the ISP from the UK had been charged with "intellectual property-related offences", but their names have not been released. Premier League director of legal services Kevin Plumb said: "The raids conducted by the Spanish authorities are a positive example of law enforcement taking piracy and IP infringement seriously.â&#x20AC;?

Dodgy Dealers

The National Police have arrested three people after raiding a 'sweatshop' manufacturing counterfeit Ferraris and Lamborghinis using second hand Toyotas. Police became aware of the gang after one of the cars was offered for sale in Benidorm, through a number of websites for around 40 thousand euro. The garage in the northern part of the country in Girona, used donor Toyotas and bolted a Ferrari or Lamborghini body kit to the car before selling them to unsuspecting owners on the

internet. The gang were using either the Toyota MR2, Ford Cougar or Peugeot 406 to create their cars. The raid found counterfeit Ferrari F355s as well as F430s powered by 2 litre and 2.5 litre engines. Other cars on a production line of 14 vehicles included the Ferrari 360 and Ferarri 348. The bodies were moulded using fibreglass and all the faces on the clocks and dials were printed out and stuck over the existing units. The gang also stuck fake Ferrari and Lamborghini signs on each of the cars.

Friday 17th February 2017

Cofradia Calling

The Semana Santa processions over Easter are one of the great Spanish traditions, and there’s an opportunity to join the International Cofradia in the annual Paso of Jesus in the Garden of Olives in Torrevieja this April. To carry the Paso, the Cofradia needs around 100 men, with approximately 20 new members needed each year to replace those who, for one reason or another, are unable to take part. It’s a great chance to take part in one of the most important events in the local Spanish calendar and a unique experience which will be remembered for ever. You do not have to be super-fit to take part, as most of the Cofradia members are retired and certainly not in the ‘first flush of youth’. More new members are urgently needed

this year due to losing quite a few of the existing team. If they are unable to assemble around 100 people, they will be forced to push the Paso during the processions rather than carrying it on their shoulders, which would be a major disappointment. If you are interested in taking part please contact David McLachan, on 865 661 937, who can give you a further details and you come along to the first International Cofradia meeting on Thursday March 2nd at the Semana Santa Museum on the outskirts of Torrevieja starting at 7:30 pm. Subscriptions for membership have been kept at 35 euro. If you are an existing member and are not taking part this year, an appeal is made to bring your uniform along to the first meeting or to contact Paul Mutter on 671 218 285.

Volunteer Appeal The MABS Murcia Mar Menor Cancer Support group is on the look out for volunteers throughout the area. The charity provides practical help and support to people of all nationalities who have been diagnosed with cancer. Just a few hours a week could make all the difference and they are after drivers; carers; fundraisiers; admin staff; shop workers; or whatever skills you have! For more details, get in touch via their e-mail address, mabsmurciadirector@hotmail.com.

Keeping A Watch The local Rojales Neighbourhood Watch group will be holding their Annual General Meeting early next month, which will be open to everybody living in the 03170 postal area. The gathering will take place on Monday March 6th at 11.00 am at the Quesada Municipal Centre. Membership is free and the aim of the group it to try to promote good safety and security around local homes and the neighbourhood, as well as passing on useful tips on staying safe and making sure that you are not burgled. For more details, call Helen Tudor on 663 316 310 or go to the group’s website, www.nhwinspain.com

Vivace Celebrates

A power cut led to the candles being brought out for a special 10th anniversary meal for the Vivace Classical Choir recently. The San Miguel de Salinas-based group were dining at the town’s El Prado restaurant when the lights went out, but it was all treated in good humour, with the supply restored just as the food was about to be served. After a decade in charge, Vivace’s Musical Director Tom Pargeter is handing over the baton to some new blood, and he can reflect that Vivace has 60 members, after they

begun with just 16 singers in October 2006. The choir is now preparing for their forthcoming Celebration Concert, which will be an evening featuring some of the choir’s favourite pieces sung by them over the years. Two concerts will be staged; the first at La Siesta Church in Torrevieja on Friday March 31st at 7.30 pm, and the second in the Casa de Cultura in San Miguel the following evening at 8.00 pm. Ticket availability and price information will be released soon.

Ladybirds Give The Alzheimer’s Association of Torrevieja, also known as AFA, recently picked up a generous donation from the fund-raising Ladybird ladies charity group at a meeting in San Miguel de Salinas. The Ladybirds hold a regular lunch to raise money for local causes, and used their last gathering at El Prado in San Miguel to hand over a cheque to AFA.

Walking Time

A two and half kilometre fun walk in aid of the Paul Cunningham Nurses charity is taking place next month in the Guardamar area. The fun charity walk will start at the El Raso urbanisation at 10.00 am, and will take in a gentle two and half kilometre route, with a seek and find game along the way, plus a raffle and tombola as well! Entry will be five euro, and you want to take part, please call 966 719 115.

Friday 17th February 2017

Call 966 843 498 To Reserve Yours

Friday 17th February 2017

Premium Bonds or Premium Rip Off? Keith Littlewood, International Financial Adviser at Blacktower, Costa Cálida the following before investing: Premium bonds are NOT for savers who: • want a regular income • are looking for guaranteed returns • are concerned about inflation eroding their savings • want to buy them as a gift, unless for their child or (great) grandchild If you want to gamble or speculate with a small amount £100 - £500, then I would say go for it. But if you are a serious investor and have somewhere near the now maximum allowed £50,000, I would strongly suggest shopping around to see what returns you can get for your money. If you are resident in Spain, there are Spanish compliant bonds that can give you a much better average return than premium bonds are offering. Please do not let your money continue to erode in real terms. Be wise, it might be time to give Ernie the boot. In today’s financial climate it is essential you do everything you can to make sure your money is safe and secure and what you want to transpire in the future has the best chance of happening. If you need advice or have any questions regarding the above you can contact me, Keith Littlewood DipPFS, on 657 684 094 or email keith.littlewood@blacktowerfm.com Once again, the NS&I (National Savings and Investments) are about to cut the returns they give to premium bond holders. The returns they give are already poor and to reduce them further is a travesty considering the many loyal supporters premium bonds have. The average return for premium bond holders is currently 1.25% and is about to be cut to 1.15% from May 2017. This might sound OK in the current economic climate of low interest rates, but when you consider there are two prizes of £1 million paid out each month that are included

in these averages, you can understand why getting returns are becoming less and less frequent for the small £100 holders. The NS&I even admit that there is now only a 30,000-1 chance of getting a return for every £1 ticket (that is like Leicester City winning the premiership six times). Or in other words, if you hold £30,000, you have a 50/50 chance of getting a return each month – and that will probably be only £25. Recent disclosure and regulatory rules now mean that the website and literature the NS&I produce must tell you

The above information was correct at the time of preparation and does not constitute investment advice and you should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity. Blacktower Financial Management (Int) Ltd is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and is registered with both the DGS and CNMV in Spain.

Pets

Friday 17th February 2017

Adoption Corner

Getting The Jab

ANGEL Angel is a six-year-old Siamese cat that has been sterilised, and is looking for a special forever home. Angel is very loving but she does wants a one-on- one home with no other cats or dogs. She would like her very own person and to be able to sleep on their bed every night. To learn more and to meet Angel, then get in touch with Pets in Spain on 645 469 253. www.petsinspain.com

LOUIE Louie is a mastiff that’s a real loveable gentle giant, who likes a good belly rub! He is good with people, and was found wandering the streets. He appears to have been well looked after, but with no microchip on him, which means his owners cannot be traced. He is well house trained, is very good on a lead and when left to roam freely within boundaries. For more on Louie, please call K9 on 600 845 420.

Make sure you protect your dogs and keep them safe by keeping up to date with their vaccinations. A repeat injection is needed annually, as long as your dog has had his initial course (two vaccinations two to four weeks apart). As long as the annual vaccinations are carried out within a few weeks of their due date then most dogs will be fine. If too much time has elapsed between the annual vaccinations your vet may discuss restarting the vaccination course. The safest thing is to make a note for when your vaccination is next due and make sure you get them booked in as close to this time as possible. Urgent treatment will be needed if your dog has not had his vaccinations and picks up a serious illnesses, so do contact your vet as soon as possible! STOPPING DISEASE

NOODLES Noodles is aged 11, and is a great little character that weighs 11 kilos. She walks well on the lead and loves to play with her toys, and is fully vaccinated, microchipped and sterilised. She has some health issues which the SAT kennels will brief you on, but they don’t want her to spend the rest of her life in kennels, when she would make a great family companion. Please call the kennels on 966 710 047 or email info@satanimalrescue.com

ODIN

Odin is a beautiful male two year-old dog that was found roaming around a village. He’s good with other dogs, and loves people and is very well behaved. He is being fostered with some other dogs and gets on well with all of them, but is not a fan of cats! Odin loves getting attention and is very affectionate, and is in a nice healthy condition. For more about him, please call PEPA on 650 304 746 or send an email: p.e.p.a.animalcharity@gmail.com

The diseases dogs are vaccinated against are now relatively uncommon. But this is mainly due to the widespread vaccination regime in operation. In areas where dogs are not routinely vaccinated, these diseases are common and often fatal. Vaccination has saved countless dogs from the ravages of parvovirus and distemper... not to mention potential cases of rabies. Vaccinations should normally deal with parvovirus, distemper virus, leptospirosis, and infectious hepatitis. Pet owners say there is nothing worse than going through the trauma of losing a pet to an illness that could have been avoided through a simple vaccination. Clearly prevention is always better than cure.

weeks so they need regular vaccinations from an early age. Puppies are typically vaccinated at eight weeks, with an initial course of two injections. Your young pet should then be given a booster 12 months after their first vaccination. VACCINATION CHANGES Your dog is not necessarily vaccinated for the same diseases every year. Depending on the data from the vaccine manufacturer, most animals will receive a full booster every 2nd or 3rd year — but in the interim years will receive a partial booster containing only the vaccines that require annual top ups Viruses change over time, and by regularly vaccinating your pet they will be covered for the new emerging strains that may not have been around a few years ago Vaccines are rigorously tested and checked to minimise the risk of them doing ‘harm’ to your pet and so are some of the safest medicines routinely used. JAB AFTER EFFECTS

WHEN TO VACCINATE

While modern-day vaccines are incredibly safe and reliable, they can occasionally make your pet feel poorly for 24 hours or so (a bit like the human flu vaccine). Some dogs will get small, painful ‘nodules’ where they have been vaccinated. However, these should resolve over a few days. Very occasionally pets can also suffer hypersensitivity (similar to a human anaphylactic reaction) and as this can be serious it needs to be treated urgently.

When puppies are born they are usually protected from infections by their mother’s milk, providing she has been regularly vaccinated. However, this protection only lasts a few

If you’re concerned about your dog, talk to your vet. There are many different forms of vaccine and your vet will be able to advise you about any side effects there may be.

OLIVER Oliver is a large, but very quiet and gentle dog. He was found with his sister and brothers in a shoe box, by the side of a bin when they were only 10 days old. Oliver is microchipped, vaccinated and has a passport. He never barks and gets on well with all the other dogs, especially any new puppies that are rescued. To arrange to meet Oliver, please call APAH on 630 422 563 or 616 210 850.

SOCKS Socks is an adorable three- month-old puppy who was rescued from the perrera along with her siblings. She is a lovely dog who is currently weighing in at around four kilos, and she will stay small reaching a weight of no more than eight kilos. She is really lovely, very affectionate and great with the other dogs and cats that she is fostered with. If you think you could offer Socks a home, please call PEPA on 650 304 746 or send an email to p.e.p.a.animalcharity@gmail.com

News

Friday 17th February 2017

Family Suspect

Call 966 843 498 To Reserve Yours Miguel Ángel López, one of the sons-in-law of the CAM bank chairman's widow was arrested last week in connection with her killing in Alicante City last December. Married to the deceased's youngest daughter, Ángel López holds a gun licence and practises target-shooting as a sport.

María del Carmen Martínez, 72, was shot at close range on the forecourt of Novocar, the motor dealership in Alicante owned by the family empire. She had gone to pick up her Porsche Cayenne after a service, and was due to meet her notary later for issues in connection with the network of compa-

nies she owned after the death of her husband, Vicente Sala, who used to be head of the now-defunct Caja de Ahorros del Mediterráneo (CAM). The Sala-Martínez firms were to have been passed to her son upon her death, which her daughters were apparently not happy about.

Kiev Stinker?

Spain’s 2017 Eurovision Song Contest entry will be sung by 21-year-old Manel Navarro, after the professional jury had to decide on the winner, following a “tied” public vote on the televised selection process. The events were played out live on La 1 on Saturday, with many Spanish

Eurovision fans taking to social media to say that Navarro’s entry in English, Do It For Your Lover, was certain to finish bottom in Kiev in May, and that it was one of the worst Spanish entries ever. Navarro’s entry was picked over a song called Contigo (With You) sung by

Mirela, which the studio audience, judging by their loud booing and jeering, thought should have been the winner, with accusations that the competition had been rigged. Navarro said that he was “very happy' to be representing his country with all the pride in the world”.

Friday 17th February 2017

Homes & Gardens

Give Old Maps New Life as Tile Coasters The next time you return from a fun adventure, commemorate your travels and create unique coasters using maps of the destination. And it's a great way to give new life to an old atlas. Pick your favorite locations or closeup street maps for a unique look. Use sturdy tiles from your local home goods store. This DIY costs around 1â&#x201A;Ź per tile to make. What You'll Need: 4 4-inch square tumbled marble tiles Old atlas or maps Pencil Scissors Paint brush Mod Podge Clear sealant spray paint Felt (optional) Directions: Select a map to use for creating the coaster, place a tile over the area, and use a pencil to trace around it. Repeat three times using the same map, or use a different location. Cut the squares and trim to fit the square tiles as needed. Coat the top side of the tumbled marble with Mod Podge, and then press the section of map over the top, smoothing gently. Do the same with the remaining three tiles. Coat the tops of the coasters with a layer of Mod Podge, and set aside to dry for at least one hour. Take outdoors or to a well-ventilated spot and coat with clear sealant spray paint. Once dry, your travel coasters are ready to keep water rings off your favorite furniture. You can even make them scratch-safe by gluing a small square of felt to each bottom corner. Cheers!

Friday 17th February 2017

Food & Drink

Friday 17th February 2017

Banging apple, cider and onion soup INGREDIENTS 75g / 2oz butter 1kg / 2lb onions, sliced 2 large leeks, washed and sliced 2 eating apples, peeled, core removed, sliced 2 large potatoes, peeled and chopped 150ml / 5fl oz cider 1 litre / 1.5 pint hot vegetable stock 3 bay leaves 1 sprig thyme salt and freshly ground black pepper To serve 200g / 7oz Gruyere cheese, grated 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives salt and ground white pepper nutmeg, grated, to taste METHOD Melt the butter in a large,

heavy based casserole over a medium heat. When the butter is foaming, add the onions, leeks and apples and fry for 10-15 minutes, stirring regularly, until they have softened. Add the potatoes and cider, and bring the mixture to the boil. Continue to cook for 2-3 minutes, until the volume of liquid has reduced slightly. Add the stock, bay leaves and thyme and season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the casserole with a lid and cook for 2530 minutes, or until all of the vegetables are cooked through. Remove the thyme and bay leaf with a slotted spoon and discard. Blend half of the soup in a food processor until smooth. Return the blended soup to the chunky soup mixture

and stir well over a gentle heat until heated through. If you want a slightly thinner soup, add a bit more

hot vegetable stock until the soup has the desired consistency. To serve, divide the soup

between six bowls and sprinkle a handful of the Gruyere cheese and a pinch of chives into each.

Season, to taste, with salt and ground white pepper. Garnish each bowl with a pinch of grated nutmeg.

Beef Empanadas INGREDIENTS For the pastry 450g / 1lb plain flour 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 60g / 2.5 butter 60g / 2.5 lard or vegetable shortening chilled water, enough to form dough For the empanada filling 2 tbsp olive oil 1/2 beef stock cube, crumbled 400g / 14oz fillet or sirloin steak, finely chopped 1 onion, finely chopped 1 small green pepper, finely chopped 3 garlic cloves, crushed 3 tbsp red wine 1/2 tsp ground cumin 1/2 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp chilli powder 12 pimento stuffed green olives, sliced 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp ground black pepper 1 beaten egg, for brushing pastry METHOD Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4 For the pastry, combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl.

Cut the lard and butter into sugarcube sized chunks, add to the flour, and rub the fat into the flour until it forms fine crumbs. Add enough cold water to form a soft dough. Set aside in the fridge to rest for an hour. For the empanada filling, heat one tbsp of oil in a large frypan, sprinkle the stock cube into the hot oil

and fry for thirty seconds, stirring continuously. Add the beef and fry for about two minutes until brown. Set the meat and the juices to one side. Heat the remaining tbsp of olive oil, add the onion and green pepper, fry until soft, about three minutes. Add the garlic, and fry for a further minute. Add the wine,

cumin, paprika, chilli powder, olives and the salt and pepper. Fry for a further minute, stirring continuously. Return the meat and juices to the pan and mix well, set aside to go cold. To fill the empanadas, take the pastry out of the fridge, and on a well-floured surface, roll out a thin sheet. Using a saucer as a tem-

plate, cut out discs of pastry. On one half of the pastry circle place a tbsp of the filling, brush the edge with egg, fold over, and crimp the edges together.

