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| BBC ONE Unplaced Week 42 |
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Stephen
Fry In America – The New World Ep
1/6
Sunday 12 October
9.00-10.00pm BBC ONE
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Stephen Fry sets off on a
journey through all 50 US States Stephen Fry was very nearly an American. Just before he was born, his father was offered, but turned down, a job at Princeton University. The writer and actor explores the country which he might have called home and which has always fascinated him. Stephen hires a US cab and sets about visiting each and every one of the 50 US States, to experience for himself the variety of people and places that make up the country.
In this first episode, Stephen explores the states that make up New England, before heading south to the nation's capital and ending up at the Civil War battlefield of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania, where Abraham Lincoln made his famous address.
Stephen's journey begins in the state of Maine in the easternmost corner of the country, where he learns how to catch a lobster with the Macpheil family before venturing to New Hampshire where the presidential primaries are in full swing. Passing through the autumnal splendour of the White Mountains, and pausing to reflect on America's economic power at Bretton Woods, he boards the world's first cog railway to the summit of Mount Washington.
From there, he heads into Vermont and stops at the Ben and Jerry ice-cream factory, to mix his own flavour; "Even Stephens". Driving into the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York, Stephen visits Topridge, and, donning a plaid shirt and baseball cap, goes native and becomes an unsuccessful deer hunter.
Next stop is Boston, followed by New York City, where Stephen escapes the clutches of some "Goodfellas", who spring to life as if from a Scorcese movie in their social club in Queens. He then takes musician Sting for a ride in the back of his cab to see what an Englishman makes of New York.
Passing swiftly through Delaware and Maryland to Washington DC, Stephen meets up with Wikipedia founder James Whales and learns a thing or two about politics from satirical group Capitol Steps, before meeting up with Gettysburg's very own Lincoln impersonator.
EF
Peter Purves with the much-
loved Petra On 16 October 1958, a 15-minute programme featuring train sets and dolls aired for the first time on the BBC. Little did its creator, John Hunter Blair, realise that Blue Peter would become the world's longest-running children's television programme.
As it celebrates its landmark birthday, Blue Peter At 50 takes a nostalgic, affectionate and sometimes poignant look back at programmes from the last five decades, examining the various elements which have contributed to Blue Peter's success.
Tom Baker narrates an hour-long patchwork of delights, featuring interviews, mishaps, badges, innuendo, adventure, celebrities, appeals, pets and a selection of previously unseen items.
Leila Williams, John Noakes, Peter Purves, Val Singleton and Lesley Judd are among the many past presenters who recall their memories of working on the series.
For the first time, the programme's longest-serving member of staff – daredevil director and camera man Alex Leger – talks with some of the presenters about a multitude of action films and some near-death experiences.
With more than 4,000 programmes to choose from, Blue Peter At 50 has delved deep into the BBC archives to unearth previously unseen footage, outtakes and further classic moments from the series.
Johnny Wilkinson, Torvill and Dean and Nick Park talk about what the show meant to them as children and Lewis Hamilton, who appeared on the show as a child, reveals he is working towards winning his Gold Blue Peter Badge.
The programme also examines Blue Peter's fund-raising appeals. And former presenter Mark Curry describes "the power of Blue Peter".
Documenting the highs and lows over the last 50 years, Blue Peter At 50 is a heart-warming tribute to CBBC's flagship programme. Blue Peter 50th Birthday Programme can be seen on Thursday.
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| BBC TWO Unplaced Week 42 |
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In 1986, Alastair Campbell "cracked up". His breakdown was the culmination of months of intensive stress at work, too much alcohol and myriad other complex issues. Twenty two years later, the former Downing Street Director of Communications embarks on a personal journey, exploring his breakdown and subsequent recovery in this special, one-off programme for BBC Two.
Cracking Up is one of a series of BBC Learning documentaries, commissioned as part of the Headroom initiative, to help people look after their mental well-being. Mental-health issues affect a huge number of people, yet it's a subject that remains taboo. In an attempt to try to de-stigmatise depression and other mental-health problems, Alastair speaks openly about his depression and breakdown. He tells the story of this life-changing event, retracing the people, places and landmarks of his breakdown, and also meeting people who have had similar experiences.
As part of his revelatory and sometimes painful journey, Alastair speaks to those who helped him during and after his breakdown, including Patricia Hewitt MP, his GP, and the doctor who cared for him on the night he found himself in a Glasgow hospital room. The programme also includes a candid interview with Alastair's partner, Fiona Millar.
With the support of his family and doctors, Alastair recovered, though he continues to suffer from periods of depression. He now looks back on his breakdown in a positive light. He feels that it helped him to sort out his priorities and is convinced that, without it, he would not have been able to fulfil his decade-long role in Tony Blair's Government.
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