Vivid perspectives of London being shown in programmes over this weekend.
Sickert's London
A day in the life of the capital city seen through the eyes and paintings of one of Britain's most controversial artists.
Walter Sickert drew inspiration from London for his best work; the Camden Town murder of 1907, for example, was the subject of his most famous painting. With readings by Alan Bennett from Sickert's own writings.
Director Jake Auerbach ; Producers Robert McNaband Hannah Rothschild
A Rothschild Auerbach production for
BBCtv
9.05pm
The Vampyr - a Soap Opera Last in this five-part updated version of Heinrich Marschner 's romantic opera, with words by Charles Hart. With only hours to go, will
Ripley win his year on earth?
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Musical director David Parry Producer Janet Street-Porter Director Nigel Finch
(Vampyromnibus: Sunday lOJanuary)
9.35pm
Masters of the Universe
The Men Who Rebuilt the City The 1980s saw a mammoth building boom in the City of London with more than a third of the Square Mile being redeveloped. Driven by fear of competition from Canary
Wharf, this boom has resulted in many extraordinary new buildings, many still unlet.
What has been the price of this huge architectural experiment? Director/Producer Bill Eagles
10.35pm Steptoe and Son Classic comedy about two quintessential London characters by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson , starring Wilfrid Brambell Harry HCorbett
Without Prejudice. Harold and Albert decide to move out to a more salubrious suburb.
With Gerald Flood , Norman Bird. Producer Duncan Wood
11.05pm London Labyrinth An imaginative personal journey by director Chris Petit through the miles of archive film of London's past and present.
Colour and B/W
11.45pm 1.40am
Alfie Michael Caine stars in this adaptation of Bill Naughton 's play about a happy-go-lucky cockney playboy.
Director Lewis Gilbert
● SEE FILMS pages 35-40