Customs

Customs, the series that gives viewers unprecedented access to the real crusaders serving on the frontline of border control operations, returns to Channel Nine on Tuesday, April 26, at 7.30pm.

Hosted by actor Damian Walshe-Howling (Underbelly), Customs goes to the heart of the action and danger that border security and Customs officers face every day to prevent penetration from criminal and terrorist threats.

This powerful series from the United Kingdom opens viewers’ eyes to the dangerous realities of modern-day border control. Charged with protecting borders and shorelines, Customs and security officers are put to the test dealing with a relentless range of threats, from discovering prohibited activities, tax evaders, money launderers and people smugglers to nailing drug traffickers, illegal immigrants and terrorists putting the safety of the nation at risk.

At Gatwick Airport, Customs officers discover a suspicious parcel while searching an air freight container in the cargo area. The parcel, covered with diplomatic seals, has arrived from South America and caught the attention of a sniffer dog. Prevented by law from opening diplomatic parcels, Customs officers must confirm the legitimacy of the parcel before they can investigate the contents.

At Birmingham Airport, UK Border Agency Officers and their sniffer dogs conduct routine rounds to check passengers waiting in the departure lounges. They detect one passenger waiting to board a flight to China, carrying a large amount of cash. Concerned that he could be involved in something illegal, the officers pull him aside for questioning to determine the origins of the money.

Off the coastline, the Royal Navy Fishery Protection Squadron chases down a foreign trawler suspected of fishing illegally in UK waters, while back at Gatwick’s baggage handling area Customs officers are alerted to a number of suitcases that have come off a plane from Libya emitting a strange odour.

Customs is a compelling series that underlines the vigilance needed to protect a society from the ever-increasing threats to national security right on its doorstep.

CUSTOMS: Tuesday, April 26, at 7.30pm on Channel Nine

Massive changes to the schedules of both Nine and GO! have come through overnight. Judging by the time they came through, it was a late night for programming staff at the Nine network last night.

Part 1.

Nine.

Sunday April 17.

Harry’s Law moves to 10.30, and will be a NEW episode – season 1, episode 8 “In The Ghetto“. A repeat of CSI: Miami moves to 9.30pm, replacing the previously scheduled repeat of Harry’s Law.

Monday April 18.

A Big Bang Theory repeat replaces Two and a Half Men at 7.30pm. This is season 3, episode 20 “The Spaghetti Catalysis. Mike & Molly [updated] remains at 8pm.

At 8.30, is a CSI repeat, followed by a repeat of CSI: Miami. 8.30 – 10.30 was TBA until now.

Tuesday April 19.

Completely different night now – no Big Bangs, and no Top Gear after this week’s abysmal ratings. Kitchen Nightmares is also gone.

At 7.30 is a repeat of Customs, followed by a repeat of RBT. At 8.30, is the movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – a free to air first.

Wednesday April 20.

Big Bang Theory at 7.30pm, followed by Two and a Half Men at 8pm.

NRL markets: RPA: Where Are They is at 8.30pm. Embarrassing Bodies at 9.30, Amazing Medical Stories is at 10.30pm, AFL Footy Show from 11.30pm.

In AFL states, the AFL Footy Show screens from 8.30pm [corrected]. The change of night is due to the fact that AFL this week is played on Thursday night, instead of Friday due to Easter. Amazing Medical Stories 10.30pm.

Thursday April 21.

At 7.30 is RBT repeat, and Getaway at 8pm. At 8.30, instead of CSI is The Big Bang Theory S3E22, followed by a new episode of $#*! My Dad Says at 9.00pm.

At 9.30pm in AFL states is RPA: Where Are They Now while the NRL Footy Show is on at 9.30pm in NRL markets.

Sunday April 24.

9.30 CSI: Miami, repeat, followed by NEW Harry’s Law at 10.30pm.

Monday April 25.

7.30 The Big Bang Theory, followed by Mike & Molly repeat at 8.00. CSI at 8.30pm, CSI: Miami at 9.30pm. All repeats. 10.30 is Adults Only Two and a Half Men except for NRL states that see Footy Classified.

Tuesday April 26 – UPDTED.

7,30 is a new episode of RBT. New series AFP about the Australian Federal Police premieres at 8pm. At 8.30 is the premiere of Sea Patrol: Damage Control, followed by Top Gear at 9.30pm and Kitchen nightmares USA at 10.55pm. CSI: NY is OUT of the schedule once again.

Wednesday April 27.

Big Bang Theory at 7.30pm, followed by Two and a Half Men at 8pm.

NRL markets: RPA: Where Are They now is at 8.30pm, Embarrassing Bodies at 9.30, Amazing Medical Stories is at 10.30pm (Syd/Bris), AFL Footy Show from 11.30pm.

