Whatever your viewing preferences, this year promises to offer some amazing viewing.  Programmes range from perfect period dramas to suspense-filled soaps and from riotous reality shows to superb sporting showcases.

Here we take a look at some of the top TV picks viewers won’t want to miss in 2012, covering both firm favourites and exciting new offerings.

2012 TV Drama

This year promises some exciting offerings for drama fans.  Some shows not to be missed include:

• Downton Abbey – ITV has confirmed that a third series of the popular period piece is in production and will hit our screens this autumn.  Following on from the success of the Christmas special, fans will be on tenterhooks awaiting the wedding and much more besides.

• Hit and Miss – From the creator of Shameless, this tense drama stars Chloe Sevigny as a pre-op transsexual whose complicated life is as an assassin thrown into chaos when she discovers she fathered a child in her former life.

2012 Reality TV

Reality TV is a favourite family format and 2012 looks set to offer a bumper package of true-life tales.  Ones to watch include

• The Voice – The tried and tested talent show format will return to ‘Auntie’ this spring with the first series of The Voice.  Billed as the channel’s answer to The X Factor, this new series will feature pop queen Jessie J as a judge, alongside the singing legend that is Sir Tom Jones.

• Big Brother – It’s the reality show they couldn’t kill.  Big Brother was famously axed from Channel 4 in 2010 following the win by Bristolian Josie Gibson, but made a triumphant return on rival channel Five, fronted by former winner Brian Dowling.  The series is set to kick off in May and will keep fans glued throughout the summer.

2012 Sports TV

Sports fans will be spoiled for choice in 2012, with all the annual events being aired alongside the excitement of the Olympics.  Sports must-sees include:

• The Olympics – Coming to the UK in 2012 and offering even more of an excuse to follow every event.  The BBC is planning to extend on-air hours for BBC 3 and to launch an extra channel to cover the 20 days of the event, with BBC 5 Live Olympics Extra being available via the digital TV network.

• Formula One – Coverage of the favourite motorsport event will be split between the BBC and Sky for the first time this year.  Petrolheads across the country will be tuning in to see who is on poll position.

2012 Soap TV

Soap fans can look forward to some surprised in 2012, with ongoing offerings and resurrected legends gracing our screens.  Soap selections for this year include:

• EastEnders – Follow the fortunes of Albert Square in the year 2012 PP (that’s Post-Pat).  Some old faces return and new characters are planned – watch this space.

• Dallas – Yes, 2012 is the year of the Ewings.  The ostentatious Texans are back bigger and brasher than ever, and utterly unmissable.  It features the original stars Larry Hagman and Linda Gray.

From 6 a.m. on March 4, 2011 to 6 a.m. on March 7, ESPN’s Free Weekend will give fans a taste of the action courtesy of Domino’s Pizza. Fans will be able to watch a weekend of sport across both ESPN and ESPN America, including the live Manchester City v Wigan Athletic Premier League match, without subscription. The weekend’s sporting schedule will also feature a host of other sports including NBA Basketball (live from the O2 in London), Aviva Premiership Rugby, World Rally Championship live from Mexico, American sports action (including NHL hockey and College Basketball) and more.

Simon Wallis, sales and marketing director for Domino’s, said: “Everyone knows sport and pizza are the perfect combination and we’re very pleased to be able to deliver fantastic Premiership action and other key sports during our Free Weekend on ESPN. We’re always looking for innovative new ways to reach people in their homes and by giving them a weekend of top free sport on ESPN, there’s never been a better reason to get a Domino’s pizza delivered and not miss a moment of the action.”

Alan Fagan, group director of advertising sales and sponsorship ESPN – Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “This is an example of a great fit between two brands, promoting two great products that sports fans love. The breadth of the sporting events available to fans includes top-flight football, rugby, motorsports and basketball. It’s the perfect weekend for sport lovers to sit down with family and friends to watch, eat and enjoy.”

ESPN Free Weekend includes ESPN and ESPN America in the UK and Ireland and is available on Sky, Virgin Media, TalkTalk TV and UPC (in Ireland) on the following channel numbers:

Sky (UK and Ireland):     Channel 417
Virgin Media:                     Channel 529 (HD – Channel 530)
TalkTalk TV:                       Channel 555
UPC (Ireland):                   Channel 407 (HD channel 416)

ESPN America is available on Sky, Virgin Media and Talk Talk on the following channel numbers:
Sky (UK and Ireland):    Channel 430, HD – Channel 431
Virgin Media:                    Channel 531
TalkTalk TV:                      Channel 566
UPC (Ireland):                  Channel 410

james hunt

I was fortunate enough to switch on the TV last night just in time to catch the excellent ITV documentary, When Playboys Ruled The World.

