Australian Story

The Ricky Gervais Show, 10.05pm, SBS ONE
In a new series, this show is based on the audio podcasts of Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington, the program sets the trio’s musings on numerous inane topics to irresistible animation.

Revenge, 8.30pm, Seven
The Grayson’s 25th wedding anniversary is a less than celebratory occasion when their desire to lay low is interrupted with a high profile story in the paper and a volatile family dinner featuring unwanted guests. The fate of Lydia hangs heavy over everyone, and Frank, desperate to prove his steadfast loyalty to Victoria, digs deep into Emily’s past and uncovers too much.

Australian Story, 8.01pm,  ABC1
He’s a Hollywood ‘Mr Big’ with a bad boy past. John Polson’s amazing Australian story. He is an Australian actor, director and the founder of Tropfest.

How I Met Your Mother, 9.30pm, Seven
For Valentine’s Day, Lily and Marshall invite Robin and Kevin on a weekend getaway to Vermont, where Kevin and Robin discuss taking their relationship to the next level.

Extraordinary Ten Year-Olds, 8.30pm, Bio.
This remarkable documentary looks at the lives of three ten-year-old children who have triumphed over extreme adversity. Each of these children has dealt with traumas that most adults will never experience in a lifetime. The film tells their stories and celebrates the heroics of three youngsters who, despite everything, remain lively, happy and grounded.

8:00pm – Monday, February 13 on ABC1

Tonight continues the story of Di Gilcrist and the hit-and-run collision that took the life of her cyclist husband, Ian Humphrey.

Behind the wheel of the four-wheel drive was a prominent lawyer, Eugene McGee. His behaviour that night has been scrutinised ever since.

Why did Mr McGee fail to stop.

He had been drinking that day but police never tested him for blood alcohol.

For Di Gilcrist, the collision marks the beginning of an eight year battle that has led to legislation change in South Australia.

8:00pm – Monday, February 6 on ABC1

Australian Story series 16 begins with a two-part special on a notorious hit-and-run incident that left a cyclist dead and challenged the justice system.

In 2003, prominent Adelaide lawyer Eugene McGee ran over and killed cyclist Ian Humphrey. He failed to stop after the collision and more than six hours passed before he turned himself in to police.

A witness described seeing McGee driving “like a frigging idiot” at high speed moments before the crash.

McGee had consumed at least one bottle of wine over lunch that day, but he was never given a blood alcohol test by police.

After eight years, two trials and a Royal Commission, the penalty paid by McGee was a $3100 fine and the loss of his driving licence for one year.

The inside story of this notorious case is told for the first time by Di Gilcrist, Ian Humphrey’s widow and their children. Gilcrist says the South Australian legal system has let down her and her family. Her campaign exposing the weaknesses of the investigation and prosecution led to major changes in the state’s legislation.

Eugene McGee gives his first interview since the fatal collision in Road To Nowhere.

“It’s been an unmitigated disaster for everybody, certainly for my family, clearly for Mr Humphrey’s family and for all people associated with Mr Humphrey,” says McGee.

Key legal, medical and political figures including the SA Victims of Crime Commissioner, the former SA Attorney General and MP Nick Zenophon also feature.

On Sunday Feb 12, at 6.05pm Expedition Tiger continues. After the news, at 7.30pm, is Grand Designs featuring a small property in Herefordshire. At 8.30pm, is the return of Midsomer Murders with new episodes – a show that rates very well for the ABC (read more here). Following that at 10.00pm is Dancing with the Dictators which looks at control over Burma’s media.

On Monday Feb 13, Australian Story at 8pm focused on the story of Di Gilcrist and the hit-and-run accident that took the life of her cyclist husband, Ian Humphrey. Four Corners, Media Watch and Q&A follow.

Tuesday Feb 14, at 8.30pm, is The Wild Ones: Shark Harbour which investigates the rare occurrence of sharks entering Sydney Harbour in 2009. 9.30 is Genius: Russell Howard And Hazel Irvine where celebrity chat meets inspired thinking. 10pm is Jennifer Byrne Presents: Words Aloud – a series of individual treats for lovers of books and writing.

