What's on the TV today?

Occupation

Tuesday, 21:00 on BBC One



BBC - BBC One Programmes - Occupation


Powerful drama that spans the five years following the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Following the lives of three soldiers and friends as they deal with the war in Iraq and life back home.


James Nesbitt is in it so you know it will be good !

The following 2 parts will be shown on the Wednesday and Thursday of the same week

Just Bumpty Bumping this up.....Starts tonight and I've only noticed one mistake in the 3 part drama so far.

They are using A1 rifles and not A2

 

The Lost Evidence: Sicily

Fri July 10th at 9:00pm Sky Channel 529 or 530
Sat July 11th at 9:00am Sky Channel 529 or 530

On 10 July 1943, the American Fifth Army, commanded by General George Patton, landed on the Italian island of Sicily. Patton’s forces were joined by the British Eighth Army, led by General Sir Bernard Montgomery. It was the first major attack launched against Hitler’s ‘Fortress Europe’; an attempt to strike at the ‘soft underbelly’ of European Nazi hegemony. Over the next thirty-eight days, half a million Allied soldiers, sailors and airmen participated in a bloody battle of attrition against German and Italian troops.


Operation Husky was one of the largest combined operations of the Second World War. Allied forces were immediately disadvantaged by the battle’s location; their Italian enemies would be fighting on familiar territory. The weather also provided an unforeseen and dangerous adversary. In a disastrous start to the operation, forty mile an hour gales turned the airborne phase of the attack into chaos; American and British paratroopers were scattered arbitrarily over the island’s hazardous terrain.

Despite these adverse conditions, the Allies achieved considerable early success on the battlefields of Sicily. As their advance gathered momentum, they secured an Axis withdrawal from the strategically important port of Messina. As Axis forces hurriedly evacuated more than 100,000 troops, the Allied had won undisputed control of the island.

Sicily could now serve as the base for an attack on the rest of southern Europe. The vast operation also provided vital fighting experience for the Allied soldiers who would take part in the June 1944 invasion of France. Eleven months later, the men who gained their ‘stripes’ amid the tumultuous tides of the Mediterranean would be engaged in ferocious combat on the savage shores of Normandy.

Aerial reconnaissance photographs of the battle have been layered over a three dimensional map to create a CGI ‘model’ of the island. For over sixty years these photographs have been hidden. For the first time these original high-resolution images allow us to track the battle from the air. Cutting edge technology, archive film, vivid re-enactments and extraordinary interviews provide a unique insight into one of the most dramatic campaigns of the Second World War.

 

Sunday,12th July 2009 20:00 on BBC Two

Jeremy Clarkson gets chased by the British Army in some of their latest and most deadly toys. Meanwhile, Richard Hammond and James May compare the new Porsche Panamera against a small envelope, a 39p stamp and the logistical might of the Royal Mail in a race from one end of the British Isles to the other.
Plus, Olympic gold medal-winning sprinter Usain Bolt is the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.

 

Anyone watch Top Gear?

The British Army piece was quite good......They should do that with all drug dealers cars

 

BRITAIN’S BOMBER CREW 25th July

To support the Bomber Command Memorial Appeal, Military History has lined up a selection of action packed programming on July 25th with a BRITAIN’S BOMBER CREW theme - including the premier of the Lancaster at War.
The Lancaster at War 8pm Channel 531

The Lancaster at War tells the incredible story of the famous Avro Lancaster, the crews who flew her and the epic aerial campaign of Bomber Command.

The programme uncovers the story of one of the finest bombers of the Second World War, fighting at the core of a campaign to defeat the Third Reich. The Lancaster was the only aircraft capable of carrying the “Tallboy” and “Grand-slam” bombs created by Barnes Wallis and it is the aircraft that carried out the ambitious Dambuster’s Raid, with another of Wallis’ inventions, the Bouncing Bomb. It was crucial in low level night-time raids many miles inside Germany; striking at industrial and military targets; before reverting to making massive food drops on occupied territory that saved the lives of thousands at the end of the war.

