BBC ALBA – WEEKLY PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS Saturday 12 November – Friday 18 November 2011

Title: As An Eilean

A Gaelic film based on two books by Iain Crichton Smith.

Transmitted: Saturday 12th November
Time: 5.55pm - 7.30pm


Title: Air an Oir / Runrig

Air an Oir is a documentary looking at the roots of Runrig’s musical influences.

Transmitted: Saturday 12th November
Time: 8.55pm – 9.50pm


Title: Gach Creutair Beo / Vets

Wick based vet Iain Maclean does routine TB testing on cows but has to have a quick change of plan when he arrives at the second farm to find some cows have suddenly become unwell. Later, Iain has a house call to see a cat, with a quick stop en route to check out a sheep with day old twins, then a 3am call out to another sheep having difficulty, where the news is not so good.

Vet Jane Harley at Highland Wildlife Park has the tricky job of trimming the largest reindeer’s hooves, but he needs to be sedated before she can get near him. This gives keeper Jonathan the opportunity to have his first attempt with a darting rifle under the close supervision of experienced hand, Morag.

At Ardene House near Aberdeen, vet Graham Hunter removes a tumour from a horse during a delicate operation. Getting the horse anaesthetized and into the theatre is no mean feat, and requires a hoist and pulley to lift him in.

Transmitted: Monday 14th November
Time: 8.30pm – 9pm


Title: Trusadh – Kenneth Mckellar

Anne Lorne Gillies leads this celebration of arguably Scotland's greatest tenor - Kenneth McKellar who died last year. McKellar's career which spanned 50 years saw him rise to be a household name in Scotland and beyond, but behind the public persona was a quiet man who regularly spurned personal honours and accolades.

Although McKellar never sung in Gaelic, through singing he had an affinity with the language and was always meticulous about
ensuring any Gaelic words in his songs were pronounced perfectly, reflecting his love and affection for his native country and
all that it was.

Humour was also a big part of McKellar's life and a script he wrote was used in a Monty Python sketch, indeed he became the
only person outside the Monty Python team to have a sketch performed by them. He wrote many popular comedy songs like 'The
Midges' and formed a comedy duo with Johnny Beattie.

The definitive interpreter of the songs of Robert Burns, McKellar also composed 'Royal Mile', the song which opened the 1986
Edinburgh Commonwealth Games. And when his voice began to falter with age, he bowed out gracefully from his singing career
to become an acclaimed arranger.

Transmitted: Monday 14th November
Time: 9pm – 10pm


Title: Eorpa / European Current Affairs

Another edition of Eorpa, reporting on the most interesting stories from around Europe.

Transmitted: Wednesday 16th November
Time: 8.30pm – 9pm


Title: Soillse – Aria a Afraga / Cape of Good Voices

In South Africa singing is as popular now as football, a fact rooted in their strong choral traditions. Once a year the The Cape Town Opera House's best up-and-coming singers take to the road in a mini bus to travel the length and breadth of South Africa. The young opera stars aim to generate interest amongst schoolchildren with their songs and at the same time keep an eye out for new vocal talent.

Transmitted: Wednesday 16th November
Time: 9pm – 9.55pm


Title: Beartas nan Daoine

A series looking at collections of Gaelic song, story and their heritage.

Transmitted: Wednesday 16th November
Time: 10.30pm – 10.55pm


Title: Na Geamannan / World Island Games

The games are drawing close and the Western Isles competitors are making final preparations.

Transmitted: Thursday 17th November
Time: 8.30pm – 9pm


Title: Air An Rathad / On The Road

'Air an Rathad' - it's all about cars! How do you get started in motorsport? Calum Iain joins the competitors at Fintray Hill Climb to find out. Murray's gone back to the day job looking after the sheep on the croft, and he's putting the Isuzu Rodeo pickup through its paces
- but is it tough enough for the task?

Fiona is a guest of Grampian Fire Brigade as she joins them on a blues and twos exercise through the busy streets of Aberdeen.
She gets some tips on how to manoeuvre through heavy traffic and finds out what you should do as a driver when you hear that
siren and see the blue lights flashing. And the team are back on the track for another round of Wacky Races - what daft stunt have they been given this week?

Transmitted: Thursday 17th November
Time: 10pm – 10.30pm


Title: Grinn / Makeover

This week student Sian Baldwin from Perthshire gets a re-style from fashion, beauty and style experts Donna Macleod, Lynda MacMillan and John Comerford.

Transmitted: Friday 18th November
Time: 8.30pm – 9pm