Brush with egg and place on a greased baking tray. Bake for ten minutes or until golden. Serve either hot or cold as a snack or starter.

Food & Drink

Friday 17th February 2017

Spicy Korean Fried Chicken INGREDIENTS 8–10 skinless, boneless chicken thighs vegetable oil, for deepfrying sesame seeds, for sprinkling (optional) Brine (Optional) 100g caster sugar 75g sea salt First Coating 35g plain flour 15g cornflour ½ tsp baking powder ½ tsp salt Batter 125g plain flour 25g cornflour ½ tsp baking powder 100ml vodka Sweet Soy Sauce 100ml soy sauce 25ml mirin 25ml rice wine vinegar 20g root ginger, grated 2 garlic cloves, grated or very finely chopped 50g brown sugar pinch of salt few drops of sesame oil 1 tsp cornflour Chilli Sauce 2 tbsp Korean chilli paste (Gochujang if you can get it, or a hot sauce or paste) 1 tbsp hot sauce 1 tsp rice wine vinegar 1 tbsp honey

a few drops of sesame oil sea salt (optional) METHOD If you have time, start by brining the chicken. Dissolve the sugar and salt in 200ml of hot water, then add another litre of cold water. Submerge the chicken and leave it for 2 hours. To cook the chicken, drain and rinse it thoroughly if you’ve brined it, then pat it dry. To make the first coating, whisk the flour, cornflour, baking powder and salt together – this coating helps the batter to stick, otherwise it tends to fall off. Dust the chicken in this mixture, patting off any excess, and leave it to stand while you make the batter. To make the batter, whisk together the dry ingredients, then add 100ml of ice-cold water and the vodka – the texture should be quite thin, rather like unwhisked double cream. Half fill a deep fryer or a large saucepan with oil and heat the oil to 160°C. If you don’t have a thermometer and you’re using a saucepan, test the oil with a piece of bread – it should take around 30 seconds to turn a crisp golden brown; any quicker and the oil is too hot. Dip the chicken pieces in the batter one at a time. Allow any excess to drip off over the bowl containing the batter, then slowly lower each piece into the hot oil, letting go when it is almost completely submerged. Fry for 8–10 minutes, then remove and drain on kitchen paper. The chicken should be cooked through but barely taken on any colour. Now heat the oil to 190°C, or if using a saucepan, turn the heat up and leave it for about 5 minutes to reach the right temperature. When the oil is ready, fry the chicken for another 2 minutes until it has darkened. Remove and drain thoroughly. It should be beautifully crisp. Serve the chicken as it is with the sauces, or brush some of the sweet soy sauce over it and serve with rest and the chilli sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds if you like. For the sweet soy sauce, put the soy, mirin, rice wine vinegar, ginger,garlic and brown sugar in a saucepan. Stir over a low heat to dissolvethe sugar, then simmer for a couple of minutes. Taste for seasoning, adda little salt if necessary and a few drops of sesame oil to taste. Whisk thecornflour with a little cold water until you have a smooth but very runnypaste, then whisk this into the sauce over a low heat, until the saucethickens very slightly. Set aside. For the chilli sauce, simply whisk all the ingredients together

and thin with a little water if too thick. Taste and add salt if necessary.

Friday 17th February 2017

Food & Drink

Panettone Bread Pudding with Spiced Orange Sauce

Ingredients Bread Pudding: 1 (12 ounce) panettone, cubed 3 eggs, lightly beaten 1/2 Cup white sugar 2 1/4 Cups heavy cream 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 Tablespoon Cointreau or other orange-flavored liqueur 1 pinch salt 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest 2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest 2 1/2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into bits 2 Tablespoons white sugar Sauce: 1/2 Cup butter 1 Cup white sugar 1/4 Cup Cointreau or other orange-flavored liqueur 3 Tablespoons water 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 egg Method Arrange the panettone bread cubes to fit compactly into a buttered 2 quart casserole dish. Do not compress too tightly; set aside any leftover bread cubes. Whisk together 3 eggs and 1/2 cup sugar until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture becomes light yellow in color. Pour in the cream, vanilla, and 1 tablespoon orange liqueur; whisk to combine. Stir in 1 pinch salt, 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, lemon zest, and orange zest. Pour this mixture over the panettone cubes in the casserole dish. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Remove the bread from the refrigerator, uncover, and dot the top of the bread pudding with 2 1/2 tablespoons butter, and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of white sugar. Set casserole dish into a shallow pan that is 2 to 3 inches larger in diameter than the casse-

role dish. Set these pans onto the center rack of the preheated oven. Pour hot water into the outside pan, until it reaches a depth of 1 inch around the casserole dish, creating a water bath. Bake the pudding in the water bath until it is fully set and a knife inserted into the center of the pudding comes out clean, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. The water bath will help the pudding to cook evenly and maintain a light texture. Carefully remove the pudding from the water bath and cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. Just before serving, make the sauce by melting 1/2 cup butter in a saucepan over low heat. Stir in 1 cup sugar, 1/4 cup orange liqueur, 3 tablespoons water, 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Stir and heat over medium heat until the sugar is fully dissolved and the liquid is heated through. Remove from heat. In a small mixing bowl, whisk 1 egg until well beaten. While whisking the egg, slowly pour 2 tablespoons of the hot mixture into the bowl with the egg. Then, while whisking mixture vigorously, slowly pour the warmed egg mixture back into the sauce. Place the saucepan back over low heat, gently stirring the sauce and raising the temperature slowly to medium. Continue to stir until the sauce almost reaches a simmer, reducing the heat as necessary if the mixture threatens to boil. Continue stirring until the sauce thickens, 1 to 2 minutes. Spoon over the bread pudding and serve immediately.

Food & Drink

Friday 17th February 2017

Health

Friday 17th February 2017

Ireland to legalise cannabis for specific medical conditions

Ireland is set to legalise the use of cannabis for treating

specific medical conditions, after a report com-

missioned by the government said the drug could

be given to some patients with certain illnesses. The Irish health minister, Simon Harris, said he would support the use of medical cannabis “where patients have not responded to other treatments and there is some evidence that cannabis may be effective”. The report said cannabis could be given to patients with a range of illnesses including multiple sclerosis and severe epilepsy, and to offset the effects of chemotherapy. “I believe this report marks a significant milestone in developing policy in this area,” Harris said. “This is something I am eager to progress but I am also obligated to proceed on the basis of the best clinical advice.” Most marijuana medicinal benefits are inconclusive, wide-ranging study finds Read more Last November, Harris asked Ireland’s Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) to examine the latest evidence on cannabis for medical use and how schemes to facilitate this operate in other countries. The study found “an absence of scientific data demonstrating the effectiveness of cannabis products” and warned of “insufficient information on [the drug’s] safety during longterm use for the treatment of chronic medical conditions”. “The scientific evidence

supporting the effectiveness of cannabis across a large range of medical conditions is in general poor, and often conflicting,” it added. However, it added that any decision on legalising use of cannabis was ultimately for society and the government to make. Harris said he wanted to set up a “a compassionate access programme for cannabis-based treatments” and was now considering any changes in the law needed for its operation. The new medical cannabis scheme will run for five years and will be constantly monitored by Irish health service experts. The big policy shift came in the same week that the Fine Gael-led coalition in Dublin backed the idea of a “safe injection” room for heroin addicts in Ireland’s capital. The Temple Bar Company, which represents bars, clubs, restaurants and other businesses in the cultural-entertainment quarter on the south bank of the Liffey in Dublin, expressed opposition to locating any of the injection centres in or close to the tourist district. The Temple Bar chief executive, Martin Harte, said businesses in the tourist centre collected 1,500 syringes from the streets around the area every year. The Guardian's Science Weekly Is emergent quan-

tum mechanics grounded in classical physics? Science Weekly podcast Does strange quantum behaviour emerge from run-of-the-mill classical physics? If so, what does this tell us about the fundamental nature of reality? Listen “We are bracing ourselves for an increase in the level of syringe disposals and related antisocial behaviour,” he said. “Addiction centres make no provision for what happens outside of opening hours … The Temple Bar Company is not opposed to tackling issues with drugs in Ireland, but we are opposed to proposals that exacerbate and fuel an injecting epidemic in Dublin city.” Last year, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, the former Irish Labour party junior health minister, became the first politician to call publically for a safe injection centre for the more than 20,000 registered heroin addicts in Dublin alone. Ó Ríordáin also said he favoured making the possession of heroin, cocaine or other opiates for personal use no longer an arrestable offence. Although he is no longer in government, after last year’s election, Ó Ríordáin’s suggestion of partial decriminalisation of drugs among users won the backing of rank-and-file police officers in Ireland, who said it would free up resources.

Health

Friday 17th February 2017

Why Do We Feel Pain? Pain is a valuable warning signal to the body. Pain keeps the body out of harm's way. The body will be more prone to injuries and danger without pain. People that have lost pain sensation due to disease like diabetes are more susceptible to damage and need to examine their feet frequently for undetected wounds. Pain helps us avoid potentially hazardous situations in future. We are motivated to avoid circumstances that cause pain. A child's first time experience with fire is a lesson not forgotten. The nervous system which includes the nerves and brain run continuously through the body as the key informationcarrying network of the body. The nerves transmit pain signals in a similar way that electricity flows through wires, and the brain is responsible for interpreting the signals as pain. Organs that have no nerves such as the brain do not cause pain when injured. The nerves are sensitive to compression, and this is the source of most of the pain we feel in the body. Although pain is essential for survival, it produces stress in the body, and the body releases chemicals called endorphins to block some of the pain messages transmitted to the brain. The brain also produces chemicals such as serotonin

- the feel good hormone- to neutralize pain sensation. A study from the University of Wisconsin found that when volunteers dipped their arm into freezing water after hearing messages that were uplifting, neutral or depressing, the happy group dealt with the pain better. Another study found that listening to music that is enjoyable boosted pain tolerance.

As pain flows through the network of nerves, it becomes linked to other signals such as emotions that also flow through the nerves. These emotions such as mood, fear, joy, panic, etc. will affect the way the body perceives pain at any given moment. Pain is an individual experience and depends on the brain's interpretation, which in turn depends on the body's physical and emotional state. Happy emotions encourage the body to produce the ' happy hormone,' serotonin which neutralizes pain signals. Stress and negative emotions trigger the production of chemicals that worsen pain such as substance P. Imbalances of the hormonal system and the immune system increases the body's sensitivity to pain. Diseases that cause chronic pain such as Fibromyalgia cause a dysfunction of the hormonal system that leaves the body hypersensitive to pain. The nerves are sensitive to toxic chemicals, and maintaining a lifestyle that discourages toxins in the body will help relieve chronic pain in the body. Call 965071745 For A Whole Body Diagnostic Scan

Switching to wholegrains may boost metabolism "Eating more wholegrain foods can help to speed up weight loss, scientists claim," the Daily Mail reports. Researchers found that people who ate a diet high in wholegrains absorbed less energy from food than people who ate a similar diet, but with refined grains (such as white flour). The study included 81 men and women in the US, who were each allocated to eat a wholegrain or refined grain diet for six weeks, after a two week run-in period of eating no wholegrain. All food and drink was provided during the study. People provided stool samples, gave blood samples, and had their metabolic rate tested. On the latter, researchers were interested in what is known as the resting metabolic rate (RMR), which is the amount of energy

the body burns during rest. RMR is sometime used as a benchmark for how efficiently the metabolism is working. People who ate the wholegrain diet were found to pass more stools (poo). They also had a higher RMR: although this difference was so small it could have been down to chance. These two factors combined amounted to an average difference in energy balance between the two groups of about 92 calories a day. Assuming people didn't eat more to make up the difference, the study authors said, this would amount to a weight loss of about 2.5kg over a year. If this modest amount of weight loss doesn't seem inspiring, wholegrain foods include more micronutrients than refined grains, and may improve digestion and reduce the risk of bowel cancer.

Friday 17th February 2017

Fashion

Dressing up, going casual are merging in menswear A new vibe is blowing through the menswear scene this winter. In the corporate world, executives are trading in classic, boxy suits for soft, tailored blazers and relaxed trousers in soft herringbone patterns and funky windowpane prints. Meanwhile, men with a more casual style have (thankfully) moved beyond the slim-yet-droopy-backside jeans to the fitted jogger-and-custom-sweatshirt combo. How do they pull it all together? With a sports jacket and velvet high-tops. In other words, fashionable guys spent most of 2016 building wardrobes to reflect the new fashion reality - the tailored inbetween. "Men are dressing down, but they are also dressing up," said Jian DeLeon, senior menswear editor for WGSN, a global-trend forecasting firm. "It's the choose-your-own-adventure era in menswear. He's trying to figure out which rules he wants to break, depending on what he's feeling like and where he is in life." Corporate entities - since JPMorgan Chase's decision in June to allow employees to wear silk-blend chinos and cashmere pullovers - are going more casual. The new breed of CEOs (Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Tumblr's David Karp) don't need stiff, classic looks to communicate power. "We have guys who are coming in ready to try something more interesting and comfortable," said Matt Brown, vice president and general manager of Saks Fifth Avenue in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. This fall, Saks introduced its seven office essentials: the refined top (a dressier polo), the perfect (tailored) pants, the hybrid shoe, the sporty suit, the clean sneaker, the easy layer and the leather bag. "The idea is to mix a more casual look like a sneaker or a pullover into his wardrobe mix," Brown said. At the same time, guys are using the tailored pants or sporty suit to take their existing look up a notch. Men also are going more custom, not only for the three-button-blazer-and-vestsuit combos, but also for their athletic wear. After all, athleisure requires a better fit. "These guys have spent the last few years learning about custom," said Brian Lipstein, the designer behind Henry A. Davidsen. "Now they want the rest of their wardrobe to feel just

as nice." A retail landscape that's wooing the Y chromosome is paying off. U.S. menswear's sales growth continue to outpace women's, having increased 3 percent this year over last year, from $62.5 billion to $64.4 billion; the fastest-growing categories are two-piece athletic sets and accessories, according to the New York-based consumer-tracking service the NPD Group. Runway designers have taken note. In the past year, many of the most popular collections in Paris, Milan, and New York have opted to show menswear on their women's runways. Last month, Calvin Klein's creative director, Raf Simons, announced his decision to show both collections on one runway, joining Gucci, Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith, and Burberry in the practice. Interest in men's fashion has come a long way since the days of the metrosexual - the original style-obsessed dude who, in the early 2000s, emerged from the ashes of the sloppy '90s wearing a very fitted suit and carrying an umbrella. The typical guy largely ignored this look. But it wasn't long before the ways of the hipster (favoring all things fitted while

twirling his ponytail into a man bun) or the lumbersexual (choosing beards and plaid shirts) caught on. With each trendy dude reincarnation, men's fashion has blossomed on runways - and Instagram. So at the start of 2017, it seems the old fashion fears are gone, whether we're talking about guys who suit up, tend toward the androgynous, don athletic attire, or - amazing as it might sound - like all three. His wardrobe can take him from day to night. Sound familiar, ladies? "What finally happened is that guys in basketball like Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul began adopting these looks in their own way, and they became universal and aspirational," said Sabir Peele, a menswear brand consultant and founder of Men's Style Pro. "Guys just started to understand, 'I can do all of this. I can be sporty or wear a suit like a corporate guy. I can create my own look.'" With this new experimentation came an excess of new accessories in 2016: dotted pocket squares, solid knit ties, smart fedoras, jackets with custom linings. And the shoes whether shined to dress up, or clean sneakers to dress down - pull everything together.

Travel

Friday 17th February 2017

Carnival Culture Anyone would not be wrong in traditionally associating “Carnival” with hot, sunny weather; golden, sandy beaches and warm, balmy sunsets, not forgetting bikini-clad revellers dancing to the deafening sound of samba music from dusk until dawn. However, “Carnival” in Spain, or “los Carnavales”, as they are called in Spanish, does not quite fit in with the above description. Carnival is celebrated in February, which is not the warmest month of the year in many parts of the country; however, the fiesta, nowadays one of the most popular in Spain, is celebrated as a prelude to Easter and in particular, the forty days of Lent. Carnival has its roots in the Christian calendar and is traditionally a religious festival. It is celebrated all over the world and according to some historians, dates back to as far as Egyptian and Sumerian times, with similar celebrations during the age of the Roman Empire. In many countries, “Carnival” is only celebrated over three days and this period always falls on the three days directly before Ash Wednesday, which in the Christian calendar is the official start of Lent. The word “carnival” supposedly comes from the Latin term “carnelevarium”, meaning “the removal of meat”. During the forty days of Lent that lead up to Easter, it was prohibited to eat meat and people had to abstain from any other type of pleasure including eating eggs or dairy products, sex and generally having fun. For this reason, the “Carnival” celebrations

were the last chance that people had to indulge in every kind of excess before the forty days of fasting, penitence and prayer. Today, there are a number of “Carnival” celebrations that have become a huge tourist attraction, and visitors flock from all over the world to see. Probably the most famous are those of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and New Orleans in Louisiana, which are known as “Mardi Gras” or “Fat Tuesday”. Surprisingly, for such a religious country, the religious side of the “Carnival” fiestas has been lost in most parts of Spain. The celebrations last longer, usually throughout the whole month of February and the first week of March with the best events at the weekend. The highlight of the main “Carnival” fiestas are the two processions that usually take place a week apart, one during the day and the second at night. Around thirty different groups, or “comparsas” participate in the parades, involving hundreds of people, with thousands lining the streets to watch. The carnival parade is not only a procession but also a competition for the best-designed carnival costume with huge cash prizes on offer for the winners. There are several categories under which the costumes are judged, including fantasy, fancy dress, individual and group. All members of a “comparsa” are dressed the same and

often perform a dance routine as they parade along the main streets of the town. The costumes, often humorous, are a work of art, and can be designed from innovative materials such as acetate paper, rubber, plastic, aluminium and other such materials. Some of the more elaborate costumes can weigh up to 25 kilos and measure up to 3m high. Carnival time is a vibrant, colourful, fantastic, fun and exotic festivity, which offers a sharp and welcome contrast to the weather of that time of year.

