9.45 Countdown to the OU: 3

10.10 Mental Handicap: Gwen - A Working Life

with Janet Ellis, Mark Curry and Caron Keating
Catch up with the Monday and Thursday editions of Blue Peter including A-Ha, the Burghers of Calais, Bonnie herding 100 ducks and a Christmas present for mums and aunties!

by Lucy M. Boston
Dramatised in four parts by John Stadelman

Tolly tries desperately to find the other children that he knows are in the house.
(Shown last Wednesday on BBC1)

This week Chris Serle turns the sails of the Windmill around the world in 60 minutes. There's Johnny Morris in Mexico finding out what goes on in a park on a Sunday, Fyfe Robertson on a whirl round Vienna for Tonight and Glenda Jackson leading Morecambe and Wise a dance in ancient Egypt.
You can join some huskies in The Last Great Race on Earth, Sir Mortimer Wheeler on an Hellenic Cruise, or Florence fishing in the Arctic on the Magic Roundabout.
Seasoned traveller David Attenborough talks about people he's met round the world and Children Talking about a day-trip to Calais. A world-wide Windmill.
(R)

Mystery Tour
There's a coach booked. But Lillie, Dorothy, Flo and Clara and all the rest of the Greenacres Over-60s Club don't know the destination.
Neither do Jenny and Tony - nor the crew.

The Thorn EMI
Divisional Championship London v The Midlands Nigel Stanner-Smith introduces highlights of the match which last year turned out to be the championship decider. With the international season only six weeks away, players in form will be out to catch the selectors' eyes.
Also news of the other match between the North and the South and South-West. Series producer HUW JONES

Christopher Jones , BBC
Parliamentary Correspondent, reports on another week of debates in the House of Lords, and talks to peers of all parties on the politics and proceedings of the Upper Chamber.
Editor PHILIP CAMPBELL

Starring Tony Randall
with Arthur O'Connell, Barbara Eden, John Ericson

The amazing Dr Lao rides into the desert town of Abilone astride a yellow mule, with a fishbowl tied to his saddle. He has come to town to announce the opening of his circus. But the circus proves no ordinary spectacle...

Films: page 26

Mayumi Plays
Mozart Mozart Violin Concerto in D (K 218) is the main work in today's recital given in Hopetoun House, outside Edinburgh, by Mayumi Fujikawa and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra conducted by Janos Furst
Charlotte Green introduces the recital.
Sound BRIAN DEWAR
Lighting DONALD SMITH
Producer HILARY BOULDING
Series editor KEITH ALEXANDER BBC Scotland

'As civilisation advances, poetry almost necessarily declines.'
This week Michael Ignatieff and his guests:
Gillian Beer , lecturer in English, Cambridge University
Fred D'Aguiar, poet
Peter Porter , poet and critic ask What Use is Poetry? Researcher MARY HOCKADAY
Studio director MARK HARRISON Producer AMANDA THEUNISSEN BBC Bristol

The return of BBC2's fireside feast of tea-time thrills with the world's top ski racers, today featuring
The Men's Downhill from Val d'lsère
High in the French Alps, the recently selected site of the 1992 Olympic downhill hosts 'La premiere neige' - the traditional curtain-raiser to the annual BASF Ski World Cup series. Austria's
PETER WIRNSBERGER defends the title he won so narrowly from another snow veteran, PETER MUELLER of Switzerland, but cross your fingers for MARTIN BELL - with luck, he could be on the verge of Britain's first World Cup downhill victory. DAVID VINE reports from the snow-covered slopes of the Savoie in south-east France. Television presentation A2F, France Producer JIM RESIDE
0 FEATURE: page 101 and INFO: page 91

Brian Widlake and Valerie Singleton present Britain's most popular financial and business programme. With
PAUL BURDEN , MARK ROGERSON and FRANCINE STOCK reporting from home and abroad on your money. Studio director KATHY GEE Editor JONATHAN CRANE

Ludovic Kennedy presents his selection of the week's television, and discusses: The Visit (BBC1)
Entertainment USA (BBC2) and A Change of Mind (Channel Four)
Plus a special report on the future of public service television in Australia.
Studio director NICHOLAS BARKER Producer CHARLES MILLER
(Shortened version tomorrow 5.30pm)

Ichkeul - Between the Desert and the Deep Blue Sea
Salty in summer and quite fresh in winter, the fertile waters of Tunisia's Lake Ichkeul form a vital focus for birds from two continents when they reach this largely desert country. There's rich feeding for tens of thousands of duck, geese and wading birds, and important breeding sites for marsh harriers, otters and wild boar.
But can a wetland survive in a dry country?
Although Ichkeul is threatened with drainage, surprisingly this particular story of the classic dilemma of conservation versus development may yet have a happy ending.
Written and narrated by Barry Paine
Photographed and produced by HUGH MILES
Film editor TOM POORE
Series editor PETER JONES BBC Bristol

Presented by The Society of West End Theatre
Introduced by Angela Rippon and Denis Quilley from the stage of the Royalty Theatre, London.
A glittering night of the stars who present and receive the highest accolades for their work in the theatre, and enjoy special entertainment from West End shows. The awards include:
Play of the Year
Comedy of the Year Musical of the Year
Actor and Actress of the Year; Most Promising Newcomer of the Year
Outstanding Achievement of the Year in Opera and Dance Stars presenting awards include:
John Alderton , Alan Bates Cyd Charisse , Tom Conti Sir Geraint Evans Frankie Howerd John Mortimer
Christopher Reeve , Twiggy Among the shows represented in the gala evening are:
La cage aux folles; Chess
HMS Pinafore; The Phantom of the Opera; Wonderful Town and featuring Michael Clark
Musical director RONNIE HAZLEHURST Lighting STAN SNAPE Sound BARRIE HAWES Designer DACRE PUNT
Producer BRIAN WHITEHOUSE
Executive producer ROBIN NASH (In association with Gordon Gin and by special arrangement with the Observer)

continues a major season of films new to television. Tonight starring Henry Winkler Sally Field
Harrison Ford
When Jack Dunne - undergoing psychiatric treatment after service in Vietnam - escapes from hospital, he takes with him money from his fellow war veterans. His intention is to start up a worm farm with his buddies Munro, Boyd and Adcox ... but on the way the slightly deranged Jack meets Carol, who is also on the run.
Screenplay by JAMES CARABATSOS Produced by DAVID FOSTER and LAWRENCE TURMAN
Directed by JEREMY PAUL KAGAN
(First showing on British television)
• FILMS: page 26