TOP OF THE BOX
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (M-Net Movies Premiere, Channel 103, Friday, 20:30)
Director Lasse Hallström ( Chocolat, Hachiko) has a fondness for eccentric stories. In this film, there is an immensely wealthy sheikh (Amr Waked) who wants to build a lake and river in the desert. Ewan McGregor is the architect who must build it. This tale is unexpected, witty and highly entertaining.
Erin Brockovich (M-Net Movies Showcase, Channel 108, Friday, 19:15)
When Julia Roberts ditched her glossy Hollywood style and took on the role of a real woman, she swept the boards at the award shows. This is the story of a woman, broke and divorced with three kids, who fights for justice on behalf of a town with contaminated drinking water. It’s not to be missed, but have some tissues on hand.
Super Smart Animals (BBC Knowledge, Channel 184, Monday, 22:00)
Most humans assume they are smarter but there are animals that can outperform us. This series shows us how, with some interesting challenges. In one, humans and an orang-utan are given the same task: to get a peanut out of a tube. There is no way to get it out by hand and there are no tools around to assist. Humans are baffled but the orang-utan finds an ingenious solution.
World’s Greenest Homes (Home, Channel 176, Tuesday, 18:30)
Some homeowners want to be ultra-modern with every gadget imaginable; others want a more organic, natural lifestyle. In this episode, a 1940s Minnesota bungalow is transformed into a modern space with solar panels, a “green” roof and a deck made from recycled milk jugs.
Celebrity MasterChef: Series 4 (BBC Lifestyle, Channel 174, Tuesday, 20:00)
This version of the popular cooking show puts a twist on the familiar format by having celebrities compete for the title. The 24 hopefuls include TV presenter Jayne Middlemiss, former Olympic sprinter Iwan Thomas, and actress Wendi Peters. As usual the chefs must deal with surprise ingredients and come up with gourmet treats. Two episodes will be screened each week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 20:00.
Kingdom of Plants (BBC Knowledge, Channel 184, Today, 18:00)
In this impressive three-part series, Sir David Attenborough explores some of nature’s most extraordinary creations. The use of time-lapse filming and macro-photography reveals how plants are every bit as dynamic and aggressive as animals, attracting prey with subtle scents and tempting fruits, from hawk moths and bats to tiny frogs.