Friday 17th February 2017 Events Calendar Sunday 19 February, 2017 Rojales Coral Bella Torrevieja, voice and piano concert, Centro Cultural de Ciudad Quesada. Torrevieja Carnival Procession. Saturday 25 February, 2017 Torrevieja Night Carnival Procession. Rojales Carnival 2017. Saturday 4 to Monday 6 March, 2017 Alicante Health, Hair and Beauty Show, IFA Alicante. Friday 17 March, 2017 Orihuela Costa St Patrick´s Day Parade, Cabo Roig.

FERRY TO LA MANGA For the small sum of 8 euros return you can take a small yet pleasurable ferry trip from San Javier to La Manga del Mar Menor. The ferry company B&R Ferrys runs regular boat trips all year round from the Esplanada Barnuevo at Santiago de la Ribera (San Javier) arriving at the Club Naútico El Estacio at the Tomás Maestre Port of La Manga just 30 minutes later. The journey covers a distance of seven kilometres and the ferry travels at ten knots per hour. The same journey in the car is approximately 20 kilometres and would take roughly the same time - yet travelling by boat is much more fun! There are two ferries used to run these trips, both built just a few years ago. The larger of the two carriers measures 22m, has three motors and can hold 150 passengers. The smaller ferry measures 16.5m, has two motors and has seating room for 60 people. Dogs are allowed on board and children travel for free. There are regular crossings with departures from San Javier every two hours from 11.30h until 19.30h. To return from La Manga boats leave from 10.30am and have subsequent crossings at 12.30h, 15.00h, 16.30h and 18.30h. These trips are available daily. Depending on the time you have, you can just hop over to the “strip” for lunch in one of the many first-class restaurants around the port area, or you can spend the day relaxing on the beautiful beaches whilst admiring the stunning views. For those that like an active lifestyle, maybe a walk or bike ride from one end of the strip to the other would be in order. This area is also excellent for water sports such as sailing, windsurfing, jet skiing, and scuba diving. Whatever you plan to do on La Manga, make sure that you take your beach gear, as you’ll definitely want to enjoy one of the nicest beaches around. It is possible to stay overnight in La Manga in one of the many hotels or self-catering apartments. There is one 5 star hotel, four 4 star hotels and numerous 3 star hotels to choose from. La Manga is also known for its superb nightlife, particularly during the summer, where the bars are open until late and the clubs until the early hours of the morning. Whatever your reason, the ferry trip to La Manga is a fantastic way to spend a few hours, an afternoon, or even a few days, as La Manga has everything to ensure its visitors enjoy an unforgettable stay.

Saturday 18 March, 2017 Torrevieja Classical Concert. International Auditorium. Rossini, Mozart and Beethoven classical concert by the Orquesta Sinfónica de Torrevieja. Thursday 13 to Monday 17 April, 2017 Santa Pola Medieval Market with special Dark Dragon. Sunday 16 April, 2017 Easter Sunday Saturday 15 to Thursday 27 April, 2017 Los Alcázares International sailing competition, Clase Laser 4.7, at the Centro de Tecnificación Deportiva. 22 April, 2017 Torrevieja Classical Concert by the Orquesta Sinfónica de Torrevieja, International Auditorium Torrevieja. 10-14 May, 2017 Torrevieja May Fair. 13 May, 2017 Torrevieja Classical concert by the Orquesta Sinfónica de Torrevieja.

Valdepeñas For the love of wine Wine connoisseurs will be familiar with the name of this town, as it is the capital of Castilla-La Mancha’s immense wine region. Valdepeñas is the world’s largest wine-producing area, covering 30,000 hectares and makes excellent white, red, rosé and claret wines. For those that want a break from taking in the historical sites or walking through the many natural parks, a visit to one of the 47 vineyards, or bodegas, may be just the thing. As you can see, it is clear that this region of Castilla-La Mancha boasts a marvellous countryside and cultural and historical heritage that visitors to the area can enjoy all year round.

Friday 17th February 2017

TRELI ON THE TELLY WITH ALEX TRELINSKI

I’ve never forgiven Dan Stevens for destroying my Christmas Day in 2013 when his character Matthew Crawley met his maker thanks to a shocking Downton Abbey episode finale featuring the infamous car accident. Life was never the same again, but for Stevens, he’s been based in the States and has found a new starring role that is a zillion miles away from the Downton lifestyle. This comes on a show called Legion that has started on FOX UK and countless channels across the globe. If you think that American Horror Story and Fortitude are strange, they have nothing on Legion for creating confusion and wondering what the hell you are actually watching. That’s not bad incidentally and weird is good, especially as Legion is the baby of Noah Hawley, who has brought Fargo in triumph to the small screen (series three starring Ewan McGregor is on the way). If I tell you that Legion comes from the Marvel stable, then you start thinking of superhero, but we are in

Dan’s Resurrection

X-Men mutant territory here as we meet the Marvel character of David Hallant (his dad apparently is Professor Xavier…now you’ve got it!), played by Dan Stevens, who is banged up in a mental hospital as he is apparently suffering from schizophrenia and violent tendencies. To say that I couldn’t work out what was going on early doors is something of an understatement as I thought I was watching a mix of Clockwork Orange and The Prisoner, with some sixties tunes, drugs, and some strange folk. We even got a female ally of David called Syd Barrett, a straight lift from the drug-taking member of Pink Floyd in the sixties, as she convinces him that there’s a lot more to him than schizophrenia, as we see his telepathic skills amongst other things. David escapes in Syd’s body as they switch minds and then meets some other mutants, and that’s it for episode one! The opener for Legion hits you in the face and looks visually stunning and Stevens gives a great performance, as well looking

really young! But there were a couple of times early on that I nearly gave up as I just didn’t get it, but things became clearer, perhaps like David’s mind, and I’m glad I stuck with it, because you cannot accuse Legion of being boring. It will be an acquired taste but Noah Hawley has insisted on just eight episodes for the first series to avoid “padding”, and this drama should be applauded for daring to be different as opposed to the conveyor-belt production line of crime and police procedurals that US TV produces a lot of. If Dan Stevens looks about early twenties in Legion, then Lucas Till seems like a teenager in the reboot of MacGyver on Sky One. Gone are the chiselled features of Richard Dean Anderson from the original series, as Till, who costarred with Miley Cyrus in the Hannah Montana movie a few years ago, brings a young look to the show. The older stuff comes from ex-CSI favourite George Eads (Nick Stokes of course), as he and

MacGyver lead a secret US government team to fight baddies. Fans of the original hate it, but there’s nothing wrong with this “Mission Impossible”-style hokum, and it’s getting good numbers for CBS in the States, so it will be around for a few years, I can’t believe that No Offence finished series two this week on Channel Four, and it is a no-brainer that it

will return for another run. Putting aside the stratospheric Line of Duty, which is another beast, this is the best UK cop show for years, with strong female characters in the forefront. Wouldn’t be great if we could get a dozen or so episodes a year, but I wonder if that happened whether No Offence would lose the high quality in a similar fate that befell the

other Paul Abbott creation, Shameless. No Offence also delivered a better second series than the first back in 2014 and I order you to catch up and enjoy, if you have not caught this gem already. Talking of strong female characters, a massive thumbs-up to the second and final part of The Moorside on BBC 1 on Tuesday in an utterly absorbing hour of drama.

28 And who are the police at the wedding for?

Friday Zak has second thoughts about Kyle's care, but is it already too late for the recent decision to be reversed? Meanwhile, concern grows for Aaron when he suffers a panic attack amid his growing worry over his upcoming sentencing. Robert has an idea to help, but will it work? Elsewhere, David is shocked by the content of Tracy's novel when he sneaks a peek. Also today, Chas and Paddy's romance steps up a notch, while Debbie is hiding a secret about Sarah's treatment that could get her into trouble.

Monday Robert is planning to spring a surprise wedding on Aaron, but various problems could affect the big day. A disapproving Paddy is one person who could throw a spanner in the works, while there's also trouble getting Aaron to The Woolpack where everything is prepared for the ceremony â&#x20AC;&#x201C; at least until Cain intervenes with some heavy-handed tactics to get him there! Aaron is excited when he finally finds out what Robert has planned, but when police rush into the pub in the middle of the ceremony, will it stop Robron from tying the knot? Tuesday The police have gatecrashed Robert and Aaron's wedding, but will they still manage to tie the knot before Aaron is sent to jail?

SOAPS

Friday 17th February 2017

Meanwhile, Debbie agrees to let Charity take Sarah abroad for treatment, accepting that going her- Friday Having heard a self would be too risky with report on the radio about the missing teenage girl, her criminal record. Sarah warns Bethany to be Elsewhere, Laurel confides extra vigilant. Bethany in Will on the anniversary masks her concern. With Nathan still asking her to of baby Daniel's death. give him an alibi, Bethany Also today, David visits the is torn. doctor, while Paddy confides in Marlon over recent Later, Mel takes Bethany into town and plies her with events. vodka. As Bethany stagThursday Aaron is sen- gers out of the club, Rana tenced to 12 months spots her and realises behind bars and sent to she's drunk, so offers to jail. take her home. However, Nathan then pulls up in his Will he be able to cope with car. Opening the door for his time in prison? Bethany, he assures Rana he's a friend and he'll take Meanwhile, Debbie asks care of her. Ross to help her out with a fake passport, having Meanwhile, Peter and Nick changed her mind about set off in search of Simon, not going to Prague with leaving Toyah at home in Sarah. case he calls. Leanne calls at the flower shop flat Elsewhere, Gabby warns wanting to know where Laurel that Will may have Nick and Simon have got his eye on her. Also, Liv finds herself lonely when Gabby and Jacob get together, while Paddy is in a sad mood of his own. Faith uncovers Debbie's secret plan to go to Prague and interferes by stealing her boarding passes. When Debbie heads to the airport with Sarah, she's plagued by last-minute doubts over her fake passport and how reliable it will really be. Will she take the risk anyway? Meanwhile, when Liv overhears Doug making nasty remarks about her family, she gets Gabby on board with a revenge plan. Elsewhere, Laurel suspects that Will sent her the Valentines Day roses when he arrives at her home with a bottle of wine. Also, Sandy is reluctant to visit Ashley, Aaron struggles behind bars, and Rakesh get steamy with Priya in the factory office.

to. Toyah is forced to admit that they let Simon go to a party at the Trafford Centre and they haven't seen him since. Leanne is beside herself. Leanne tears a strip off Toyah and Peter for their irresponsible behaviour and tells Toyah that she wouldn't understand as she's not a mother. Toyah is cut to the quick. Monday Peter explains to Ken how desperate Toyah is for a baby and persuades him to lend him the money for a consultation at a private fertility clinic. When Peter announces that he's booked an appointment for this afternoon, Toyah is thrilled.

However, when Toyah witnesses Leanne forgiving Eva for her part in keeping Toyah and Peter's relationship a secret, she gets jealous and follows Leanne into the Victoria Court lift. Once there, she rails at Leanne for her jibe about her not being a mum. Suddenly the lift judders to a halt. Having discovered the alarm isn't working and there's no phone signal, the girls start to panic especially when Leanne's waters break. Sarah confronts Bethany, who is clearly under pressure and admits that she stayed at Nathan's flat. Bethany explains that he's her boyfriend and he rescued her when she collapsed. When Sarah wants to know if they've had sex, Bethany assures her they haven't, but is she telling the truth? Wednesday As Toyah cuddles the baby, Leanne announces that they're calling him Oliver. Clearly the proud dad, Nick reveals that he's booked them an appointment to register the baby's name tomorrow afternoon. Back at home, the Platts visit the new baby. Peter and Toyah discover they both know that Nick is not the baby's father and it must be very difficult for him. Later, alone at last with their new baby, Leanne breaks the news to Nick that she doesn't want his name on Oliver's birth certificate as it would seem wrong. How will Nick react to this? Meanwhile, when Michelle finds out Leanne has had the baby, she is emotional but genuinely pleased for her and insists they visit. Steve is horrified at the thought, but knows he must play along for her sake. Making out he's too upset as it stirs up memories of Ruairi, Steve waits outside.

Thursday Denise is forced to deal with the consequences of her actions.

Friday The Carters continue to prepare for Polish Night at the Queen Vic, but the family suffer yet another setback when an Environmental Health officer arrives after reports of food poisoning. Meanwhile, Kim infuriates Denise by suggesting that she could still change her mind about the baby when she attends a meeting about the adoption next week.

Later, Denise despairs over the current state of the Walford community and decides to take action by calling the Gazette. Meanwhile, Jack lets Dot down when he can't take her to the garden centre as promised. When Dot sees that Jack has left his Satnav at her place, she decides to go to the garden centre by herself with Matthew. Elsewhere, Ben and Jay settle in their new home.

Elsewhere, Jack takes Dot for her next round of injections.

When Isaac suspects Dominic has spent the night with another man, he's consumed with jealousy and provokes a vulnerable patient, resulting in a violent incident. Tuesday Denise receives a visit from the social worker, who updates her on the baby's progress, but Kim makes things awkward by demanding even more information about the child. Later, an emotional Denise tries to explain her feelings to Kim, but she soon has even more aggro on her hands when she finds herself in an argument with Keegan. As Denise confronts Keegan for being disrespectful, their argument spirals out of control. Meanwhile, Mick discovers that the problems at the Queen Vic are even worse than everyone first thought. Elsewhere, when Ian goes for his health check, he's advised to go and visit his GP. Despite this, he lies to his family by insisting everything is fine. Also today, Ben and Jay move into Number 18.

Isaac admits that he needs help, but is he able to be truly honest with Dominic? Meanwhile, Mo and Mr T have decided on their respective roles as fulltime surgeon and stay-athome dad. However, a challenging cardiac case and Hector's suspected meningitis leads them to re-evaluate their decision. Elsewhere, Serena's abrasiveness towards Jasmine worries Morven, but Jasmine doesn't appreciate her interference. Is Serena hard on Jasmine because she feels she has the makings of an excellent doctor, or is there an alternative explanation?

Friday TV 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Countryfile Winter Diaries 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Wanted Down Under Revisited 12:45 Oxford Street Revealed 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Father Brown 16:00 Escape to the Country 16:45 The Farmers’ Country Showdown 17:30 Antiques Road Trip 18:15 Pointless 19:00 News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 A Question of Sport Joining Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell are Bryony Page, Keri-Anne Payne, James Horwill and Anthony Ogogo. 21:00 EastEnders The Carters hold the next themed night at The Vic, but things take an unexpected turn. 21:30 Room 101 Lucy Porter, Romesh Ranganathan and Judge Rinder compete to have their pet hates and peeves consigned to Room 101.

07:00 My Life in Books 07:30 Wanted Down Under Revisited 08:15 The Farmers’ Country Showdown 09:00 DIY SOS: The Big Build 10:00 Victoria Derbyshire 12:00 News 14:00 Cash in the Attic 14:30 Beat the Brain 15:00 Landward 15:30 Wild Shepherdess with Kate Humble 16:30 The Blue Planet 17:25 A Place to Call Home 18:15 Flog It! 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great American Railroad Journeys 20:00 Big Dreams Small Spaces Monty Don visits two sets of ambitious gardeners, each facing challenges on a very different scale. One is a tiny urban courtyard in Hackney and the other is a outdoor area for a community. 21:00 Mastermind Quiz 21:30 Only Connect Two losing teams return for a last chance to make it to the quarter-finals.

22:30 Tracey Ullman’s Show Nicola Sturgeon wants to get Angela Merkel’s look.

22:00 The Lake District: A Wild Year For the wildlife and people who live amongst the epic scenery of the Lake District, life is one of continuous change. Cutting-edge camera techniques give a new and unique perspective on a turbulent year-in-the-life of England’s largest national park.

23:00 News 23:35 The Graham Norton Show 00:25 Uncle 00:55 The Real Marigold Hotel 01:55 Weather 02:00 News

23:00 QI 23:30 Newsnight 00:05 Further Back In Time for Dinner 01:05 Spy in the Wild 02:05 Imagine... 03:45 This Is BBC Two

22:00 Not Going Out Lee is worried that Charlie is getting a reputation at school for being the class clown.

