Space fans: check out Sunday’s line-up. A whole evening of Mars-related shows following on from the Dr Who special.
Monday
Life (BBC1, 21.00-22.00) Attenborough’s attention turns to birds, including the volcano climbing penguins of Antarctica.
The Time Machine (ITV1, 22.35-00.20) So-so film adaptation of the HG Wells classic, starring Guy Pearce.
Aping Evolution (Radio 4, 21.00-21.30) Steve Jones asks how much faith we can put in evolutionary psychology.
Tuesday
Albert’s Boy (Radio 4, 14.15-15.00) Play centered around the final years of Albert Einstein’s life.
Horizon (BBC2, 21.00-22.00) The Beeb’s flagship science show examines why humans alone seem to use language.
It’s Only A Theory (BBC4, 22.00-22.30) Marcus Chown talks parallel universes, attempting to win over Andy Hamilton, Reg Hunter and Vince Cable.
Wednesday
All In The Mind (Radio 4, 16.30-17.00) Weekly show about brain research.
Nick Mohammed: Apollo 21 (Radio 4, 18.30-19.00) Interviewing the surviving Apollo astronauts for, maybe, the 8 millionth time.
Natural World (BBC2, 20.00-21.00) A marine biologist’s look at manta rays.
Thursday
Material World (Radio 4, 16.30-17.00) Quentin Cooper updates us on science in Wales.
Leading Edge (Radio 4, 21.00-21.30) How the invention of cooking may have influenced human evolution.
In Our Time (Radio 4, 21.30-22.00) Lord Melvyn of Bragg shines a light on the discovery of radiation.
Saturday
Contact (Five, 17.00-19.40) One of the more thoughtful sci-fi films of the 90’s sees Jodie Foster dealing with an alien communication.
Sunday
Dr Who (BBC1, 19.00-20.00) David Tennant approaches the end of his tenure as the good doctor in this yarn set on Mars (at Bowie Station, no less), 50 years hence. In tribute, BBC4 follows up with a whole night of Mars-based programming.
Mars: A Horizon Guide (BBC4, 21.00-22.00) Another documentary about the red planet, drawing on 45 years’ worth of footage from the Horizon store cupboard.
To Mars By A-Bomb (BBC4, 22.00-23.00) Discussing almost-forgotten plans to tour the solar system using a craft powered by nuclear bombs.
The Sky At Night Special: Exploring Mars (BBC4, 23.00-23.30) Patrick Moore’s turn to plant the scheduling flag on Mars.
