Evening Standard from London, Greater London, England • A40

6PM 7PM 11AM 8PM 9PM 10PM 11PM BBC1 BBC2VIEWING TIMES FILM RATINGS: excellent very good good average poor KEY: (R) repeat (S) subtitles (HD) also in high-definition PICK OF THE NIGHT: IMOGEN RIDGWAY Once more on to the beach, dear friends Martin Clunes revs up his sarcasm-o-meter again in a new series of the doctor-in-a- Cornish-seaside-town comedy- drama. Clunes reprises his role as irascible GP Martin Ellingham, sole purveyor of cynicism in a picturesque town populated almost entirely by sub-Dawn French yokel-types. In case you have forgotten what happened during the previous series how could you? Ellingham and local teacher Louisa (Caroline Catz) are no longer a couple; however, tonight he ends up dashing to her assistance after she faints. Louisa tries to talk to the doc about their history but the cantankerous medic seems far from interested. Although is that just surgery bluster? Call us Doc Martin 9pm, ITV1 psychic, but a feeling their estrangement last long.

Meanwhile, Alison the stroppy school-dinner lady has difficulty controlling her daughter, and thinks drugs might help calm down her kid Doc Martin has other ideas (unsurprisingly). Clunes (above) is reliably watchable as the Doc and, even though his combination of impatience, bewilderment and superiority is hardly new, he still seems to throw himself into the part. The supporting cast can be embarrassing in their apparent desire to be quirky, but Catz, and Katherine Parkinson as bored receptionist Pauline are good value without making you want to watch through your fingers. TELEVISION 11.00 To Buy or Not to Buy (S). 11.45 Hard Sell (S); News.

12.15 Cash in the Attic (S). 1.00 News (S). 1.30 Regional News (S). 1.40 Neighbours (S). 2.05 Doctors (S).

2.35 Murder, She Wrote 3.20 News; Regional News (S). 3.25 LazyTown 3.50 Bear Behaving Badly (S). 4.10 Shaun the Sheep 4.25 Thumb Wrestling Federation: TWF (S). 4.35 Lizzie McGuire 5.00 The Sarah Jane Adventures (S). 5.25 Newsround (S).

5.35 Neighbours 10.50 BBC Primary History (S). 11.10 BBC Primary Geography (S). 11.30 English Express (S). 12.00 The Daily Politics Conference Special (S). 1.00 KS1 Science Clips (S).

1.10 KS1 Science Clips (S). 1.20 Thinking Skills (S). 1.30 Working Lunch (S). 2.00 The Daily Politics: Speech (S). Prime Minister Gordon speech.

3.45 Flog It! From Folkestone. 4.30 Ready Steady Cook (S). With Ryan and Dan Kowarsky. 5.15 Weakest Link 24.09.0740 6.00 BBC News (S); Weather. 6.30 BBC Regional News (S); Weather.

7.00 The ONE Show (S). Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley present reports about issues affecting people across the UK. 7.30 Street Doctor (S). The GPs travel to London, where they meet a man who could be heading toward a heart attack, a mother-to- be in need of a check-up and a woman who receives a long- awaited diagnosis. 8.00 EastEnders (S).

Stacey dreads having to tell Jean she does not want her to make her wedding dress and Jane realises Ian is missing. See Soap Box. 8.30 Panorama (S). The argument that all British citizens should be entered on the national DNA database to help solve crimes and protect the innocent. 9.00 Silent Witness Part one of two.

Nikki investigates the discovery of human bones on an ex-traveller site which could be the remains of a senior police missing teenage daughter. However, her forensic analysis raises even greater questions and casts doubt on the guilt of the chief suspect. Emilia Fox stars. 10.00 BBC News at Ten (S). 10.25 BBC Regional News (S); Weather.

10.35 Movie Connections (S). Actors Jamie Bell and Gary Lewis are joined by director Stephen Daldry and writer Lee Hall as they discuss the making of Billy Elliot. See Pick of the Night. 11.15 Inside Sport (S). Weekly round-up, presented by Gabby Logan.

11.55 Perfect Friday (S) (1970). Crime caper, with Stanley Baker, Ursula Andress and David Warner. Followed by Weatherview. 1.30 Sign Zone: Countryfile: the Summer Diaries 2.30 Sign Zone: Crisis on Farm 3.30 Sign Zone: Back in Business 4.30 Sign Zone: James 20th Century 5.00 BBC News 24 (S). 6.00 Eggheads (S).

Quiz, hosted by Dermot Murnaghan. 6.30 Calendar (S). New series. Chris Packham recommends three of the most scenic autumnal walks. 7.00 James 20th Century (R).

The Top Gear presenter examines which ideas have had the biggest influence over warfare in the last century. 7.30 Mastermind (S). The specialist subjects are the life and career of Frank Sinatra, the Lord Peter Wimsey books, rocket engineer Sergei Korolev and Polish history between 960 and 1696. 8.00 University Challenge (S). Jeremy Paxman hosts the first- round match between the University of Manchester and the University of Newcastle.

8.30 Nigella Express (S). The chef prepares crab and avocado salad, coq au Riesling and jumbleberry crumble. See Pick of the Night. 9.00 Back in Business (S). Sixty-one-year-old former design director Lesley Permin takes on recent college graduate Aletha Shepherd, as they vie for a job at prestigious fashion events company Doll.