Friday 17th February 2017

07:00 Good Morning Britain 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 News 15:00 Judge Rinder 16:00 James Martin’s French Adventure 17:00 Tipping Point 18:00 The Chase 19:00 News 20:00 Emmerdale Zak has second thoughts. 20:30 Coronation Street Bethany plays with fire. 21:00 Best Walks with a View with Julia Bradbury The expert walker visits the Isle of Man, where her favourite island walk has it all - an ancient Manx river glen, the world’s biggest mining waterwheel and a climb that culminates with spectacular views of England, Scotland and Ireland. 21:30 Coronation Street Bethany steps into the dragon’s lair.

22:00 Piers Morgan’s Life Stories The host is joined this week by 1980s pop icon Boy George, who reflects on his often controversial life and career. He recalls his complex relationship with his violent but loving father, and how - at the age of just eight - he helped his mother survive a suicide attempt.

22:00 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Jimmy Carr hosts the comedy panel show's version of the words-and-numbers quiz, as Jon Richardson and David Mitchell take on guest captain Joe Wilkinson and Roisin Conaty. Tom Allen joins Countdown's resident lexicographer Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner and Rachel Riley looks after the numbers and letters.

23:00 News 23:40 Fishing Impossible 00:10 The Wine Show 01:10 Jackpot247 04:00 Freeze Out 04:50 ITV Nightscreen

23:00 The Last Leg 00:05 First Dates 01:10 Alan Carr Live: Spexy Beast 02:05 Film - Skyline (14) 03:40 No Offence 04:35 The Fake News Show

The Lake District: A Wild Year

07:00 Milkshake 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:15 GPs: Behind Closed Doors 13:10 News 13:15 Winter Road Rescue 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:20 NCIS 16:20 Film - Forbidden Secrets (14) 18:00 News 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 News 20:00 Carry On Caravanning Lee, Mat and Jon take their cara-virgin friend Ben on his first caravanning holiday. Sunbed Jonny throws a Spanish fiesta-themed evening. Imogen and Jonathan take their brand new imported Shasta caravan for a disastrous weekend in Sussex. Laura and Andrea take their four kids to the Lake District. 21:00 Celebrity Carry On Barging On the second leg of the foursome’s jaunt along the Kennet and Avon canal, Simon lets his love of history steer the way to a forgotten waterway. 22:00 Cruising With Jane McDonald Joined by just six other passengers on what is easily her smallest ever cruise, Jane enjoys unseasonably good weather as she visits the puffinpacked Treshnish Islands. 23:00 Bankrupt & Broke: When Celebs Go Bust 00:30 Lip Sync Battle UK 01:00 SuperCasino 04:10 The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door 05:00 The Railways That Built Britain with Chris Tarrant

07:00 You’ve Been Framed! 07:25 Who’s Doing the Dishes? 08:15 Ellen DeGeneres 09:00 Emmerdale 10:00 Coronation Street 10:35 Psych 11:25 Scorpion 12:25 Who’s Doing the Dishes? 13:25 Emmerdale 14:30 Coronation Street 15:00 Ellen DeGeneres 18:00 Judge Rinder 19:00 You’ve Been Framed! 21:00 Two and a Half Men 22:00 Film - Shaun of the Dead (18) ITV 3 07:00 In Loving Memory 07:25 Heartbeat 08:25 Where the Heart Is 09:25 The Royal 10:25 Judge Judy 11:50 Inspector Morse 14:05 Heartbeat 15:05 The Royal 16:10 Where the Heart Is 17:15 In Loving Memory 17:50 Rising Damp 18:20 On the Buses 18:55 Heartbeat 20:00 Murder, She Wrote 21:00 Doc Martin 22:00 Agatha Christie’s Marple ITV 4 07:00 Gunsmoke 07:55 The Saint 08:50 Hogan’s Heroes 09:55 The Professionals 10:55 Ironside 12:00 Gunsmoke 13:05 Storage Wars Texas 14:00 Pawn Stars 14:55 Hogan’s Heroes 16:00 Ironside 17:00 The Professionals 18:05 The Saint 19:10 Storage Wars Texas 20:05 Pawn Stars 21:05 Counting Cars 22:00 Film - Last Man Standing (15)

Testament Of Youth

Friday BBC Two In England’s largest national park nothing stands still and everything is in a state of continuous change. Using a huge range of photographic techniques, The Lake District: A Restless Year gives a new and unique perspective on a year in the life of the Lake District, and an insight into the wildlife and people who live in this dramatic landscape. Fixed cameras all over the Lake District show the scenery as it transforms; changes that take weeks and months appear to pass in seconds. As the year begins, ice and snow give way to the green and sunshine - and truly British rain - of spring and summer, followed by the violent storms and deep-freeze of autumn and winter. Throughout this, the animals, plants and people that call the Lake District home have to weather everything that this stunning landscape can throw at them. Elsewhere, unique Lake District stories continue to unfold. Herdwick sheep give birth to their lambs, signaling the traditional start of the year, while climbers rescue sheep trapped on rocky ledges, caterpillars gingerly ‘disarm’ seed pods so they can feed before the pods explode, and the record floods of December 2015 rip through the fells and towns alike. Deep within ancient dry-stone walls, baby slugs have the perfect place to hatch, and tiny Jumping Spiders hunt amongst the rocks. Tourists brave the April showers, while thousands of people take to the water in the biggest lake swimming event in Europe. From shepherds herding thousands of sheep down from the mountain tops, to Red Squirrels - in one of their few English strongholds - burying nuts to feed themselves over winter, to mountaineers braving the frozen peaks, each story takes a new approach to show the challenges of living with the turbulent and unpredictable year.

Take Me Out Celebrity Special Sunday ITV Paddy McGuinness plays cupid for three famous and single men in this special celebrity edition of the hit dating show. Eligible bachelors descending down the love lift tonight are TOWIE star James “Arg” Argent, presenter and radio DJ Melvin Odoom and Olympic medalist Nile Wilson.

Sunday BBC Two BBC Films’ Testament of Youth is directed by James Kent and stars Alicia Vikander, Kit Harrington, Taron Egerton and Colin Morgan. Testament Of Youth is a searing story of love, war and remembrance, based on the First World War memoir by Vera Brittain which became the classic testimony of that war from a woman’s point of view. A powerful and passionate journey from youthful hopes and dreams to the edge of despair and back again, it’s a film about young love, the futility of war and how to make sense of the darkest times. Vera Brittain, irrepressible, intelligent and free-minded, overcomes the prejudices of her family and hometown to win a scholarship to Oxford. With everything to live for, she falls in love with her brother’s close friend Roland Leighton, as they go to University to pursue their literary dreams. But the First World War is looming and as the boys leave for the front Vera realises she cannot sit idly by as her peers fight for their country, so volunteers as a nurse. She works tirelessly, experiencing all the sorrows of war, as one by one those closest to her are killed and the pillars of her world shattered. But Vera is an indefatigable spirit. She endures and returns to Oxford, irrevocably changed, yet determined to find a new purpose which spurs her towards a powerful act of remembrance.

Friday 17th February 2017

The BRIT Awards 2017 - Wednesday ITV Dermot O’Leary and Emma Willis host star-studded ceremony live from The O2, London. The show features performances from some of the biggest names in music including Robbie Williams, Emeli Sandé, Little Mix, Skepta, Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars. The BRIT Awards 2017 with Mastercard exclusively broadcast live on ITV Wednesday 22nd February 2017 from The O2 Arena, London Katy Perry will give her first UK TV appearance in three years. Katy Perry: “I’m excited to come back to one of my favorite countries, where most of my favorite musical influences come from. After 3 years, I’m excited to return to the BRITs’ stage to kick off a new era of purposeful pop.” Skepta receives three nominations for British Male Solo Artist, British Breakthrough Act and Mastercard British Album of the Year for the critically acclaimed album ‘Konnichiwa’. His first ever BRIT Award nominations follow a phenomenal year including his highest ever chart success. Little Mix have continued to go from strength to strength with the phenomenal reaction to their recent album ‘Glory Days’, which spent four weeks at Number 1 last year. The lead track ‘Shout Out To My Ex’ secured the group a nomination for British Single and ‘Hair’ ft. Sean Paul for British Artist Video of the Year, topped off with a Best British Group nomination further cementing their place as the UK’s biggest girlband. The band will also perform at this year’s ceremony as well as The 1975 and Emeli Sandé. David Bowie and Leonard Cohen have both been recognised posthumously with nominations for British Male Solo Artist and International Male Solo Artist respectively. David Bowie’s final album ‘Blackstar’ has also been recognised in the Mastercard British Album of the Year category. The International Female Solo Artist is a family affair with sisters Beyoncé and Solange going up against each other. Rihanna also receives her sixth nomination in this category having previously won the award twice. Nominated in both British Single and British Artist Video of the Year, two nominations go to Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna - ‘This Is What You Came For’, Coldplay - ‘Hymn For The Weekend’, James Arthur - Say You Won’t Let Go’, Jonas Blue ft. Dakota ‘Fast Car’, Tinie Tempah ft. Zara Larsson - ‘Girls Like’, Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie - ‘Rockabye’ and Zayn ‘Pillowtalk’. Also receiving two nominations each Kano (British Male Solo Artist, Mastercard British Album of the Year), Michael Kiwanuka (British Male Solo Artist, Mastercard British Album of the Year)

Dates for your TV Diary

Broadchurch - 27 February

and The 1975 (British Group, Mastercard British Album of the Year), Jason Iley, BRITs Chairman said: “The 2017 BRIT nominations reflect a diverse and rich year in music both in the UK and internationally. Huge artists from the past, present and future are represented. From pop, to indie, to grime, to rock; it’s a brilliant and varied roll call of talent - a fantastic showcase for what’s happening in music right now.” The BRIT Awards 2017 compilation album, released through Universal Music on Friday 17th February, is now available to pre-order. The hit packed album celebrates the biggest tracks of the year from the best talent in music including The Weeknd, Ellie Goulding, Zara Larsson, Little Mix, Sia, James Arthur, Clean Bandit, and Christine and the Queens along with Critics’ Choice winner Rag'n'Bone Man. 2017 will celebrate the Awards 37th show since its debut year in 1977 (which was followed by a short break of a couple of years). The BRIT Awards have established themselves as a global music institution that annually celebrates UK chart and commercial successes. Last year (2016) The BRITs celebrated an incredible night in British music with Adele picking up four Awards as well as giving a show stopping performance. The Awards raised an incredible £265k for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy and The BRIT Trust from live performance downloads and streams from the ceremony. The BRIT Awards annually raises funds for The BRIT Trust charity, whose main beneficiaries are the BRIT School for Performing Arts & Technology, Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy and other selected charities. To date, over £16.8million has been raised for The BRIT Trust charity. Apple Music is the official music streaming and download partner for The BRIT Awards 2017, presenting the Best British Female and Male categories.

Benidorm - 1 March

Prime Suspect 1973 - 2 March You can read more about these shows on The Courier website this week, www.thecourier.es

Saturday TV 07:00 Breakfast 11:00 Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30 The Little Paris Kitchen: Cooking with Rachel Khoo 13:00 Football Focus 14:00 News 14:15 Live: Indoor Grand Prix Athletics 17:30 Final Score 18:10 News 18:25 The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins 19:10 Pointless Celebrities

07:30 Film - Stage Door 08:55 Film - Lucky Jim 10:30 Coast 11:00 Britain’s Secret Seas 12:00 Homes Under the Hammer 13:00 A Cook Abroad 14:00 Talking Pictures 14:30 Film - An Ideal Husband (PG) 16:00 Escape to the Country 16:45 Mastermind 17:15 University Challenge 17:45 18:15 Connect Only Nature’s Weirdest Events 19:55 Let It Shine It’s the 19:00 Flog It! semi-final and only four bands remain in the compe- 20:00 The Lake District: A tition. The bands are just Wild Year This documenone step away from making tary features cutting-edge the final, and they are all camera techniques offering tested on something all a new and unique perspecgood boybands need - how tive on a turbulent year in to dance! the life of England's largest national park. 20:55 Casualty Iain tries to make amends for his past but gets more than he bar- 21:00 Grand Tours of the gained for, while Dylan Scottish Islands Paul struggles to cope in an ED Murton returns to explore under pressure of binge more of the remote and fascinating places that lie off drinkers. the mainland. 21:45 Let It Shine It’s the second part of the semi- 21:30 Dad’s Army Captain final, and the results of the Mainwaring is challenged viewer vote are revealed. by Captain Ogilvy and the Highland Regiment to a war 22:15 Taboo James game, with uplifting results. Delaney has seemingly lost everything, but when he 22:00 Film - Testament of suffers a devastating Youth When her fiance and betrayal, he realises even brother are sent to the front his freedom is in jeopardy line during the early days of and The Crown and the First World War, a Company conspire to bring young woman gives up her him down once and for all. studies at Oxford University to follow them. (PG) 23:15 News 23:30 Match of the Day 00:40 This Country 00:05 Film - Safe Haven 01:05 Film - Having You (PG) 01:55 Film - The (15) 02:40 Weather for the White Ribbon (14) 04:10 Week Ahead 02:45 News This Is BBC Two

Friday 17th February 2017

07:00 CITV 10:25 News 10:30 Alphabetical 11:30 Guess This House 12:25 Judge Rinder 13:25 News 13:35 River Monsters 14:05 Tipping Point 15:05 The Chase 16:10 Dance Dance Dance 17:40 News 18:10 Film - Despicable Me

07:20 The King of Queens 08:10 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:30 Frasier 10:30 The Big Bang Theory 11:55 The Simpsons 13:00 Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast 14:00 Come Dine with Me 16:35 A Place in the Sun: Summer Sun 17:35 Location, Location, 20:00 Ninja Warrior UK Location 18:35 Grand Ben Shephard, Rochelle Designs 19:30 News Humes and Chris Kamara host the final of the assault 20:00 The Restoration course game show. Who Man Having never lived will conquer Mount together before, architect Midoriyama and be Neil Worrell and his partner crowned the UK’s first Ninja Jackie Robinson decided to Warrior? cement their relationship by purchasing a forgotten 21:00 The Voice UK The church in the picture perspinning-chair singing con- fect fishing town of Brixham test reaches a crucial in Devon. stage, as Emma Willis introduces the seventh and 21:00 Great Canal final Blind Audition. As Journeys Timothy West always, another selection and Prunella Scales of would-be stars are ush- embark on a sun-kissed ered onto the stage to per- voyage through the heart of form, unseen by judges the Highlands - a world of Jennifer Hudson, Gavin Loch Ness monster Rossdale, Will.i.am and hunters, tales of Bonnie Tom Jones, who must sig- Prince Charlie, and 60 nalling their approval by miles and 29 canal locks to turning their chairs. navigate on their way to the ocean. 22:20 Through the Keyhole Keith Lemon is let 22:00 Film - Taken 2 In loose around three more Istanbul, retired CIA operacelebrity homes as boxer tive Bryan Mills and his wife David Haye, Corrie star are taken hostage by the Samia Longchambon and father of a kidnapper Mills TV presenter Dave Berry killed while rescuing his try to guess who they daughter. (14) belong to.

07:00 Milkshake 11:00 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 11:40 Police Interceptors 13:35 Benefits Britain: Life on the Dole 14:35 Benefits 15:35 The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door 17:30 News 17:35 Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords 18:30 Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away!

23:50 Film - The Bourne Legacy (14) 02:20 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA 03:15 Hollyoaks Omnibus

23:30 NCIS 00:25 NCIS: Los Angeles 01:15 SuperCasino 04:10 Magic Makes You Laugh Out Loud 05:00 Benefits

07:15 The King of Queens 08:10 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:30 Frasier 10:30 Sunday Brunch 13:30 George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces 14:35 The Simpsons 15:35 Film Addams Family Values (PG) 17:30 News 18:00 Film - The Karate Kid (PG)

07:00 Milkshake 11:00 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 11:35 Football 13:00 Inside Windsor Castle 13:55 Secrets Of The National Trust with Alan Titchmarsh 14:55 Film - Seabiscuit (PG) 17:35 Film - National Lampoon’s Vacation (15)

20:30 The Jump The remaining celebrity contestants compete in the skeleton event, which requires them to ride down a twisted track on a heavy metal sled with their faces millimetres from the ice. The losers in each race will then have to face the jump to decide who will be the next to leave the series.

19:25 Film - National European Lampoon’s Vacation The disasterprone Griswolds appear on a TV game show, and through a happy accident, end up winning a holiday touring Europe. (12)

23:20 News 23:35 Knocked Up (18) Jackpot247 04:00 Doing the Dishes? ITV Nightscreen

Film 01:50 Who’s 04:50

19:30 Live: FIA Formula E Motor Racing The Buenos Aires ePrix. Coverage of the third round of the campaign from Puerto Madero Street Circuit in Argentina. 21:10 Secrets Of The Great Train Robbery A look at how one of the most famous heists in history, that was thought to be a brilliantly planned and daringly executed robbery, was actually a scheme littered with mistakes, bad decisions and careless planning. 22:00 Football Highlights from the weekend’s games in the Championship, including Birmingham City v Queens Park Rangers at St Andrew’s, Barnsley v Brighton & Hove Albion at Oakwell, and Wigan Athletic v Preston North End at DW Stadium.

