Programme Information

EastEnders

Tuesday 8 March

7.30-8.00pm BBC ONE and BBC ONE HD

• www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders

Glenda blackmails Ian, which forces him to make a difficult decision, in tonight's visit to Albert Square.

Glenda also accuses Ronnie of stabbing her in the back. Meanwhile, Shirley has a big decision to make.

Glenda is played by Glynis Barber, Ian by Adam Woodyatt, Ronnie by Samantha Womack and Shirley by Linda Henry.

EastEnders is simulcast in HD on BBC One HD on Freesat channel 108, Freeview channel 50, Sky channel 143 and Virgin Media channel 108.

AB3

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Holby City

Tuesday 8 March

8.00-9.00pm BBC ONE and BBC ONE HD

• wwww.bbc.co.uk/holbycity

Donna wants to start a new life with Kieran but struggles with the prospect of leaving Ric and Michael and uprooting Mia, as the medical drama continues. Elizabeth and Jess help her find the strength to let go.

With the race for Darwin Consultancy looming, Sahira struggles to meet Hanssen's demands and deal with a vulnerable patient. When her little boy is taken ill, Sahira is surprised to find an ally in Jac.

Meanwhile, Frieda is forced to rely on Chrissie when she discovers that a difficult patient has a phobia of doctors. She soon realises that alienating the nurses isn't the best way forward in her new career.

Donna is played by Jaye Jacobs, Kieran by Barry Sloane, Ric by Hugh Quarshie, Michael by Hari Dhillon, Elizabeth by La Charné Jolly, Jess by Verona Joseph, Sahira by Laila Rouass, Hanssen by Guy Henry, Jac by Rosie Marcel, Frieda by Olga Fedori and Chrissie by Tina Hobley.

Holby City is simulcast in HD on BBC One HD on Freesat channel 108, Freeview channel 50, Sky channel 143 and Virgin Media channel 108.

SA

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Silk Ep 3/6

Tuesday 8 March

9.00-10.00pm BBC ONE and BBC ONE HD

• www.bbc.co.uk/drama
• Press pack

Tom Hughes, Maxine Peake, Rupert Penry-Jones, Neil Stuke and Natalie Dormer star as the legal eagles in Silk

Martha defends Mark Draper, a vulnerable teenager accused of cottaging in a men's toilet in a popular park along with two other men, as Peter Moffat's slick, fast-paced legal drama continues. Noah and Clive each defend the other two men.

On the day of the trial, Noah is taken ill and Nick is forced to take his place at the last minute. He is embarrassed when he doesn't know a point of law. When Martha cross-examines the police officer who was surveying the toilets, she discovers that Mark lied to her about never having been there before.

A furious Martha tells Mark that she cannot continue representing him. However, when Michael, Mark's solicitor, spots one of the defendants talking conspiratorially with the police officer in the toilets at court, Martha re-examines that defendant's record. There are many arrests for cottaging but no convictions. Furthermore, the arresting officer is the one in court today. Martha reveals that the defendant is, in fact, part of a honey trap and that the police officer illegally used entrapment in order to make these latest arrests. The judge dismisses the case.

Later, Niamh and Nick defend two dog owners for possessing dangerous animals. This is the first case they've handled and Clive is watching them. While Niamh looks like a natural, Nick struggles to make a proper argument. However, when Nick discovers a crucial piece of information, that his dog is pregnant, he is able argue that she cannot be put down. In contrast, Niamh is unable to save her dog.

Martha is played by Maxine Peake, Mark Draper by Reece Noi, Noah by Adrian Schiller, Clive by Rupert Penry-Jones, Nick by Tom Hughes, Michael by Will Keen and Niamh by Natalie Dormer. Silk also stars Neil Stuke as Billy and Nina Sosanya as Kate.

Silk is simulcast in HD on BBC One HD on Freesat channel 108, Freeview channel 50, Sky channel 143 and Virgin Media channel 108.

GJ

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A sense of freedom becomes stronger for several of the inmates, in the second episode of this revealing series into life at Cornton Vale Prison.