Wednesday Feb 15 has the 20th Anniversary Specials of Absolutely Fabulous at 8pm, followed by Adam Hills In Gordon Street Tonight at 8.30. New series Outland is at 9.30pm.

Family Confidential this week, on Thursday Feb 16, looks at the story of Sally and Ernie Dingo. The Straits episode 4 is at 8.30pm, then Dragon’s Den continues at 9.30pm.

Saturday Feb 18 at 6.10pm is a revamp of the series Minder – Minder: In Vino Veritas. Accused at 8.30pm is Kenny’s Story.

This week, the last week of summer non ratings sees a number of ABC favourites return, incuding ABC1′s regular Monday night line up and series two of Adam Hills In Gordon Street Tonight.

Expedition Tiger, Sunday February 5, 6.05pm

New series. An expedition team comprising tiger experts, photographers, adventurers, a naturalist and a scientist, venture high into Bhutan in the Himalayas in search of big cats. They are searching for a secret tiger population which could save the magnificent creatures from extinction.

Grand Designs: Braintree. Sunday February 5, 7.30pm

Artists Freddie Robins and Ben Coode Adams are moving from one extreme to another as they leave their cramped two bedroom London flat to take on the conversion of a huge grade two listed timber-framed barn in the Essex countryside. But at seven times the size of an average three bedroom house, turning this 500-year-old building into any kind of home is a challenge.

Zen: Ratking. Sunday Febrary 5, 8.30pm.

Final. In the final episode, the Italian Ministry once again turn to their favourite detective Aurelio Zen when wealthy industrialist and political party funder Ruggerio Miletti is kidnapped. They want Zen to get Miletti back alive at any cost – financial or personal.

Australian Story, Monday Februay 6, 8.00pm

Back for its 16th season, Australian Story kicks off this year with a two part special on a notorious hit-and-run incident that left a cyclist dead and challenged the justice system. In 2003, prominent Adelaide lawyer Eugene McGee ran over and killed cyclist Ian Humphrey. He failed to stop after the collision and more than six hours passed before he turned himself in to police.

Four Corners, Mondays 8.30pm from February 6.

Four Corners is Australia’s premier television current affairs program. It has been part of the national story since August 1961, exposing scandals, triggering inquiries, firing debate, confronting taboos and interpreting fads, trends and sub cultures. Four Corners will repeat the following evening at approximately 11:30pm.

Media Watch, Mondays 9.15pm from February 6

Media Watch, presented by Jonathan Holmes, is Australia’s leading forum for media analysis and comment. The program turns the spotlight onto those who literally ‘make the news’: the reporters, editors, sub-editors, producers, camera operators, sound recordists and photographers who claim to deliver the world to our doorsteps, radios, computers and living rooms. We also keep an eye on those who try to manipulate the media: the PR consultants, spin-doctors, lobbyists and ‘news makers’ who set the agenda. The program is repeated the following evening at approximately 12:15am.

Q&A, Mondays 9.35pm from February 6

Hosted by one of the ABC’s most respected journalists, Tony Jones, Q&A puts punters, pollies and pundits together in the studio to thrash out the hot issues of the week. It’s about democracy in action – the audience gets to ask the questions. It doesn’t matter who you are, or where you’re from, everyone can have a go and take it up to our politicians and opinion makers. Q&A is live to air – it’s happening as viewers watch!

Foreign Corresponent, Tuesdays 8.00pm from February 7

Foreign Correspondent has been Australia’s leading international current affairs program since 1992. In 18 years reporters, producers, camera operators and sound recordists have travelled to more than 170 countries and produced more than 1,500 reports.

The program draws on the ABC’s extensive network of international correspondents and a Sydney-based reporting and production team. Foreign Correspondent is designed to exploit the strengths of television – striking images and multi-track audio, a strong focus on storytelling, exotic locations and emotional appeal. Foreign Correspondent reports on major international issues but it also travels to places where reporters and camera operators are less welcome – investigating stories that governments don’t want told.

