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Joel Defries, Helen Skelton and Andy Akinwolere are full of festive cheer this week as Blue Peter prepares to celebrate Christmas in September. The garden is set to be transformed into a winter wonderland with a tree, decorations and snow. The reason for the early seasonal celebrations is that the programme is launching its annual appeal – and, this year, it has a Christmas theme.

For the appeal, Blue Peter is asking its loyal viewers to get out their glue sticks, glitter and cotton wool so they can make thousands of handmade Christmas cards to help raise funds for leading children's disability charity Whizz-Kidz. The completed cards will need to be sent in by the end of October so they are ready to be sold in selected Tesco stores across the country. All the proceeds will go towards the appeal target of helping to raise funds for 100 Whizz-Kidz wheelchair assessment clinics across the UK. These clinics will benefit 400 children by allowing them to obtain their wheelchairs more quickly, giving the child a more active and independent life.

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A familiar face returns to Albert Square in the week's first visit to Walford – but what have they got to hide?

For the first time, Minty finds himself torn between two women. Elsewhere, Jodie finally forgives her mother.

Minty is played by Cliff Parisi and Jodie by Kylie Babbington.

JM3

To look back at the state visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Britain, Huw Edwards presents a special highlights programme from St Mary's College, Oscott. Among the guests joining Huw to review the outcome of this historic visit are Archbishop Vincent Nicols, Leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales; Lord Chris Patten, the Prime Minister's Personal Representative for the Papal Visit; and historian Diarmaid MacCulloch.

As the dust settles on the pomp and ceremony that comes with a state visit of this size and scale, the guests reflect on the significance of the visit not only to the UK's Catholics, but also to religion as a whole in a modern multicultural society where it is being challenged and tested.

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Antiques Master returns this week with a celebrity twist for the last show of the series. In this special edition, four famous faces, all with a passion for antiques, battle it out at Towneley Hall in Burnley for the title of Celebrity Antiques Master.

Hosting the show is Sandi Toksvig, and joining her to provide the all-important information, facts and figures is Antiques Roadshow expert Eric Knowles.

The contestants hoping to prove their expertise are EastEnders star Ricky Groves, who has a rare passion for antique fishing tackle; Embarrassing Bodies' resident doctor, Dr Christian Jessen, who loves the artistry of 18th- and 19th-century bronzes; Apprentice runner-up Saira Khan, who adores the craftsmanship of Victorian furniture; and World's Strongest Man Geoff Capes, who has a particular interest in the renowned work of French glass designer Lalique.

Antiques Master has searched museums, shops and private collections to provide access to some of the finest artefacts ever to appear on British television and, among others, this week's show features a 19th-century Baroda jar worth £8,000.

The show features four tough challenges, culminating in a thrilling head-to-head putting these celebrity hopefuls through their paces, and providing the ultimate test to determine who should be crowned Celebrity Antiques Master.

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John Humphrys examines why the education system is still failing so many children and why the attainment gap between advantaged and disadvantaged pupils has stubbornly refused to narrow.

Earlier this summer Michael Gove, Education Secretary, made the startling statement: "...Before they even arrive at school ... rich thick kids do better than poor clever children. And then when they arrive at school the situation as they go through gets worse."

This attainment gap is a problem that starts very early on, with experts saying that even before turning two, poor children have already fallen significantly behind in development. When they reach school age they are on average a year behind; by 14, two years behind; and by 16 half as likely to get five good GCSEs.

John examines the reasons behind these stark disparities, and why the attainment gap between advantaged and disadvantaged pupils has stubbornly refused to narrow, despite the pledge made by successive governments to put education at the top of the political agenda.

John travels the country visiting schools and meeting parents, teachers, pupils, tutors and researchers. He hears from teachers committed to finding ways to improve things; pupils who are hoping to achieve in ways they never thought to be possible; and head teachers who have managed to turn failing schools around.

But he also uncovers the battles that exist for the best available education and how an increasing number of parents are using private tutoring companies to top up their children's education. Lee Elliott-Major of The Sutton Trust tells how research still suggests that the overwhelming factor in who does well in school depends on who the parents are, and John hears how parental choice for schools and the option for private education often exaggerate the social divide between the rich and the poor.

In the film, John reflects on his own background and explores the dilemmas faced by parents wanting the best education for their children.

The film is part of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two's School Season, on air throughout September, encompassing a range of programmes from documentary to drama and debate, and online at bbc.co.uk/schoolseason.

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(L-R) Naz (Emaa Hussen), Soloman (Tosin Cole), Asher (Heshima Thompson) and Stevie (Amanda Fairbank-Hynes)

It's the morning after the night before, in the latest omnibus edition of the online EastEnders spin-off series.

Stevie is broken hearted. Sol wants to practise the routine but Asher has other plans. Meanwhile, Stevie finds comfort in an older man. But what is Naz hiding?

Meanwhile, when Olly takes the furniture from the flat, Stevie is forced to get a job. Naz offers advice to flirt her way into employment. With Sol and Naz getting closer, Asher offers brotherly words of advice. But trouble in paradise is brewing.

Stevie is played by Amanda Fairbanks-Hynes, Sol by Tosin Cole, Asher by Heishma Thompson, Naz by Emaa Hussen and Olly by Joshua MacGuire.

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Sarah Solemani plays Becky

Paul's son, Little Luke, is out of hospital so he's having a fancy dress party to celebrate, as Stefan Golaszewski's comedy revealing the hilarious and often shocking truth of what really goes on behind the bedroom doors of today's 20-somethings continues.

Steve and Becky have to go to the party. They don't want to. Becky dithers over a spot on her chin. Steve can't get through to his bank. But when a furious Paul comes over to see why they're so late, and what's happened to the sausage rolls, it seems they have no option but to go.

Paul is played by Ricky Champ, Steve by Russell Tovey and Becky by Sarah Solemani.

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Camping, singing, swimming and pottery painting are on this week's menu as CBeebies' favourite Sarah-Jane Honeywell continues her mission to encourage youngsters to get off the sofa and get active in the high-energy series Mighty-Mites.

Encouraging children to get out and try something new – from go-karting to kite-flying and pond-dipping to circus skills – in each episode Sarah-Jane (Tikkabilla, Higgledy House) and excitable and inquisitive puppet Go-Joe take two children – the Mighty-Mites – on a journey to try an activity for the very first time.

On Monday children Callum and Macie are playing in a fabulous den they've built in the living room, using empty boxes and blankets. This gives Sarah-Jane a great idea of where to take them on their Mighty-Mites journey: to a campsite! Callum and Macie get to grips with the mallet for the tent pegs, have a race pumping up the air mattresses and learn how to cook outside.

There's no business like show business on Tuesday when Sarah-Jane, Go-Joe and friends Isla and Oliver join in with a group of children preparing for a performance. They learn to sing a song about going to the zoo and practise the actions to go with the words. The children also make brilliant animal masks to wear for their big performance on the stage.

The Mighty-Mites dive in head-first on Thursday to learn all about swimming. Sarah-Jane takes children Feena and Pablo to a swimming pool where they learn how to swim on their backs, fetch items that have sunk to the bottom of the pool and dive safely into the water.

And Friday is a creative and colourful day as Sarah-Jane takes Mighty-Mites Tegan and Sam for a pottery-painting lesson. The children get their hands nice and dirty as Sam learns to bubble paint and Tegan experiments with sponge shapes.

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