Last in series. 10.00 Kath and Kim (S). Sharon goes to boot camp, while Kim becomes aggressive in her bid to lose weight. Gerry Connelly guest stars, with Gina Riley. 10.30 Newsnight (S).

Emily Maitlis presents analysis of the events, while Jeremy Paxman reports from the Labour Party Conference. Followed by Weather. 11.20 Today at the Conference (S). Highlights from the first speeches and events at the Labour Party Conference, including an address by Prime Minister Gordon Brown. 11.50 Family Guy The family visit parents.

12.10 Family Guy Peter discovers he has an African-American ancestor. 12.35 Family Guy 12.55 BBC News 24 (S). 2.00 BBC Learning Zone: Talk Portuguese. 3.30 Brazil Inside Out (S). FI LM ONE COULD be forgiven forthinking only just got backfrom the last one, but there wasMichael Palin off on holidayagain.

Of course, not really a holiday as a camera crew tagging along and a certain amount of work to be done, but Palin has the great gift of taking it all in his stride. The camera seems incapable of catching him in an unguarded moment of stress or irritation, however great the provocation. like to go holiday with Michael Palin, not least because he always has the happy knack of locating the local firewater. To be fair to the man, he did put in the hard work before partaking in Michael New Europe (BBC1). The White Brother- hood lived in a beautiful part of Bulgaria known locally as the Seven Lakes.

just seen a exclaimed Palin in order to ver- ify that the name had authenticity. The Brotherhood, dressed in white, were non- smoking vegetarians and specialised in moving around slowly in concentric circles gently worshipping the sun. This was the kind of lifestyle that oozed goodness but might have been short of thrills. His spiritual batteries recharged, our tour guide had soon located the head of the Bulgarian Monty Python appreciation society, who, by happy coincidence, also manufactured a lethal variety of hooch called rakir in a large shed round the back of his house. It was illegal but nobody cared and Palin stood around happily tossing back a glass with his new friend.

There was not much in the way of chatter because this clear liquid almost certainly had the spe- cial quality of paralysing the tongue. To be fair, this was not a record of aimless wanderings in search of stimulation from amusing locals. New Europe had an underlying seriousness of purpose which was to investigate attitudes towards membership of the EU. Bulgarian gypsies, for example, still live in ugly ghettoes and have yet to join the modern world in any meaningful way. This is hardly the fault of the EU, but it illustrated the fact that Eastern Europe is still a very different place which is resistant to homogeneity.

Turkey wants to be part of Europe even though most of it is in Asia yet is country steeped in traditions that are frankly bizarre. The oil wrestlers of Edirne wore black buffalo-hide pants and grappled each buttocks furiously. tackle out of remarked Palin. On reflection, I suppose there might be a Sky Sports slot available as this is a sport that might appeal to at least two well-defined niche markets. Camel wrestling, on the other hand, has no future in the West.

Watching two hungry and randy camels twisting each necks while foaming at the mouth is not a partic- ularly salivating prospect. The mere mention of Turkey suggests belly dancing and, never one to dodge a EU membership? Nothing beyond the Palin, please TV WATCH Michael New Europe BBC1 PETE CLARK challenge, Palin was soon showing his sexy belly at the behest of a teacher who has taught Madonna some moves. What resulted from his exertions was more pelvic thrust than sinuous movement. In Cappadocia, he had his fortune read in coffee grounds. will meet a rich he was informed, an internet chat The quizzical look that Palin has patented went into overdrive, although the intrusion of the internet upon traditional fortune- telling suggests the future is already upon us.

If Turkey is admitted to the EU, new neighbours will include Syria, Iraq and Iran, which is something to consider. Palin took off in a hot-air balloon and considered the weirdly wonderful scenery instead. The life of Elton John is not one that has gone unrecorded, but Me, Myself I (ITV) took the opportunity to take us through it one more time and the experience was enjoyable. The irresistible rise of Reg Dwight from Pinner playing in local pubs for £1 a night to Elton John the global entertainer with remu- neration to match is a classic rags-to-riches tale. Having seen him perform recently at the O2 auditorium, I can report that he still has the winning ways of the pub entertainer, just that the pubs got bigger.

In order that the man could get closer to the subject of i a i approach was adopted, with the modern-day Elton revis- i ing his former se lves through the wizardry of digital technology. In his early days, he sported a full head of hair grown out i a Approaching an image of this hirsute character, Elton was moved to comment: barnet, my son! going to lose that This was an indication of the general tone of proceed- ings and is the reason why this pudgy fellow of stolid visage is so appealing. He has the airs and graces of a true prima donna, but these are undercut with a wry self-depreca- tion and an entirely unfaked vulnerability. He knew made it when he toured America aboard an aeroplane that contained a working fireplace. This is the precise point where Pinner meets Las Vegas.

Being a confessional sort of bloke, Elton could not resist taking us through the dark days, when his dictated a miserable existence of instant gratification and delayed despair. Even in the worst of times, his sense of the ridiculous was undimmed, such as the time when he requested the management of the Inn On The Park to do something about the high winds that were annoying him. Elton was friends with everyone that mattered (and played at most of their funerals) but somehow his love of Watford FC and his pride in creating the Aids Foundation came across as more impor- tant. came, she saw, she he quipped at the end. (And, it must be added, she finally got a decent wig.) The oil wrestlers of Edirne wore black buffalo- hide pants and grappled each buttocks furiously.

tackle out of remarked Palin.