The Green Planet
Channel: BBC Earth (DStv 184)
TX Time: 16h00
Genre: Nature, Documentary Series
Plants live secret, unseen lives.
But they are as aggressive, competitive and dramatic as animals - locked in life-and-death struggles for food and light, taking part in fierce battles for territory, and desperately trying to reproduce and scatter their young.
Using pioneering new filmmaking technology and the very latest science, The Green Planet reveals this strange and wonderful world of plants like never before.
Made by BBC Studios' Natural History Unit, the series sees Sir David Attenborough travel across the globe, from the USA to Costa Rica, Croatia to northern Europe and South Africa.
From deserts to water worlds, from tropical forests to the frozen north, David finds brand new stories and gains a fresh understanding of how plants live their lives.
He meets the largest living things that have ever existed; trees that care for each other; plants that hunt animals and a plant with the most vicious defences in the world.
Twenty-six years after The Private Life of Plants aired on BBC One, we see how science and technologies have advanced, and how our understanding of the ways in which plants behave and interact has evolved.
The series is also a great passion project for David Attenborough - airing at a critical moment, just as our green world stands on the brink of collapse.
Pioneering motion-control robotics systems allow us to take a magical journey into the world of plants, in real time and in time-lapse, to watch their lives on their timescale and from their perspective.
Thermal cameras, macro frame-stacking to give incredible depth-of-field, ultra-high-speed cameras and the latest developments in microscopy all allow us to reveal a fresh view of the lives of plants and their incredible beauty.
Plants don't act alone - they forge intimate relationships, as friends and enemies, with other plants, animals and even with humans.
The more we understand them the more we realise that they do things we previously thought of as 'animal behaviour'.
They count, they hunt, they deceive, they communicate, they protect their relatives and they manipulate animals for their own ends.
Contrary to how it may appear, when plants and animals interact the plant is usually in charge.
Filmed around the world, The Green Planet is the first immersive portrayal of an unseen, interconnected world.
In the series premiere, "Tropical Worlds": More kinds of plants are crammed together in the tropical forests than anywhere else on Earth.
The result is beauty and intense competition - a plant battleground.
Most plants live high in the canopy. The upper branches of giant trees support magical sky gardens, where an almost infinite variety of flowers compete for the attention of hummingbirds and insects.
Plants need light but the forest floor is dark.
When an old tree falls, sunlight floods in, firing the starting gun on a race for the canopy.
Seedlings battle with lassoes, grappling hooks and giant leaves, which cast others into the shade.
In this episode Sir David visits South America to see the Balsa Tree, which grows several metres a year, sacrificing strength for fast growing, brittle wood.
Plants use leaves to capture light and carbon dioxide, which they turn into food. But leaves attract leaf-eaters.
The greatest is an underground fungus. It enlists an army of ants to march out, chop up leaves and bring them back, to create a mulch which it feeds off.
Plants retaliate by flooding their leaves with toxins.
When it comes to reproduction, the short-lived Balsa Tree outcompetes the rest, growing huge flowers brimming with super-strength nectar, irresistible to animal pollinators.
The parasitic Corpse Flower is irresistible too - but only to flies. It mimics a dead animal, down to its teeth, hair and foul stench.
Tropical forests even create their own weather.
Fungi release spores - tiny reproductive grains - a billion per square metre, which attract moisture as they float above the forest.
The result? Most raindrops in a tropical forest have a fungal spore at their heart.
Today tropical forests are being chopped into ever smaller fragments, each a fragile reservoir of diversity.
Yet there is hope. Left to its own devices tropical forest can recover.
Grazing land left to regrow in Costa Rica has, in 20 years, become forest again, rejoining many fragments.
Celebrity Game Night 3
Channel: E! (DStv 124)
TX Time: 20h00
Genre: Game Show
Celebrity Game Night is back for more comedic antics as local stars battle it out to reign victorious.
Join host Anele Mdoda, team captains Ayanda Thabethe and Jason Goliath and an array of local comedians, musicians, actors and media personalities as they've never been seen before.
Popular guests are back to compete in a series of raucous challenges including Minnie Dlamini, Boity Thulo, Kelly Khumalo, Donovan Goliath, Mpho Popps, Roxy Burger, Lerato Kganyago, Moonchild Sanelly, Schalk Bezuidenhout, Anne Hirsch and Thembi Seete.
