Steered by his 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide, Michael Portillo embarks on a four-part rail adventure through Thailand from the northern city of Chiang Mai to Kanchanaburi on the River Kwai, and from Bangkok to the southern beach resort of Hua Hin. On this leg, Michael tries his hand at the art of umbrella making and learns about northern Thai cookery. He explores the walled and moated city of Chiang Mai, former capital of the Lanna Kingdom before it was annexed by the King of Siam. Travelling south to Lampang, Michael discovers the former centre of the teak wood business and investigates how successive Thai kings preserved their independence from the rival colonial powers of Britain and France. He discovers the history of a British governess at the royal court, who was made famous on stage and screen, and discovers how King George V kept elephants at the British Consulate.
Michael Portillo begins a new journey on the tracks of the Ocean line to explore Canada’s maritime provinces en route to Quebec City. Clutching his 1899 Appleton’s Guide to Canada, he begins in the Atlantic port of Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he discovers an 18th-century British hilltop citadel, manned at the time of his guide by the 78th Highland Regiment. Michael joins the men who recreate the roles of those Scottish soldiers today. At the mercy of the young 'sergeant major', Michael learns the drill in kilt and sporran. Michael follows his Appleton’s to a vast Victorian dry dock, still in use today by shipbuilders for the Royal Canadian Navy and finds out what it takes to build a state-of-the-art Arctic Patrol vessel. He learns of a catastrophic explosion in Halifax harbour in 1917, which killed 2,000 people and left 25,000 homeless. Former residents of an African-Canadian community torn in two by the railway tell Michael of their struggle for redress.
A seamstress at Disneyland Resort, Lupe de Santiago views her work as a passion rather than a job.
The wedding day of Orm and Frøya arrives, but the inexperienced groom needs some premarital education. Varg discovers that an old enemy is still alive.
A couple pitches their design that adds resistance to workout. Then, entrepreneurs attempt to get the Sharks to bite on their product.
Lou puts on a fundraiser carnival at the camp to raise money for her first cause as Deputy Mayor.
A notorious hitman - who claims to have killed about 100 people - may walk free without being charged with a single crime.
Elena desperately wants to go to her first middle school dance with Joey, only to find out that he would rather go with an eighth-grade girl. Bobby and Liam go to Jupiter to compete in a tennis tournament, but find their plans thwarted. Gabi is finally ready to donate the last of her late husband’s belongings, but her feelings change when she finds an old memento.
Kicking off Season 12, the first seven queens strut the runway in a fashion show, then rap and perform a choreographed dance in front of guest judge Nicki Minaj.
Heather and Todd thought Hawaii was going to be the ideal location to raise their triplet boys, and they even flew in grandma to help. But trouble struck paradise as the triplets grew into wild screaming toddlers and the parents became polarized. Can Jo break through Todd and Heather's denial and get them on the same page? Or will the kids' unruly behavior spin out into total chaos?
Lacey's revelation stuns dad; Sarah makes Michael an offer that may threaten his relationship.
Another selection of the best moments from the Q series of QI, hosted by Sandi Toksvig, with Alan Davies and their guests.
Daisy May and Charlie Cooper, the stars of the sitcom This Country, join Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe to give their take on the week's main talking points.
While Chris and Emma are about to cross the Moroccan border, in Mexico Manuel and his men build a ragtag army on behalf of the Leyra cartel.
While Don Minu’s leadership is undermined by betrayals and power struggles, the Lynwoods face the dangers of crossing the Malian desert.
In Tobermory, Canada, the team takes a harborside bar and grill from foundering to fabulous with a fresh Caribbean menu and a sleek tiki patio style.
An empty restaurant in the Austrian Alps features a global menu that's all over the place. To survive, it needs more regional fare — and more cowbell.
A cafe in a scenic Hong Kong fishing village resembles a gift shop without shoppers. The solution: rebranding, a tastier menu and a lot of feng shui.