September Highlights - Updated

8 August 2011

Frankenstein, The Making of  Myth

September is a month of contradictions. It seems to start at the height of summer, yet finishes smothered in the impending gloom of winter. It sees the start of the academic year, a source of misery for some (children, teachers) and joy for others (parents). Yet even the most depressed pupil can't fail to find some sources of consolation in September. There's Uzbek Independence Day, of course, not to mention International Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19th, as if you didn't already know!) And there is also telly so good it's why Yogi Bear invented the box in the first place. Arrr, me hearties!

 

Frankenstein, The Making of a Myth
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein - the first and greatest myth of the modern scientific age - has, like all enduring masterpieces, touched a nerve at critical points of human progress. In our age of global anxiety and unprecedented scientific experimentation, Frankenstein haunts us like never before. Channel 4 presents a documentary looking at the myth of Frankenstein through the prism of Danny Boyle's sell-out production of Frankenstein at the National Theatre.  The film features exclusive access to rehearsals and interviews with Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller - who alternate the roles of Victor Frankenstein and the Creature - and with Danny Boyle. Frankenstein: The Making of a Myth represents an ongoing relationship between Channel 4 and the National Theatre.

 

Back from the Dead
Using cutting edge forensic techniques on the skeletons of long dead warriors, this series examines the lives and deaths of six men from the Crusades, the British Navy and the Samurai. Battle scars, bone deformations and recoverable scraps of DNA are tested and explored, while CGI and drama bring these brave men back to life. The Crusaders episode examines the remains of some of the 80 Crusader Knights and 750 foot soldiers stationed at Jacob's Ford when it was attacked by Saladin's army in 1179. In Nelson's Navy, the programme reveals the many dangers facing the men and boys of the Royal Navy:  scurvy, malnutrition, VD, broken bones, amputated limbs, sheared off fingers, cutlass, shrapnel and small fire wounds. Lastly, skeletons excavated at the site of the battle of Kamakura in 1333 shed new light on the birth of the Samurai tradition and medieval Japanese warfare.

 

Tony Robinson's Superstitions
In this visceral five part series, Tony Robinson investigates the extraordinary and shocking beliefs that built Britain - and changed history. From the brutal human sacrifices of Iron Age Britain, through the stomach-churning supernatural medicine of the Middle Ages, to the horrifying witch-hunts and exorcisms of the 16th and 17th centuries (and beyond), Tony's remarkable journey takes him to some of the darkest moments in our past. Using a mixture of experiments, demonstrations and dramatic reconstruction Tony reveals the terrifying world our forefathers really thought they lived in. Each programme will focus on a major belief of our ancestors - the undead, evil spirits, supernatural causes of disease, witches, and gods. Why did people believe these in these things?  What did they try and do to protect themselves from them?  And what impact did these beliefs have not just on their daily lives, but the course of history?

 

Comedy Showcase
The Channel 4 Comedy Showcases return for their 3rd season this autumn. The first two seasons spawned full series of The Kevin Bishop Show, Plus One, Free Agents, Campus, Todd Margaret and PhoneShop . This autumn's new series has its sights set to replicate those successes. 2011's offerings are a diverse mix with seven one-off shows.

 

9/11: ER
This film tells of the emergency treatment of the injured that took place in and around the World Trade Centre as the jets crashed and the towers fell on the morning of 9/11. Thousands of evacuating office workers and emergency responders were burned, crushed, impaled, lacerated, blinded and traumatised. Many had life-threatening injuries. 9/11: ER reveals how their lives were saved by the timely intervention of trained medical personnel and completely untrained strangers. It focuses on the heroic efforts of the paramedics all over the WTC site, the makeshift field hospital set up on the New Jersey pier on the banks of the River Hudson and the Downtown Hospital in Lower Manhattan.

 

9/11: The Fireman's Story
Channel 4 explores the dramatic stories of individual firemen on that fateful day. The stories of those who died, those who survived and those who still bear the scars. Of the 2,752 people who died on 9/11, 343 were FDNY firemen - by far the greatest loss of life by any emergency service in the world in a single day. Only now, ten years on, are many of the firemen and their families able to speak about this for the first time. Their courage and sacrifice made them national heroes but in the 10 years since many have paid a terrible price for their bravery. But why is it that so many firemen died that day? How many people did they actually save? And how did the FDNY's extraordinary history, play such as decisive role in that day? This programme reveals, in their own words, the reality of what the fire fighters achieved that day and the price they have paid ever since.