During the course of the 10 one-hour episodes, the game show teams will also be bolstered by more star power, including:
Alfred Adriaan
David Kau
Dillan Oliphant
Dineo Langa
Dineo Ranaka
Enhle Mbali
Farieda Metsileng
Jonathan Boynton-Lee
Lady Zamar
Lentswe Bhengu
Lira
LootLove
Loyiso Mandinga
Mo Flava
Nambitha Ben-Mazwi
Nik Rabinowitz
Rami Chuene
Relebogile Mabotja
Rob van Vuuren
Rowlene
Sandile Mahlangu
Skhumba
Tamara Dey
Tats Nkonzo
Tsitsi Chiumya
Plus, for the first time, the series will feature appearances from guests across the continent, with some of Nigeria's biggest stars joining Anele and the celebrity teams in the studio via video link.
Included are comedian Josh Alfred (aka Josh2Funny), television presenter Stephanie Coker and Nollywood power couple Ibrahim and Linda Suleiman.
History's Greatest Mysteries 2
Channel: eReality (Openview 108)
TX Time: 21h40
Genre: Documentary Series, History
A series of investigative specials that take the world's most well-known mysteries, and challenges everything we know about them.
Narrated and hosted by Laurence Fishburne, the franchise delves into a wide array of some of the most historically important mysteries of recent times.
Who or what was behind the death of Bruce Lee?
What was the secret to Houdini's amazing tricks and why does the Bermuda Triangle still hold so many mysteries to date?
New evidence and perspectives, including never-before-seen diaries and advanced DNA testing, unearths brand-new information on some of history's most famous and puzzling chapters.
In the Season 2 premiere, "The Death of Bruce Lee": Bruce Lee's death at the young age of 32 was said to be the result of a cerebral oedema, or in simpler terms - a build-up of fluid on the brain.
There are different theories around the cause of this, one of them being heat stroke and the another is that he had an allergic reaction to a headache pill.
This show examines these theories on a deeper level.
With a trove of unreleased documents including the Hong Kong police report, the insurance company's inquest, Bruce's medical records, and first-hand testimony from his siblings, friends, lovers, co-stars, students and biographers, this two-hour special explores the questions we have been told not to ask for 50 years.
The Death of Bruce Lee is an active, present-day investigation into the theories that surround his death with a re-examination of his life as we revisit the moments that may have led to his untimely death.
In doing so, the film will reveal the Bruce Lee legacy you haven't heard - the true story of the life and death of the Dragon.
Living with Big Cats
Channel: Nat Geo Wild (DStv 182 / StarSat 221)
TX Time: 18h45
Genre: Wildlife, Documentary
Dereck and Beverly Joubert lead you on their incredible journey with big cats - from the first time big cats captured their hearts, through their boundless dedication to protecting these iconic predators.
This story explores how the Jouberts got started and delves into their personal lives as National Geographic filmmakers and explorers.
Released to Kill
Channel: CBS Justice (DStv 170)
TX Time: 19h00
Genre: True Crime, Documentary Series
One in five murders in the UK are committed by an ex-prisoner. Why did they kill and could they have been stopped?
From violent offenders to cold-blooded killers, this chilling series reveals how these criminals, once released from prison, went on to kill innocent people - some in a matter of days.
Released to Kill is a 10-part series, presented by criminologist and investigative journalist Donal MacIntyre, that takes an in depth look into these criminals and their crimes.
Each episode tells the story of one terrifying case as it unfolds, and we hear from both the victims' and the murderers' families, witnesses and experts.
At key moments when revisiting the case, Donal and a panel of experts, including a forensic psychiatrist, a former prison officer and a retired probation officer, examine if there were any warning signs about the potential evil of this person, as they answer the ultimate question: could a life have been saved?
A Lockdown Love Story
Channel: Star Life (DStv 167 / Openview 110)
TX Time: 19h00
Genre: Telenovela
Set in Prayagraj, the series follows the love story of Dhruv and Sonam who are forced to share a house with their respective families due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
Mumbai's Sonam is about to get hitched to Dhruv from Prayagraj.
When Sonam's family gets stuck at Dhruv's place due to the lockdown, all hell breaks loose.
