Flights to Nowhere
Channel: People's Weather (DStv 180 / Openview 115)
TX Time: 18h00
Genre: Documentary Series, Mystery
Eight-part series which investigates some of South Africa's most famous aviation mysteries.
There is nothing that grips the imagination as a story shrouded in mystery and intrigue; one that leaves you hanging, questioning and desperate to know the answers.
As humans, we are wired to tie up all the loose ends; to make sense of the unknown and the nonsensical and to keep asking "why?" until we know.
Veteran commercial pilot, Wouter Botes, who hosts this series, understands this, and has made solving mysteries his life's work.
Best described as South Africa's own Indiana Jones, flying detective and relentless clue-searcher, Botes takes you into the world of the seemingly unsolvable cold case.
Based on his recently published e-book of the same name, the series looks at some of this country's most inexplicable aviation disasters and disappearances and tries to uncover the truth about them.
Join Botes as he uncovers the facts of numerous flights that seemingly went nowhere, such as Flight SA 406 – aka the Rietbok – a Vickers Viscount that disappeared into the sea off East London in 1967.
There's also the mystery of the two young soldiers who disappeared near God's Window in Mpumalanga, never to be seen again.
Then there's the case of the Beechcraft Baron 58 twin-engine aircraft that took off from Robertson in the Southern Cape on 10 July, 1985, destined for Cape Town, but never came onto the radar to land, disappearing without a trace.
All the featured flights were recreated for this series.
As an experienced veteran pilot, Botes was able to fly these on a flight simulator at Blue Chip Flight School at Wonderboom National Airport in Pretoria.
The series will be shown over two weeks on PPL°WX – People's Weather with new episodes daily from Mondays to Thursdays at 18h00, with a repeat at 21h00 and the following day at 10h30 and 14h00.
There will also be an omnibus shown on the weekend.
Mare of Easttown
Channel: M-Net (DStv 101)
TX Time: 22h30
Genre: Drama, Miniseries
Starring Kate Winslet, this seven-part limited series is an exploration into the dark side of a close community and an authentic examination of how family and past tragedies can define our present.
Winslet stars as Mare Sheehan, a small-town Pennsylvania detective who investigates a local murder as life crumbles around her.
Other characters include Lori Ross, Mare's best friend since childhood; Helen, Mare's mother; Siobhan Sheehan, Mare's teenage daughter; and Detective Colin Zabel, the county detective called in to assist with Mare's investigation.
Richard Ryan is a local creative writing professor; Frank Sheehan is Mare's ex-husband; John Ross is Lori's husband and high school sweetheart; and Erin McMenamin is an isolated teen living with her volatile father,
Then there's Chief Carter, Mare's boss at the Easttown Police Department; Kenny McMenamin, Erin's father; Deacon Mark Burton; Carrie Layden, Drew's mother and Kevin's ex-girlfriend; and Mare's cousin, Father Dan Hastings.
In the series premiere, "Miss Lady Hawk Herself": After answering a call about a neighbourhood prowler, Detective Mare Sheehan shoulders her chief's directive to revive an unsolved missing person's case amid increased community pressure.
Later, while her loved ones celebrate her ex-husband Frank's engagement, Mare attends a celebration for her legendary high school basketball win and connects with Richard (Guy Pearce), a professor who's new in town.
Queen of the South 2
Channel: Telemundo (DStv 118)
TX Time: 22h00
Genre: Telenovela
The season revolves around Teresa Mendoza nine years after the events of the first season.
Hidden from the rest of the world, Teresa now lives an idyllic existence in Italian Tuscany, but the kidnapping of her daughter forces her to reintroduce herself into the underworld of drug trafficking and once again confront her old enemies and the past she tried to leave behind.
In the Season 2 premiere: Nine years have passed, and Teresa's daughter, Sofia, is playing in their pool in Tuscany.
Teresa has recurring nightmares of Sofia being kidnapped.
MORE:
Queen of the South 2 Teasers - April 2021
Grow Cook Eat 2
Channel: The Home Channel (DStv 176)
TX Time: 10h00
Genre: Food, Documentary Series, Lifestyle, Gardening
Presented by Michael Kelly and Karen O'Donohoe, Grow Cook Eat explores the journey that our food takes before it reaches our tables.
Each episode focuses on a particular vegetable and takes you through the entire process, from sowing the seed, to harvesting and cooking.
