ok
tried the hollyoaks test - set the series record on c4 at 1830 - in the timers menu it says it is going to record that instance of that show today and then the one on e4 straight afterwards(1900). for the rest of the week it will record e4 at 1900.
As far as i am aware the one on e4 at 1900 is the episode that will be shown the next day at 1830, so it is picking up the first showing of any particular episode. it has also skipped the weekend omnibus and moved straight on to next monday as well.
on setting two more timers for 1900 this evening (c4 news and emmerdale), the unit immediately brought up a menu telling me too many timers were set. i can select each timer individually to delete it or on hitting the red button on the remote it lets me select from a list of alternatives for each program
the list of alternatives for the hollyoaks episodes includes tomorrow at 1830 on c4 and 1930 c4+1 and and the 30th 1625 on e4 and 1725 e4+1.
the list of alternatives for emmerdale tomorrow at 0700 and 1300 on itv2 and again an hour later on itv2
c4 news did not have an alternative listed, even though it is repeated on c4+1