The original title of the show is Lockdown Ki Love Story.
MORE:
A Lockdown Love Story Teasers - February 2022
America's Book of Secrets: Special Edition 2
Channel: HISTORY (DStv 186)
TX Time: 20h15
Genre: Documentary Series, History
While much of the history of the USA is widely available, there is another deeper history lingering in the shadows.
Stories and places that have been shrouded in secrecy and hidden from public view will once again be revealed.
Each two-hour episode gives secret access to some of America's most iconic locations and organisations like the Pentagon, the FBI and even the White House.
Now, a brand new season will dig deeper, wider than ever before in an effort to bring the truth behind today's all new, shocking headlines.
In the Season 2 premiere, "Home Sweet Fortress": For some, home lies not behind a picket fence, but behind steel bars, concrete and even armed guards.
What secrets are being protected within them?
Trevor Noah: The Daywalker 2.0
Channel: Me (DStv 115)
TX Time: 22h45
Genre: Comedy, Special
In 2009, comedian Trevor Noah performed his first ever one man show, The Daywalker.
Trevor delves into a wide range of topics including the story of his life as a mixed race child growing up in South Africa.
Now, in his second special filmed live at the Lyric Theatre in 2010, Trevor brings the jokes about family and politics.
He also discusses the pluses and minuses of the school that Oprah built in South Africa. Mostly the minuses.
Russia's Wild Tiger
Channel: Nat Geo Wild (DStv 182 / StarSat 221)
TX Time: 18h00
Genre: Wildlife, Documentary
Russia's Wild Tiger records the battle for survival of the big cats and reveals intimate details of their lives.
The animals they prey on are also in the film: tigers couldn't survive without sika deer, Altai wapiti, wild boars and Asian black bears.
A young tiger, born in a conservation area, will guide you through the film.
Russia's Wild Tiger accompanies him throughout the year after he leaves his mother.
His search for a territory reveals the problems facing tigers in Russia's far east, and the conflicts that arise when he strays into human settlements.
The young tiger takes you to places where the fate of Siberian tigers will be decided: vast forests, remote villages and the cities at the edge of the wilderness.
Top Chef 15
Channel: eReality (Openview 108)
TX Time: 17h10
Genre: Reality Competition, Food
Top Chef embarks on an epic culinary adventure through the state of Colorado for Season 15.
Host Padma Lakshmi and head judge Tom Colicchio return to the judges' table, alongside Gail Simmons and Graham Elliot.
The competition reaches new heights as the chefs battle it out on an epicurean road trip through Colorado, traveling to Denver, Boulder, Telluride and Aspen.
From deconstructing the Denver Omelet and preparing Rocky Mountain Oysters to tailgating with the Broncos, the level of competition for these 15 talented chefs is going to be a mile high.
With the judges looking for the chefs' peak performances, the challenges will test the competitors' culinary abilities in picturesque locales including a food festival in Larimer Square, a blizzard infused campfire cook-off, and cauldron cooking at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen.
In addition, social media star Logan Paul heads to Boulder and Olympians Gus Kenworthy, Meryl Davis and John Daly will challenge the chefs in an all-around culinary competition focusing on speed, precision and freestyle.
And not to be outdone, Season 14 winner Brooke Williamson returns to surprise the cheftestants with a breakfast Quickfire using Nutella.
It's not going to be easy for these chefs as they go for the gold, traveling around the state in a BMW X5 and battle it out for $125,000, a feature in Food & Wine magazine, a showcase at the annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen and the title of Top Chef.
Throughout the season, the chefs will be tasked with serving up food for culinary stars including Curtis Stone, Richard Blais, Michael Voltaggio, Bryan Voltaggio and Chris Cosentino.
In the Season 15 premiere, "It'll Take More than Pot Luck": A diverse group of chefs enter the Top Chef kitchen in Denver and are immediately put to work, tasked with making a pot luck dish to introduce themselves to the judges and their fellow competitors.
Then the cheftestants prepare their modern take on a meat and potatoes dish for a blow-out block party in Larimer Square with 200 diners and Denver's biggest culinary names, including Hosea Rosenberg, Troy Guard, Frank Bonanno and Gregory Gourdet.
The chefs learn the importance of the phrase 'first impressions are everything'.