Along with the step-by-step guides to growing vegetables, there are features on building raised beds, making a compost heap and improving soil fertility.
In the second season, Michael and Karen share their knowledge on how to successfully plant and grow onions, pumpkins, sweetcorn, courgettes, kale, beans and chillis for all shapes and sizes of gardens and containers.
In each episode, chef Katie Sanderson uses the freshly grown produce to create seasonal dishes which are easy to make and delicious to eat.
As well as the step-by-step guides to growing vegetables and features on how to prime your soil for the perfect harvest, serious issues around plastic packaging and food waste are highlighted.
So, whether you have an interest in growing your own food, but have little or no knowledge on how to go about it, simply want to know where your food comes from, or are in search of tips to improve your crop, this is the show to watch.
In the Season 2 premiere: Michael and Karen focus on a household staple - the onion.
Chef Katie Sanderson creates Berber Eggs - a really simple but delicious meal that uses both onions and eggs.
Inside the Children's Hospital
Channel: Real Time (DStv 155)
TX Time: 13h30
Genre: Documentary Series
This heartwarming documentary series goes behind-the-scenes at the Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital which, each year, gives life-changing treatments to thousands of boys and girls across the North of Scotland.
Narrated by David Tennant, the series observes the dedication, care and camaraderie of the hospital team, exploring the lives of patients and staff at one of Scotland's busiest, and most advanced, children's hospitals.
Almost 600 staff work at the Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital, across many areas of medicine. One of those is Ophthalmology, which deals with diseases of the eye.
Ophthalmologist Mr Scott operates on three year-old Oscar who has bilateral cataracts - a rare condition estimated to affect just four in every 10,000 children in the UK.
Having fun is a serious business at the hospital and a team of specialists work with children to ease anxiety.
Play Specialist Maureen, pictured, has been at Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital for 19 years.
Maureen helps four year-old Jack conquer one of his biggest fears - needles.
When Jack was born he was diagnosed with a liver disease and, at just three weeks old, he received a life-saving liver transplant.
Jack has regular blood tests to check his liver is working, but recently he has developed a phobia of needles.
Maureen comes up with a fun way to make needles less scary.
Also this week, The Children's Hospital meets six year-old Kayla who has Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA); teenager Paul who has cerebral palsy; and 10 year-old Macy, whose Glut1 Deficiency Syndrome means she needs specialist advice from dietician Tracey - and a chocolate cake making masterclass.
Death in Paradise 10
Channel: BBC Brit (DStv 120)
TX Time: 20h00
Genre: Drama, Mystery
Detective Inspector Neville Parker may have made the big move to the Caribbean but settling into a new way of life out there hasn't been easy for him.
For one thing, there are more baffling murders to solve.
From a local news reporter found dead in her pool, to a murdered lottery winner whose body has mysteriously vanished, Neville and the team have their work cut out.
Luckily, help is at hand as this season sees the return of DS Florence Cassell. Reinvigorated by her travels, Florence is ready to get back to some proper policing and she's tougher than ever.
But first she'll have to get used to Neville's eccentric ways – and Neville is going to have to learn to truly embrace his new life if he's ever going to move on.
Meanwhile, in case being a newly-promoted sergeant and expecting twins wasn't enough, JP Hooper has his hands full trying to train their new recruit – Trainee Officer Marlon Pryce.
Marlon's an ex-young offender who's trying to turn over a new leaf, but old habits die hard and his tendency to bend the rules proves exasperating for JP.
The tenth season of this drama will be bigger and bolder than ever with new faces, the surprise return of old favourites and, as always, eight fiendishly clever murder mysteries to crack.
In the Season 10 premiere: When a TV news presenter is found strangled in her pool, Neville is sure that her popular co-host is guilty.
But given that he was live on air at the time of the murder, how could he have done it?
Finest Homes 3
Channel: The Home Channel (DStv 176)
TX Time: 16h00
Genre: Documentary Series
South African home design and architecture has truly come into its own; bland imitations have made way for modern masterpieces and character-filled design.
The Home Channel brings you a brand new season of Finest Homes, which explores these creations, talking to the visionaries who are bringing them to life, as well as the people who live in them.
Host Tumelo Setlaba takes us through the spaces, showcasing both the architecture and interior design.
She also offers up tips and ideas for you to recreate some of these looks in your own home.