Having seen no previews of the documentary I was surprised and excited that to find that it featured two of my personal sporting heroes from the heady days of the seventies, Barry Sheene and James Hunt.

Formula One driver James Hunt, who won the 1976 world championship, and Barry Sheene, who won the motorcycle world championships in 1976 and 1977, were crowd favourites and national heroes.

In my view the last of the real sporting personalities, charming good looking and with an eye for the girls, both Hunt and Sheene led a lifestyle that would hardly be tolerated in modern day sport.

The excellent footage from those glorious years captured both sportsmen at the top of their game, both having mastered the ability to climb out of the cockpit or off the bike with a cigarette already lit, swigging champagne from the bottle, surrounded by attractive girls.

Aah those were the days.

Sheene’s wife Stephanie and Hunt’s brother David add a wonderful insight into these two world champions who

barry sheene

became close friends during their time at the top of their respective sports.

There are also interesting contributions from Max Mosley, Murray Walker and Stirling Moss, the latter claiming, “In my day when the race was done we went off and chased girls. Now they go and say thanks to Vodafone.” How true!

Max Mosley’s story of driving to a friends house with James Hunt summed up the World Champion driver perfectly, he recalled being at the house and three lines of white powder were put on the table. Hunt says to Mosely, you won’t want yours will you Max? and snorts two lines leaving the third for the friend!

Considering the sports that they participated in and the number of friends lost during racing at the time, it seems a miracle that these two survived it all and had the good sense to walk away from the sport when they did.

A brilliant programme that captured the essence of the seventies perfectly and also reminded me of what a great loss it was to lose two such love-able rogues so early in their lives to natural causes.

Look out for repeats of the documentary ‘When Playboys Ruled The World’ on ITV or check it out online or on Catch Up TV.

With more and more sporting events now being broadcast in 3D, fans of the genre will be interested to hear about the recent launch of a website that shows details of pubs across the UK that are screening sporting fixtures in 3D.

The site was set up by two Yorkshire football fans, John Beharrell and Richard Sutton to coincide with the kick-off of the new football season, the site aims to create an online community where those interested in sports, new technology and socialising can come together to source information and share their thoughts and experiences. Venues will also be able to list their details free-of-charge and promote themselves.

Interest in 3D TV has rocketed this year – more than 1,500 locations are already screening 3D TV and the number of search engine enquiries about the technology has tripled. This trend is expected to continue ahead of Sky launching Europe’s first 3D channel on 1st October, which will be available to its existing Sky +HD subscribers without any set-top box upgrade.

3D TV Pub Finder is aimed at the thousands of people who enjoy watching sporting clashes in the pub by detailing the growing number of venues up and down the country that are exclusively showing these fixtures in 3D. The new site is partnering with www.wheresthematch.com to bring users a complete listing of all the latest fixtures.

Richard Sutton says; “Rather than just watching sports, 3D technology is enabling the viewer to be more involved in the action, giving the experience of actually being there. The best way to experience this technology and to see what it is like before perhaps purchasing it for the home is to enjoy 3D events at the local pub, sports bar or club.”

John Beharrell added; “We know that there is a real sense of community amongst sports fans who watch the game in the pub and we want to foster this on the new site. Whether it’s football, cricket or rugby, 3DTV Pub Finder will provide sports fans with everything that they will need – apart from the pints – to be able to watch their chosen match locally.”

Visit the 3D TV Pub Finder website here

In addition, on 31 July, Superpole will be live at 3pm, before the Superstock 600 race gets underway at 6pm.

On race day, live coverage will start at 10.25am, with Fogarty returning to the studio after appearing earlier this year during round four from Assen. This round produced two all-British podiums and riders and fans will be hoping for more of the same at Silverstone.

Both races will be available in high definition on Eurosport HD from 4.15pm while the World Supersport race will be live on Eurosport HD at 1pm.

Commentators Jack Burnicle and James Whitham will be on-site at the Northamptonshire track throughout the weekend, guiding viewers through the busy race schedule.

Online subscribers can also follow the weekend’s racing on the Eurosport Player where live coverage and commentary-free video on demand will be available.

Saturday 31 July
1500-1600 LIVE Superpole on British Eurosport 2
1800-1830 LIVE Superstock 600 on British Eurosport 2

Sunday 1 August
1025-1630 LIVE WSBK race day, including both WSBK races & WSS on British Eurosport 2
1300-1400 LIVE World Supersport race on Eurosport HD
1615-1700 Race one on Eurosport HD
1700-1745 Race two on Eurosport HD
2200-2330 Highlights on British Eurosport 2

For anyone unfamiliar with this incredible death defying championship, here is a short video introduction:

If you like your motor sport thrills and spills to be bumpy, spectacular, bruise-inducing and adrenaline-pumped then you are surely in for a rare treat as the twelve best riders in the world battle over six unique courses in a bid to win the ultimate prize of becoming the Red Bull X-Fighter World Champion.

