Higher channels

Tom Davies focuses on radio and television programmes that may be of use to THES readers. (All times pm unless stated.)

FRIDAY September 3

Aberglasney: A Garden Lost in Time (7.30 BBC2). Part two of the documentary series about the restoration of one of the finest houses and gardens in Wales.

SATURDAY September 4

World War II Night (6.05 BBC2). Nearly six hours of programmes, including an episode from documentary series The Nazis - a Warning from History (7.10), which examines Hitler's admiration for the British Empire; Defence of the Art (8.00), about the fate of the nation's art collections; and Storyville: Photographer (10.45), a film from Poland that studies the photos of Walter Genewain, chief accountant at the Lodz Jewish ghetto.

60th Anniversary of World War II Weekend (History Channel). Programmes kick off with Biography: Field Marshal Erwin Rommel (2.00). Other highlights include Jungle Battle: Burma (4.00), featuring exclusive footage; World War II in Colour (6.00), about Eisenhower's efforts to replace black-and-white film records with state-of-the-art footage of key military moments; and Biography: General Montgomery (7.00), on Rommel's adversary.

SUNDAY September 5

America 2000 - The Jonathan Dimbleby Interviews (1.10 ITV). Senator George Mitchell explains how British officials nearly scuppered the Good Friday agreement.

The History Channel's war weekend continues with Secrets of War: German Intelligence in World War II (7.00), looking at the internal feuds among the Abwehr, SS Gestapo and the Reich central security office.

Beckett Festival (4.15 R3). A week-long collection of Radio 3 programmes about Samuel Beckett begins with Centurions - Waiting for Godot, an examination of his most famous work with the help of his biographer Professor James Knowlson. Ill said, Ill sung (5.45) looks at the musical references in Beckett's work, while Waiting for Godot (10.05) gets an airing later.

Masters of the Universe (8.00 C4). Final part of this grimly compelling probe into management consultancy.

2000 Years (11.15 ITV). Melvyn Bragg on the impact of modern science on Christianity.

MONDAY September 6 Wild Thing (8.00 C4). The wildlife series follows herds of elephants around.

Equinox (9.00 C4). New series starts with "Frozen Hearts", which looks at treatments for heart disease, from America to Siberia.

Eyes of a Child (9.30 BBC1). The lives of children born into poverty in Britain.

Radio 3's Beckett week continues in Postscript (9.50), in which Christopher Ricks looks at the writer's novels and poetry.

TUESDAY September 7 The Healers: Pathologists (9.00 R4) Niall Dickson looks at the nature of pathology.

Allergy Alert (8.30 BBC1). Two programmes on the problems faced by allergy sufferers.

WEDNESDAY September 8 Biography: Chiang Kai-Shek (2.00 History Channel). A profile of Chinese Guomindang general and politician, president of China and Taiwan.

Essential Guide to Weather (7.30 BBC2). This week, the science of weather prediction.

Selling Space (9.00 R4) Leo Enright investigates the money-making potential of space exploration and space tourism.

THURSDAY September 9 Matrix of Power (8.30 R4). New series begins with Anne Perkins questioning the relevance of Parliament today.

Coppers (9.00 C4). Part three of police history series looks at women on the force.

Night Waves Special (10.10 R3). Richard Coles and guests debate Beckett's legacy.

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