A Different Breed on Sky1 HD and Sky 1

The brains behind the cult TV hit Pineapple Dance Studios have turned their attentions from prima donnas to prima pooches in an out-there observational documentary that explores the madcap world of man’s best friend.

Britain is a nation of dog lovers and, in A Different Breed, we meet a cast of colourful characters whose lives are dedicated to hounds of all shapes and sizes, from grooming salon workers who preen their clients from head to paw, to owners who are prepared to break the bank to ensure their pet is the most flamboyant doggy diva in the land.  If you thought couture clothing, poetry or even weddings were for humans alone – think again…

A Different Breed is not your bog standard documentary, and from the makers of Pineapple Dance Studios you would expect nothing less. Keep your eyes peeled for surreal, break-out moments that will let viewers into the psyche of our four legged friends to find out what they are really thinking.

Series regulars include Louise Harris and her pampered Yorkshire Terrior Lola. A Different Breed enters her high couture pet boutique Diva Dogs, which sells everything from designer dog clothes to jewelled collars.  Nothing is too expensive for her prized pooch.

In A Different Breed we also meet Louise and Roger Wilshire, owners of CDPOM – a crèche for dogs who require ‘peace of mind’.  Louise loves her Labrador Otto more than her husband, and dogs at CDPOM’s crèche can expect to be exercised on a treadmill and even serenaded by Louise on her piano.

A Different Breed will also introduce us to a host of other characters – including tough dog security handler Danny Lines and his not-so-tough Belgian Maliniois, Guru Kaur and her dog who has ‘chosen to come back to earth to teach us how to be human’, doggy dancing champion Richard Curtis and his latest dance partner Whizzy, fashionabe doggy boutique owners Jakob and Julian whose relationship dynamics are a source of endless fascination, dog-walker to the stars Lucy Kennedy who takes her dog out for steak dinners and reads him poetry at night and best friends Joanne Good and Anna Webb, and their beloved dogs Molly and Matilda, who have their own dog-dedicated radio show ‘Barking at the Moon’.

A Different Breed reveals the incredible passion and love that people have for their dogs. Insightful yet fun and entertaining, A Different Breed starts 6th April on Sky1 HD and Sky 1.

Arctic with Bruce Parry

The Arctic is on the point of enormous, irreversible change, and this stunning DVD highlights what that means to those who live their lives there. It’s the story of the winners and losers in the great wilderness.

TV adventurer Bruce Parry has built a worldwide reputation for getting right to the heart of a subject by immersing himself in the culture and environment. So while the series documents how the region is being dramatically transformed by global warming, the focus is human rather than scientific, about people not politics.

Over the course of one bright Arctic summer, Bruce and the Bafta-winning production team travel nearly 11,000 miles through Greenland, Canada, Alaska, Russia and Northern Europe. The effects of global warming are magnified here – sea ice is melting, new land is appearing and new boundaries are being drawn.

Ways of life that have remained virtually unchanged for millennia will cease within our lifetimes, while for others the untold riches of the oil, gas and minerals slowly being revealed under the polar ice cap promise countless new opportunities.

This beautifully filmed series captures all the incredible scenery of the Arctic Circle as Bruce uncovers the fascinating stories of fishermen of the coast of Alaska, oil workers tapping the vast wealth of the Canadian interior, native hunters desperately clinging on to the last breath of their culture and scientists mapping the shrinking glaciers.

Buzzin Media Free Competition

PLEASE NOTE: THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED

Enter our free competition for the chance to win a copy of the Arctic with Bruce Parry DVD .  Just answer this simple question:

Q: Which of these aren’t in the Arctic Circle?

a: Switzerland
b: Greenland
c: Alaska

Submit your entries to comps@buzzinmedia.co.uk with the subject line: ‘Arctic’ (other subject lines will not be entered) with your full name, address & contact number.

This Buzzin Media Competition ends on 28th March, 2011.  The editor will randomly choose 3 winners. The editor’s choice is final.

Arctic with Bruce Parry is released on DVD and Blu-Ray on 28th February 2011.

Human Planet - the Complete Series

Following the global success of Planet Earth on DVD, with sales of over 5.4 million, Human Planet, the latest breathtaking series will be available on BBC  3-disc DVD and Blu-Ray from 21st February 2011.

