BBC ALBA – WEEKLY PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS Saturday 22 December – Friday 28 December 2012 / Saturday 29 December 2012 – Friday 4 January 2013

Title: Pupadaidh as t-Fhoghar / Poopety in the Fall When Autumn arrives, the town of Balthazarville falls silent as Bonifacio the mischievous storyteller disappears. Pupadaidh and his friends go on a quest to find the rouge, a journey that takes them to the belly of the earth where the meet a whale who has very special stories of her own to tell.. Transmitted: Saturday 22 December Time: 5.00 – 5.30pm Title: SPL – Celtic v Ross County The latest full-match coverage from the SPL as Celtic host Ross County at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Transmitted: Saturday 22 December Time: 5.30 – 7.30pm Title: Spors na Bliadhna / Sports Review 2012 A look back at a memorable sporting year including the London Olympics, tennis, shinty, rugby, football and much more. Transmitted: Saturday 22 December Time: 7.30 – 8.30pm Title: Belladrum 2012 Highlights: Cridhe Tartan Highlights from the Belladrum 2012: Tartan Heart Festival including Vintage Trouble, The South & We are Scientists. Transmitted: Saturday 22 December Time: 9.00 – 9.55pm Title: Deasbad na Bliadhna / 2012 News Debate A debate on some of the most important stories, locally, nationally, and internationally which took place over the past year, with Iain MacLean, Hugh Dan MacLennan, Anna MacLeod and Murray MacLeod. Transmitted: Sunday 23 December Time: 7.30 – 8.00pm Title: A’ Nollaig aig Peppa / Peppa’s Christmas It's Christmas Eve and Peppa and George are busy posting their letters to Santa Claus. Peppa would like a yoyo and George wants a train set, but 'oh dear' poor Santa has lost his list! However everything turns out for the best and the family spend a very Happy Christmas in front of their huge big tree. Transmitted: Monday 24 December Time: 5.00 – 5.10pm Title: Seo am Pleana/Island Flying This year one of the world's most unique air services, Loganair, celebrates 50years in business. Kirkwall based pilot Stuart Linklater's daily flights are only minutes long. Pilot Mairi Nicholson's favourite runway is fine shell-sand, and baggage handler Shonnie Mackay can expect anything at Benbecula Airport. Transmitted: Monday 24 December Time: 9.05 – 10.05pm Title: Dr Finlay’s Casebook Fifty years on, we join the young, newly graduated Finlay, as embarks on his medical career in Dr Cameron's Tannochbrae practice. In this special Christmas episode of the classic Scottish drama, Doctors Finlay, Cameron and Snoddy along with Janet all enter into the Christmas spirit! Transmitted: Monday 24 December Time: 10.05 – 11.00pm Title: Oidhche Naomh / Christmas Eve Service BBC ALBA's Christmas Eve service Oidhche Naomh comes from St Mary & St Finnan Church, Glenfinnan in Lochaber. The ecumenical celebration will feature soloists Margaret Ford and Robert Robertson along with youngsters from Lochaber Music School, Fèis Loch Abar and Mallaig High School Choir. The Kilmallie Singers and members of other churches throughout the area will join the local congregation in well-known Gaelic Carols. Transmitted: Monday 24 December Time: 11.00pm – 12.05am Title: Am Balach anns a’ Bhuilgean / Boy in the Bubble Rupert Shelley, is a ten year old boy who falls hopelessly in love for the first time ever. When it all goes horribly wrong, he wishes never to experience heartache again. Turning to a book of magic, he invokes a spell to shield him from emotion forever..... leaving him stuck in a bubble! Transmitted: Tuesday 25 December Time: 6.05 - 6.15pm Title: The Band From Rockall Calum and Rory Macdonald, Runrig songwriters share the very personal story of their first solo album project. Part video diary and part music performance, this is an intimate account of the making of the album and of the recording process, a journey which offers an insight into the creative inspiration for their song writing and the musical ethos behind the recording. Transmitted: Tuesday 25 December Time: 8.05 – 9.05pm Title: Rockettes Anne Lundon delves into the world of cheerleading following the glitz and glamour of Scotland's pro-dance team the Rockettes. Transmitted: Tuesday 25 December Time: 9.05 – 10.05pm Title: Daniel O’ Donnell: 30 Bliadhna de Cheol Celebrating 30 years in show business, Daniel O'Donnell