This problem has been ongoing for weeks now, check out the numerous threads on the
Virgin community forum.
The initial advice was to re-boot, but this appears not to unlock manual recordings from the channels. Also the re-boot is causing some V+ boxes to malfunction, requiring the HDD to be reformatted.
The workaround you have already found is how most people are viewing the material, as the techs at Virgin still seem to be scratching their heads over this one.