Court in the act... (From The Northern Echo)

Court in the act...

2:04pm Thursday 12th January 2012 in Tonight's TV By Steve Pratt

The Good Wife (More4, 9pm)
Location Location Location (C4, 8pm)
World’s Scariest Plane Landings (Channel 5, 8pm)

IF Michael Crichton had got his own way with the pilot episode of ER, Julianna Margulies might never have become a star. At the end of that feature- length programme, nurse Carol Hathaway was rushed into the hospital where she worked, having taken an overdose.

Viewers saw her saved by colleagues, and she went on to become one of the drama’s most popular characters. However, Crichton had originally planned to kill her off – it was only when audiences reacted positively to her that she had a stay of execution.

Margulies went on to play Hathaway for six years, but the role openedthe door to other parts, including The Good Wife, which is a massive hit in its US, and for which she’s already won numerous awards.

Now she’s back for another new run of the legal drama, which begins with Alicia trying to ignore her personal problems to defend a Muslim student accused of killing a Jewish classmate.

JUST over a decade ago, nobody outside their friends, family and work colleagues had ever heard of Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer. Now things are rather different – and it’s all thanks to Location Location Location.

While hosting this programme, they have witnessed some trying times for those hoping to move into their dream abodes. But nothing seems to faze them.

During their professional lives as property searchers, they’ve seen everything that can possible happen during a house sale – but are still able to stay cool in a crisis.

The duo never seem to tire of each other’s company, which must be a godsend seeing as they spend long hours together.

They also give the impression of being as tough as old boots, and unwilling to take nonsense from anyone. However, Allsopp isn’t convinced that’s true.

“I once took part in Have I Got News for You and it was the most frightening thing I have ever done in my life,” she says. “I’d rather bungee jump off Sydney Harbour Bridge. Paul Merton was really nice and friendly, and it was great to be on his team. Ian Hislop was really friendly too, but John Humphrys was on – he was just scary.”

But the Hampshire-born presenter is quick to point out that, despite her TV nerves, when it comes to bricks and mortar, she’s no wallflower.

“It horrifies me when people don’t clean up when they move out of their homes after selling them,” she says.

“I come across that all the time – people who take all the fixtures and fittings, and those who leave the place a complete pigsty. That sort of behaviour is all too common, and it’s just the worst sort of discourtesy, to not make an effort for the people who are buying your home.”

Spencer believes there are other, more fundamental problems involved with trying to become a homeowner. “It’s extremely difficult for young people to get in on the property market and it isn’t getting any easier, what with student debt and so on.”

The duo have, of course, also fronted such shows as Relocation, Relocation and Where Best to Invest, and have even ventured into solo projects, but their original show remains the cream of the crop.

This week’s episode sees them in Windsor to help Nicki and Damien find a family home before heading to Maidenhead to find a swanky pad for Maria, who’s been living in Switzerland for the past decade.

THANKFULLY, most of the time aeroplane landings are event-free and everyone happily files off through customs, but once in a while things don’t go to plan.

The first of a new four-part series, World’s Scariest Plane Landings features footage of some of the most white-knuckle touchdowns you’ve ever seen.

Whether caused by not-so-skilled pilots, adverse weather conditions or mechanical failure, the cheap and not-socheerful compilation of camera-phone shots and other assorted clips will make many of us sat at home rather glad that we’re not jetting off somewhere. (If you are, perhaps best to watch something more relaxing like Location Location Location).

Among the footage are hair-raising British landings at London’s City Airport, and, in Leeds, an engine catching fire as a heron flies into it during take-off.

Plus, there are shots of the amazing Hudson River landing from three years ago, with comment from one of the passengers.