Human Planet examines the extraordinary ways human beings survive in the most hostile environments on earth. Awe-inspiring and astounding, this series turns the camera on ourselves, the human species. Three years in the making and filmed in over 70 locations using HD cameras and state of the art equipment, this ground -breaking series brings you stories that have never been told before.

Each one of the eight episodes takes the audience on a journey to reveal real life dramas about men, women and children and how they have used their remarkable adaptability to survive and thrive in the most remote places imaginable.

With John Hurt narrating and a stunning soundtrack by multi-award winning composer Nitin Sawhney this DVD also includes amazing extras such as a featurette based on the hardest volcano shoot ever and behind the lens with the cities team in Morocco.

Humans are the ultimate animals – arguably the most successful species on the planet. From the frozen arctic, to steamy rainforests, from tiny islands set in vast oceans to the driest deserts we have found astonishing solutions often in the face of extreme adversity.

Oceans – Into the Blue
Humans have always been drawn into the big blue yet we are not adapted to a life aquatic. Somehow we a have found remarkable ways to immerse ourselves in the ocean realm. This episode takes us from the shores of our continents to people who virtually live most or their life at sea.

Deserts – Life in the Furnace
Humans can live for many weeks without food, but only a few days without water. When the heat is on, your whole life is dictated by the quest to find this most precious resource. In deserts around the world humans have found extraordinary ways of conjuring water from the dust.

Arctic – Life in the Deep Freeze
For much of the winter the people of the Arctic have seen no sun, but with the start of Spring windows of opportunity start to open up. These often brief opportunities offered by nature will take these incredibly hardy people through another year in nature’s deep freeze.

Jungles – People of the Trees
There are more species here than anywhere on earth, yet for human beings jungles are complex and extremely unforgiving places. The only people who really survive successfully in these forests are the few who have come to understand the rich tangle of raw nature that surrounds them.

Mountains – Life in Thin Air
Mountains are some of the most inhospitable places on Earth. The higher you climb the harder it gets.Yet humans who reach for the sky have found the most incredible ways of adapting to places that literally take your breath away. This episode takes you from the people of the lower altitudes to those who live in the highest and most isolated places on earth.

Grasslands – The Roots of Power
Grasslands are our ultimate success story, the bread basket of humanity, won by the control of the land and the domestication of animals. But even in the environment where we are best adapted to flourish life isn’t always a picnic. This remarkable episode reveals that grasslands may well be the place where we laid down the roots of human power but the battle for supremacy isn’t over yet.

Rivers – Friend and Foe
Rivers provide all the essentials for human life – fresh water for drinking, food and natural highways, they provide life lines in virtually every habitat on earth. This exciting and surprising episode shows that living by a river isn’t always easy.

Cities – Surviving the Urban Jungle
Cities are the habitat built by humans for humans; over half of the human population now live in the urban jungle. They may have been built to keep wild nature out, but nature cannot be pushed away.

Buzzin Media Free Competition

PLEASE NOTE: THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED

Enter our free competition for the chance to win a copy of the Human Planet DVD .  Just answer this simple question:

Q: Who narrates the Human Planet Series?

a: John Lennon
b: John Hurt
c: John Barrymore

Submit your entries to comps@buzzinmedia.co.uk with the subject line: ‘Human Planet DVD Comp’ (other subject lines will not be entered) with your full name, address & contact number.

This Buzzin Media Competition ends on 14th March, 2011.

The editor will randomly choose 3 winners. The editor’s choice is final.

John Wayne Gacy - Killer Clown

The Crime & Investigation Network invites us to share our Sunday’s with some of the most notorious serial killers during February and beyond.

Serial Killers Sunday begins by looking at the unsolved mysteries of two of the most infamous killers, whose identities remain unknown despite their stories being retold a million times.

Starting with Monster of Florence, revealing the true stories behind the elusive ‘Il Mostro’ who stalked the picturesque city of Florence and murdered 16 people, and who evades capture to this day.

Next up Crime & Investigation attempts to piece the clues together to finally find out who was the real terror of Whitechapel in the definitive story of Jack The Ripper.

The season continues with an investigation into one of the most infamous killers of all, Ed Gein: The Real Psycho and explores the man who inspired some of the greatest horror films of all time, including Silence of the Lambs and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

The series also looks into the background of cases involving Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy and Aileen Wournos in an attempt to find out how they managed to fool those around them into believing they were normal, while committing such horrendous crimes.