07:00 Emmerdale Omnibus 09:25 Coronation Street Omnibus 12:20 Ninja Warrior UK 13:20 Take Me Out 14:35 You’ve Been Framed! 15:10 Film Honey (PG) 17:05 Film St. Trinian’s (12) 19:05 Film - After Earth (PG) 21:00 Scorpion 22:00 Film - Hot Fuzz (14)

ITV 3 07:00 Murder, She Wrote 08:50 Murder, She Wrote 09:50 Sherlock Holmes 12:05 Columbo 14:05 Film - Carry on Matron (PG) 15:55 Carry On: Follow That Camel (PG) 17:55 Wycliffe 19:00 Midsomer Murders 21:00 Doc Martin 22:00 Midsomer Murders

ITV 4 07:00 Nijinsky’s Triple Crown 07:05 The Professionals 08:55 The Saint 10:00 Bundesliga Football Highlights 11:00 ITV Racing 12:00 Counting Cars 13:00 Pawn Stars 14:30 Live: ITV Racing Live: Ascot, Haydock Park and Wincanton 17:00 Film Rio Bravo 19:55 River Monsters 22:05 Film - The Specialist (15)

Sunday TV 07:00 Breakfast 08:50 Match of the Day 10:00 The Andrew Marr Show 11:00 The Big Questions 12:00 Bargain Hunt 13:00 News 13:15 Film - Shrek Forever After (PG) 14:40 Live: Match of the Day Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur. 17:05 Escape to the Country 17:50 Lifeline 18:00 Songs of Praise 18:35 News 19:00 The Big Painting Challenge 20:00 Countryfile It’s that time of year when the Cheddar Gorge has its annual clean-up, but Ellie didn’t think she would be dangling from a rope to do it. 21:00 Call the Midwife Nonnatus House welcomes new recruit, Nurse Valerie Dyer. Meanwhile, a vulnerable young man captures Fred and Violet’s hearts, and the whereabouts of Sister Mary Cynthia is a concern. 22:00 SS-GB Drama set in an alternate history of WWII where Germany won the Battle of Britain and has gone on to occupy the UK. 23:00 News 23:30 Match of the Day 00:10 American High School 00:55 Celebrity Apprentice USA 02:20 Weather 02:25 News

07:30 Big Dreams Small Spaces 08:30 An Island Parish 09:00 Around the World in 80 Gardens 10:00 Countryfile 11:00 Saturday Kitchen Best Bites 12:30 Nigel Slater’s Dish of the Day 13:00 Nigellissima 13:30 A Cook Abroad 14:30 Talking Pictures 15:00 Film - Funny Lady (PG) 17:15 Birds of Paradise: The Ultimate Quest 18:15 Ski Sunday

07:00 CITV 10:25 News 10:30 Countrywise 11:00 Peston on Sunday 11:55 Gino’s Italian Escape: Hidden Italy 12:25 Chopping Block 13:30 News 13:45 Film - Carry on Jack (PG) 15:25 All Star Family Fortunes 16:10 Ninja Warrior UK 17:15 The Voice UK 18:30 Tipping Point 19:30 News

20:00 Take Me Out TOWIE star James Argent, radio DJ 19:00 Film - Oz the Great Melvin Odoom and Olympic and Powerful A shady cir- medallist Nile Wilson look cus magician crashes his for love. balloon in the magical land of Oz, where he encounters three beautiful witches and 21:00 Lion Country: Night becomes a reluctant leader and Day As the rainy seain an epic battle of good vs. son approaches, the young cubs of both prides are put evil. (PG) in jeopardy. 21:00 Dragons’ Den A selfassured Scottish entrepre- 22:00 The Good Karma neur pitches his fitness Hospital Ruby becomes personally involved in the company for children. case of an abandoned baby 22:00 Special Forces: that is brought to the hospiUltimate Hell Week tal during the Holi festival, Reggie brings the contest- and Lydia is reunited with ants to South Korea to train an expat artist, whose under an officer from the unusual lifestyle may be country's Underwater about to catch up with him. Demolition Team. 23:00 News 23:20 Peston 23:00 Film - Being AP (12) on Sunday 00:15 Aviva 00:40 Film - Defiance (14) Premiership Rugby 01:15 04:00 02:45 Question Time 03:45 Jackpot247 Holby City 04:45 This Is Chopping Block 04:50 ITV Nightscreen BBC Two

22:00 X-Men: Days of Future Past In a future ravaged by war, the superhero team makes a desperate last stand against a force of deadly robots. Their only hope is to send Wolverine back in time to the 1970s, to join forces with an earlier version of the X-Men and change the events that started the conflict. (PG) 00:40 Lawless (14) 02:40 The Last Leg 03:35 Phil: Secret Agent Down Under 05:25 Kirstie’s Fill Your House for Free

21:10 That’s So... An entertaining look back at events in 1985, using news, pop and TV archive clips to provide a nostalgic reminder of the year. Freddie The 22:00 Mercury Story: Who Wants to Live Forever? To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Freddie Mercury’s death, this documentary marks what would have been his 70th year. 00:05 20 Moments that Rocked the 80s 01:35 Lip 02:00 Battle Sync 04:10 SuperCasino Bargain Loving Brits in the Sun

07:10 Emmerdale 09:45 Coronation Street 12:40 The Voice UK 14:00 2Awesome 14:05 Guidance 14:40 Fame High 14:55 Third Wheel 15:25 LA Story 15:45 You’ve Been Framed! 16:10 Film - The Haunted Mansion (PG) 17:55 Film The Smurfs 2 (G) 20:00 Film - Jack and Jill (PG) 22:00 The Ibiza Weekender 23:00 Family Guy ITV 3 09:30 Heartbeat 11:40 Film - Carry On: Follow That Camel (PG) 13:40 Hidden Treasure 15:45 Wycliffe 16:50 Agatha Christie’s Marple 19:00 Midsomer Murders 21:00 The Royal Variety Performance 2016 23:35 Birds of a Feather ITV 4 08:50 The Saint 09:55 Hogan’s Heroes 11:25 Shed & Buried 12:30 The Car Chasers 13:00 Pawn Stars 15:20 Film - The Cimarron Kid (U) 17:10 Film - Rio Bravo (U) 20:00 The Chase 21:00 Aviva Premiership Rugby 22:05 Film - Memphis Belle (PG)

32 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Britain’s Home Truths 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Wanted Down Under Revisited 12:45 Oxford Street Revealed 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 The Coroner 16:00 Escape to the Country 16:45 The Farmers’ Country Showdown 17:30 Flog It! 18:15 Pointless 19:00 News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 Live: Match of the Day Sutton United v Arsenal Coverage of the fifth-round fixture, which takes place at the Gander Green Lane, as the nonleague side look to cause a huge upset against the 12time winners of the competition. Sutton have already defeated three Football League teams to reach this stage, with their scalp of Championship high-flyers Leeds United in round four causing the biggest stir. Arsene Wenger will be wary of taking tonight’s opponents lightly, and may go against his usual cup policy of blooding the young players, with the artificial turf at the Borough Sports Ground adding an extra layer of unpredictability to the contest. (Kick-off 20.55). 23:00 News 23:45 Have I Got a Bit More News for You 00:30 The Graham Norton Show 01:15 Weather 01:20 News

Friday 17th February 2017

07:00 My Life in Books 07:30 Wanted Down Under Revisited 08:15 The Farmers’ Country Showdown 09:00 The Great Interior Design Challenge 10:00 Victoria Derbyshire 12:00 News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Cash in the Attic 14:25 Beat the Brain 14:55 Landward 15:25 Mountain 16:25 The Blue Planet 17:25 A Place to Call Home 18:15 Antiques Road Trip 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great Continental Railway Journeys 20:00 The Hairy Bikers’ Chicken and Egg In Tetouan, the boys experience the full extent of Spanish and Moorish influences on Moroccan cuisine. 21:00 University Challenge Quiz 21:30 An Island Parish The rainy season begins and the islanders prepare for the threat of hurricanes. 22:00 SAS: Rogue Warriors With David Stirling locked away in Hitler's most secure prison Colditz, the leadership of the SAS passed to Paddy Mayne. 23:00 Cradle to Grave 23:30 Newsnight 00:15 Hospital 01:15 Countryfile 02:10 Who Do You Think You Are? 03:10 Royal Recipes 03:55 This Is BBC Two

07:00 Good Morning Britain 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 News 15:00 Judge Rinder 16:00 James Martin’s French Adventure 17:00 Tipping Point 18:00 The Chase 19:00 News 20:00 Emmerdale Will Aaron and Robert’s big day go to plan? 20:30 Coronation Street Michelle and Steve bid a final farewell to Ruairi. 21:00 The Martin Lewis Money Show Martin and Saira look at lifetime ISAs and tips on how a credit card can act as a guarantee. 21:30 Coronation Street There is new life on the Street. 22:00 The Halcyon The hotel celebrates its 50 year anniversary, but Lucian struggles to keep things in order as pressure mounts and Adil attempts to corner Toby and bring him back from the edge of doing something terrible. Garland and Lady Hamilton find a cause to unite over. 23:00 News 23:40 Through the Keyhole 00:40 The Chase 01:35 Jackpot247 04:00 Jeremy Kyle 04:55 ITV Nightscreen

07:00 Countdown 07:45 The King of Queens 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:05 Frasier 11:05 Undercover Boss USA 12:05 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA 13:00 News 13:05 A New Life in the Sun 14:05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It 15:10 Countdown 16:00 Fifteen to One 17:00 A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 News Dispatches 21:00 Reporter Harry Wallop investigates how leaving the European Union and the imposition of import taxes could affect the cost of UK shopping. 21:30 Food Unwrapped In Ghana, Kate investigates a ground-breaking new use for a special enzyme found in pineapple that destroys dead skin in your mouth. 22:00 The Trouble with Dad Comedian David Baddiel has a problem: his 82-year-old dad Colin has a rare form of dementia. With the help of his older brother David is trying to hold on to what is left of Colin. 23:00 Jon Richardson: How to Survive the End of the World 00:05 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 01:10 Parenting for Idiots 02:05 Girls to Men 03:00 The Wedding Day

Monday TV 07:00 Milkshake 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:15 GPs: Behind Closed Doors 13:10 News 13:15 The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 Film Lifetime Of Lies 18:00 News 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 News 20:00 The Cars That Made Britain Great A raft of celebrity faces take a drive down Memory Lane, sharing stories of being on the open road for the first time, featuring tales of freedom, love, hate, teenage rebellion and driving tests. 21:00 Winter Road Rescue Patrolman Simon fights through a blizzard to get to a lone woman who has broken down on a busy A road at night, while coastguards have their work cut out to keep the public safe as a red alert is issued for a huge tidal surge. 22:00 The Railways That Built Britain with Chris Tarrant The broadcaster examines the role of the railways during the two global conflicts of the 20th century 23:00 TV’s 50 Greatest Magic Tricks 01:45 Criminals: Caught on Camera 02:15 SuperCasino

08:15 Ellen DeGeneres 09:00 Emmerdale 09:30 Coronation Street 10:30 Ninja Warrior UK 12:30 Take Me Out 13:30 Emmerdale 14:00 Coronation Street 15:00 Ellen DeGeneres 15:50 Jeremy Kyle 18:00 Judge Rinder 19:00 You’ve Been Framed! 21:00 Two and a Half Men 22:00 Family Guy 22:30 The Great Indoors 23:00 American Dad! ITV 3 08:25 Where the Heart Is 09:25 The Royal 10:25 Judge Judy 11:50 Inspector Morse 14:05 Heartbeat 15:05 The Royal 16:10 Where the Heart Is 17:15 In Loving Memory 17:50 Rising Damp 18:20 On the Buses 18:55 Heartbeat 20:00 Murder, She Wrote 21:00 Doc Martin 22:00 Inspector Morse ITV 4 07:00 Gunsmoke 07:55 The Saint 08:45 Hogan’s Heroes 09:45 The Professionals 10:50 Ironside 11:55 Gunsmoke 13:00 Storage Wars Texas 13:55 Pawn Stars 14:55 Hogan’s Heroes 15:55 Ironside 17:00 The Professionals 18:00 The Saint 19:05 Storage Wars Texas 20:00 Pawn Stars 21:00 Parking Wars 22:00 Film - Eraser (15)

Tuesday TV 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Britain’s Home Truths 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Wanted Down Under Revisited 12:45 Oxford Street Revealed 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 The Coroner 16:00 Escape to the Country 16:45 The Farmers’ Country Showdown 17:30 Flog It! 18:15 Pointless 19:00 News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 EastEnders Denise is faced with a difficult situation 21:00 Holby City Isaac’s dark side comes to the surface as his relationship with Dominic reaches breaking point. 22:00 DIY SOS: The Big Build When Terry Guest had a brain injury, he was left with severe disabilities, and the only care available for him was an old people’s dementia care home, where he remained for several years. His sister Tracey offered help, but like Terry’s home, her house was also unsuitable. Nick Knowles’s regulars and a team of South Yorkshire volunteers and suppliers step in to adapt Tracey’s home. 23:00 News 23:45 Imagine... 00:45 Who Do You Think You Are? 01:45 Weather for the Week Ahead 01:50 News

07:00 My Life in Books 07:30 Wanted Down Under Revisited 08:15 The Farmers’ Country Showdown 09:00 Great British Menu 10:00 Victoria Derbyshire 12:00 News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Countryfile 14:10 The Super League Show 14:55 Landward 15:25 Mountain 16:25 The Blue Planet 17:25 A Place to Call Home 18:15 Antiques Road Trip 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great Continental Railway Journeys 20:00 The Hairy Bikers’ Chicken and Egg Si and Dave lift the lid on the origins story of one of the world’s favourite fast foods - Southern Fried Chicken. 21:00 Further Back In Time for Dinner The Robshaws enter the 1940s and experience a decade overshadowed by war and entirely fuelled by rations. 22:00 The Drug Trial: Emergency at the Hospital In 2006 six healthy men took part in a drug trial that went terribly wrong, leaving them fighting for their lives. This documentary tells the story of one of the most infamous medical emergencies in recent British history. 23:00 Inside No. 9 23:30 Newsnight 00:15 Special Forces: Ultimate Hell Week 01:15 SAS: Rogue Warriors 02:15 Our Dancing Town

07:00 Good Morning Britain 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 News 15:00 Judge Rinder 16:00 James Martin’s French Adventure 17:00 Tipping Point 18:00 The Chase 19:00 News 20:00 Emmerdale Robert and Aaron face an uncertain future. 20:30 Britain’s Busiest Motorway Documentary series which goes behind the scenes and on the roads with the characters who work on one of the most famous and busiest motorways in Britain, the M25. 21:00 Tales from the Coast with Robson Green Robson Green visits the coastal landscape of Essex and Suffolk, taking in the famous salt marshes of the Blackwater estuary, and Clacton-onSea where he reunites Mods and Rockers. 22:00 Secret Life of Dogs All dogs descend from wolves, but how did this predator become a member of so many families? These examples show how strong the bond can be between a dog and its human family. 23:00 News 23:40 Take Me Out 00:40 Film - Carry on Henry (PG) 02:15 Jackpot247

07:00 Milkshake 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:15 GPs: Behind Closed Doors 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS: Los Angeles 16:15 Film - The Nightmare Nanny 18:00 News 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 News 20:00 Winter Road Rescue Patrolman Simon fights through a blizzard to get to a lone woman who has broken down on a busy A road at night. 21:00 Inside Windsor Castle Windsor was the safe haven that kept Princess Elizabeth and her sister Margaret safe during the war, and it is where Elizabeth fell in love with Prince Philip.

22:00 24 Hours in A&E Pam, who’s 53, is rushed to A&E after suffering a suspected heart attack. As doctors try to establish whether it definitely was a heart attack or another underlying condition, Pam’s daughter Meg talks about her bond with her mum.

22:00 Secrets Of The National Trust with Alan Titchmarsh Alan visits Attingham Hall in Shropshire, one of the Trust’s grandest properties. Jon Culshaw uncovers a lost WWII secret at the former home of Benjamin Disraeli.

