wednesday (Jan 2). Documentary - China Circus Elite on NGC at 8pm
At the Wuqiao School of Acrobatic Arts in the heart of China, children aged between seven and 17 are training to be tomorrow's acrobatic stars. It's a gruelling programme where the saying 'no gain without pain' has true meaning. We join the 'intensive group' as they strive to perfect their skills in time for the prestigious Gold Lion Festival in Zunyi. As they work up to their performance date, they are confident of winning ... until the star, a young girl at the very top of the pyramid, falls and hurts her ankle.
THURSDAY (Jan 3)
Cookery - Masterchef Goes Large on BBC Prime at 7.30pm
The search for the UK's next star chef is on. Ninety-six would-be-chefs are whittled down to a mere four in a series of grueling challenges. First they have to invent a dish from scratch in 30 minutes. Next, the three most talented will have to survive being thrown into the heat of a professional kitchen. Finally, they will have to wow the judges with a two-course meal. The contestants will have to impress two of London's most respected chefs and restaurateurs to become the next Masterchef.
FRIDAY (Jan 4)
Film - Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan on Star Movies at 8.30pm
Jagshemash! Master of disguise Sacha Baron Cohen hits the road to explore America as the crude Kazakhstan reporter, Borat, in a feature 'mockumentary' that brings one of the Da Ali G Show star's most popular characters to life on the big screen. Sent by the Kazakh Ministry of Information to gain a better understanding of American culture and bring his findings back home, Borat and faithful producer Azamat set their sights on New York City.
FSATURDAY (Jan 5)
ilm - Cheaper By the Dozen 2 on Star Movies at 8.30pm
Steve Martin returns as the proud patriarch of the Baker family in this sequel to the original Cheaper by the Dozen, based on a book by Frank B Gilbreth Jr and Ernestine Gilbreth. This time, all 12 Baker kids and their parents, Tom (Martin) and Kate (Bonnie Hunt), are going on vacation, returning to their summer cabin in Wisconsin for one last hurrah before the kids grow up and go their separate ways. Lorraine (Hilary Duff) is on her way to New York to begin an internship with Vogue, Nora (Piper Perabo) is hugely pregnant, and the Bakers want to spend some quality time all together for a change ... but life is never that simple.
SUNDAY (Jan 6)
Film - Gone in 60 Seconds on Star Movies at 8.30pm
Car theft in Long Beach, California, went down 47 per cent when Randall 'Memphis' Raines (Nicolas Cage) walked away from the life of grand theft auto - until his younger brother Kip (Rabisi) got involved with the mob. Now, mob boss Raymond Calitri (Christopher Eccleston) has threatened to kill Kip unless Randall can steal 50 exotic cars and have them on a container ship by 8am Friday morning. Memphis reassembles his old crew and attempts to pull off the impossible.
MONDAY (Jan 7)
Film - The Big Town on UKTV at 8.30pm
Matt Dillon stars as Cully, a small town mechanic with dreams of making it big as a gambler. Packing his bags he heads to Chicago, 'The Big Town', where he befriends strip joint-owning couple, Cole and Lorry. With his wide-eyed innocence he is mesmerised by the sheer scale of everything and is soon tempted by the delights of the city. As he becomes aware of a nastier side to his new world he is forced to make a decision that will affect his life for ever.
TUESDAY (Jan 8)
Film - Passionada on Super Movies at 5pm
A fun, romantic comedy set in the Portuguese American fishing community of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Celia Amonte (Sofia Milos) is a young fishing widow devoted to the memory of her husband, while her teenage daughter, Vicky (Emma Rosumm) wants her to move on with her life.
Charlie Beck (Jason Issacs) is a professional gambler without direction who falls in love with Celia when he sees her singing in a nightclub. Aided by a scheming Vicky, he poses as a millionaire to try and woo the stiffly resistant mother.