Musical comedy continuing the season of films choreographed by Busby Berkeley, starring Joan Blondell, Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler

Songwriter Jimmy Higgens is struggling to find enough money to stage his musical - until he meets chorus girl Mabel Anderson, who believes she can raise the cash.
Director Ray Enright (1934)
(Black and white)
42nd Street is on Tuesday 30 December at 8.40am
See Films: pages 43-76 ***

Drama starring Van Heflin, Joanne Woodward , Raymond Burr

A southerner who fought on the Union side in the American Civil War finds himself branded a traitor by most of his townspeople, but decides to rebuild the town's church and make himself the parson.
(Showing in widescreen format) (1955)
See Films: pages 43-76

Adventure based on a true story. the first in an adventure double bill, starring Richard Egan , Anthony Quinn
A priest acts as guide to a Spanish expedition searching forthe legendary seven cities of gold on the west coast of the Americas. In widescreen format.
Seven Seas to Calais is at 2.45pm.
Director Robert DWebb (1955) * See Films: pages 43-76 **

The Master Singers. Stuart Burrows ,
Marilyn Home and Joan Sutherland share their advice on interpretation and technique with some of the young singers who entered this year's competition. With NatalieWheen. Stereo ................ Event sponsored by British Petroleum

A Christmas update on the sailing marathon, showing the climax to leg three as the fleet reaches Sydney. The boat crews celebrate Yuletide, and the British team reveal their ideal gifts. Intoduced by Steve Rider.

Julian Wilson presents his final racing broadcast, from Chepstow, marking the end of his 32 years with the BBC.

Including races at 12.50,1.20,1.55 (the Welsh Grand National) and 2.30 (the Julian Wilson Farewell Novice Chase).

Co-hosted by Richard Pitman and Peter Scudamore and Jim McGrath.

(Stereo)

Historical adventure concluding the adventure-film double bill, starring Rod Taylor, Keith Michell.
Sir Francis Drake sets sail in pursuit of the Spanish and their treasure, leading one raid after another against the enemy.
Showing in widescreen format.
(1962)
See Films: pages 43-76 ***

The first of two documentaries in which political candidates reveal videodiaries they recorded in the May 1997 general election. The second programme is tomorrowat4.25pm. Stereo ......

Memories from the Top of the Pops archives, plus today's hits. Stereo.

An Evening with David Attenborough and Friends
Gathering at the Hampshire home of 18th-century naturalist Gilbert White, David Attenborough and five of his colleagues mark the work of the Natural History Unit over the last 40 years with a selection of spectacular images and programmes capturing the majesty of the natural world.
Throughout the evening, viewers have the chance to vote for their favourite wildlife programme. The most popular choice will then be shown at 11.10pm. See today's choices.
How to vote: register your choice by: E-mail: [email address removed] Fax: [number removed], or call the phone numbers that will be given on the night. For further details of how to register your vote see Ceefax page
Factual: page 10,
David Attenborough: People, page 17

6.10 The Flight of the Condor: Ocean, Desert and Thin Air
The Atacama desert stretches for 2,000 miles between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes mountains. The clash of climatic conditions make this highly picturesque area home to a vast array of wildlife, including colonies of birds, flowers and llamas. First shown in The World about Us series in 1982. Producer Michael Andrews

7.10 Too Close for Comfort
First shown in the Wildlife on One series in 1992 and shot over a two-year period, this was the first film to document the sophisticated and highly organised ritual that is the chimpanzee hunt, in which they pursue monkeys on the ground and through the trees with the aim of using them for food.
Producer Alastair Fothergill

7.45 The Big Freeze
Antarctica is a frozen land of climatic extremes, with Iife-threatening temperatures and raging winds. But while other animals migrate north, emperor penguins are the only species that choose to remain, huddling together for comfort and to incubate their eggs.
First shown in the Life in the Freezer series in 1993.
Producer Alastair Fothergill

8.20 The Natural World: The Secret Garden
Outwardly peaceful, the English garden hides all manner of hustling, bustling wildlife.
Filmed over two years under the cover of the shrubbery, this film captures animals courting and nurturing their young, battles to the death, robbery along the borders and weeds that weave between the flowers.
Narrated by Patricia Routledge. Producer Mary Summerill: Series editor
Neil Nightingale

9.15 The Bat That Cracked the Frog Code
Trachops, the Panamanian fringe-lipped bat, can detect a croaking frog within a host of other animal sounds.
High-speed photography shows how the bat utilises echo-location and decoding devices to hunt down its quarry. Producer Keenan Smart
(Repeat) (Stereo) (Subtitled)

9.50 The Haunted Huntress
The cheetah, the fastest member of the animal kingdom, is a prime target for hunters. Only one cub in 20 lives to become an adult, and this film profiles a family of three as they try to survive in the face of adversity. First shown in Wildlife on One in 1991. Producer Keith Scholey

10.30 Stoats in the Priory
One of Britain's least visible animals, the stoat is portrayed in this film - shot over a summer in North Yorkshire - as an intimacy-loving, family creature. First shown in Wildlife on One in 1996. Producer Fergus Seeley

11.10-12.00 The Most Popular BBC Wildlife Programme
A chance to see the programme voted by viewers as their favourite BBC wildlife broadcast.
Producer Mike Benyon (Natural History Night)
(Stereo) (Subtitled)
Videoplus code (not PDC) for 6.00-12.00....................

Today's Choices
Natural History Night 6.00pm BBC2
Remember the fox on the roof and David Attenborough and the gorillas? These and other classic wildlife clips will be aired in this evening of programmes from the BBC Natural History Unit. Attenborough and a select group of film-makers recall the stories behind some outstanding natural history films. Half a dozen favourites will be shown in full, while a new Natural WorldfWm, The Secret Garden, receives its premiere and the evening is rounded off with a programme selected by viewers' responses to the clips shown throughout the evening.
There is plenty of exotica on show, from frog-eating bats to cheetahs, but The Secret Garden focuses on the natural history of an English garden. If you believe your garden is under control, this entertaining film will make you think twice.

Timelapse and close-up photography reveals the natural lives of the plants and animals that inhabit an English garden.

Wildlife film following a cunning, fast and elusive family of stoats that haunt the ruins of a priory in North Yorkshire.

David Attenborough looks at life-and-death duels which are fought daily in the wild, using traps and lures, warnings and deception, ambush and camouflage. Show more

Double bill continuing the fifties sci-fi season.-
Starring Grant Williams
Scott Carey and his wife are holidaying on a boat when he is enveloped in a strange mist.
Soon after, Carey finds that his body is beginningto shrink.
Director Jack Arnold (1957)
Black and white
♦ See Films: pp43-76 *****

Continuing the fifties sci-fi double bill, starring Sally Fraser, Dean Parkin

Mutilated but alive, the amazing Colossal Man struggles to live on, crushing everything in his path. Can anyone stop him?
(1958, PG) *
(Black and white) (Subtitled)
The season concludes tomorrow at 1.30am with Terror from the Year 5000
See Films: pages 43-76

Followed by Weatherview