With events in Russia, Spain and finally Italy throughout the season, there is also the little matter of the UK leg of the tour. Dave will be showing this event as-live from the Battersea Power Station in August, and if last year’s event is anything to go by it will be a scorcher!

Current World Champion Nate Adams will be challenged all the way this season as the competitors draw on all their resources to produce some of the most jaw dropping and rudest stunts in an attempt to take the crown.

With Moscow falling foul to rain, the first show on the X-Fighters circuit comes from Egypt where 10,000 fans gathered in front of the Great Sphinx of Giza. The best FMX athletes in the world faced desert winds, sand and temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius which pushed man and machine to the limit.

Watch the Red Bull X-Fighters action packed championship race exclusively on Dave TV starting July 28th at 8pm.

Coverage starts with free practise from the popular Assen circuit in Holland where the MotoGP circus arrives for the weekend.

Qualifying at Assen takes place on Friday, and Saturday is race day at the Dutch circuit, full coverage from 125, Moto2 and MotoGP is broadcast live, excepting the actual MotoGP race which is broadcast one hour after the start of the race.

World Superbike from San Marino includes superpole live on Saturday followed by the Superstock 600 race. Sunday features the two WSB races from the Italian round at San Marino.

And finally British Superbike is broadcast from the Mallory Park circuit, again with live coverage of both races taking place on Sunday.

Full details of TV schedule:

Thursday 24 June
1140-1245 LIVE 125cc practice on British Eurosport
1245-1410 LIVE MotoGP practice on British Eurosport
1410-1510 LIVE Moto2 practice on British Eurosport

Friday 25 June
1200-1245 LIVE 125cc qualifying on British Eurosport
1245-1410 LIVE MotoGP qualifying on British Eurosport
1410-1500 LIVE Moto2 qualifying on British Eurosport

Saturday 26 June
0945-1100 LIVE 125cc race on British Eurosport 2
1100-1225 LIVE Moto2 race on British Eurosport 2
1225-1410 LIVE MotoGP race on British Eurosport 2
1410-1500 LIVE WSBK Superpole on British Eurosport 2
1700-1730 LIVE WSBK Superstock 600 race on British Eurosport 2

Sunday 27 June
0930-1325 LIVE WSBK race one & WSS on British Eurosport, 1045-1315 on Eurosport HD
1325-1430 LIVE BSB race one on British Eurosport
1430-1530 LIVE WSBK race two on British Eurosport & Eurosport HD
1530-1800 LIVE BSB race two on British Eurosport

motoGP at Silverstone

It was last seen at the famous Silverstone circuit back in 1986, but MotoGP is back this weekend as the British round returns to one of the fastest tracks on the GP calendar.

The Northampton circuit has undergone some much needed remedial work in recent times and the new track layout promises more overtaking action than ever before.

British Eurosport will be on hand offering Live TV coverage of all practise and qualifying sessions from the British Grand Prix, along with full coverage of the 125 and Moto2 races.

The MotoGP live race will be broadcast one hour after the start of the race.

In the 125 competition Britain’s Bradley Smith will be looking for a win on home soil to boost his chances of claiming the 125 title. He is joined on the grid by fellow Brit Danny Webb, who will also be trying his best to impress the home crowd.

Scott Redding, who delighted home fans at Donington Park in 2008 when he made history becoming the youngest rider of all time to win a Grand Prix race, will this time contest the Moto2 race.

Last season the British Grand Prix from Donington Park threw up some surprising results, with Italian Andrea Dovizioso winning the MotoGP race ahead of Colin Edwards and Randy de Puniet, while eventual champion Valentino Rossi finished fifth with Brit James Toseland behind him in sixth. With Rossi ruled out through injury this time around, another shock winner could be on the cards.

Join Toby Moody and Julian Ryder for all the action from Silverstone on British Eurosport this weekend.

Friday 18 June
1240-1345 LIVE 125cc practice session on British Eurosport 2
1345-1510 LIVE MotoGP practice session on British Eurosport 2
1510-1615 LIVE Moto2 practice session on British Eurosport 2

Saturday 19 June
1300-1345 LIVE 125cc qualifying on British Eurosport 2
1345-1510 LIVE MotoGP qualifying on British Eurosport 2
1510-1600 LIVE Moto2 qualifying on British Eurosport 2

Sunday 20 June – Race Day
1030-1100 MotoGP warm up on British Eurosport 2
1100-1225 LIVE Moto2 race on British Eurosport 2
1430-1545 LIVE 125cc race on British Eurosport 2
1545-1715 MotoGP race on British Eurosport 2

nigel mansell-le mans

One of the best known motorsport endurance races of all time, the Le Mans 24 Hours takes place this weekend and British Eurosport TV coverage of the event starts with free practise today (Wednesday June 9th) followed by live qualifying.