In AFL states, the AFL Footy Show screens from the special time of 8.30pm. The change of night again is due to the fact that AFL this week is played on Thursday, Amazing Medical Stories from 10.30pm.

Thursday April 28.

At 7.30 is a William & Kate special, with Getaway at 8pm. At 8.30, is The Big Bang Theory S2E9, followed by a new episode of $#*! My Dad Says at 9.00pm.

At 9.30pm in AFL states is RPA: Where Are They Now while the NRL Footy Show is on at 9.30pm in NRL markets.

Friday April 29.

Coverage of the Royal Wedding starts at 4pm in eastern states. News and ACA at 6pm and 6.30 respectively, Wedding coverage from 7pm.

In NRL markets, Brisbane Broncos Vs Canterbury Bulldogs airs from 8.30pm, South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Cronulla Sharks at 10.30pm. Wedding continues on GEM. Elsewhere, the Wedding continues on Nine until 11pm.

Nine fills in a number of missing spots in their schedule, including most of Sunday night after the current One Day Cricket series finishes.

From Sunday February 13, at 6.30pm on Nine will be the series return of Customs. That is followed by the series premiere of Send In The Dogs Australia.

7.30pm sees the 2011 return of 60 Minutes.

At 8.30pm, The Mentalist returns to Sunday nights, with all new episodes. First new episodes of the year is Red Carpet Treatment episode 4 of season 3.

An ex-con is murdered shortly after being released from prison after he was exonerated from a rape-and-murder conviction because of DNA evidence.

Following the Mentalist is new CSI: Miami at 9.30pm, then a CSI: Miami repeat at 10.30.

Not so much a change, but more a succession … Nine’s Sunday nights.

Underbelly: The Golden Mile concludes 8.30pm, June 27, followed by new CSI at 9.30pm.

The following Sunday – July 4 – sees CSI move forward to its new timeslot of 8.30pm Sunday, followed by new episodes of Cold Case at 9.30pm. At 10.30pm, Sunday July 4, is the Wimbledon Men’s Singles Final.

Earlier on Sunday night – the final of Customs is at 6.30pm Sunday June 27. The new series RBT premieres at 7pm. The following week – July 4 – sees RBT move to its new timeslot of 6.30pm Sundays. That will be followed by Send in the Dogs at 7pm.

60 Minutes, sandwiched between all of these changes, remains at 7.30pm as always.

With CSI not rating as well as it used to, and moving to 8.30pm Sunday from July 4, could explain why GO will be showing Adults Only Two and a Half Men at the same time. This programming should see Nine drop a little in shares, with GO to increase hopefully by at least the same as Nine drops. CSI, at the earlier time, however, could well grow back to rating the million plus it used to.

Nine’s Sunday nights in summary:

June 27:
6.30 Customs – Final
7.00 RBT Premiere
7.30 60 Minutes
8.30 Underbelly: The Golden Mile – Final
9.30 CSI – New
10.30 Wimbledon

July 4 onwards:
6.30 RBT – New
7.00 Send in the Dogs – New
7.30 60 Minutes
8.30 CSI – New
9.30 Cold Case – New
10.30 July 4: Wimbledon Men’s Final

UPDATED

More programming changes at Nine next week, with an episode of Who Do You Think You Are featuring Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson slotted in to 10pm Tuesday, after another “supersized” Top Gear from 8.30pm.

That means that Adults Only Two and a Half Men is off for the week (was only on once) and the season finale of Australian Families of Crime moves to 10pm Tuesday JULY 6 and its 4^th timeslot in its short run on TV.

Next week (June 27 – July 3) on Nine sees the finale of Underbelly: The Golden Mile at 8.30pm Sunday, the finale on the current run of Customs at 6.30pm Sunday, the last new episodes of the Big Bang Theory at Monday 8pm, the return of Rescue Special Ops at 8.30pm Monday and the premiere of new factual RBT (how many of these sorts of shows can Seven and Nine keep throwing at us?) 7pm Sunday night.

Meanwhile, Hey Hey continues on Wednesday June 30 for its 10^th episode, followed by the AFL Footy Show in AFL markets and 20 to 1 “Caught on Tape” for NRL markets.

Saturday July 3 features the Women’s Singles final of Wimbledon from 11pm, with the Men’s on Sunday night July 4, from 10.30pm.

8:00pm – Wednesday, March 3 on Channel Nine

A young Aussie man arrives at Heathrow claiming he’s there for a holiday, but Immigration officers are suspicious of his real intentions for two reasons: he was recently refused a working holiday visa, and he hasn’t got much money – certainly not enough to cover a four month stay in the UK.

But when they search his bags for evidence to show he actually intends working, they find some very unusual sexual fetish gear and a strange employment contract.

They have to decide whether he’s here for business or pleasure, and if he should be put on a plane back home.

