Lone twins explored, Attenborough cracks down on a giant elephant bird egg and Ruth Goodman returns in Edwardian Farm in TVO's February 2012 programming highlights

TORONTO, Jan. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - This February, join TVO as we invite viewers into the world of inspiring new documentaries, hard-hitting dramas, and help us celebrate Black History Month with informative programming. Highlights include:

• World premiere of the TVO-commissioned documentary Lone Twin exploring the moving world of twins, and what happens after one passes away
• North American premiere of Attenborough and the Giant Egg brings the world-famous naturalist back to Africa, and face-to-face with the egg of the biggest bird that ever lived.
• North American premieres of new documentaries and dramas, including Edwardian Farm, The Ball, One Kiss Could Kill Him, and The Jury Series II.

Documentary Premieres

Lone Twin - World Broadcast Premiere
Wednesday February 15, 2012 at 9 pm ET
60 minutes
Produced by Storyline Entertainment and Wild Heart Productions in association with TVO.

Twins fascinate us. But what happens when one dies? Having lost her fraternal twin brother in a tragic accident at age 20, filmmaker Anna Van der Wee explores the impact of being a lone twin for most of her life. Taking audiences deep into the fascinating world of fraternal twins, Lone Twin reveals what twins can teach us about ourselves and our search for the perfect soul mate. Lone Twin is a moving journey into the nature of solitude, togetherness and the universal search for wholeness.

Edwardian Farm - North American Premiere
Mondays February 6 to April 23, 2012 at 7 pm ET
12 / 50 minutes
Produced by Lion Television for BBC

The creators of Victorian Farm return to uncover the lost world of the Edwardian "Working Countryside" in a scale and scope never before seen. For a full year, historian Ruth Goodman and her team bring Morwellham Farm back to life. Reflecting the traditional life and entrepreneurial spirit of the era, the team expands their horizons to explore a vibrant and diverse community where farming, market gardening, mining and fishing came together.

The Ball - North American Premiere
Sunday February 12, 2012 at 8 pm ET
50 minutes
Produced by Princess Pictures for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The Ball follows four students with special needs as they prepare for their school's debutante ball: first loves, fist fights and falls on the dance floor all combine with honest interviews and intimate moments captured in their homes, plus a grand finale on the dance floor. The film provides a heart-warming insight into the day-to-day lives of these unique young people as they start to be interested in the opposite sex, begin to crave more independence and want the satisfaction of earning a living, making a home, and starting a family.

Attenborough and the Giant Egg - North American Premiere
Wednesday February 22, 2012 at 7 pm ET
53 minutes
Produced by BBC Earth

In 1960 David Attenborough visited Madagascar and acquired one of his most treasured possessions: a giant egg belonging to the extinct "elephant bird" - the largest bird that ever lived. 50 years later, Attenborough returns to find out more about this amazing creature and to see how the island of Madagascar has changed. Could the elephant bird's fate provide lessons that may help protect Madagascar's remaining wildlife? Just how old is David's egg?

One Kiss Could Kill Him - North American Premiere
Tuesday February 28, 2012 at 9 pm ET
40 minutes
Produced by One Life for BBC

Toby Ellis has Ipex Syndrome, an extremely rare auto-immune disease. His body lacks the cells required to help his immune system decide what's harmful and what's harmless, and attacks his own major organs. Toby's mother has never been allowed to kiss him, as her everyday germs could kill him. Without a bone marrow transplant Toby will die. The film captures Toby's transplant operation.

Secret Mediterranean with Trevor McDonald - North American Premiere
Fridays February 3 to 24, 2012 at 7 pm ET
4 / 60 minutes
Produced by Plum Pictures Limited

Spanning three continents and 21 countries, the Mediterranean has nurtured some of the most dazzling civilizations of antiquity. Today, amid the stunning landscapes, more cultures live side by side here than anywhere else on earth. In this series Sir Trevor McDonald explores the various countries that make up the Mediterranean, their individual cultures and traditions, and looks beyond the beaches and old towns of holiday brochures to discover the truly secret world.

National Geographic - Great Migrations - TVO Premiere
Saturdays February 4 to 25, 2012 at 7 pm ET
4 / 52 minutes
Produced by National Geographic Television

Filmed in more than 20 countries across a three-year period, by more than 30 of the world's leading wildlife filmmakers using the very latest technology, this landmark four-part series is perhaps National Geographic Television's most impressive program in its 45-year history. Our planet is in constant motion: death-defying dramas playing out every day across the land, sea and sky and millions of creatures moving because their lives depend on it. 

