Red Sea: Evolution's Magic Garden
Channel: Nat Geo Wild (DStv 182 / StarSat 221)
TX Time: 18h00
Genre: Wildlife, Nature, Documentary
The Red Sea is home to one of the largest coral reefs on Earth.
But even on the apparently dry coasts and islands, there is a fantastic profusion of animals and plants.
The Red Sea is a tough place to call home. Largely land-locked, it has a higher salinity and is warmer than most other seas around the world.
Yet its coral reefs continue to thrive at a time when many others are disappearing and the sea as a whole remains home to a fascinating range of marine life, including various shark species, angelfish and manta rays.
The land around the Red Sea is no less compelling. At its mouth lies the isolated island of Socotra.
One third of the plant life that grows here is found nowhere else on Earth – including the bizarre Socotra desert rose, which resembles a baobab tree and grows for several hundred years.
In addition, the island is home to a range of endemic species.
For centuries, different cultures have intersected around the Red Sea, despite the inhospitable conditions.
These days, it is these very conditions that are leading to increased interest in the region.
As temperatures rise around the world, the flora and fauna of the Red Sea continue to display an incredible resilience and ability to adapt.
Could it become a form of Noah's Ark, a repository of species that have disappeared elsewhere around the world?
First Dates Hotel 7
Channel: BBC Lifestyle (DStv 174)
TX Time: 19h00
Genre: Dating Game Show, Reality
First Dates maitre d' Fred Sirieix and his team from the main series invite singletons to join them at a luxury hotel in the south of France for another host of blind dates.
Stationed in the French countryside, away from the distractions of modern day life, the venue exudes romance and charm.
Visiting Brits from all over the UK are matched on set as they enjoy dates in idyllic surroundings, from candle-lit meals under the stars to pool side lunches.
Those who have successful dates are given the chance to extend their stay at the hotel, while others are given another chance at finding love.
Season 7 guests include an 83-year-old former international jazz singer, a twin who refuses to "mother" her dates and a philosophy graduate looking for her match.