Daily Post

Cooking Dreams

Ramsey Returns with More F Words

AS good as he is when it comes to knocking up a terrific dish, he's almost as famous for the profanities that spill from his mouth every second word. Despite that, Gordon Ramsay is still TV's most popular chef, and while the tabloids continue to try to spoil our love affair with him, he remains as popular as ever.

Simple Mantia Helps Me Survive ; Cameras Follow North Wales Hotelier

STEPHANIE Booth has built a built a business empire in North Wales, with six hotels in the region now in her stable. This week on BBC1 Wales sees the start of a series taking a look behind the scenes at the challenges of running a hotel chain during the worst recession since the 1930s.

What to Watch

Merlin (BBC1, 6.05pm) This terrific two-part story sees the newly crowned Queen Catrina (played by the brilliant Sarah Parish) and her servant Jonas, beginning to assert their evil influence over Uther and Camelot. Merlin hatches a cunning-plot to reveal the evil Catrina to be the ugly, wartcovered troll that she really is. He plans to swap her beautifying potion for one that will reveal her true disgustiness, but with Uther under her spell, Catrina persuades the king to disinherit Arthur and...

What to Watch

Ray Mear's Northern Wilderness (BBC2, 8pm) Ray continues his journey across Canada and explores the influence the Hudson's Bay Company had on the creation of one of the largest countries in the world. Set up by Royal Charter in 1670 to exploit the forest's beaver population, the company traded furs for the fashionconscious and was much desired in Britain. This was big business but a tough life for the hunters, and without it Canada would not be the country it is today. Celebrity Come Dine wit...

What to Watch

Into the Storm (BBC2, 8.30pm) This feature length drama opens with Churchill (played brilliantly by Brendan Gleeson) and his wife Clemmie taking a well-earned holiday as they await the results of the general election in 1945, in which the PM was unceremoniously dumped by the British public. Gleeson gives a big, pugnacious performance with a nice blend of wit and grumpiness which earned him an Emmy earlier this year, and Janet McTeer who plays Clemmie was also nominated for an award. Life (BBC...

What to Watch

James May's Toy Stories (BBC2, 8pm) The Top Gear co-host appeals to the British public to help him create a garden using-wait for it- Plasticine! He then wants to enter the garden into the Chelsea Flower Show. He enlists the help of art students, Jane Asher, Chelsea pensioners and a sculptress named Jane Freud, he gets them to unleash their creativity and make thousands of Plasticine flowers and vegetables, as well as a grapevine and a tree. It's a controversial idea and a few members of the ...

What to Watch

Champions League Live Olympique Lyonnais v Liverpool (ITV1, 7.30pm) Steve Rider is joined by Marcel Desailly to present this all action clash between Lyon v Liverpool at the Stade Gerland (ko 7.45pm). The Reds are in desperate need of a win after their 2-1 defeat at Anfield two weeks ago, as they trail the French outfit by six points and second placed Fiorentina by three, so with only two more games remaining their only hope of avoiding relegation to the Europa League is to win. Waterloo Road...

What to Watch

The Restaurant (BBC2, 8pm) Raymond Blanc and his partners David Moore and Sarah Willingham find out who can handle the pressure as the remaining couples get the chance to prove their potential as they take over the reins of three leading chain restaurants. The 'wannabe' restaurant owners dreams of owning their own place suddenly seem more and more distant as customers get increasingly angry at the rubbish service, long waits or simply no food at all. The Bill (ITV1, 9pm) Leon arrives at a fla...

What to Watch

Soapbox ... ; (Week Beginning Monday November 2)

NEIGHBOURS (FIVE) Ringo thinks there's every reason to be suspicious of James, although he agrees to support Donna's relationship with the newcomer if a DNA test proves they really are related. However, when the results turn out to be inconclusive, James persuades Donna to pay for more extensive tests, which really ought to set alarm bells ringing. HOLLYOAKS (C4 & S4C) Most men would give their right arm to have one of the McQueen girls fawn over them, never mind two. Calvin Valentine is one ...

Up Close with ... Bruce Forsyth

Name Bruce Forsyth Image All-round entertainer Best Known For Strictly Come Dancing Early Life Bruce Joseph Forsyth-Johnson was born on February 22, 1928, in Edmonton, north London. His father was a garage owner, and both parents encouraged their son to pursue his interest in showbusiness. He made his TV debut at the age of 10 and left school four years later. He immediately launched himself on the music hall circuit as Boy Bruce, the Mighty Atom. Career His big break came when he compered Su...

T He Sudden Darkness in [ ... ]

THE sudden darkness in the evenings, though to some a bit depressing, does bring a festive tone to the air. Bonfire night is the first to bring a true glow to the atmosphere and many have an al fresco party in the chilled air. There is nothing quite like having the first winter food when the aroma of smoke is wafting around. It makes even a simple hot dog salivating and the sizzle of charring meat on the barbecue is even better. Many will serve mulled wine on this party night. The aromas of c...

Old Favourite Is Back in Food Fashion ...

IHAVE never been a lover of Jerusalem artichokes, maybe it was something to do with the after affects of eating them once when my stomach sounded like it was playing an opera, but recently I have been making soup with them and have found them to be delicious. In fact when they came into season a few weeks ago, I was paying handsomely to have them sent up from my specialist supplier in London, so it was a great surprise last Wednesday when Graham, one of our gardeners came with a box full of t...

A Rendezvous to Beat Credit Crunch ; Tastetest Thalia Thompson in Rendezvous, Wrexham

LIKE just about everyone else in the country, I"m watching the pennies these days. In the current economic climate, eating out is a luxury that seems hard to justify. So when I heard about Rendezvous, the restaurant run by Yale College"s catering school, I was intrigued. Previously know as the Bistro, the restaurant was relaunched under the auspices of Mark Parsons, formerly head chef at the well- regarded Corn Mill in Llangollen. At Rendezvous, the food is sourced, cooked and served by the s...

Sitting Pretty

THERE I was thinking eisteddfods - sorry, eisteddfodau - were purely a Welsh phenomenon. How wrong was that, but did you know there was an eisteddfod in Cairo in 1943? No, nor me, but then I didn"t realise that others were held in such places as Liverpool, Birkenhead and Chester. And that"s quite apart from those with links to such exotic locations as New Zealand, Uganda, Brisbane and Shanghai. The source of my new found knowledge is new publication titled The Bardic Chair - Y Gadair Farddol,...

Migration From the East [ ... ]

MIGRATION from the east has been evidence in this week's good weather. Many are "common" birds you might not realise migrate. On the Great Orme, wave after wave of chaffinches and meadow pipits headed west, a few bramblings, crossbills, siskins and goldfinches among them.

Making Cuts to Save Your Cash

IF you're watching your budget and want to increase your plant stock without spending money, now is the time to take hardwood cuttings from many deciduous shrubs, such as roses, willows, weigelas, dogwoods and philadelphus. It can be done in the garden, and although the cuttings will take a year to root, it's worth the wait as you will produce large specimens ready for planting out or potting up.

Get Spotting

Winter Warmers ; Dark Nights' Return Means That Its Time to Get Your Coat

THERE have been many contenders vying for the outerwear top spot in the style charts. Chunky cardigans, mannish blazers and super- sized scarves have all tried to oust the trusty winter coat. But all of these pale in comparison when the temperature drops.If there's one item you blow the budget on this season, make it your winter coat. With Britain's typically cold and wet weather, it's a style essential rather than a luxury.