Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Matt Allwright exposes more cons and tricks to trap the unwary tourist

Matt Allwright sends a British family undercover to a four-star, all-inclusive hotel in Turkey to investigate the hotel's facilities, as Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One's consumer holiday series continues.

In just a few days, these Secret Tourists are less than impressed by the poolside safety, particularly after their son cut his foot while walking there. They are also disappointed with the standard of the restaurant, dubbed the "chicken club" by other guests, for its repetitive menu.

The series' environmental health expert, Dr Lisa Ackerley, joins the family at the hotel to collect some samples for testing. The results reveal high levels of bacteria in the food and levels of E.coli in the drinking water and ice. Armed with these findings, consumer champion Matt confronts the hotel manager about their discoveries. The manager does acknowledge the issues raised, but what will Matt find when he re-visits the hotel to see if any improvements have been implemented?

Reporter Carole Machin meets a Brit who was injured in a scooter accident in Koh Samui in 2008. She then goes to Thailand to investigate scooter hire companies there. She conducts an undercover survey of 10 hire companies, checking their practices against laws set out by the Ministry of Transportation. Unfortunately, she makes some worrying discoveries which she sends on to the Thai Police and Thai Embassy.

Using hidden cameras and an actor posing as an official concierge, Matt sets up a luggage theft scam to highlight how trusting tourists can get caught out. And he sets up a restaurant from hell to show unsuspecting customers how some establishments add hidden extras to the bill, including charging for outside seating and using two different menus with different pricing, so travellers will be better prepared and hopefully avoid getting conned themselves.

KA

NORMAN SEASON
The Normans – Men From The North Ep 1/3

Wednesday 4 August

9.00-10.00pm Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ TWO (Schedule addition 20 July)

Professor Robert Bartlett journeys from Great Britain to Jerusalem, via the Kingdom of Sicily, in this major series examining the extraordinary expansion and unchecked ambition of the Normans. He draws on Anglo-Saxon chronicles, medieval manuscripts and some of the most powerful examples of Norman architecture in an epic sweep of the period of Norman supremacy. And he reveals how their impact is still felt in today's culture and politics.

In the first episode, Bartlett explores where the Normans came from and how they developed into the formidable force that conquered England in 1066. He tells how, under the leadership of a Scandinavian giant called Rollo, these descendants of the Vikings first established themselves in northern France and became an unstoppable force of Christian knights and warriors. They also established themselves as master-builders of Christianity, with the construction of extraordinary cathedrals across Normandy.

With the birth of Duke William "the Bastard", the Normans' time had arrived. Having conquered the provinces around Normandy, this ruthless but skilled warrior and politician turned his attention to England. He claimed to have been promised the throne by Edward the Confessor – a claim supported by the Bayeux Tapestry, one of the most extraordinary records of the medieval world.

However, when Edward the Confessor died in 1066, William's arch-rival, Harold Godwinson, took the English crown for himself. William raised a mighty invasion force and sailed across the Channel. On the morning of 14 October, the English army, under King Harold, met the Norman army just north of Hastings. By the end of the day, the Anglo-Saxon world had come to an end. The future belonged to the Normans.

The Normans is part of a Norman Season on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, including: The Domesday Book, presented by Dr Stephen Baxter; Norman Walks With Dan Snow; The Stones Of Rosslyn, an exploration of one of the most famous medieval chapels in the world; a look at the art of the Anglo-Saxons with Dr Janina Ramirez; and The Making Of King Arthur, in which poet Simon Armitage reveals the greatest masterworks of Arthurian literature.

Working in partnership with more than 20 heritage and history organisations, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Learning's Hands On History offers a range of events and activities as part of the Norman Season, including Norman walks. Hands On History aims to increase knowledge and develop basic history skills amongst a family audience. See bbc.co.uk/history for details.

CD3

To top

The Great Outdoors Ep 2/3

Wednesday 4 August

9.00-9.30pm Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ FOUR and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ HD

Tensions rise between Bob and Christine (Mark Heap and Ruth Jones)

Tensions are rising among the hedgerows of southern England, as Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four's new comedy following the hikes, heartaches, friendships and rivalries of a misfit rambling club, written by Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil, continues.

The freakishly over-organised Christine is now deputy leader of the Mid-Bucks Walking Club. Bob thinks he can handle this threat to his authority, saying: "She's Amanda Holden, she's Nick Clegg, she's the white-haired woman who used to sit next to Alan Sugar. We all know where the power really lies." But soon Christine is winning the hearts and minds of the group; especially Bob's best friend, Tom.

Meanwhile, stressed businesswoman Sophie makes a desperate leap on Victor, the 17-year-old geek. It's very important that her husband, Joe, doesn't find out about this or Victor may never see 18. Bob's daughter, Hazel, must help him cover it up by any means necessary.

On top of all this, the group must face down the rambler's worst enemy; a farmer who keeps blocking public rights of way. Will this make allies of Bob and Christine, or will it all end up in a big fight in a field? With the unpredictable Tom around, either – or both – might happen.

Christine is played by Ruth Jones, Bob by Mark Heap, Tom by Steve Edge (Phoenix Nights), Sophie by Katherine Parkinson (The IT Crowd), Victor by Joe Tracini, Joe by Steve Wight and Hazel by Gwyneth Keyworth.

The Great Outdoors is simulcast on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ HD channel – the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's High Definition channel, available through Freesat 108, Freeview 50, Sky 143 and Virgin 108.

KS3

Richard Hammond makes some directory enquiries this week when he uses old phone books to help demonstrate friction, as he presents another dose of the scientific game show.

Mini Miss (Richard's 65-year-old former science teacher who is now stuck as a 10-year-old due to a failed time-travel experiment) pits the Bro Busters against the Supreme Experimentors in the Mini Science game. The teams take it in turns to hang objects from two small interleaved phone directories, hung from a frame by a coat hanger on the lowest of the two books. The team that causes the book to fall loses.

Out in the field, the Lab Rats have lined up another supersized experiment in which they attempt to lift a car off the ground by using two interleaved directories. Can Richard convince the studio audience and the viewers at home that his scientific sidekicks' endeavours will be a success?

VT