Then The Wind Changed, Tuesday February 7, 8.30pm

On 7 February 2009, Australia suffered its worst natural disaster in recorded history. One hundred and seventy-three people died when a series of uncontrollable bush fires swept across the state of Victoria. The next day, the headlines pronounced the small rural hamlet of Strathewen, only 40 kilometres from Melbourne, ‘The Valley of Death’.

Gareth Malone’s Extraordinary School for Boys. Tuesday February 7, 9.30pm

Final. In the second part of this final episode Gareth and the boys reach the all important performance. It’s been a tricky ride for Gareth as he nears the end of his experiment, but the culmination of his hard work is evident as the boys take to the stage in front of 400 or so family and friends.

Artscape: The First Interview. Tuesday February 7, 10.05pm

In Paris, August 1886, the world’s first media interview occurred when the great photographer Nadar interviewed the famous scientist and sceptic Chevreul on his 100th birthday. The meeting was recorded by Nadar’s son Paul as photographer and a stenographer using shorthand.

The two men discussed photography, colour theory, Moliere and Pasteur, the scientific method, the crazy ideas of balloonists, and – of course – how to live for 100 years. It was a lively and interesting conversation between two legends of the 19th century: one born before the French revolution; the other destined to see the marvels of the aeroplane and the movies.

The photographs and the original words were published in Le Journal illustré (Paris) on September 5, 1886. As a series of unposed portraits it is remarkable; as a photographic and stenographic record of an interesting and sophisticated conversation from 1886 it is unique.

Now, with the technology of the 21st century The First Interview comes to life as if a talking movie was filmed in the 19th century. Part two shows just how the impossible was achieved.

Absolutely Fabulous 20th Anniversary Sepcials. Wednesday February 8, 8.00pm

Twenty years ago the world was introduced to Edina, Patsy, Saffron, Bubble and Mother. It has never been quite the same again. As outrageous, scandalous, raucous and fashion-addicted as always, the ladies are back on screen reprising their award-winning roles in three specials – and they’re going to be fabulous, darling.

Adam Hills In Gordon St Tonight, Wednesday February 8, 8.30pm

World class stand up comedian Adam Hills returns to Gordon Street in 2012 with his unique take on the traditional tonight show; monologue, interviews and top musical acts plus the added excitement of spontaneous and unpredictable interactions with his 150 extra guests – the audience.

Outland, Wednesday February 8, 9.30pm

New Series. Outland is a six-part comedy series about a gay science fiction fan club and the lives, loves and never-ending dramas of its five members.

There’s Max (Toby Truslove), insecure and looking for love; the sexually-adventurous, muffin-baking Andy (Paul Ireland); Rae (Christine Anu), the moral centre and unofficial head of the group; the high-camp, high-maintenance Fab (Adam Richard); and the wealthy but socially-inept Toby (Ben Gerrard). It’s an odd, and often precarious combination of personalities.

Family Confidential, Thursday February 9, 8.00pm

Australia’s blockbuster novelist, Bryce Courtenay, plundered his own incredible life story to create his internationally bestselling books and films. But when he put the story of his son’s tragic death into print, it scarred the family forever. Today, as Bryce Courtenay struggles to complete his next book, his family reveals the difficult and complex truths behind the larger-than-life fiction.

The Straits: Yawor My Lovely, Thursday February 9, 8.30pm

Episode 3. The Straits is a story of a family as much as it is a tale of crime. The Montebellos’ family business is transporting drugs into Australia and guns and exotic wildlife out – using ties of blood and loyalty in the Torres Strait Islands.

Dragons’ Den. Thursday February 9, 9.30pm

New Series. Can you persuade rich tycoons to part with their own cash and fund your dream business idea? Dragons’ Den has made launching new businesses a big hit with TV viewers around the world.

Entrepreneurs pitch bold new ideas and inventions to five hard-nosed multimillionaires, the Dragons. They must convince one or more of the Dragons to invest a specific amount of their own money – or they fail.