Featuring archive material, reconstructions and exclusive interviews with surviving aircrew who share their fear, pride and determination – this revealing programme is not to be missed. Lancaster at War commemorates the Lancaster’s capabilities, its exceptional service record and the stories of her crews of whom over 55,000 lost their lives.

 

On in an hour at 1530hrs on Chann 5 in the UK.

 

I did enjoy that 'first time under fire' speech of Trevor Howard's!

 

Aye....I had forgotten how good it was

 

The Sky Riders

According to some critics, this film ranks among the best Czech war films of all time. It tells the story of the crew of the Welington 311 bomber and the Royal Air Force’s bombing raids during the Second World War.

on in an hour (2pm) today, on movies4men (Sky)

Sky Riders - Czech republic

Nebestí jezdci (1968)

 

I know I'm a bit late with this but did anybody else see the two programmes on BBC2 yesterday evening. The first was a tribute to Henry Allingham and the second about the poet laureate writing a poem in honour of Harry Patch. Both were excellent and very moving. Well done BBC2 .

 

Brothers In Arms: Basra

From the invasion to the withdrawal with the Rifles.

Just watched this on anytime TV and it is very good. Talking to soldiers who spent nearly 2 years of their life there on Ops and their rather frank thoughts.

There is also some rather emotional, moving interviews with loved ones of the some of the unlucky 179 that never came home.

There is also a interview with the RSM and one of the CSM's from the Irish Guards.

Anyone who wants to get a feel for what Basra was like then this is a must see. It is very good.

 

Thursday 3rd September on ITV1 from 10:35pm to 11:35pm


To mark the 70th anniversary of the start of the Second World War, this programme tells the story of that fateful Sunday 3 September 1939, hour by hour, chronicling the ultimatum, the declaration of war and the King's radio broadcast. Witnesses to the event share their memories, including Richard Attenborough, George Cole, Tony Benn, Vera Lynn, Betty Driver, Nicholas Parsons, Peter Blake, Lady Soames, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, other relatives of the main players and members of the public across the world.

http://www.itv.com/TVGuide/default.html?tvgBegin=142

Just saw an advert for this and it looks very good

 

Today Channel 4. 6.45pm to 7.45pm


Atlantic Convoys: The War at Sea


New series. Documentary exploring Germany's World War Two naval campaign to break Britain's supply chain with North America, which saw 100,000 people die and 2,600 ships destroyed over a four-year period. The UK had resorted to importing essential food and raw materials after it had become increasingly isolated from Europe by the Nazis in 1940. The first programme examines the start of the war, when Atlantic convoys were the nation's crucial lifeline, and how the German U-boats were determined to stop the vessels in a bid to force Britain to

 

Thanks for the heads up on this Peter.
Well done C4 too for putting this on at a sensible hour.

 

Today Channel 4. 6.45pm to 7.45pm


Atlantic Convoys: The War at Sea


New series. Documentary exploring Germany's World War Two naval campaign to break Britain's supply chain with North America, which saw 100,000 people die and 2,600 ships destroyed over a four-year period. The UK had resorted to importing essential food and raw materials after it had become increasingly isolated from Europe by the Nazis in 1940. The first programme examines the start of the war, when Atlantic convoys were the nation's crucial lifeline, and how the German U-boats were determined to stop the vessels in a bid to force Britain to


Just like to point out that members of this forum had a hand in the making of this documentary.

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-air/16127-looking-raf-veterans-wwii-coastal-command.html

 

A bit late but the Edinburgh Tattoo is on BBC1 in 20 minutes !

BBC - BBC One Programmes - Edinburgh Military Tattoo, 2009

 

Thanks Drew, we will check that out

 

Wasn't the best (It was only 30 minutes long and heavily edited) I've seen....It was the RAF's turn to host and there was no Queens Colour Sqn, 617 Sqn, 633 Sqn or Battle of Britain music....Shame on the BBC :p

The Swiss Drummers were good though.

I keep promising myself I'll go one year !

 

At leas they showed it when the Tattoo was actually ON! years ago when I was young they used to keep it for broadcast some time in the middle of winter!

 

For Dutch viewers or rather for viewers of Dutch tv.
Next week lots of WW2 on NGC.

Levien.