23:00 Staying Healthy: A Doctor’s Guide 00:00 This Is Us 01:00 Revenge Porn 01:55 KOTV Boxing Weekly 02:25 Gillette World Sport 02:50 Ramsay’s Hotel Hell

23:00 Celebrity Carry On Barging 00:05 Extraordinary People 01:05 The Great British Benefits Handout 02:00 SuperCasino 04:10 GPs: Behind Closed Doors 05:00 Tattoo Disasters UK

08:15 Ellen DeGeneres 09:00 Emmerdale 09:30 Coronation Street 10:30 Ninja Warrior UK 12:30 Take Me Out 13:30 Emmerdale 14:00 Coronation Street 15:00 Ellen DeGeneres 15:50 Jeremy Kyle 18:00 Judge Rinder 19:00 You’ve Been Framed! 21:00 Two and a Half Men 22:00 Hell’s Kitchen USA 23:00 Celebrity Juice 23:50 Family Guy ITV 3 08:30 Where the Heart Is 09:30 The Royal 10:30 Judge Judy 11:50 Inspector Morse 14:05 Heartbeat 15:05 The Royal 16:10 Where the Heart Is 17:15 In Loving Memory 17:50 Rising Damp 18:20 On the Buses 18:55 Heartbeat 20:00 Murder, She Wrote 21:00 Midsomer Murders 23:00 Wycliffe ITV 4 07:55 The Saint 08:50 Hogan’s Heroes 09:50 The Professionals 10:50 Ironside 11:55 Gunsmoke 13:00 Storage Wars Texas 13:55 Pawn Stars 14:50 Hogan’s Heroes 15:55 Ironside 17:00 The Professionals 18:00 The Saint 19:05 Storage Wars Texas 20:00 Pawn Stars 21:00 The Chase 22:00 Benidorm 23:00 Film - The Road (14)

Friday 17th February 2017

Wednesday TV 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Britain’s Home Truths 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Wanted Down Under Revisited 12:45 Oxford Street Revealed 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 The Coroner 16:00 Escape to the Country 16:45 The Farmers’ Country Showdown 17:30 Flog It! 18:15 Pointless 19:00 News 20:00 The One Show 21:00 Who Do You Think You Are? Actor Sunetra Sarker sets out to explore the Bengali heritage she ignored when she was growing up in Liverpool. Starting in Kolkata, India, she learns of her greatgrandfather's courageous activism in colonial Bengal, and of a family connection to Gandhi during the struggle for Indian independence. 22:00 The Real Marigold Hotel The celebrities continue to settle into life in their 16th-century mansion, and are brought closer together when they celebrate Amanda Barrie’s 81st birthday together. Lionel Blair - who has struggled with a distended belly since having treatment for cancer - tries out a local alternative medicine in the hope of finding a solution to the problem. 23:00 News 23:45 Peter Kay’s Car Share 00:15 Film 2017 00:50 The Big Painting Challenge 01:50 Weather for the Week Ahead 01:55 News

07:00 My Life in Books 07:30 Wanted Down Under Revisited 08:15 The Farmers’ Country Showdown 09:00 The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes 10:00 Victoria Derbyshire 12:00 Live 12:30 Daily Politics 14:00 Lifeline 14:10 Cash in the Attic 14:35 Beat the Brain 15:05 Landward 15:35 Mountain 16:30 The Blue Planet 17:20 A Place to Call Home 18:15 Antiques Road Trip 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great Continental Railway Journeys 20:00 The Hairy Bikers’ Chicken and Egg Dave and Si travel to Israel, where they visit the 2500year-old remains of the world’s first chicken farm, as well as getting a glimpse of the future for poultry. They prepare a shakshuka on a beach in Tel Aviv and chicken shawarma kebabs on the streets of Old Jerusalem.

22:00 Incredible Medicine: Dr Weston’s Casebook Surgeon Gabriel Weston uncovers the workings of the human body, looking closely at case studies of individuals with extremely rare conditions.

20:30 The BRIT Awards 2017 Dermot O’Leary and Emma Willis co-host the 37th edition of the British Phonographic Industry’s annual pop music awards, staged at London’s O2 and featuring performances by Robbie Williams, Emeli Sandé, Little Mix, Skepta, the 1975, Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars. David Bowie receives two posthumous nominations, for British Male Solo Artist and Album of the Year, with Leonard Cohen receiving his first-ever nomination in the International Male Solo Artist category, also posthumously.

23:00 Mock the Week 23:30 Newsnight 00:15 Dragons’ Den 01:15 Trust Me I’m a Doctor 02:15 Royal Recipes 03:00 This Is BBC Two

23:00 News 23:45 UEFA Champions League Football 00:55 Sports Life Stories 01:45 Jackpot247 04:00 1000 Heartbeats 04:50 ITV Nightscreen

21:00 The House That £100k Built Kieran Long follows self-builders as they take on the biggest gamble of their lives.

Friday 17th February 2017

07:00 Countdown 07:45 The King of Queens 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:05 Frasier 11:05 Undercover Boss USA 12:00 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA 13:00 News 13:05 A New Life in the Sun 14:05 Find It, Fix It, Flog It 15:10 Countdown 16:00 Fifteen to One 17:00 A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 News 21:00 Location, Location, Location Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer revisit two couples who were previously featured on the show. Sam and Krystle were keen to move from their rented flat in Deptford into their own place, while long-distance partners Jason and Jaye were looking for a one-bed pad with outside space in Clapham or Brixton to finally bring them together. 22:00 The Royal House of Windsor George V rescued the monarchy by dumping their German roots and rebranding the family as quintessentially British, until his wayward son Edward VIII nearly brought the dynasty crashing down with the abdication crisis. 23:20 Four Rooms with Sarah Beeny 00:25 The Billion Pound Hotel 01:25 Walking The Nile 02:20 The Secret Life of... 03:15 Film - Sorority Row (18) 04:55 Kirstie’s Handmade Treasures

07:00 Milkshake 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:15 GPs: Behind Closed Doors 13:10 News 13:15 The Great British Benefits Handout 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 Film - A Killer Among Us 18:00 News 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 News 20:00 A New Life in Oz The Boundy family leave Cornwall for Australia’s South West, where mum Sasha wants to set up a sanctuary for baby possums. After initial struggles with accommodation and accessing funds, could a rental home meet their needs? 21:00 GPs: Behind Closed Doors Dr Kwan treats a teenage patient who has decided to stop taking the anti-psychotic medication she has been prescribed. 22:00 Climbing the Property Ladder First time property developer Cate and fiancée Nikki are looking to boost their pension pot, and they carry out a high risk strategy by pouring all of Cate’s life savings into a rundown house. Meanwhile, Andrzej dreams of building his own property empire. Starting with a small studio apartment he sets his sights on £30,000 profit in just four weeks. 23:00 Extraordinary People 00:05 Film - Seven Pounds (14) 02:15 SuperCasino 04:10 Celebrity Carry On Barging

08:15 Ellen DeGeneres 09:00 Emmerdale 09:30 You’ve Been Framed! 10:15 Ninja Warrior UK 11:15 Film - Step Up 3 (PG) 13:30 Emmerdale 14:00 You’ve Been Framed! 15:00 Ellen DeGeneres 15:50 Jeremy Kyle 18:00 Judge Rinder 19:00 You’ve Been Framed! 19:30 The BRIT Awards 2017 20:30 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 20:55 Film - After Earth (PG) 23:00 The BRIT Awards 2017 ITV 3 07:00 In Loving Memory 07:25 Heartbeat 08:25 Where the Heart Is 09:25 The Royal 10:25 Judge Judy 11:50 Inspector Morse 14:05 Heartbeat 15:05 The Royal 16:10 Where the Heart Is 17:15 In Loving Memory 17:55 Rising Damp 18:20 On the Buses 18:55 Heartbeat 20:00 Murder, She Wrote 21:00 Midsomer Murders 23:00 Wycliffe ITV 4 07:55 The Saint 08:50 Hogan’s Heroes 09:55 The Professionals 10:55 Ironside 11:55 Gunsmoke 13:00 Storage Wars Texas 14:00 Pawn Stars 14:55 Hogan’s Heroes 15:55 Ironside 17:00 The Professionals 18:00 The Saint 19:05 Storage Wars Texas 20:00 Pawn Stars 21:00 River Monsters 22:05 Film - Transporter 3 (14)

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36 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Britain’s Home Truths 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Wanted Down Under Revisited 12:45 Oxford Street Revealed 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 The Coroner 16:00 Escape to the Country 16:45 The Farmers’ Country Showdown 17:30 Flog It! 18:15 Pointless 19:00 News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 EastEnders Denise is forced to deal with the consequences of her actions. 21:00 Shop Well for Less? The One Show presenter Alex Jones and business journalist Steph McGovern take on a mission to help families change the way they shop without changing their lifestyles. They begin in Glasgow, where Colin and Karen Rodger dream of taking their three sets of twins abroad for the first time. 22:00 Death in Paradise The Saint Marie mayoral elections are thrown into disarray when one of the candidates is stabbed to death in the polling booth while casting his vote. Can Irish detective Jack Mooney and his team get to the bottom of this political puzzle? 23:00 News 23:45 Question Time 00:45 This Week 04:00 Weather for the Week Ahead 04:05 News

Friday 17th February 2017

07:00 My Life in Books 07:30 Wanted Down Under Revisited 08:15 The Farmers’ Country Showdown 09:00 An Island Parish 09:30 Great British Railway Journeys 10:00 Victoria Derbyshire 12:00 News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Cash in the Attic 14:25 Beat the Brain 14:55 Landward 15:25 Mountain 16:25 Africa 17:25 A Place to Call Home 18:15 Antiques Road Trip 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great Continental Railway Journeys 20:00 The Hairy Bikers’ Chicken and Egg The Bikers head to Bromsgrove for some of the best jerk chicken in Britain 21:00 The Great Pottery Throw Down It is garden week and judges Keith Brymer Jones and Kate Malone challenge the seven remaining potters to make stunning ceramics for the great outdoors. 22:00 This World NHS doctor Oscar Duke, who himself has albinism, embarks on a personal journey. He uncovers the discrimination and persecution of people who share his condition in Tanzania and Malawi in East Africa. 23:00 MOTD: The Premier League Show 23:30 Newsnight 00:15 The Drug Trial: Emergency at the Hospital 01:15 David Bowie: The Last Five Years 02:45 Royal Recipes 03:30 This Is BBC TWO

07:00 Good Morning Britain 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 News 15:00 Judge Rinder 16:00 James Martin’s French Adventure 17:00 Tipping Point 18:00 The Chase 19:00 News 20:00 Emmerdale Aaron’s day for sentencing arrives. 20:30 Tonight You might think wolf whistles and cat calls are a thing of the past. But is sexual harassment on the streets and in night clubs actually getting worse? Many women say it is. Tonight goes undercover to see if some men really are behaving badly. 21:00 Emmerdale Debbie considers risking it. 22:00 Mafia Women with Trevor McDonald The veteran broadcaster presents the second of two programmes lifting the lid on the riches, the pain and the sense of betrayal that life with a mobster can bring - and this time his journey brings him to a series of secret locations meeting mob wives who are all hiding from the Mafia with their partners.They include Donna Mangiavillano, her daughters Stefanie and Victoria and husband Salvatore, who once masterminded bank heists for the mob. 23:00 News 23:40 UEFA Europa League Football 00:40 Tipping Point 01:35 Jackpot247 04:00 Tonight 04:25 ITV Nightscreen

Thursday TV 07:00 Milkshake 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:15 GPs: Behind Closed Doors 13:10 News 13:15 Benefits 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 Film - Deadly Paradise 18:00 News 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 News 20:00 Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords Newbie property developer Alex calls in an eviction specialist after finding that he could be arrested if he tries to oust squatters from the derelict pub he purchased. Peterborough Council receive a complaint from a family threatened with an illegal eviction and violence by a letting agent.

21:00 The Supervet A puppy called Maya is rushed to the surgery after being hit by a car. Professor Noel Fitzpatrick has to embark on a series of operations on Maya, including a skin graft where her leg is sewn into her 21:00 Bargain Loving stomach. Brits in the Sun Middlesbrough lad Michael 22:00 Has Political has a dream of opening a Correctness Gone Mad? new type of bar, power Documentary in which couple Wayne and Des are writer, broadcaster and for- about to throw a big party mer politician Trevor to thank all of Benidorm’s Phillips argues that liberal- show people for helping at ism and fear of offending a recent fundraiser, and minorities is stifling legiti- reinvented ex-criminal Rob mate debate, and in his is struggling to keep his tatview led to Brexit and the too parlour afloat. rise of populist leaders such as Nigel Farage and 22:00 The Great British Donald Trump.Phillips Benefits Handout believes that Britain is in Lorraine gets her trading danger of failing the so- licence and proceeds to set called acid test of a democ- up her children’s clothing racy. stall, but will Romford’s discerning market-goers like 23:00 The Swingers 00:00 what they see? 24 Hours in A&E 01:05 The Trouble with Dad 02:05 23:00 Celebrity Sex Pod Jon Richardson: How to 00:05 The Nightmare Survive the End of the Neighbour Next Door World 03:00 Staying 01:00 SuperCasino 04:10 Healthy: A Doctor’s Guide Cruising With Jane 03:55 Dispatches McDonald

07:00 You’ve Been Framed! 08:15 Ellen DeGeneres 09:00 Coronation Street 09:30 You’ve Been Framed! 10:30 Ninja Warrior UK 11:30 Film - Honey (PG) 13:30 Coronation Street 14:00 You’ve Been Framed! 15:00 Ellen DeGeneres 15:50 Jeremy Kyle 18:00 Judge Rinder 19:00 You’ve Been Framed! 21:00 Two and a Half Men 22:00 Release the Hounds 23:00 Family Guy ITV 3 07:00 In Loving Memory 07:25 Heartbeat 08:25 Where the Heart Is 09:25 The Royal 10:25 Judge Judy 11:50 Inspector Morse 14:05 Heartbeat 15:05 The Royal 16:05 Where the Heart Is 17:10 In Loving Memory 17:45 Doctor At Large 18:20 On the Buses 18:55 Heartbeat 20:00 Murder, She Wrote 21:00 Heartbeat 22:00 Murder on the Home Front ITV 4 07:00 Gunsmoke 07:55 The Saint 09:00 Hogan’s Heroes 09:30 The Professionals 10:35 Ironside 11:40 Gunsmoke 12:45 Live: Shoot-Out Snooker 18:30 Storage Wars Texas 19:30 World Cup Top Goalscorers 19:45 Live: Shoot-Out Snooker 23:45 Film - Memphis Belle (PG)

Friday 17th February 2017

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, 9 represents X and 18 represents M, 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 Seats (5) 4 Rioted (6) 9 Disease (7) 10 Rinse (5) 11 Deer (4) 12 Sandier (7) 13 Tug (3) 14 Acne (4) 16 Dive (4) 18 Pea (3) 20 Recasts (7) 21 Beat (4) 24 Tapas (5) 25 Manatee (7) 26 Tender (6) 27 Louts (5)

Down 1 Boards (6) 2 Laces (5) 3 Hits (4) 5 Provides (8) 6 Tribune (7) 7 Garner (6) 8 Feats (5) 13 Green tea (8) 15 Sinatra (7) 17 Rapped (6) 18 Tears (5) 19 Scares (6) 22 Latex (5) 23 Real (4)

Last weeks Solution Across: 1 Upstream, 7 Stare, 8 Introduce, 9 Sit, 10 Spin, 11 Recent, 13 Signed, 14 Darted, 17 Stable, 18 Ends, 20 Raw, 22 Listening, 23 Seals, 24 Prisoner. Down: 1 Units, 2 Setting, 3 Room, 4 Amused, 5 Waist, 6 Centred, 7 Several, 12 Details, 13 Sunrise, 15 Tension, 16 Closer, 17 Swear, 19 Sugar, 21 Legs.

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 1/21 Undisputed astronomical fact still provokes an expression of surprise (7,5) 5 Put up a tent in the sports ground (5) 8 Dire note in a melancholy tune (5) 9 Birds migrating to caves (7) 10 Get rid off unstable ale in time (9) 12 Look both ways! (3) 13 Very angry about the beer (6) 14 Dallies in old clubs (6) 17 Shut up! - It’s only a joke (3) 18 Ones not in the group ousted sir badly (9) 20 An article may carry a little weight, but it’s literally confusing (7) 21 See 1 23 Look at manuscript, it appears (5) 24 Be in 19 down, though it’s an illegal bar (7)

Down 1 Beat about the bush, or several (5) 2/7 Stewardess headed for 1 across (3,7) 3 Before the tiny tot became a recluse (7) 4 Gem cut with little science by a Middle Easterner (6) 5 Sounds like experts when it comes to writing (5) 6 As a result, a word of warning succeeds at that point (9) 7 See 2 11 Put together a chopped up giant tree (9) 13 Mendicants getting an egg in licensed premises (7) 15 One of the troops who’s not not very forthcoming (7) 16 Impresses with blows (6) 18 Monsters appearing in Pilgrim’s Progress (5) 19 The lady has a measure of polish (5) 22 Point to an alternative source of metal (3)

STANDARD CLUES

Down 1 Fence of bushes (5) 2/7 Woman steward on an aeroplane (3,7) 3 Christian recluse (7) 4 Beetle (6) 5 Writing style (5) 6 As a result (9) 7 See 2 11 Mix (9) 13 Mendicants (7) 15 Confidential (7) 16 Imprints (6) 18 Monsters (5) 19 Shine (5) 22 Mineral (3)

Across 1/21 Exclamation of surprise (7,5) 5 Area of play (5) 8 Funeral song (5) 9 Shore birds (7) 10 Get rid of (9) 12 Look at (3) 13 Sour (6) 14 Eating utensils (6) 17 Suppress (3) 18 Strangers (9) 20 Wordplay (7) 21 See 1 23 Appears (5) 24 Unlicensed drinking establishment (7)

Last weeks Solution Across: 1 Aden, 3 Canticle, 9 Starter, 10 Snaps, 11 Ledge, 12 Specie, 14 Thrush, 16 Delete, 19 Spigot, 21 Sofia, 24 Exist, 25 Pageant, 26 Disaster, 27 Cede. Down: 1 Absolute, 2 Eland, 4 Arrest, 5 Taste, 6 Cyanide, 7 Ease, 8 Others, 13 Repartee, 15 Repairs, 17 Ensign, 18 Staple, 20 Gates, 22 Flame, 23 Feud.

