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SERIES WATCH

The Blue Planet

Pearl, 9.35pm

Nearly three-quarters of our planet is covered by the oceans. Their influence dominates the world's weather systems. They support an enormous range of life, both above and below the surface. From the largest whales to the smallest plankton, from the hordes of seabirds to the lonely deep sea fish. The first programme in this natural history series from the BBC aims to introduce the viewer to the sheer scale and power of the blue planet, investigating the forces, both physical and biological, that make the oceans work and explain exactly where and why life congregates.

A massive blue whale mother and her calf lost in the midst of the wide blue ocean. At 30 metres long with a tongue as heavy as an elephant and a tail as wide as a football goalmouth, this is the largest animal that has ever lived. And yet we still have no idea where the blue whales go to have their calves. In many ways the blue whale is the perfect symbol for the oceans - the vast blue expanse that dominates our planet while still remaining largely unexplored and mysterious.

Football Legends

Pearl, 8.30pm

It's time for the ladies' favourite and possibly the most photogenic footballer there has ever been - David Beckham (above). The main thing is that the boy can actually play. This programme charts his rise from youth teams to his dream job at Manchester United and the much-coveted England captain spot.

Also mentioned is the notorious game with Argentina in the 1998 World Cup when Beckham was sent off and arguably cost England the game.

Blair Witch Project

Star Movies, 7.15pm

Don't watch this alone, make sure you are with someone who can break the tension when you sit down to watch Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez's low-budget surprise horror hit.

A young woman, Heather Donahue (above), hires a film crew to accompany her into the Maryland woods to chronicle local, age-old yarns and superstitions about witchcraft. Soon the threesome get lost, and with each day growing more desperate as strange goings-on at night begin to frazzle their nerves. Mostly ad-libbed the film works on the old Hitchcock principle of what you don't see is more terrifying - and it works.

The film is also notable for its Web site which, at the time of the film's release, stirred up more publicity than big movie studios could hope to buy. It is still online at www.blairwitch.com but it's changed somewhat to accommodate the disappointing sequel.

Also starring Michael Williams and Joshua Leonard. (1999)

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