performs a special concert with some surprise guests. Transmitted: Tuesday 25 December Time: 10.05 – 11.15pm Title: Soillse – Air Toir nan Ailbhean Molach / Mammoth Hunters Ever since the international ban on elephant hunting, Russia has cornered the market in ivory. But this ivory comes from mammoths; whose skeletons are constantly being discovered in the frozen earth of Siberia. A market estimated at 2.5 million dollars and whose central point is Hong Kong. Transmitted: Wednesday 26 December Time: 8.05 – 9.00pm Title: Celtic Chicago Kathleen MacInnes takes in Chicago with a host of musical pals as the Celtic Connections Festival arrives in the U.S. Transmitted: Wednesday 26 December Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm Title: Cuirm @ Celtic: Chicago Kathleen MacInnes hosts a very special concert from the Harris Theatre, Chicago with a stellar cast including Julie Fowlis, Session A9 agus Admiral Fallow. Transmitted: Thursday 27 December Time: 8.55 – 9.00pm Title: Air An Rathad / On the Road Fiona is in the Cairngorms in search of the Abominable Snowman, helped in her quest by the Skoda Yeti. Murray is practising his handbrake turns in Ashaig as he takes part in the Skye Rally Club's Auto Test, and Cudig has the team reminiscing over days gone by as he shares this week's classic - the Bedford CA Van. Calum Iain has the scent of victory in Wacky Races, but will pride come before a fall? Tune in to this week's Air an Rathad to find out! Transmitted: Thursday 27 December Time: 10.00 – 10.30pm Title: Fear nam Miorbhail Animated feature recounting the life of Christ. Transmitted: Friday 28 December Time: 5.45 – 7.15pm Title: Na Trads / Scottish Traditional Music Awards 2012 Highlights Highlights from the Trad Awards, 2012. Onstage and behind-the-scenes with Mary Ann Kennedy, Tony Kearney and Linda MacLeod. Transmitted: Friday 28 December Time: 9.00 – 11.30pm Title: PRO12 Live Rugby – Edinburgh v Glasgow LIVE PRO12 rugby as Edinburgh host Glasgow in the all-important 1872 Cup decider. Transmitted: Saturday 29 December Time: 4.00 – 6.00pm Title: Scottish Premier League – Hibernian v Celtic The latest full-match coverage from the SPL as Hibernian host Celtic at Easter Road, Edinburgh. Transmitted: Saturday 29 December Time: 6.00 – 8.00pm Title: Hebridean Celtic Music Festival – The Proclaimers Strikingly individual, twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid have enjoyed huge success across the globe. Regularly gracing festival stages across the world, The Proclaimers return to the Hebrides with a 1-hour special of some of their best sets from Hebcelt 2012. Transmitted: Saturday 29 December Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm Title: Naidheachdan Araid na Bliadhna / Unusual News Stories of the Year Unusual News Stories of the Year: A selection of unusual, funny stories from the news over the past year. Transmitted: Sunday 30 December Time: 6.30 – 7.00pm Title: Air Chall ‘s Air Lorg / Lost and Found One day a boy finds a penguin on his doorstep. Although at first unsure what to do, the boy becomes determined to help the penguin find his way back home…even if that means rowing all the way to the South Pole! Transmitted: Monday 31 December Time: 5.00 – 5.30pm Title: About Britain: Isle of Skye In 1954, Richard Dimbleby and a BBC film crew visited the Isle of Skye to record an episode of the early British television series About Britain. In this programme he gives viewers across the United Kingdom an insight into life on the island, meeting local characters and gaining an understanding of the lifestyle and culture of islanders, as well as spending some time with the Skye Mountain Rescue team and with Dame Flora Macleod at Dunvegan Castle. This programme was originally broadcast in September 1954. Transmitted: Monday 31 December Time: 8.35 – 9.25pm Title: Barbara Dickson Documentary profile of the acclaimed actress and singer, Barbara Dickson, examines her career in interview and sing. Guest singers include Billy Connolly and Rab Noakes. Transmitted: Monday 31 December Time: 9.30 – 10.30pm Title: Ceol Dannsa Today’s Scottish country dance musicians pay tribute to the stars of yesteryear. John Carmichael presents a sensational evening of Scottish country dance music. Transmitted: Monday 31 December Time: 10.30 – 11.30pm Title: Ceilidh na Bliadhna’ Uire - Inbhirnis 