 

Children of 9/11 (w/t)
On September 11th, almost 3,000 children under the age of 18 lost a parent. Of those, some were not yet born - they were still in the womb when the towers collapsed. Over the course of a year, Children of 9/11 has followed eleven children from six families across America. We'll hear from some who are only just beginning to comprehend what they lost on that day, whilst others, remarkably, are now able to find a way to positively transform their lives. Their honest recollections of this confusing and catastrophic day, as well as their difficult and inspiring journeys in the years since, offer incredible new insight into the far reaching consequences of September 11th.

 

Targeting Bin Laden (w/t)
Targeting Bin Laden is an ambitious drama-documentary telling the nail-biting and complex story of the operation to hunt and kill Osama Bin Laden. Blending archive news footage, military imagery and interviews alongside powerful drama, the film features the first detailed interviews with politicians, spies, generals, special forces operatives, al Qaeda experts and other key insiders to unravel the dramatic event from a range of perspectives. The film sets out to maintain its close attention to the memorable details surrounding the operation, culminating in a large scale reconstruction of the raid itself and recreating the iconic ‘situation room' photograph of Obama's team viewing the raid.

 

Inside the Mosque at Ground Zero
This film from Bafta award-winning director Dan Reed, explores why the proposed building of a mosque at Ground Zero continues to be one of the explosive issues in American politics today with repercussions felt around the world. With unique access to major players in the project and the unfolding events, the film recounts the press frenzy surrounding the plans, the vitriolic attacks on its high profile spiritual leader, Imam Feisal, and reveals the hidden driving force behind the mosque. Reed looks at the fury of the critics who continue to block plans to build what they believe is a jihadist plot linked to this ‘house of evil', particularly the family members of those who died at 9/11.

 

Grand Designs
This September, Channel 4's flagship design series Grand Designs returns with seven original and diverse new stories of ambitious families pursuing their personal and highly individual architectural dreams. Designer and writer Kevin McCloud follows the structural, financial and emotional journey, as well as the triumph and frustrations of each build over many months. This series features a dilapidated mill complex in the depths of the Northumbrian countryside which will be transformed into a sustainable home of surprises in which the old intercuts the new; the conversion of a crumbling boathouse on a pier in Tenby; the creation of an Anglo-Saxon manor house on a self-sufficient small-holding in Herefordshire and a barn conversion with museum-like aspirations.

 

The Million Pound Drop Live
The groundbreaking multiplatform hit The Million Pound Drop Live returns to Channel 4 with a new series, hosted by Davina McCall. Contestants are given a million pounds in real money at the top of the show and only eight questions stand between them and this life-changing amount of money. If they're brave and smart they stand to take home a fortune. However, one wrong move could literally see thousands of pounds drop through the floor.

 

Coach Trip
Coach Trip hits the road again this September for a seventh series of fun on the Continent. In a Coach Trip first, the tourists will start their tour with a visit to London before heading through more virgin territory into the depths of Eastern Europe. There will be the usual share of wacky tasks and activities along the way - from indoor skydiving in Switzerland to gnome hunting in Poland - and plenty of arguments to boot, as each day one couple is sent packing at the daily vote.

 

Embarrassing Bodies
The Embarrassing Bodies doctors are back to get the nation talking about all manner of ailments and, as always, the series will be accompanied by a comprehensive website where viewers can find out more about any of the medical conditions featured in the programme.

 

Three in a Bed USA
Three In a Bed heads stateside this September, as each week three house-proud American proprietors vie to be crowned the best Bed & Breakfast by the toughest critics possible - fellow B&B owners. They'll stay at each other's establishments for one night, critiquing everything from the bedrooms and cleanliness to the local sights and all-important breakfast. However, it is not until the very last day that they all find out what the other owners have been prepared to pay and which establishment has come out on top. But when your home is your business, everything is personal.

 

Made In Chelsea (E4)
Made In Chelsea returns for a second series on E4 this autumn. The hit reality drama follows the lives and loves of a group of globe-trotting 20 somethings who live in London's most exclusive postcodes and party on the most elite social circuit in the world.

 

Show and Tell (E4)
Chris Addison is to bring his considerable comedic talents to the helm of a brand new comedy series, which will be a celebration of story telling, stand up and new comedy talent. Show and Tell is an intimate, informal, studio-set production, filmed in front of small audience. Each week, Chris will be joined on the sofas by three up-and-coming comics, who will each bring something to "show". The items they produce - be it topical, personal or completely random, will be the launch pad for them to take it in turns to perform a mini solo stand up routine, "telling" the audience about their chosen item, and "showing" why its rich comedy pickings. The audience will also bring their own personal and peculiar show and tells which Chris and guests relish using as a launch pad for their sofa-based discussion - cuing comedy chat at its finest and most fluid. Rising stars appearing on the series include, Nick Helm, Joe Lycett, Joe Wilkinson, Roisin Conaty and Chris Ramsey.