If the Dragons are impressed by a pitch, they negotiate aggressively to own the biggest possible share in the venture in exchange for their cash.
The show is confrontational and compelling – especially when the Dragons turn the heat on each other as they compete to be the sole investor in a truly promising venture.

Episode 1: February 9 at 9.30pm

Millionaire investor James Caan joins Deborah Meaden, Duncan Bannatyne, Theo Paphitis and Peter Jones in the line up. They have the power to make or break the business dreams of entrepreneurs, all in need of cash backing to get their businesses off the ground.

Opportunities facing the fearsome Dragons tonight include a while-u-wait gold plating service, a Cornish music festival for uni students, dried fruit and meat snacks, a celebrity look-a-like business for parties and many more.

Find out whose investment dreams come true and whose get ripped to shreds as Dragons’ Den returns. 

Minder: Better The Devil You Know. Saturday February 11, 6.10pm

The British comedy-drama about London’s criminal underworld – made famous in the 70s for putting the slang word ‘Minder’ into Australian and UK conversation – returns to the small screen.

This revamped series follows the escapades of Archie Daley (played by Shane Richie), a socially ambitious but highly unscrupulous importer-exporter, wholesaler, used-car salesman, and anything else from which there is money to be made.

Accused: Liam’s Story. Saturday February 11, 8.30pm

Episode 2. In this story, Andy Serkis stars as Liam a cab driver who becomes smitten with a customer travelling to the airport. In desperate need of money to buy a gift for his daughter, he breaks into the woman’s empty flat to steal her valuables, and is delighted when she contacts him after learning she has been burgled. However, his infatuation deepens, and the uncontrollable impulses spurring him on result in tragedy.

Wednesday, January 18 at 9.30pm on BIO

This program seeks to make Australians, in their diversity and individuality, more understandable to other Australians. It seeks to explore how Australians lead their lives through ordinary and extraordinary events. These stories may have greater interest or topicality when they are the stories – often the hidden stories – of celebrated or infamous individuals, but Australian Story will also give voice to the ordinary individuals who have lived through more-than-ordinary success or setback.

The X Factor, Seven, 7.30pm
The show is down one contestant after the last elimination, but who will shine in this live show? From five to four, this is make-or-break time for the contestants.

The Big Bang Theory, Nine, 8.00-ish (ie, after Celeb Apprentice finishes)
With no new episode of Big Bnag scheduled for next week, this WILL be the last chance to see a new episode on Nine until mid February 2012 when ratings resume. Amy’s heart is broken when Penny and Bernadette shop for wedding dresses and don’t invite her.
 
Australian Story, ABC1, 8.00pm
When William Met Sarah. Final. William McInnes and the personal and professional bond with his wife, filmmaker Sarah Watt who died last week. Special edition presented by Margaret Pomeranz.

Rove: LA, FOX8, 8.30pm AEDT
This week, Rove delves into LA’s pet obsession and meets some of Hollywood’s most pampered pooches. Rove also chats with Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory), comedian Chris Hardwick and singer-songwriter, Pink.

Tuesday 30th August at 8.30pm on ABC1

Captured in Afghanistan, detained for years in Guantanamo and then convicted of supporting terrorism, David Hicks has been one of the most controversial and reclusive figures in Australia – until now.

Over several months, award-winning Australian Story reporter/producer Helen Grasswill has explored the Hicks case, encouraging him to reflect on his past and challenging him to confront the ambiguities and inconsistencies in his story.

In this hour-long special, Hicks sheds light on his childhood and the steps that brought him to embrace Islam and become involved with fundamentalist groups in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He opens up about his time in militant training camps and describes the conditions at Guantanamo Bay.

Helen Grasswill also asks the difficult questions about his motives and his actions. Hicks admits, for example, that motivational videos showing terror attacks were shown to trainees in Afghanistan, but says they made no impression on him.

In another exchange, Grasswill presses Hicks about his denial that he was aware of who ran the training camps he attended, despite the evidence of his own letters to his family which make it clear that he did know who was behind them.