Monster of Florence                                       06/02 at 10pm
Jack The Ripper: The Definitive Story    13/02 at 10pm
Ted Bundy: Born To Kill                               20/02 at 10pm
John Wayne Gacy: Born To Kill                27/02 at 10pm
Aileen Wuornos: Born To Kill                    06/03 at 10pm

Serial Killer Sunday starts this weekend February 6th at 10pm on Crime & Investigation Network

Rome Unwrapped - new series on Channel 5

Gladiators – 8pm, Tuesday 1st February
Julius Caesar – 8pm, Thursday 10th February

From the team that brought Secrets of Egypt to Channel 5 – which was one of the channel’s highest rating factual series – comes Atlantic Productions’ new series Rome Unwrapped which will broadcast on Channel 5 next week.

The groundbreaking series, which has already seen great success in the United States, uncovers fresh takes on key events of ancient Roman history. The series premieres on the Channel 5 on Tuesday 1st February with Gladiators: Rome Unwrapped; Julius Caesar: Rome Unwrapped follows on Thursday 10th February.

The series looks at the most iconic names and places of ancient Roman history using innovative CGI and expert opinion; it combines these with fresh and new interpretations. In these two episodes, archaeologists unveil the dark truth behind the design of the 2000 year-old Colosseum and uncover the reality of Caesar’s world. Caesar’s life was well-documented, but who was the man behind the myth?

The Colosseum represents Rome in all its glory, ingenuity and brutality. It is legendary for playing host to a grizzly array of beast fights, executions and gladiator duels. This film reconstructs the opening games of AD 80, and takes a close look at the spectacles that took place in the Colosseum, the men who took part in them – both behind the scenes, and in the arena – and the building that housed them. The film features Dr Jonathan Foyle, the architectural historian renowned for decoding historic buildings.

Ambitious, a risk-taker, and totally unpredictable, Caesar was impossible to ignore – today it is said his untimely death was inevitable. In a story that plays out like a Mafia saga, this film tracks Caesar’s meteoric rise to power, and reveals how every action he took brought him closer to death. Exploring Caesar’s world, the film asks the question; what was it like to be a major player in the Roman Republic?

Effectively, it was a Mob state – corrupt, dangerous and run by a close-knit group of wealthy families, protecting their own interests under the guise of the res publica.

Anthony Geffen, CEO and Executive Producer, Atlantic Productions said:

“We are extremely proud of this series which gives audiences unique access to new excavations and brings to life the untold side of ancient Rome with stylish dramatisation and world-class CGI from top VFX studio ZOO. The research that has been carried out for this series is phenomenal; building on the success of Secrets of Egypt, we have once again worked with some of the world’s leading experts to show how new research on Rome’s history is challenging the traditional view of the Empire.”

Rome Unwrapped follows the success of the high-rating and critically acclaimed major eight-part series Secrets of Egypt. That series used the latest research and modern techniques to unravel Egypt’s greatest mysteries, including the identity of the Screaming Man mummy, and the real history behind the legend of the Scorpion King.

Rome Unwrapped was co-produced with National Geographic Channel in the US, National Geographic Channels International and FremantleMedia Enterprises who handle distribution worldwide.

The Squad: Prison Police

You would be forgiven for believing that the job of the police is done once a criminal is sentenced and put behind bars, but that is not necessarily the case. A crack squad of police allocated to the prison service are responsible for keeping inmates in order, out of trouble and under control.

Of course this is real life and things seldom go to plan, when 10,000 prisoners are crammed into one of the worlds toughest prisons tempers are bound to flare and this series on Crime & Investigation Network follows the work of the Prison Police in enforcing law and order inside the prison blocks.

Chosen for their interrogation skills, forensic expertise and ability to keep cool in life-threatening situations, The Squad must investigate riots, assaults, escapes, organised crime, drugs and even murder in the notorious Tennessee State Prison.

With nothing to lose, inmates are desperate to gain whatever power they can, often resorting to violence to get their way. When someone crosses the line, it’s up to The Squad to bring justice and restore order.

With a new case each week, the prison police’s skills will be tested to the limit. With gangs and criminals getting in the way on both sides of every investigation and lockdowns raising the pressure, they can’t trust anyone and must rely on their wits and experience to discover the truth.