2012/13 Hogmanay Ceilidh 2012, live from Achnagairn House, Kirkhill, by Beauly. Presented by Kirsteen MacDonald and Derek 'Pluto' Murray. Live music from… Mànran, Kathleen MacInnes, Calum Alex MacMillan, Rona Lightfoot, Duncan Chisholm and Dingwall Choir. We also join the Red Hot Highland Fling in Inverness for fireworks coverage and numbers from Skerryvore. Come and ceilidh on us! Transmitted: Monday 31 December Time: 11.30pm – 1.15am Title: An Drochaid : A Bridge Rising The epic, feel-good story of a modern rebellion. The campaign against the tolls on the Skye bridge pitted plucky Scottish islanders against the might of the Government and the Bank of America, over the building of a privately funded toll bridge which became the only way on or off the island. This film tells an untold, bittersweet story of passion, legal challenge and financial wrangling through the testimony of some of those who took part. Transmitted: Tuesday 1 January Time: 8.05 – 9.05pm Title: Machairazzi Machairazzi celebrates the 20th anniversary of the first ever Gaelic soap Machair. Members of the cast including Tony Kearney and Dolina MacLennan romp through some of the shows most compelling moments. Watch out for the celebrations and heartache, love and laughter, captivating characters, gripping stories and dramatic explosions. This trailblazing Gaelic soap has it all. Transmitted: Tuesday 1 January Time: 9.05 – 10.05pm Title: Dr Finlay’s Casebook: A Present From Father Fifty years since the first broadcasts of this classic Scottish drama, we join the newly graduated Dr Finlay as he embarks on his medical career working for Dr Cameron in his Tannochbrae practice. In this special Hogmanay episode, the ambitious and headstrong young Doctor Finlay, played by the dapper Bill Simpson, is faced with a unsettling dilemma which calls his professional judgement into question. But the stakes are high as a family fortune is at risk. Drs Cameron and Snoddy have their say and Janet offers her customary words of wisdom but Dr Finlay has the last word - or does he? Transmitted: Tuesday 1 January Time: 10.05pm Title: SPL Live - Ross County v Inverness Live SPL action as Ross County and Inverness face each other at Victoria Park, Dingwall, in the New Year derby. Transmitted: Wednesday 2 January Time: 3.00 – 5.00pm Title: Is Blath an Fhuil / The Blood is Strong Archive series looking at recent Gaelic history and emigration – episode one of three. Transmitted: Wednesday 2 January Time: 6.30 – 7.20pm Title: Soillse – Slighe gu Saorsa / Flight to Freedom This is the story of the biggest aerial translocation in the history of wildlife conservation world-wide. Over a period of six days, four ILL 76 flights were undertaken from South Africa to Angola. Sixteen elephants were captured in Tuli (Botswana), crated and transported by road to Louis Trichardt Air force base for their flight to Cabo Ledo, followed by giraffe, zebra and wildebeests. Transmitted: Wednesday 2 January Time: 9.05 – 10.00pm Title: Is Blath an Fhuil / The Blood is Strong Archive series looking at recent Gaelic history and emigration – episode two of three. Transmitted: Thursday 3 January Time: 6.35 – 7.30pm Title: Mod 2012 : Mod nan Coisirean Mary Ann Kennedy presents a selection of choral music from choirs who took part in the Lovat and Tullibardine competition at the recent Dunoon Mod. Also included are a range of winners from the rural choir competitions. Transmitted: Thursday 3 January Time: 8.55 – 9.55pm Title: Air an Rathad Old friend 'Rollover Roy' is competing in the Speyside Rally with a new car and a new navigator - can they keep the car upright this time? Fiona enjoys taking a furry friend for a spin in the new mini roadster, uber cool but a tad chilly for the Scottish climate! Cudig's final classic of the series is the Landrover, a reliable workhorse loved my millions; and it's a thrilling end to Wacky Races - if you think it's a done deal, think again! Transmitted: Thursday 3 January Time: 9.55 – 10.30pm Title: Is Blath an Fhuil / The Blood is Strong Archive series looking at recent Gaelic history and emigration – episode three of three. Transmitted: Friday 4 January Time: 6.25 – 7.20pm Title: PRO12 Live Rugby – Edinburgh v Leinster Live action with Edinburgh and Leinster in the RaboDirect Pro 12 competition. Transmitted: Friday 4 January Time: 7.30 – 9.25pm