Monday, 23/1/2017

Great American Railway Journeys (BBC2, 6.30pm)

Michael Portillo must rarely be at home - he always seems to be off on his travels somewhere. Clearly he's run out of British tracks to traverse because last week he was in Ireland, and this time, he's jetting off to the good old US of A. This is not his first train journey across the country, of course, but it's such a huge place that there must be plenty of scope for several series to come. Tonight's edition sees him follow in the footsteps of the pioneers of the American West during a trip to St Louis, Missouri.

Winterwatch 2017 (BBC2, 8pm)

New series. Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Martin Hughes-Games return to RSPB Arne in Dorset as they present from their base on Poole Harbour, which is officially the most biodiverse region in the UK, with more species of animals and plants within 10 miles of Wareham than anywhere else in the country. Gillian Burke examines military pillboxes in Studland to explore the lives of hibernating butterflies in winter, while Martin tries to understand the harbour's appeal for waders, particularly avocets, and has an incredible revelation.

Horizon: Hair Care Secrets (BBC2, 9pm)

A stroll down the supermarket or pharmacy shampoo aisle is always an eye opener. What are shampoos doing these days? Will they revitalise or energise our hair? Add luster or remove buildup? Nourish or rejuvenate? What's the newest 'miracle' ingredient and can hair loss or damage be reversed and repaired? In this one-off film, scientists and doctors investigate the properties of human hair and examine the methods and results of research done for business that are developing hair care products. They reveal whether or not it is worth splashing out on the expensive shampoos that we see in advertisements, uncover the special ingredients found in leading conditioners, and lay bare the secrets of the shiny, glossy hair seen in the ads.