NEWS
New Caledonia TV website coming soon...
Scotland Goes to War
Transmitting Thursday 3rd September 9pm, STV
Showing on Scottish Television in September 2009 to mark the seventieth anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War, this one hour programme gathers together the reminiscences of Scots who lived through the period and a remarkable range of archive film and photographs. This is the testimony of hundreds of Scots, from factory girls to fighting men, prisoners of war to refugees, evacuated children to rationed housewives.
'Scotland's War makes the whole thing painful once more. This elegant combination of images and interviews allows those involved to tell their own stories with dignity, humour and honesty' The Scotsman
Caledonia has won two exciting series from BBC Alba.
Caileagan an Airm (Army Girls)
Take three girls: Bright, capable and successful … or mollycoddled, spoiled and soft? Basic British Army training will sort them out!
Caledonia is recruiting three young woman who will undergo the same rigorous training given to young squaddies bound for Iraq and Afghanistan. They may have attitude, university degrees, and successful careers – but are they tough enough? We’ll follow them as they train with firearms, undertake route marches, learn unarmed combat, tackle modern communications equipment, and attempt to attain the level of fitness require by troops on the front line.
5 X 30 minutes for BBC Alba
Air a’ Smůid (Steaming)
Filmed over two years, this series will show The Vital Spark – the iconic West Coast puffer that starred in the BBC ‘Para Handy’ series – being restored to its former glory. The 65-year-old vessel was rotting away until it was rescued by a group of enthusiasts including Duncan MacGillivray, the charismatic ‘jack of all trades’ who brought to life the mothballed Bruichladdich distillery on Islay.
Born and bred on Islay – and a major fan of the 1954 classic The Maggie, which was filmed there – he has a lifelong fascination with puffers. Having one to lovingly restore is a dream come true.
As Duncan works on The Vital Spark, we’ll join him as he researches the technology, social history and mythology of the ‘puffer culture’ that served many communities throughout the West Coast for more than a century.
3 x 30 minutes for BBC Alba.
WATCH OUT FOR
'S Ann An Ile (It's on Islay)
The biggest ever documentary series about the island of Islay is transmitting in June on BBC Alba and BBC2 Scotland. The four-part series looks at the community today – its people, economy, social-life and its distinctive, but fragile, Gaelic culture.
Casa nam Moireasdanach (Casa Morrison)
Caledonia TV filmed over nine months with John and Rhoda Morrison and their teenage daughter Mairi, as they attempt to turn an ancient ruined farmhouse in Northern Portugal into a luxury holiday home – complete with tennis court, swimming pool and vineyard! The four part series is transmitting in June on BBC Alba
Leadaidh is Bracaist (Entertaining Ladies)
How easy is it to provide the top class restaurant, bar and hotel service that visitors to the Highlands & Island expect? Caledonia is taking three bright young women who’ve come to expect good food, accommodation and service – and plunging them into the hospitality industry to see if they can cope. The five part series is showing on BBC Alba from December 2008 to June 2009 and on BBC 2 Scotland in May 2009.
Ulaidhean (Treasures)
This 13-part series began exploring the treasures of Scotland's museums on BBC ALBA. Former Eorpa presenter Derek MacKay and newcomer Kirsty MacDonald discover a wealth of extraordinary objects with fascinating stories.
IN PRODUCTION
The Kelpies
will follow artist Andy Scott over three years as he creates the biggest horse sculptures in the world - two rearing stallions' heads - engineered in steel and titanium. The 120 foot high structures will encase massive machines that will pump water from two displacement ponds into a lock that will connect the Forth and Clyde Canal to the River Carron and the Forth Estuary, and revitalise Scotland's canal network.
This extraordinary combination of art and engineering will be bigger than the Angel of the North and will rival the Falkirk Wheel as a national icon. Andy Scott is the creator of the famous 'Heavy Horse' sculpture on the M8 and many other major pieces of public art in Britain and abroad. The flim was commissioned by Andrew Lockyear for BBC Scotland and will be produced by Julie McCrone and directed by Les Wilson.
The Lighthouse Stevensons
will tell the story of the dynasty of Scottish engineers who revolutionised the lives of mariners all over the world and whose work has saved countless lives and created some of the most extraordinary engineering masterpieces in Britain.
The film will mark the 200th anniversary of the switching on - in February 1811 - of the Bell Rock Light, on an inhospitable storm battered rock off the coast of Arbroath. It will be shot in some of the most spectacular and hostile coastal scenery in Britain. Commissioned by Ewan Angus for BBC Scotland, it will be produced by Faye MacLean and directed by Les Wilson.
The Queen
Caledonia TV are currently working with ZDF in Germany on a documentary to compliment the 2006 Helen Mirren film The Queen. The documentary will include interviews with biographers, historians and people who saw first hand the events of the week following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Produced by Julie McCrone and Directed by Ralf Piechowiak
RECENT TRANSMISSIONS
Děomhaěr (Secret)
This investigative history programme reveals how – in the past – Civil Servants, MI5 and Special Branch were recruited by Westminster to obstruct – and even sabotage – the Scottish nationalist movement.
It also shows how official documents reveal how Governments and their Civil Servants have deliberately hidden facts or misled voters about the economics of independence.
The Adventures of Don Roberto
A one-hour documentary about one of the most extraordinary Scots ever. Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham, was born a Scottish aristocrat – but became a South American gaucho, a rancher in America’s Wild West, and a political radical who was jailed for his beliefs. A writer and adventurer, he was the first MP to call himself a socialist and founded both the Scottish Labour Party and the SNP!
Transmitted on BBC Scotland in Dec 2008, the programme was filmed in Argentina, Texas, Mexico and in Scotland.
A Dol Dhachaigh (Going Home)
‘A fascinating wee documentary … if ever there was an advert to have BBC Alba’s content shared with the network … then this was it.’ Paul English, Daily Record.
Seventy years ago Kitty Ann MacQueen was one of the last members of the crofting community evacuated from Eilean nan Rňn Island off the coast of Sutherland.The community had dwindled away after World War One until the last remaining residents were no longer able to sustain their ancient way of life.
Almost on the eve of Kitty’s 90th birthday, Caledonia TV took Kitty Ann back to the island of her birth by helicopter to film her as she re-lived her memories and talked of a now vanished community and way of life.
Transmitted twice in December 2008 on BBA Alba and on BBC2 Scotland in May 2009