The Eurosport team will be on-site, bringing viewers closer to the action than ever before, with a LIVE studio on the start-finish line. Throughout the week at 6.30pm, daily guests from the world of motorsports will join the Eurosport presenters for the daily preview show “Le Mans 24 Minutes”, featuring the latest interviews, news and reports.

Heading up Eurosport’s commentary team will be Martin Haven who explains why British fans will have an added to incentive to tune in this year:

“The Aston Martin Racing team will fly the flag for Britain, giving chase at the front of the field, but there’s extra spice for the British fans in the form of Nigel Mansell, who will start the race for the first time in his career. He will be partnered in an all-British Ginetta-Zytek by his sons Greg and Leo.”

Former F1 champion Nigel Mansell and his sons will race for the team Beachdean Mansell and will contest the prestigious LMP1 category. Should the trio claim a victory, Mansell will join Graham Hill in the history books as the only other driver to secure the “Triple Crown of Motorsport” which involves winning either the Indianapolis 500 or the Indy/CART title plus either the Monaco Grand Prix or the F1 drivers’ title and the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Haven thinks the big battle will be between title holders Peugeot and Le Mans dominant force Audi:

“This year’s race is almost certain to boil down into a duel between the diesel cars of Audi and Peugeot. The German manufacturer has been the dominant force at Le Mans for the past decade, while the French cars won last year’s race after three years of trying. Audi will certainly be looking for revenge.”

Eurosport’s coverage will be more comprehensive than ever before, with a week-long build-up to the race, extensive LIVE action, high definition coverage and expert analysis and comment from our studio at La Sarthe.

Wednesday 9 June
1530-1830 LIVE Free practice on British Eurosport 2
2100-2300 LIVE Qualifying on British Eurosport 2

Thursday 10 June
1800-1830 LIVE Qualifying on British Eurosport 2
1900-2000 LIVE Qualifying on British Eurosport & Eurosport HD
2100-2300 LIVE Qualifying on British Eurosport & Eurosport HD

Saturday 12 June
0800-0845 LIVE Warm-up on British Eurosport & Eurosport HD
1000-1100 LIVE Le Mans Legends race on British Eurosport & Eurosport HD
1345-1515 LIVE Le Mans 24 Hours on British Eurosport & Eurosport HD
1515-2100 LIVE Le Mans 24 Hours on British Eurosport 2
2100-2130 LIVE Le Mans 24 Hours on British Eurosport & Eurosport HD
2130-2200 LIVE Le Mans 24 Hours on British Eurosport 2
2215-2300 LIVE Le Mans 24 Hours on British Eurosport & Eurosport HD
2330-0200 LIVE Le Mans 24 Hours on British Eurosport & Eurosport HD
0200-0800 LIVE Le Mans 24 Hours on British Eurosport & Eurosport HD

Sunday 13 June
0800-0830 LIVE Le Mans 24 Hours on British Eurosport, British Eurosport 2 & Eurosport HD
0830-0930 LIVE Le Mans 24 Hours on British Eurosport & Eurosport HD
0930-1215 LIVE Le Mans 24 Hours on British Eurosport 2
1205-1415 LIVE Le Mans 24 Hours on British Eurosport & Eurosport HD

The live action will get underway at 7.30am on Saturday (5 June) with Stage 2 from Monte Grighine, followed by Stage 4 at 11am. On Sunday (6 June), Stage 8 from Coiluna will be live at 7.30am while Stage 10 will be on air at 10.45am.

Back in January, a record 12 million viewers tuned in to Eurosport and Eurosport 2 channels across Europe to watch the opening round of the 2010 IRC season from Monte Carlo, which featured 12 hours of live coverage. The audience figures were particularly high on Thursday 21 January when an average audience of 810,000 viewers, and a peak of over one million, watched the snow-covered ninth stage. This was a 70% audience increase compared to the peak in 2009.

Saturday 5 June
0730-0845 LIVE Stage 2: Monte Grighine 1 (27.80 kilometres) on British Eurosport & Eurosport HD
1100-1200 LIVE Stage 4: Monte Grighine 2 on British Eurosport & Eurosport HD

Sunday 6 June
0730-0845 LIVE Stage 8 Coiluna 1 (26.00 kilometres) on British Eurosport & Eurosport HD
1045-1145 LIVE Stage 10 Coiluna 2 on British Eurosport & Eurosport HD

Tuesday 8 June
2230-2300 Rally d’Italia-Sardegna review on British Eurosport & Eurosport HD

The same live coverage as well as video on demand content will also be available online via the Eurosport Player