Grasswill: “So that certainly indicates that you knew you were in camps of an organization headed by Bin Laden.”

Hicks responds: “It can sound like that, sure. To take it like that out of the context of what it’s placed in… Bin Laden did come numerous times as a guest speaker. And he seemed to have some clout because there were many guest speakers and when he came things were conducted very differently in the camp.”

It’s a response that doesn’t convince former Foreign Affairs Minister, Alexander Downer: “Well of course he came to the camps to speak, he’s the leader of Al-Qaeda. That’s what leaders do, they make speeches, he razzes up the troops, denounces the West and denounces apostates… I’m sorry, that’s not credible.”

As the 10th anniversary of the September 11 atrocities approaches, Hicks speaks about his reaction for the first time: “I think it was a disgusting act. So many people lost their life on that day… it’s hard to describe, when you’re watching something like that, that it’s even possible it could happen. I mean the devastation and the people jumping from the building and when they collapsed and, just, yeah, it was horrible.”

Grasswill also asks Hicks why he stayed in Afghanistan after September 11, and questions him about his activities there in the months leading to his arrest.

On torture, Hicks is clear. He claims to have been physically abused while in US military custody in Afghanistan, and to have suffered physical and mental torture once he was transferred to Guantanamo Bay.

His account is supported by international torture authority Professor Darius Rejali, who tells Grasswill: “Yes, I think David Hicks was tortured. Once you have been subjected to torture you will never be normal, ever. There will always be long-standing psychological and physical effects from torture.”

But Hicks has his sceptics. As Alexander Downer says in the program: “We asked the Americans to investigate and we sent our own consular officer there so he could see with his own eyes… But we saw no evidence of him having been tortured. But all people who’ve been associated with Al-Qaeda, who get captured, always claim they have been tortured. They always do.”

Grasswill also questions Downer on the validity of Hicks’ conviction under the US Military Commission. He says: “This guy was convicted in a court, duly established by the United States Congress, signed off by the President of the United States, and he was convicted. On his own evidence… he confessed his guilt.”

However, as Colonel Morris ‘Moe’ Davis, the US Chief Prosecutor who successfully prosecuted Hicks for the retrospective offence of Providing Material Support for Terrorism, says: “We wouldn’t agree to submit an American citizen to this process, so to try to argue with a straight face that, you know, that this is real American justice is a farce.”

As to Hicks’ credibility and his treatment by the US and Australian governments of the day, viewers will have the opportunity to decide for themselves after watching this powerful and intriguing Australian Story special, on ABC1 on Tuesday 30th August at 8.30pm. It will also be available on iview (abc.net.au/iview) shortly after the program has aired on ABC1.

You Don’t Like the Truth: 4 Days Inside Guantanamo, SBS ONE, 10.05pm
Canadian citizen Omar Khadr has been in Guantanamo since 2002. He was 15 when he was arrested in Afghanistan and according to international law he is a child-soldier. This documentary shows the interrogation between a team of Canadian intelligence agents and Omar Khadr using never-before-seen video footage of his questioning.

Australian Story – David Hicks Special, ABC 1, 8.30pm
In this revealing hour-long program, Hicks sheds light on his childhood and the steps that brought him to embrace Islam and become involved with fundamentalist groups in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Modern Family, Ten, 7.30pm
Phil and Claire agree to swap roles for the day – Claire has a turn at being the ‘fun’ parent, while Phil stretches his muscle as the grumpy disciplinarian.

Packed To The Rafters, Seven, 8.30pm
Dave relishes finally having a relationship with his dad, Tom, despite Julie’s reservations about her recently paroled father-in-law. Julie raises concerns that Tom may not have reformed his crooked ways. Next door there is tension in the air between the boys, stemming from Carbo’s hurt feelings at having not been asked to be a part of Nathan’s fledgling car spares business. Meanwhile, Jake and Coby are surprised by the sudden reappearance of Alex, returned from New Zealand. Alex is cagey about what happened overseas, leaving Jake wondering what really happened over in New Zealand.