The programme follows the stories of women of all ages who are in line for a release from the institution through either a sentence completion or a transfer into the more liberal regime of the halfway houses on the edge of the prison compound.

At 45, June, from Aberdeen, is one of the oldest inmates, serving a 10-year sentence for supplying heroin. After an anxious wait, she is given the green light for a transfer to a halfway house – but with a warning that this is her final chance after three previous spells there had ended with a return to full incarceration.

The cameras are also in the young offenders' wing, which houses a more volatile group of inmates, aged between 16 and 21. Among them are Kerry, a powerful presence on the wing, and her quieter cell mate, Laurie. They both express a commitment to mending their ways on their release and the film follows them through the early days of freedom to see if their resolve holds firm.

Family members welcome them back, hoping they keep their word to stay out of trouble.

Meanwhile, as the possibility of freedom looms, Debbie is managing to steer clear of drugs in prison and is convinced that she can stay clean on the outside.

Filmmakers Michelle Friel and Julian Kean spent a year inside the prison making the series. They have previously produced the award-winning Boys Behind Bars and Boys Beyond Bars, about the lives of prisoners inside the Polmont Young Offenders Institution and how they fared on their release. Please note: this series started on Tuesday 1 March.

JG2

Tim Wonnacott and Rosemary Shrager continue to delve into the first-hand accounts to find out what went on behind closed doors at the castles, palaces and stately homes visited by Queen Victoria throughout her lifetime. Today, they visit Shugborough Hall in Staffordshire.

The future Queen was just 13 when she visited Shugborough Hall, directly after her visit to Chatsworth House. Upstairs, Tim explores the intricate décor of the building and reveals a number of architectural tricks that were designed to impress the young princess. Meanwhile, downstairs, Rosemary's extraordinary passion for all sorts of food takes her to the kitchens of the house where, alongside food historian Ivan Day, she recreates a 19th-century dish that was served to the princess on the visit.

The wealthy and well connected Lord and Lady Lichfield were hosts to the young princess and her mother, the Duchess of Kent. A much more modest home than many the future Queen had visited, Shugborough Hall and the surrounding estate still boasted more than 100 full-time salaried serving staff.

The house went into overdrive for the Royal visit, with 76 pheasants, 38 partridges, 54 fowls and more than a 150 gallons of beer, brewed on the estate, consumed by the party during the stay. Alongside food historian Ivan Day, Rosemary heads to the kitchen to prepare an ornate and elaborate pheasant dish.

EB

Agony & Ecstasy –
A Year With English National Ballet Ep 1/3

Tuesday 8 March

9.00-10.00pm BBC FOUR (Schedule addition 24 February)

This exclusive behind-the-scenes series follows the English National Ballet on their 60th anniversary, and reveals the complexities of staging world-class ballet.

The ballet world is traditionally one of poise, serenity and calm, but this raw and enlightening three-part series follows the company over one of its toughest and most dramatic years to date – from the extravagant production of Swan Lake and the battles of Romeo & Juliet to the turbulent creation of a new Christmas Nutcracker.

Every production must be an artistic and commercial success and the dancers and staff are under increasing pressure to deliver in the present financial climate.

Told through the eyes of the people who make this physically challenging art form beautiful, this is the revealing truth of the dancers’ lives ... from injury and exhaustion to accolades and elation, all in the pursuit of perfection.

From the rehearsal room to the boardroom to the magical big night performances – the fruition of months of hard work that make it all worthwhile – this series follows the main players within English National Ballet over an industry-defining year. From the dancers to the artistic director, via the choreographers and the management behind the scenes, Agony & Ecstasy – A Year With English National Ballet takes viewers deep inside a modern arts institution.

This gripping first episode follows the production of Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall and its enormous cast of new and experienced dancers longing for recognition. When choreographer Derek Deane puts his reputation on the line by casting a talented but inexperienced young dancer with a world-class guest ballerina, the challenge is on. Derek demands absolute perfection, and all the dancers are under pressure to meet his high standards.

KS3