Television

Programmes

Heroes of Helmand: The British Army’s Great Escape In 2006, 88 British soldiers survived a two-month siege by 500 Taliban fighters. This gripping documentary tells their story. Tue 16 Aug, C4 9pm (60mins).

Skies Above Britain: Flying into Danger This first episode in a new series about the skies over our heads focuses on the air traffic controllers and fighter pilots who guard our airspace. Wed 17 Aug, BBC2 9pm (60mins).

Films

The 39 Steps (1935) The original and best adaptation of John Buchan’s thriller about a man on the run for a murder he didn’t commit. Sat 13 Aug, BBC2 7.50am (85mins).

The Bourne Identity (2002) Matt Damon plays an amnesiac CIA assassin in this smart, edgy thriller: the first in the Jason Bourne series. Sat 13 Aug, ITV1 9.30pm (115mins).

The Kid with a Bike (2011) Touching French-language art-house film about the relationship between a boy and a tender-hearted hairdresser. Sat 13 Aug, BBC2 12.55am (95mins).

The Prisoner of Zenda (1952) Swashbuckling version of Anthony Hope’s Ruritanian adventure yarn. With Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr. Sun 14 Aug, BBC2 1pm (100mins).

Wargames (1983) Entertaining thriller in which a high-school kid (Matthew Broderick) inadvertently hacks into the Pentagon computer and risks triggering World War Three. Sun 14 Aug, C5 1pm (120mins).