Programme Information

The school is reeling after the murder of Maxine Barlow, as the drama set in a state secondary school continues. Rachel feels responsible – the buck stops with her. She plans to resign with immediate effect. However, the shock revelation from Paul that the gun in the school at the start of term was Earl's and not Denzil's compels her to try to secure Denzil's release before she goes.

Meanwhile, bereavement councillor Charlotte has her work cut out with Steph and Janeece. Steph is doing everything she possibly can to bury her true feelings while Janeece is struggling with the thought that if she hadn't left Maxine alone with Earl, he might not have pulled the trigger. Can Steph and Janeece find a way to share their grief and start the long process of healing?

Elsewhere, realising that life is precious, Donte surprises Chlo with a romantic proposition and Eddie organises a surprise for Melissa. He's organised a beach wedding in a tropical paradise – and they leave the following week.

Rachel Mason is played by Eva Pope, Paul Langley by Thomas Milner, Earl Kelly by Reece Noi, Denzil Kelly by Reece Douglas, Charlotte Monk by Natalie J Robb, Steph Haydock by Denise Welch, Janeece Bryant by Chelsee Healey, Donte Charles by Adam Thomas, Chlo Grainger by Katie Griffiths, Eddie Lawson by Neil Morrissey and Melissa Ryan by Katy Carmichael.

SM2

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Dolphins prepare for the sardine run

As winter arrives along South Africa's east coast, the inshore waters cool, drawing hundreds of millions of sardines northwards. Nature's Great Events tells the story of the sardine run which attracts an awe-inspiring array of ocean hunters – including super-pods of common dolphins, thousands of sharks, huge Brydes whales and massive flocks of gannets. This is the greatest gathering of predators on the planet.

However, in recent years, the sardine run has become less predictable, perhaps due to the warming effects of climate change. If the sardine run doesn't happen, the lives of the animals caught up in the drama hang in the balance.

Pioneering a unique boat-stabilised camera mount for surface filming, the Nature's Great Events crew captures all the high-octane action as the predators compete for sardines, filmed with aerial, underwater and above-water cameras. Slow-motion cameras also capture the moment gannets plunge into the water, hitting it at 60 miles per hour.

A violent winter storm is the trigger for the sardines to begin their desperate dash. They are followed by a super-pod of 5,000 dolphins and, further up the coast, more predators gather. A shoal of sardines, 15 miles long, is pushed into the shallows and aerial shots show thousands of sharks gathering to feed on them.

The climax to the sardine run is a spectacular feeding frenzy as the dolphins round-up the sardines into balls on which all the predators feast. Gannets rain down in their thousands, sharks pile in, scattering the fish, and a Brydes whale lunges in, taking great mouthfuls of sardines.

Life On The Run, the final 10-minute diary, tells how experienced underwater cameramen Didier Noirot, who worked with Jacques Cousteau, filmed the bait balls in shark-infested waters. His adventures include sharks nipping at his fins and a 16-ft shark lunging at his leg.

BR/LS2

This mid-week slice of Poetry Pie is chock full of jumping kangaroos, round-and-round circles, a No-No bird, something cuddly and a side-dish of rhyme cakes. And it's all composed by some of the nation's best-loved contemporary poets, especially for CBeebies.

Mischa the hamster is fascinated with kangaroos. "Kangaroos jump! They bounce and hop. I wonder if they ever stop?" she ponders in Rosemary Harris's Kangaroo, before Amber the hermit crab reprises James Carter's Circle Poem.

Findlay the dragon has been feasting on Ian McMillan's Rhyme Cakes and they're having a funny effect! "Eat them and you'll sneeze and you want to gobble some cheese! Then you fall out of your bed and you want to bite some bread! Then you shout things that are rude if no-one gives you food!" he warns.

Evie the cow then meets Andrew Fusek Peter's No-No Bird, who lives "in the tantrum tree". In fact, the No-No Bird is rather grumpy and prone to stamping its feet, shouting, crying, sulking and singing "No! No! No!" to everything.

Meanwhile, Amber the hermit crab loves her grandma, who is very Cuddly, from the pen of Coral Rumble.

Before the worms have their turn with two short poems from the pupils of Temple Primary, they head to Bed (which they like to bounce on) before showing off their new trainers!

FW

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Grandpa's magic shrinking cap is put to good use today when James Bolam's Grandpa helps rescue Jemima's birthday party from disaster.

Jemima's birthday starts well with lots of lovely presents all in her favourite colour – pink! And Mum and Dad have planned a fabulous party with food, games and a magic show performed by the amazing Mr Marvelloso.

Unfortunately, the magician turns out to be not-so-oh-so "marvelloso" – he is very stern, rude to the children and when he appears to smash Jemima's new birthday watch, she is, understandably, upset. Grandpa decides it's time for a bit of shrinking-cap magic instead.

Tiny Grandpa sneaks onto Mr Marvelloso's magic table and hides in his top hat. When Mr Marvelloso does his disappearing trick, however, Grandpa is gone. Jason is worried until Mr Marvelloso conjures a talking white rabbit into his top hat.

Terrified, Mr Marvelloso flees the house, so Jason takes over the magic show and, with Grandpa's help, gives Jemima her watch back. The party is a huge success ... and it's all down to teamwork.

FW