My Street - North American Premiere
Wednesday February 22, 2012 at 9 pm ET
50 minutes
Produced by Wellpark Productions for Channel 4 Television Corporation

Filmmaker Sue Bourne has more than 300 people living in the 116 houses on her street and she barely knew a soul. Showcasing remarkable stories hidden from view, Bourne reveals millionaires living next to people on benefits and convicted drug smugglers alongside classical composers. The film ranges from flashes of joy to total darkness, and reflects the rich variety of life in a modern city.

Drama Series

The Jury Series II - North American Premiere
Sundays February 5 to March 11, 2012 at 10 pm ET
5 / 50 minutes
Produced by ITV Studios Global Entertainment

Written by BAFTA award-winning writer Peter Morgan, The Jury is a compelling, gripping and emotionally charged courtroom drama where everyday people find themselves at the centre of one of the most controversial criminal retrials of their time. Passionate defence barrister Emma Watts is determined to free a man convicted for the violent murders of three women he met on the Internet, while the jurors face the complexities of being caught up in the experiences of being key players in such a high-profile trial.

Black History Month Specials

This February, join TVO as we celebrate Black History Month in Ontario.

On Friday February 3, at 10 pm, Allan Gregg in Conversation welcomes Georges Laraque, former NHL enforcer and author of a new memoir, as he talks about the racism he faced in the rink as a child and gives his insider's take on fighting in hockey.

Documentaries include, The Lost Libraries of Timbuktu on Monday February 6 at 10 pm, in which filmmakers travel to discover Africa's oldest literature and find out why its preservation matters. A Walk to Beautiful on Sunday February 19 at 8 pm tells the stories of five Ethiopian women who suffer from devastating childbirth injuries and make the spiritual journey to reclaim their lost dignity. And The Little Black School House on Sunday February 26 at 8 pm explores the little-known history and experience of the children, women and men who studied and taught at all-black, segregated schools in Canada in the 1960s.

TVOKids relaunches the Time Trackers series with the story of Harriet Tubman.

About TVO

TVO is Ontario's public educational media organization and a trusted source of interactive educational content that informs, inspires and stimulates curiosity and thought. TVO's vision is to empower people to be engaged citizens of Ontario through educational media. TVO is funded primarily by the Province of Ontario. As a registered charity, TVO depends on the support of its sponsors and individual donors. For more information, visit tvo.org.

Where to Find TVO

SOURCE TVO

Video with caption: "Video: Lone Twin - February 15 - World Broadcast Premiere". Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcwMbEYCMr8

Video with caption: "Video: Edwardian Farm - February 6 - North American Premiere". Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-u_d1nv_TI

Video with caption: "Video: The Ball - February 12 @ 8pm on TVO". Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhTTxudON6c

Video with caption: "Video: Attenborough and the Giant Egg - February 22 @ 7pm on TVO". Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti4ThKrfqrg

Video with caption: "Video: One Kiss Could Kill Him - Tuesday February 28 @ 9pm on TVO". Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_IFR06SIAI

Video with caption: "Video: Secret Mediterranean - Fridays @ 7pm from February 3 on TVO". Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4Dd1gmCgBo

Video with caption: "Video: Great Migrations - Saturdays @ 7pm from February 4 on TVO". Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHd4jbBVIg0

Video with caption: "Video: My Street - Wednesday February 22 @ 9pm on TVO". Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uchweu83WIo

Video with caption: "Video: The Jury Series 2 - February 5 @ 10pm on TVO". Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWnXONy2uPs

Image with caption: "Fraternal twins Denise and Michael (l-r) share a laugh together. (CNW Group/TVO)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120106_C9841_PHOTO_EN_8561.jpg

Image with caption: "The cast of Edwardian Farm (l-r) Alex Langlands, Ruth Goodman and Peter Ginn. (CNW Group/TVO)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120106_C9841_PHOTO_EN_8559.jpg

Image with caption: "The cast of The Ball. (CNW Group/TVO)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120106_C9841_PHOTO_EN_8565.jpg

Image with caption: "Broadcaster and naturalist Attenborough next to the elephant bird egg he acquired 50-years ago in Madagascar. (CNW Group/TVO)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120106_C9841_PHOTO_EN_8558.jpg

Image with caption: "Toby with his mother Lisa (r-l). (CNW Group/TVO)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120106_C9841_PHOTO_EN_8563.jpg

Image with caption: "Broadcaster and host of Secret Mediterranean, Sir Trevor McDonald. (CNW Group/TVO)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120106_C9841_PHOTO_EN_8564.jpg

Image with caption: "Monarch butterflies sunbathing on leaves. (CNW Group/TVO)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120106_C9841_PHOTO_EN_8560.jpg

Image with caption: "Filmmaker Sue Bourne looks on past the camera, with her street in the background. (CNW Group/TVO)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120106_C9841_PHOTO_EN_8562.jpg

Image with caption: "Actor Roger Allam, as barrister John Mallory Q.C, in court. (CNW Group/TVO)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120106_C9841_PHOTO_EN_8566.jpg