Learn how they keep control of the most violent men in America on The Squad: Prison Police. The series starts on January 29th at 10pm on CI.

ghost stories on bio

Whether you believe in the afterlife or not you cannot escape from the fact that every year there are thousands of people from all walks of life who experience terrifying phenomena that are beyond logical explanation.

Many who have had such experiences are afraid to share them with others, but there are still plenty who are willing to share their spine chilling stories and on Bio during January celebrities are invited to share their own other worldly experiences with the TV audience.

In a series of chilling interviews, stars relive the horror as they realised they were face-to-face with the spirits of the dead. Darryl Hannah, Charisma Carpenter and Marilyn Manson join a whole host of celebs looking to step forward and tell the world about their own brush with the paranormal. Combining emotional testimony with chilling re-enactments, you’ll want to leave the lights on after watching!

Musicians, actors, authors and models all reveal their spooky encounters ranging from vengeful spirits and lonely ghosts to unexplainable spells and dangerous magic. Join Bio this January to hear the powerful first-hand accounts from famous believers.

Celebrity Ghost Stories starts tonight January 20th on Bio at 8pm.

Ancients Behaving Badly

No, it’s not Neil Morrisey and Martin Clunes making a 2011 remake of Men Behaving Badly, but it is a new series on History that sets out to unravel the truth about the great leaders in history where fact and fiction seem hard to distinguish.

Attempting to offer answers to those eternal questions that have been nagging at the back of our minds since childhood, such as was Cleopatra as beautiful as they say? What kind of leader was Alexander the Great? How did Attila the Hun strike such fear into his enemies?

Although they conquered continents and oversaw vast empires, many of the stories associated with great figures such as Caesar and Genghis Kahn have been lost to the ages. Only rumours and vicious tales spread by their enemies remain. Were the dark reputations and brutal stories unfair smear campaigns or did they mask even more shameful secrets?

It is fair to say that much of ancient history is shrouded in mystery and the little that is taught in schools can seldom be substantiated, we are however taught to believe what are told and with the help of experts Ancients Behaving Badly sets out to find out the truth.

This intriguing new series starts tonight, Tuesday 18th January at 9 pm exclusively to the History channel.

Starting in January, Bio™ will follow the emotionally gripping stories of families desperate to convince troubled loved ones to seek the help they need.

Capturing the drama as it unfolds, the idea behind the series is to show that there are people who care and can help addicts overcome their vice.

Intervention starts with a conversation and ends with addicts getting the help they need. Eventually, many agree to try to get clean and go to rehab but it can be an uphill struggle for anyone trying to convince them that they have a problem.

Emotions run high as addicts struggle with their demons and reveal the sources of their suffering and insecurities. Often turning the spotlight on the very people trying to help, drastic changes can lead to incredible breakthroughs.

When families can’t cope, they turn to experts to help remind those suffering what there is to live for and how to kick their harmful habits. From January, Bio will reveal their personal battles in this powerfully candid series.

Intervention provides a means of recovery for those who no longer have an option.

Intervention starts tonight, 12th January at 10pm, exclusive to Bio.

heir hunters

Everyday in the UK people die without having made a will and their estate goes into the treasury until such time it is claimed.

In 2007 alone £18 million was put into the treasury in this way. There are around thirty companies in the UK that specialise in attempting to locate the families of the deceased but they must be able to make a claim before time runs out.

The Heir Hunter companies work on a commission only basis and work tirelessly to ensure that relatives of the deceased get the money they deserve as well ensuring a payday for themselves. Without them the money would invariably be lost to the Treasury and families would miss out on their rightful inheritance.

Throughout January and February History channel will be following a crack team of probate detectives dedicated to tracking down the long lost relatives of the recently deceased. It’s the Heir Hunters who work tirelessly to ensure people get the money they deserve – often in life-changing amounts.

Experience the triumphs and challenges as they race against the clock, Heir Hunters follows the detectives responsible for making sure the rightful heir is found and ensure a  thorough search is carried out whenever someone dies without leaving a will. If no known relatives step forward, the Heir Hunters must hurry to trace anyone with a claim to the cash before time runs out.

With UK properties and estates remaining unclaimed for years, every episode of Heir Hunters will also spotlight cases that have nearly run out of time. Tune in to HISTORY™ in the New Year and you may be able to help or even claim an inheritance you never knew was yours.

Heir Hunters

Mondays at 7pm starting January 3^rd 2011

Only on HISTORY™