A well dressed businesswoman from Jamaica attracts the attention of the sniffer dog, and is pulled in by Customs officers for a search. They get hits for cocaine from her luggage, but can’t locate any drugs. She’s getting impatient and angry as they continue searching, but is this just frustration at being delayed, or a sign of guilt.

When a Pakistani man is stopped and searched, officers find his bags stuffed full of duty free cigarettes. But it’s what they find later find that will have in far more serious strife with the law.

And being an airline employee, he’s in even bigger trouble, as he’s classed as a ‘privileged person’. His 35 year career in the airline industry is about to crash and burn.

And when a big team of Border Force and Police officers raid a large plastics factory in Portsmouth, they’re amazed at the number of illegal workers as they unravel a tangled web of immigration fraud and deception.

Wednesday, February 3 at 8.00pm

See Damian Walshe-Howling on the right side of the law in the new season of CUSTOMS, returning to Channel Nine on Wednesday, February 3 at 8.00pm.

Walshe-Howling, who became a household name in 2008 as Andrew “Benji” Veniamin in Nine’s first series of Underbelly, hosts the program with unprecedented access to Customs operations.

This powerful series reveals the challenges Customs officers face on the frontline of border control. They must do their job without impeding the legitimate movement of travellers or goods across national borders.

Throughout the series viewers will see border control on an international scale, discover what it takes to be a Customs officer, and watch how they deal with the increasing importation of illegal drugs and other material.

Customs officers live in a constant war with smugglers in ports, airports and at sea. Their skills are consistently put to the test by people you would least expect.

From immigration raids and deporting illegal workers to busting drug traffickers, these dedicated Customs officers are ever vigilant in tracking down and exposing criminal activity at the gateways to the nation.

Drug traffickers, people smugglers and international terrorists, caught red-handed on CUSTOMS

Wednesday, February 3 at 8.00pm on Channel Nine

Channel Nine’s pre ratings week features the finale and reunion show for Survivor Samoa. On Monday nights, new Two and a Half Men return, followed by Big Bang Theory. The Mentalist remains at 8.30 Mondays but may still be a repeat. A new series of Customs in on 8pm Wednesdays, and the 2010 return of Getaway is back to dominate 7.30pm Thursdays. So called adults only 20-1 is also back on Thursday nights.

Key shows for 2010 inlcuding Underbelly – the Golden Mile, V and Top Gear will most likely hit Nine’s line up after the Winter Olympics.

On Sunday Jan 31, against the AUstralian Open Men’s final is Australia Vs Pakstan One Day Crcket.

Mon Feb 1
7:30pm Two and a Half Men. Series Return.
8:00pm The Big Bang Theory. Series Return.
8:30pm The Mentalist (details TBA)
9:30pm TBA
10:30pm CSI: Miami rpt
11:30pm Nightline

Tue Feb 2
7:30pm Survivor: Samoa. 2 hr finale
9:30pm Survivor: Samoa. Reunion
10:20pm Kitchen Nightmares: USA.
11:20pm Nightline

Wed Feb 3
7:30pm Two and a Half Men rpt
8:00pm Customs. New Series
8:30pm Cold Case
9:30pm Cold Case rpt
10:30pm Without a Trace
11:30pm Nightline

Thu Feb 4
7:30pm Getaway. New Series.
8:30pm Adults Only 20 to 1
9:30pm CSI: NY
10:30pm CSI: NY rpt

Fri Feb 5
7:30pm Twenty 20: Aus v Pakistan (Bris: check local guide)
10:30pm Movie: Executive Decision rpt (9:30pm Bris)
1:10am Movie: Storytelling (12:10am Bris)

Sat Feb 6
7:30pm Movie: Looney Tunes Back in Action rpt
9:30pm Movie: Vertical Limit rpt
12:00am Movie: Ripley’s Game
2:10am Movie: Carry On Screaming rpt

Programming info from TV Tonight, and subject to change and amendments.

Monday, March 30 at 8.00pm

In Bristol, eagle-eyed officer Russ spots a passenger dressed in a suspiciously smart suit making a swift exit. A bag search discovers three kilos of cocaine hidden in the fabric of the case. In Gatwick officers are on the lookout for a passenger previously charged with importing drugs, surgically stitched into a live Labrador. In Dover, 300000 cigarettes are found in a shipment of resin granules. And in Cornwall, the customs officers aboard Searcher rummage a massive Polish cargo vessel looking for potential smugglers and discover a stash of 10000 cigarettes.

Monday, March 23 at 8.00pm on Nine

In Cornwall, officers aboard Searcher board a suspicious yacht and receive an angry welcome. In Dover customs officers searching under a truck find an illegal immigrant hiding dangerously on the engine. And in Bristol officers receive an anonymous tip off about two cocaine smugglers arriving from Amsterdam. John stops and questions the suspects, and when the interview identifies immigration problems, one is sent packing back to America.