The Bachelorette, GO!, 9.30pm
Ashley and 12 guys visit Phuket, Thailand, where she and 10 of them visit an orphanage for children who lost their families in the 2004 tsunami. There are also kayaking and shopping expeditions before Ashley reduces the field to 11. Next stop: Chiang Mai, Thailand.

DAVID HICKS: AUSTRALIAN STORY SPECIAL

Tuesday 30^th August at 8.30pm on ABC1

Captured in Afghanistan, detained for years in Guantanamo and then convicted of supporting terrorism, David Hicks has been one of the most controversial and reclusive figures in Australia – until now.

Over several months, award-winning Australian Story reporter/producer Helen Grasswill has explored the Hicks case, encouraging him to reflect on his past and challenging him to confront the ambiguities and inconsistencies in his story.

In this hour-long special, Hicks sheds light on his childhood and the steps that brought him to embrace Islam and become involved with fundamentalist groups in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He opens up about his time in militant training camps and describes the conditions at Guantanamo Bay.

Helen Grasswill also asks the difficult questions about his motives and his actions. Hicks admits, for example, that motivational videos showing terror attacks were shown to trainees in Afghanistan, but says they made no impression on him.

In another exchange, Grasswill presses Hicks about his denial that he was aware of who ran the training camps he attended, despite the evidence of his own letters to his family which make it clear that he did know who was behind them.

Grasswill: “So that certainly indicates that you knew you were in camps of an organization headed by Bin Laden.”

Hicks responds: “It can sound like that, sure. To take it like that out of the context of what it’s placed in… Bin Laden did come numerous times as a guest speaker. And he seemed to have some clout because there were many guest speakers and when he came things were conducted very differently in the camp.”

It’s a response that doesn’t convince former Foreign Affairs Minister, Alexander Downer: “Well of course he came to the camps to speak, he’s the leader of Al-Qaeda. That’s what leaders do, they make speeches, he razzes up the troops, denounces the West and denounces apostates… I’m sorry, that’s not credible.”

As the 10th anniversary of the September 11 atrocities approaches, Hicks speaks about his reaction for the first time: “I think it was a disgusting act. So many people lost their life on that day… it’s hard to describe, when you’re watching something like that, that it’s even possible it could happen. I mean the devastation and the people jumping from the building and when they collapsed and, just, yeah, it was horrible.”

Grasswill also asks Hicks why he stayed in Afghanistan after September 11, and questions him about his activities there in the months leading to his arrest.

On torture, Hicks is clear. He claims to have been physically abused while in US military custody in Afghanistan, and to have suffered physical and mental torture once he was transferred to Guantanamo Bay.

His account is supported by international torture authority Professor Darius Rejali, who tells Grasswill: “Yes, I think David Hicks was tortured. Once you have been subjected to torture you will never be normal, ever. There will always be long-standing psychological and physical effects from torture.”

But Hicks has his sceptics. As Alexander Downer says in the program: “We asked the Americans to investigate and we sent our own consular officer there so he could see with his own eyes… But we saw no evidence of him having been tortured. But all people who’ve been associated with Al-Qaeda, who get captured, always claim they have been tortured. They always do.”

Grasswill also questions Downer on the validity of Hicks’ conviction under the US Military Commission. He says: “This guy was convicted in a court, duly established by the United States Congress, signed off by the President of the United States, and he was convicted. On his own evidence… he confessed his guilt.”

However, as Colonel Morris ‘Moe’ Davis, the US Chief Prosecutor who successfully prosecuted Hicks for the retrospective offence of Providing Material Support for Terrorism, says: “We wouldn’t agree to submit an American citizen to this process, so to try to argue with a straight face that, you know, that this is real American justice is a farce.”

As to Hicks’ credibility and his treatment by the US and Australian governments of the day, viewers will have the opportunity to decide for themselves after watching this powerful and intriguing Australian Story special, on ABC1 on Tuesday 30^th August at 8.30pm. It will also be available on iview (abc.net.au/iview) shortly after the program has aired on ABC1.