Scribble Pad

FILL IT IN Fit the words into the boxes.

2 letter words Rug As Sae Go Sip Is Sit Ma Sun To Sup We 4 letter words 3 letter words Agog Ere Gory Fat Leer Gel Nine Nee Saga Put Term 5 letter words Rep

Alias Alien Anise Balsa Banns Egret Grass Islet Mural Ought Prose Sagas Shrew Siege

Spire Stale Style Tempo 6 letter words Linear Safari 7 letter words Ruinous Wieners 8 letter words Snappers Trespass

SPANISH-ENGLISH CROSSWORD

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

Across 1 Prueba (examen) (4) 3 Silbidos (con los labios) (8) 9 Poppy (7) 10 Now (at this time) (5) 11 To happen (occur) (5) 12 Once (6) 14 Dark (not illuminated) (6) 16 Fresh (fruit, milk etc) (6) 19 Rosemary (herb) (6) 21 Negro (color, pelo) (5) 24 Grandson (5) 25 Fork (cutlery) (7) 26 To hold (belief, opinion, note) (8) 27 Ópalo (4)

Down 1 Cucharilla (de café, té) (8) 2 Focas (zoológico) (5) 4 Cielo (religión) (6) 5 Forma (figura) (5) 6 Leona (7) 7 Jabón (4) 8 To rub out (erase) (6) 13 Gallo (8) 15 Cocinas (aparatos) (7) 17 Radish (6) 18 Botella (envase) (6) 20 Fugarse para casarse (enamorados) (5) 22 Sumar (3,2) 23 Fines (4)

Friday 17th February 2017

Quiz Word Across 1 In which form of motorcycle racing do the riders race four laps around an oval dirt track, typically in a stadium? (8) 7/18 By what other name is iron pyrite also known? (5,4) 8 What name is normally given to a small airport or airfield? (9) 9 By what much shorter name is the Basque terrorist group Euskadi ta Askatasuna usually known? (3) 10 Which hill in County Meath was the site in early times of the residence of the high kings of Ireland? (4) 11 Which city is the capital of Iran? (6) 13/17D Which naval administrator is particularly remembered for his Diary that describes events such as the Great Plague and the Fire of London? (6,5) 14 According to Daniel Defoe, what was the surname of the character who was castaway on a remote island? (6) 17 Which volatile flammable mixture of hydrocarbons is used mainly as a fuel in internal-combustion engines? (6) 18 See 7 20 Which stinging winged insect collects nectar and pollen, produces wax and honey, and lives in large communities? (3) 22 Which US folk rock singer/songwriter, who died of a drug overdose in 1980, wrote Reason To Believe and If I Were a Carpenter? (3,6)

23 The leaves of which low-growing aromatic plant of the mint family are used as a culinary herb? (5) 24 To what did Ceylon change its name in 1972? (3,5) Down 1 Which private eye was played on screen in the 1970s

by actor Richard Roundtree? (5) 2 The tympanic membrane is the medical name for what? (7) 3 Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O’Malley Armstrong is the real name of which British-born singer-songwriter? (4) 4 Ponta Delgada is the capital of which group of volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean, west of Portugal? (6) 5 In Scandinavian mythology, who was the supreme god and creator, the god of victory and the dead? (5) 6 By what surname was the ‘song and dance’ man who was originally named Frederic Austerlitz, better known? (7) 7 A prancing horse on a yellow shield is the emblem of which motor manufacturer? (7) 12 What name is given to a person who makes a will? (7) 13 What is the name given to the day of religious observance and abstinence from work? (7) 15 Which is the highest mountain in Wales? (7) 16 What was the surname of the writer who created the sinister Chinese criminal genius Fu Manchu? (6) 17 See 13 Across 19 What was the title of 10CC’s first British top 10 hit single? (5) 21 Which British nobleman ranks above a viscount and below a marquis? (4)

Spot the Difference

SUDOKU

people QUIZ 1. In Iraq, what are the 2 main Muslim sects? 2. In the famous Nintendo games, what is the name of Mario's brother? 3. What is the US equivalent of the S.A.S.? 4. Who changed his name from Gordon Sumner to top the charts? 5. Which comedian was born 'Maurice Cole'? 6. Who did Anthony Armstrong Jones marry in 1960? 7. What colour is a sari for a traditional Indian wedding? 8. Before Winston Churchill went bald, what colour was his hair? 1. Sunni and Shiite 2. Luigi 3. Delta Force 4. Sting 5. Kenny Everett 6. Princess Margaret 7. Red 8. Red/Ginger

ANSWERS

Last Week’s Solutions Code Cracker Last weeks Quiz Wordsolution Across:1 Antipope, 7/4 Machu Picchu, 8 Carbuncle, 9 OMD, 10 Talc, 11 Chaser, 13 Fossil, 17 Vacuum, 18 Boer, 20 Ace, 22 Debugging, 23 Lease, 24 Internet. Down: 1 Ascot, 2 Turtles, 3/14 Paul Revere, 5 Actor, 6 Luddite, 7 Measles, 12 Zip code, 13 Friable, 15 Etonian, 16 Turban, 17 Vegan, 19 Roget, 21 Ague.

Soduko

Span - Eng

Quizword

Fill It In

Business Board

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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. 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. 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.

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Friday 17th February 2017

Technology

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: Michael was having problems with the text on his computer being small when he was using the Internet.

Hi Richard, I have another problem/question for you. I was using the computer last night and for no reason the size of the text and pictures on the screen got smaller. The page fills the whole screen as normal and everything works normal except it is all smaller, even the text I am printing here is not the normal size. When I open a web page say for my bank whereas before there would be a scroll bar at the bottom of the page now the whole page is shown on the screen and so need for the bar. I assume/hope that I have inadvertently pressed something by mistake and changed a setting and I have looked at some settings but cannot find one myself. Have you any ideas?

Hi Michael, yes I think that I know what you have done, you have either changed the “zoom” or the “text size” within your web browser. I am going to assume that you are using Internet Explorer, let me know if you are not and I will send you the instructions for whatever you are using. I have seen quite a few people do this Michael, so you are by no means alone, its easily done by mistake by accidentally holding down the CTRL key whilst using the mouse “wheel”, in order to check what you have done and to rectify it, just go into Internet Explorer and click “View”, “Zoom” and select “100%” then go back into the “view” menu and select “text size” this time and click “medium”. If you don’t see the menu bar then just press the ALT key once and it will appear for you.

Update: Hi Richard, thanks for your reply and possible solution. I went to `view ` and found that both 100% and medium were in fact already checked, however I clicked on `zoom in` twice and it put the screen back to where it was, so that solved the problem. Isn`t technology wonderful, when you know what you are doing with it!!!. I had tried a few things but had not thought of looking in `view’, I had concentrated on control panel. Still all’s well that ends well. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. Regards, Michael

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 .

Motoring

Friday 17th February 2017

MAZDA NAMED MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR IN THE 2017 AM AWARDS Automotive Management Magazine has named Mazda Manufacturer of the Year. Mazda took the title at AM’s annual award ceremony in London last week. 2017 sees the launch of the all-new Mazda MX-5 RF and the all-new Mazda CX5. Mazda has lifted the title of Manufacturer of the Year at the 2017 Automotive Management Awards. Following the fourth-generation MX-5's unprecedented clean sweep of victories last year – taking the 2016 World Car of the Year, 2016 World Car Design of the Year and 2016 UK Car of the Year awards - it's clear that Mazda's driver-focused approach to its current model range is finding favour with judging panels and the general public alike. In 2016 Mazda recorded 2.4 per cent year-on-year sales growth with retail sales increasing by 10 per cent in a UK market where total retail sales grew by just 2 per cent, while the launch next month of the all-new

MX-5 RF Retractable Fastback will bolster the Mazda range to seven models, including the Mazda2,

2017 Mazda3, Mazda6, and both the CX-3 and CX-5 SUVs. Mazda maintains a highly

focused automotive philosophy which links every model in the company's new-generation line-up. Its standout

KODO - Soul of Motion design approach and its unique SKYACTIV Technology deliver entirely

human-centred design and engineering ensuring Mazda’s customers benefit from elegant, refined and efficient cars whichprioritisethe Jinba-ittai car-anddriver-as-one driving experience exemplified by the MX5. Commenting on the Mazda brand, Automotive Management's panel of judges said: “They're now a brand of great cars, not just the one. Attractive, reliable and great to drive, if you weren't familiar with the brand, or it was hidden from you, you'd think you were driving one of the premium brands”. Collecting the award Peter Allibon, Sales Director of Mazda UK said, “We are absolutely delighted to have our unique approach to automotive design and engineering recognised through the winning of such a prestigious award.' And Jeremy Thomson, Managing Director Mazda UK added “everything we do at Mazda is dedicated to making things better for our customers and our range of stylish, spirited and great to drive cars continues to win praise from media and our customers alike.”

Sport

Friday 17th February 2017

Pelley Goes For It The European Tour has announced a sixhole team event called GolfSixes, in its attempts to "modernise" and "broaden the appeal" of the sport. Two-man teams from 16 different nations will compete at St Albans' Centurion Club during the first weekend of May for a prize fund of one million euros. There will be amphitheatre-style stands around the tees plus music and pyrotechnics. Players will wear microphones and be encouraged to interact with fans. Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said the Tour was keen to "emulate" the Ryder Cup atmosphere. "We have said for some time that golf needs to modernise and introducing innovative new formats is a major part of achieving that," he said. "We want to broaden the appeal of our sport to the millennial demographic and I think this format will do that." The teams will be split into four groups of four teams on day one, with the top two from each group progressing to the knockout

Local Hero

Murcia-based cyclist, Alejandro Valverde from the Movistar team, won his home race for a fifth time, by being first over the line in Saturday's Vuelta Ciclista a la Region de Murcia, thanks to an aggressive solo attack some 70km from the finish in Murcia City. The one-day event started in San Javier, and he reached Murcia City with a two-minute lead and so was able to celebrate his solo victory in front of his local crowd. "It's always special for me

to win on home roads – this victory goes to all the people in this region, who always cheer for me so much when I'm racing abroad. It truly is the most beautiful of the five I've achieved here; it was a big effort and so tough to keep up against the wind and the climbs to win here,” Valverde said. Jhonatan Restrepo (Katusha-Alpecin) beat Patrick Konrad (Bora-hansgrohe) to win the sprint for second place, some two minutes and ten seconds behind Valverde.

stages. The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final - and a play-off for third place - will be contested on day two. Matches will be played in a greensomes, match-play format, with both players in a team hitting tee shots on each hole. After selecting the best tee shot, the players take alternate shots until the hole is completed. One point is awarded for each hole won, with the winner being the team with the most points after six holes. Countries will be represented by their leading ranked and available European Tour member as of March 13th, who will then choose a team-mate. Keith Pelley, is confident that backers will be drawn to the new quick-fire style which unashamedly aims to reach out a younger audience put off by golf’s staid and pedestrian image. “We wanted to experiment with a completely new format then go into the market and test that”, Pelly said. “We are delighted to bring a country versus country element to the fore. There is no question that the greatest atmosphere in golf comes at the Ryder Cup and we are keen to emulate that national fervour. This is created for a younger audience. It is for people

Lots Of Stamina

Ultra-runners descended on Los Alcázares on Sunday morning to go around a 100 kilometre course either in team relays, with 26 teams taking part, or in an individual challenge, which saw 25-year-old Iván Penalba win in a time of just over seven hours and 43

minutes. The Runtritón Cartagena team took both the male and female categories, with the Rajaos Runners taking the mixed category title. The race route was essentially 20 laps of five thousand metres aorund the Los Narejos promenade.

who haven't necessarily experienced our game as much. We want to get them engaged.” There is a growing feeling in golf that although it is vital to keep 72hole, four-day strokeplay as the bedrock of the sport, the format is not entertaining enough for the wider market. “We have to continually look to modernise,” Pelley said. "There will always be a 72-hole tournament, there will always be 18-hole strokeplay, that is the pinnacle of our game. But I do believe it is going to be difficult to sustain 72-hole tournaments with more than 120 players on a weekly basis. The majors will continue to grow, the World Golf Championships will grow and then there will be new formats that can be adapted by different promoters and countries to generate excitement. We are looking at making modern changes to adapt to the changing habits of consumers. If you move ahead five years from now, I can't see that players won't all be wearing microphones. Sport is moving that way, people want to hear from the stars." " We are in the entertainment content business with golf as our platform and GolfSixes could do for golf what Twenty/Twenty has done for cricket. could become big down the line,” commented Pelley.

A Sunday Stroll

Mohamed Boucetta, a visitor from the northern part of the Valencia region, who races for the Playas de Castellón Athletic Club, was triumphant in last Sunday's Orihuela Half Marathon race. Boucetta roasted the field with a time of one hour, nine minutes, and 49 seconds to win the event by two and a quarter minutes!

Wafilla Berali from the Nogalte Puerto Lumbreras Athletic Club, across the border in Murcia, took the women's race in just under one hour and 18 minutes. Around fifteen-hundreds are said to have part in the event on a new route that concentrated on Orihuela City itself, as opposed to taking in some of the adjoining villages.

Awards Night San Javier’s annual sports gala awards presentation was held on Saturday at the Faculty of Science in Santiago de la Ribera. Climber Miguel Madrid and Dragon Boat sailor, Maite Fernández, were named as the muncipality’s male and female athletes of the year.

Sport

Friday 17th February 2017

Time To Panic NOVELDA CF 1 CD TORREVIEJA 0

Start And Finish CD THADER 1 BENFERRI CF 1

A simple tap-in from two yards out with just over ten minutes to play, provided Novelda with all three points and moved them into fifth place in the table, edging closer to promotion play off football. For Torrevieja on Sunday, it kept them in 20th place, now seven points adrift of safety with relegation exercising that index finger in a come hither communication, especially as Almoradi have started to put a run together. Two new signings started the match, with three more introduced after the team had conceded the only goal of the game. Torry played fairly well, but cannot get away from the fact that goal scoring is their weakness. Teams cannot win matches unless they score, and Torry find that part of the game very, very difficult. There is no shortage of effort. Lewis Allen, playing his first match since before Christmas, worked tire-

lessly in midfield, despite that not being his favoured position. Luis Carlos defended resolutely and joined in attacks with gusto. Debutants Walid and new captain Javi Meca made favourable first impressions, but once more Torry drew a blank, the root cause of their problems. This malaise is division three threatening and unless at least eight wins are secured in the final 14 games, Torrevieja will be playing lower league football come September. With four wins from 26 games and a haul of only 25 goals scored, they know only too well what the problem is. Fixing it though is proving elusive, with the squad having used more than forty players already this season. One of those was Zapata, who made a very good impression at the start of the term with Torry, but who was released to join a 2B outfit. He is now with Novelda and led their

line with pace and purpose. And yes, it was the former Torry striker who popped up close to goal to tap in the winner in the 78th minute. It is high flyers Ontinyent who visit the Nelson Mandela this Sunday when the game kicks off at 11.45am, to allow fans to enjoy the Torrevieja Carnival parade later in the day. Ontinyent come on the back of a hard fought win over Alzira, another promotion candidate, and have already defeated Torry this term. Holding tight onto that 4th play off place and with Novelda breathing down their neck, they will want to take maximum points home from this encounter with a relegation threatened opponent. The odds are stacked against Torrevieja, and with new signings and more training, winning just has to start this Sunday morning, or else the Preferente beckons.

A goal right at the beginning, and an injury-time equaliser bookmarked this match in Rojales last Sunday lunchtime. It was a second successive home draw in a matter of days for Thader, which slightly take the wind out of their promotion sails. Having said that, they stay fourth in the Preferente group four table, and are just three points

behind second and thirdplaced Hercules and La Nucia who convieniently failed to win last weekend. In truth, it was a very good result for Benferri who were ravaged by injuries and suspensions, but it looked like a difficult lunchtime would be in store for them as captain Lloyd Dummett (pictured second from right before the kick-off) put Thader ahead in

the first minute. Benferri stood firm though, and more goals anticipated by the home fans didn’t come. The second half didn’t produce many chances for either side, and Benferri grabbed a point for all their brave efforts right at the death from Leandro. Thader now go this Sunday to sixthplaced Elda Industrial for a tough looking clash.

Getting Tougher CD ALMORADI 0 CREVIELLENTE 0 Almoradi made it three matches unbeaten in their recent surge to avoid the drop from the Valencian regional third division, but the problem is that may all be coming a bit too late, as you look at results elsewhere. Sunday’s local clash was entertaining despite the fact there were no goals, with Almoradi dominating in the first half looking for a third straight win, and their best chance came from Manu, which keeper Oscar saved. Crevillente came into it more, but Almoradi saw a good chance going abegging in the second half, as substitute David saw Oscar keep his shot out, whilst at

the other end Crevillente had a good shout for a penalty turned down in the 80th minute as keeper Sergio Moya brought down striker Jaime Jornet, but referee Navarro Paterna gave nothing. Last weekend CD Bunol, who are 17ths in the table, thrashed the hapless outfit of bottom-side Segorbe 5-2 at the weekend, and they occupy the space above the relegation zone, with a five point cushion over 18thplaced Almoradi, and they have a game in hand. This weekend both Almoradi and Torrevieja will be left in two minds over what they want to see happen in Bunol’s match at 19th

placed Muro, whilst Almoradi will fancy their chances in getting something from their trip to 16thplaced Paterna. Crevillente are now 11 points off promotion contention, and they have what amounts to a “must-win” encounter at home to Villarreal this weekend. Orihuela, who are two points better off than Crevillente, travel to Recambios Colon, on the back of a disappointing one-all home draw with Alamazora. 10th placed Elche Ilicitano equipped themselves well in their onenil defeat at high-flying leaders Olimpic, and they entertain Rayo Ibense this weekend.

