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Sydney Morning Herald

Monday September 8, 2008

Robin Oliver

Rome

Showcase, 8.30pm

The 10th and final chapter of this elaborately mounted series sees Marc Antony (James Purefoy), brave, handsome, arrogant, impulsive and now defeated by Octavian (Simon Woods), at the naval battle of Actium off the west coast of Greece in 31BC. The battle was finally lost when Cleopatra (Lyndsey Marshal), recognising impending disaster, withdrew her galleys and returned to Egypt.

With his decisive victory with a smaller force over Antony's 500 ships and 70,000 men, Octavian becomes the undisputed master of the Roman Empire and returns to Rome in triumph. Four year later he will become the Emperor Augustus. As Antony's forces surrender to Octavian, Antony also slips away to Egypt, where he and Cleopatra settle to a life of debauchery. It will prove short-lived as Octavian and his army follow them.

Departures: Jordan

NatGeo Adventure, 8.30pm

Scott and Justin head to Jordan to attend their friend Ibrahim's wedding. Arriving in Amman, they prepare for the trip south, first heading out into Lawrence of Arabia country to explore the desert landscape, before hiking, as one must, down the narrow passageway into the ancient hidden city of Petra, carved from the solid rock.

They are supposed to be heading further south to Aqaba for the wedding but, in one of those quirky moments of editing, the next time we see them they are visiting the Roman ruins at Jerash, once buried under sand.

The gorgeous scenery is among the most memorable anywhere in the Middle East but don't plan a holiday this way.

Orangutan Island

Animal Planet, 7.30pm

Illegal logging in Borneo's forests is rapidly destroying the orang-utan's last refuge in the wild, leaving hundreds of babies orphaned and homeless. The future may seem bleak but rescue is at hand from the staff and 35 students at Forest School 103 at the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre.

These precocious, red-haired "children of the forest" are being given the chance to lead protected lives on Orangutan Island, an innovative project led by the centre's director, Lone Droscher-Nielsen, and her team. It is the world's biggest primate rescue operation.

The first television pictures of the orang-utan children - including Cha Cha, Saturnus, Daisy and Chen Chen - provide wonderful images as they settle into their new home.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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