 

Happy Endings (E4)

Forget who gets to keep the ring when a couple splits the real question is, who gets to keep the friends? Alex and Dave's wedding was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives, for them and their long-time friends... until Alex leaves groom-to-be Dave at the altar. The breakup, in the words of one pal, is a ‘huge game changer' that will complicate everyone's lives and make everyone question their own choices. Just because one couple breaks up, does that mean their whole urban family has to fall apart? Nope. It just means life is going to get a lot more complicated. Starring Elisha Cuthbert, Zachary Knighton, Eliza Coupe, Adam Pally, Damon Wayans Jnr and Casey Wilson.

 

Perfect Couples (E4)
Perfect Couples, now that's an oxymoron. A modern comedy about three couples keeping the spark alive. Dave and Julia are the ‘average' couple. They go to work, go to sleep, and try to find some time together in between. Vance and Amy are the ‘too much passion' couple. When they're not throwing things at each other, they're locking themselves in the bedroom. And Rex and Leigh are the ‘expert' couple who are too busy giving other couples advice to focus on their own relationship. Starring David Walton, Kyle Bornheimer, Christine Woods, Mary Ellis, Hayes MacArthur and Olivia Munn.

 

The Story of Film: An Odyssey (More4)
A 15-part series written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Mark Cousins, this is the story of international cinema told through the history of cinematic innovation.  It will be a worldwide guided tour of the greatest movies ever made; an epic tale that starts in nickelodeons and ends as a multi-billion dollar globalised digital industry. Five years in the making, the series covers six continents and 12 decades. Described as a ‘love letter' to the movies, the film visits the key sites in the history of cinema; from Hollywood to Mumbai, and features interviews with legendary filmmakers and actors including Stanley Donen, Kyoko Kagawa, Gus van Sant, Lars Von Trier, Claire Denis, Bernardo Bertolucci, Robert Towne, Jane Campion and Claudia Cardinale.

 

True Stories Armadillo (More4)
In February 2009 a group of Danish soldiers accompanied by documentary filmmaker Janus Metz arrived at Armadillo, an army base in the southern Afghan province of Helmand. Metz and cameraman Lars Skree spent six months following the lives of young soldiers situated less than a kilometre away from Taliban positions. The outcome of their work is a gripping and highly authentic war drama that was justly awarded the Grand Prix de la Semaine de la Critique at this year's Cannes film festival. But it also provoked furious debate in Denmark concerning the controversial behaviour of certain Danish soldiers during a shootout with Taliban fighters.

 

True Stories: Up in Smoke (More4)
It's a little publicised environmental catastrophe: over 250 million farmers throughout the tropics use slash and burn agriculture to yield subsistence crops in difficult to farm rainforests. The problem is, they only get one year of good soil after burning, so the next year move on to find fresh forest to burn. Altogether, deforestation releases more carbon dioxide into the air annually than all the world's transport - slash and burn agriculture accounts for around half of that. Mike Hands, a scientist in Cornwall, has developed a technique that will allow such farmers to stay and farm the same land year after year. He's shown that it works, but now he's struggling to get the world to listen. Director Adam Wakeling follows Hands over four years as he travels back and forth to Honduras, working with a small group of willing farmers, and knocking on the doors of the powerful, to try to break this devastatingly destructive cycle.

 

World Sheep Dog Trials (More4)
This month More4 will exclusively broadcast the World Sheep Dog Trials, the countryside event that sees handlers and hounds from around the world compete for the title of world champion.  Coverage will be presented by countryside adventure girl Ellie Harrison and motorcycle racer and British heritage fan Guy Martin, with commentary from one of the nation's best-loved commentators, Barry Davies.  The event, which runs from 15-18 September and takes place on the Lowther Estate near Penrith, in the Lake District, is the forth annual World Sheep Dog Trials.  It will see a total of 26 nations and 240 handlers and their dogs competing for the ultimate prize - a gold shepherd's whistle and the much-coveted title of world champion.  Countries taking part this year include all the home nations, debuts from Brazil and Japan, along with the USA, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Faroes, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and Switzerland.