Friday 17th February 2017

A Real Fight

Sport

Six Of The Best Elche’s Late Agony

OSASUNA 1 REAL MADRID 3 La Liga leaders Real were made to work hard fight for victory as they overcame bottom club, Osasuna at El Sadar on Saturday evening. An early injury to Tano Bonnin - later confirmed to be a double leg-break - threatened to affect the early promise shown by the hosts, and they went behind from Real's first attack, as Cristiano Ronaldo buried Karim Benzema's through ball in the 24th minute. But eight minutes later, former Elche favourite, ergio Leon latched onto a ball out from midfield and chipped an equaliser over the top of Keylor Navas. Isco finally made the crucial breakthrough in the 62nd minute, before Lucas Vasquez sealed the win in injury time. Real are one point clear of Barcelona at the top of the table with two games in hand, and now entertain mid-table Espanyol tomorrow afternoon (Saturday) with a 4.15 pm kick-off.

Real Fight Back

REAL MADRID 3 NAPOLI 1 Real Madrid came from a goal down to beat Napoli in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday. The visitors took the lead after Keylor Navas was caught off guard by a superb Lorenzo Insigne strike inside eight minutes. Karim Benzema headed the equaliser past Pepe Reina from Dani Carvajal's cross 11 minutes later. Toni Kroos (pictured) put the hosts ahead early in the second half, before a stunning volley from Casemiro sealed the win. Napoli will host the second leg on Tuesday March 7th, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

ELCHE 1 UCAM MURCIA 1

ALAVES 0 BARCELONA 6 A broken ankle suffered by Barca’s Aleix Vidal that keeps him out for the rest of the season, soured an otherwise perfect afternoon for Barcelona as four goals in eight secondhalf minutes helped them to thrash Alaves, who they will meet in May’s Copa del Rey final. Neutrals and Alaves fans will be hoping for something closer in a few months time, but the home side looked organised in the opening half hour, before they went behind eight minutes before the break when Luis Suarez - banned for the final - slotted in Vidal's cross. Los Cules added to their tally just three minutes later, when Fernando Pacheco's mistake gifted Neymar the second. Lionel Messi robbed Carlos Vigaray and slammed home from a tight angle (49). Alexis turned the ball into his net under pressure from the Argentine to make it four (63), before a goal from Ivan Rakitic (65) and a second from Suarez minutes later completed the rout (67). Vidal though was stretchered off inside the final 10 minutes after feeling the effects of a robust challenge from Theo Hernandez. Barca are at home to struggling Leganes this Sunday evening.

Back in Business

Parisienne Nightmare CF PLAYAS ORIHUELA 0 CD MONTESINOS 3

Testing Row

PARIS ST-G 4 BARCELONA 0 World anti-doping officials say that there have been no drug tests carried out in Spanish football for almost a year. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) admits it finds the situation in La Liga and the whole of Spanish sport "alarming" after Spain's anti-doping programme was deemed not up to international standards. The National Anti-Doping Organisation of Spain (AEPSAD) was declared "non-compliant" last March and its WADA-accredited laboratory in Madrid was shut down. Since then it has been on individual sports to organise a drug testing system but WADA insists football has not followed suit. In addition, WADA claims no drug testing has taken place at any Champions League, Europa League or World Cup Qualifiers in Spain since March after FIFA and UEFA refused to take control of the situation. AEPSAD insist WADA's figures are not correct, saying that "57 football players from the first division have undergone tests" since the start of the season.

Elche literally paid the penalty for a string of missed second half chances against UCAM Murcia, when the visitors were awarded a controversial spot-kick when Ilicitanos defender Armando was adjudged to have grabbed Jona, who then scored the penalty three minutes into added time. Elche took the lead in the seventh minute when Tekio fouled Guillermo in the box, and Nino stepped up to get his eighth goal of the season. UCAM though had more of the play in the first half, but not more clear scoring chances were created by the visitors. The Ilicitanos were far more positive in the second half especially when Pelayo came on for Guillermo on the hour mark. Pelayo and Hervías missed great chances to double Elche’s advantages as UCAM were on the back foot, and Nino squandered a sitter in the last ten minutes after being set up a great pass from substitute Liberto, which he hit high, wide, and very unhandsome. The visitors then got their late penalty, and Elche saw two points go down the drain, and they worryingly now find themselves just four points above the relegation zone. The Ilicitanos, in 13th place, now travel to Lugo this evening for an 8.00 pm kick-off, with the home side in contention for a play-off slot.

Angel di Maria scored twice as Paris St-Germain stunned Barcelona to leave the La Liga champions needing to climb a giant mountain if they are to avoid missing out on the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in a decade. PSG dominated this last-16 first-leg tie throughout on Tuesday and took the lead through Di Maria's curled free-kick. Julian Draxler added a second with an angled drive before Di Maria curled an effort into the top corner. Edinson Cavani then sealed a famous win with a powerful fourth. A lacklustre Barcelona - with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar largely anonymous - did not produce an effort of note until seven minutes before the end when Samuel Umtiti headed on to the post. The defeat leaves Luis Enrique's side with an almighty task to stay in the competition when they host PSG in the return leg on March 8th. No side has managed to overturn a four-goal first-leg deficit in the Champions League.

After two draws in their last two Segunda Regional Group 16 matches, both against the division´s top two sides, Montesinos controlled this match against one of the teams just below the chasing group, who have always been regarded as a bogey side in recent seasons. The clash, played in Torrevieja, saw Monte score in the 22nd minute when forward Carlos Ventura ran onto a back header and smashed a low shot into the bottom of the net. The same player could have added a second followed by good chances for German and Carlos Lorente. The second goal did come just before the interval, with a fine goal from a set piece. A corner on the left taken by German was met at the near post by defender Manu and his bullet-like header gave the keeper no chance. The second half saw Playas almost immediately put the ball back into the net, but the anger of the home contingent, it was ruled offside. That was their best chance to get back into the contest, as Montesinos looked fitter and stronger, though it wasn’t until the 80th minute that they added their third goal. Again it came from a set play which was headed home by another defender, this time Joao stooping low to score. It was a much better performance than of late for Montesinos, which keeps them fourth in the table on 26 points, some three points behind leaders Benijofar, plus a game in hand. This Sunday, Monte entertain FB Redovan “B” with a 4.30 pm kickoff.

Friday 17th February 2017

Bale’s Back

Gareth Bale has returned to training at Real Madrid as he closes in on a return to action following an ankle injury. Bale has been out of action since undergoing surgery on an ankle tendon problem in November, but Real Madrid tweeted a photograph of the 27-year-old training with his team-mates at their headquarters last Sunday. Real manager manager Zinedine Zidane said that he hoped the Welshman can return in time for Real's Champions League last-16 second leg against Napoli on Tuesday March 7th. Without Bale, Madrid have maintained their position at the top of the La Liga table, despite intense pressure from Barcelona.

Copa Farewell

The final match to ever be staged at Atletico Madrid's Vicente Calderon home will be the 2017 Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Alaves. Much confusion surrounded which venue would host the showpiece clash, as San Mames - the home of Athletic Bilbao - was ruled out of the running due to a Guns N’ Roses concert taking place there on the same day. The Bernabeu will also be undergoing building work, so the Vicente Calderon has now been given the green light to stage the showdown between Barca and Alaves on Friday May 26th. Both teams were keen on a neutral venue, meaning that the Camp Nou was never seriously considered, with the Estadio de La Cartuja and the Benito Villamarin overlooked in favour of Atletico's home. Atletico will move to the recently-named Wanda Metropolitano, boasting a capacity of 70,000, in time for the 2017-18 season.

Antoine’s Happy

Antoine Griezmann is enjoying life at Atletico Madrid but will "see what the future brings" as speculation over a move to Manchester United continues. The 25-year-old is said to be Jose Mourinho's main priority this summer, and earlier this month, United denied reports that a deal had been reached in principle with Griezmann, whose buyout clause increased to 100 million euros when extending his deal with Atletico until 2021. The France international insists he is happy in Madrid - and even spoke of his excitement about Atletico's new stadium - but did not close the door on a summer departure. "I feel great at the club and in Madrid," Griezmann told FIFA.com. "On a personal level I'm very happy, and in football terms we're about to move to a new stadium, which is very important. "We'll just have to see what the future brings, but for now I'm very happy here and I hope to win trophies with this club."

Cristiano’s Warning

THE EMIRATES FA CUP - FIFTH ROUND 13:30 Burnley v Lincoln City 16:00 Huddersfield Town v Manchester City 16:00 Middlesbrough v Oxford United 16:00 Millwall v Leicester City 18:30 Wolverhampton Wanderers v Chelsea SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP 16:00 Barnsley v Brighton & Hove Albion 16:00 Birmingham City v Queens Park Rangers 16:00 Burton Albion v Norwich City 16:00 Cardiff City v Rotherham United 16:00 Ipswich Town v Leeds United 16:00 Nottingham Forest v Sheffield Wednesday 16:00 Wigan Athletic v Preston North End LADBROKES SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP 16:00 Celtic v Motherwell 16:00 Heart of Midlothian v Inverness Caledonian Thistle 16:00 Partick Thistle v Hamilton Academical 16:00 Ross County v St Johnstone SKY BET LEAGUE ONE 16:00 Bradford City v Bolton Wanderers 16:00 Chesterfield v Bury 16:00 Coventry City v Gillingham 16:00 Milton Keynes Dons v Fleetwood Town 16:00 Port Vale v Bristol Rovers 16:00 Rochdale v Charlton Athletic 16:00 Sheffield United v Scunthorpe United 16:00 Shrewsbury Town v AFC Wimbledon 16:00 Southend United v Northampton Town 16:00 Swindon Town v Oldham Athletic 16:00 Walsall v Peterborough United SKY BET LEAGUE TWO 16:00 Accrington Stanley v Colchester United 16:00 Barnet v Portsmouth 16:00 Blackpool v Crewe Alexandra 16:00 Cambridge United v Newport County 16:00 Cheltenham Town v Yeovil Town 16:00 Crawley Town v Morecambe 16:00 Doncaster Rovers v Luton Town 16:00 Exeter City v Stevenage 16:00 Grimsby Town v Mansfield Town 16:00 Hartlepool United v Plymouth Argyle 16:00 Leyton Orient v Notts County 16:00 Wycombe Wanderers v Carlisle United LADBROKES SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP 16:00 Dumbarton v Ayr United 16:00 Greenock Morton v Falkirk 16:00 Raith Rovers v Hibernian LADBROKES SCOTTISH LEAGUE ONE 16:00 Airdrieonians v Livingston 16:00 Albion Rovers v Stenhousemuir 16:00 East Fife v Brechin City 16:00 Queen's Park v Alloa Athletic 16:00 Stranraer v Peterhead LADBROKES SCOTTISH LEAGUE TWO 16:00 Arbroath v Stirling Albion 16:00 Berwick Rangers v Forfar Athletic 16:00 Cowdenbeath v Annan Athletic 16:00 Edinburgh City v Montrose 16:00 Elgin City v Clyde Sunday 19th February 2017

Looking Around

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has confirmed that the La Liga champions are considering signing a new right-back after Aleix Vidal sustained a season-ending injury at Alaves on Saturday (see over on page 46). The former Sevilla wing-back has been serving as a Sergi Roberto back-up in recent games but will be out of action for about five months. Despite the closing of the transfer window, La Liga allows for a replacement if a player is ruled out for more than five months due to sickness or injury. Any signing has to be from La Liga or a free agent and will be only able to play for Barcelona in domestic competitions, ruling them out of the Champions League.

FIXTURES Saturday 18th February 2017

THE EMIRATES FA CUP - FIFTH ROUND 15:00 Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur 17:15 Blackburn Rovers v Manchester United LADBROKES SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP 14:00 Kilmarnock v Aberdeen 16:15 Dundee v Rangers

Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly told Real Madrid not to sell Karim Benzema this summer, with Benzema enduring a difficult season at the club so far. The France international hasn't scored in the league since October but did find the net in their 3-1 Champions League win over Napoli on Wednesday. His inconsistent form has seen Real backed to move for the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Sergio Aguero and Paulo Dybala. However, the website Diario Gol claims that Ronaldo has ordered the club not to sign a striker this summer. Reports suggested last week that Ronaldo also ordered Real not to sign Aubameyang, who has also been linked with Liverpool. And it appears his influence is so powerful he is determined to keep Benzema at the Bernabeu. He is happy playing alongside the Frenchman with the duo having been team-mates since 2009. Ronaldo, who is enduring a mixed campaign by his usual high standards, believes Benzema is the key to him rediscovering his top form, with coach Zinedine Zidane also wanting to keep him at the club. But Madrid president Florentino Perez thinks differently and is willing to cut his losses on the former Lyon striker at the end of the season.

Monday 20th February 2017 THE EMIRATES FA CUP - FIFTH ROUND 20:55 Sutton United v Arsenal SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP 21:00 Newcastle United v Aston Villa Tuesday 21st February 2017 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - ROUND OF 16 20:45 Bayer 04 Leverkusen v Atlético Madrid 20:45 Manchester City v Monaco SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP 20:45 Derby County v Burton Albion 20:45 Huddersfield Town v Reading 20:45 Queens Park Rangers v Wigan Athletic 20:45 Sheffield Wednesday v Brentford SKY BET LEAGUE ONE 20:45 Charlton Athletic v Oxford United 20:45 Gillingham v AFC Wimbledon 20:45 Millwall v Chesterfield 20:45 Peterborough United v Southend United SKY BET LEAGUE TWO 20:45 Accrington Stanley v Cambridge United 20:45 Colchester United v Wycombe Wanderers 20:45 Newport County v Morecambe

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

Sport

CALLING TIME

TWO MINNOWS LEFT

A decision on the future of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will be made at the end of the season. Despite Wednesday's Champions League last-16 first leg thrashing at Bayern Munich, there is currently no prospect of Wenger leaving before the summer. The 67-year-old has already been offered a new contract and it remains on the table. It is expected the decision for him to stay or leave will be mutual between the Frenchman and the club. Wenger has been in charge of Arsenal since 1996 but his current deal with the Premier League club expires at the end of the season.

ALLISON RETURNS

Former Ferrari technical director James Allison has joined F1 rivals Mercedes. Allison, 48, who left Ferrari in July, replaces Paddy Lowe as technical director at the reigning world champions. Allison had two spells at Ferrari working as chief aerodynamicist during the Michael Schumacher era of 2000-04. He will report to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.

It’s a massive weekend for fans of non-league Lincoln City and Sutton United, as they hold their heads high and go into the FA Cup fifth round. With a “nothing to lose” frame of mind, both must fancy their chances, writes ALEX TRELINSKI. In another sign of the TV times, only three of the eight ties are played in the traditional Saturday afternoon slot, and we have the best saved until last as BBC 1 viewers on Monday night can enjoy Sutton taking on sorry Arsenal. There’s a panic at the Emirates Stadium, with the Champions League now a dead duck and questions over Wenger’s future as boss (see left). Sutton wanted this tie when the draw was made, and you’ve honestly got to say that they’ll be disappointed to at least not get a replay out of this, and yet another big pay day. Lincoln City dumped Brighton in the last round (pictured celebrating), and the Imps have not been given the kindest of draws with a visit to Lancashire to take on Burnley in tomorrow’s early-kick off at 1.30 pm (live on BT Sport). We saw them get a battling draw at Ipswich in the third round, and there is no way that Sean Dyche’s side will underestimate their opponents. I always loved going to Turf Moor to cover matches with the Coronation Street-style vision of terraced houses in the background framed by the hills, and they are so passionate about their soccer in Burnley. Remember that the Clarets are chasing their first major trophy in 57 years, and will be a tough nut to crack, but Lincoln are made of stern stuff, and are more than capable of getting them back to Sincil Bank. Leicester City, after losing in the league at Swansea, have a tough task at Millwall at 4.00 pm, and think this one out:they could be meeting in the Championship next season. Championship promotion contenders Huddersfield entertain Manchester City, with no quarter set to be given by Pep Guardiola’s side, with Guardiola treating the FA Cup as very serious business…good on him! Middlesbrough against Newcastle’s conquerors Oxford, is the other regular-time fixture. Later on at 6.30 pm(live on BT Sport), I just can’t see Chelsea slipping up at Wolves, but who knows? Sunday’s two ties have Spurs popping over to Craven Cottage to take on Fulham (live on BBC 1, 3.00 pm), and Manchester United making the short journey to Ewood Park to take on Championship relegation contenders Blackburn Rovers (live on BT Sport, 5.15pm). Join me on TKO FM 91.9 for my sport and music show this Saturday from 3.00 pm as I bring you the latest scores from the FA Cup and from everything else that’s going on, including Real Madrid’s match in La Liga.