Come to Your Census: Duffy explores roles of women in rural community 100 years ago
TV WEEK (Wednesday 6th to Tuesday 12th)
TOP SPECIALS
Amandaland (BBC 1, Wednesday 6th, 9pm)
Lucy Punch returns as Amanda, South Harlesden’s most pretentious single parent. As she forges ahead continuing to develop her online lifestyle brand ‘Senuous’, she engineers a marketing push that begins with a talk at a careers week event at her son’s school, pushing back against the idea that her work is, in any way shallow. Joanna Lumley and Pam Ferris backup the hilarity.
The Shelter: Animal SOS (RTÉ 1, Friday 8th, 8pm)
This fly on the wall series follows the work at Ireland’s largest animal charity, who recently went national, and are now called the NSPCA. Their headquarters in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains cares for all creatures great and small and uniquely is the only animal charity in Ireland with a team of full-time vets. A behind the scenes insight into the work, from rescue through to rehabilitation and rehoming, and the incredible efforts made by a dedicated staff to help animals through their toughest moments.
WATCH OF THE WEEK
Come To Your Census (RTÉ 1, Sunday 10th, 6.30pm)
In April 1926, Ireland carried out its first census as a Free State. One hundred years later, Dubliner, novelist and UL Professor of Creative Writing Joseph O’Connor traces his family’s working-class roots, while in Cork actor Eileen Walsh sets out to discover the story of her grandfather, a young revolutionary. And in Mayo, RTÉ Radio 1 radio presenter Louise Duffy explores the powerful roles played by women in the rural community where she grew up.
David Attenborough’s 100 Years On Planet Earth (BBC 1, Friday 9th, 8.30pm)
On the day of Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday, this event honours one of the most influential figures in broadcasting and natural history storytelling. Broadcast from the Royal Albert Hall in London, it celebrates his groundbreaking career, taking audiences on an extraordinary journey through a century of exploration and discovery in the natural world, seen through the prism of his remarkable life and work.
BEST FILMS
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (Sky Cinema Premiere, from Wednesday)
Forty-one years after the release of the groundbreaking ‘mockumentary’, the now estranged bandmates are forced to reunite for one final concert. They are joined by documentarian Marty Di Bergi – the late Rob Reiner, starring and directing his final film – who once again tries to capture his favourite metal gods as they contemplate mortality.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (Sky Cinema Premiere, from Friday)
When Lady Mary finds herself at the centre of a public scandal and the family face financial trouble, the entire household grapple with the threat of social disgrace. As the years pass, the Crawleys embrace change as the staff prepare for a new chapter with the next generation leading Downton Abbey into the future.
Moon (CH4, Sunday 10th, 11pm)
Sam Rockwell stars in David Bowie’s director son Duncan’s psychological sci-fi thriller about a man who lives alone on the moon overseeing the earth’s ‘clean-energy’ mining operation. Sam Bell is coming to the end of his luna-based contract, after three years with nothing but a sardonic-sounding computer called Gerty, voiced by Kevin Spacey, for company.
CLASSIC MOVIE
Oblivion (CH4, Saturday 9th, 11.40pm)
In 2077, 60 years have passed since an alien invasion devastated Earth. Mankind was triumphant, but civilisation was so badly wrecked that humanity decided to relocate to Saturn’s moon, Titan. Jack (Tom Cruise) and Victoria (Andrea Riseborough) are among the few humans left on the planet to tend the drones that fend off attacks from remaining alien scavengers.
KIDS STUFF
Ireland In Music (RTÉ 2, Thursday 7th, 11.05pm)
Mundy brings songs new and old and stories to go with them as he meets Denise Chaila in Ballivor Library in Meath. Denise is fascinated with the fact that Mundy grew up in a pub and wonders with him about how that inspired his songwriting. Mundy shares his songs and the philosophies underpinning them in his own unique style.
Whitney At The BBC (BBC 4, Friday 8th, 9.05pm)
A celebration of the hits of one of the greatest and biggest-selling stars of all time, wrapped up in one of soul music’s biggest-ever voices, captures how the world sat up and listened when Whitney Houston burst on the scene in 1985 with Saving all My Love for You. Hit by hit, through the ‘80s, ‘90s and ‘00s, this playlist is an absolute must for all her fans, and why her early death in 2012 was such a tragic loss to the world of music.
ON DEMAND
Off Campus (Amazon Prime)
Based on the book series by Elle Kennedy, this stars Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli in a college-set romantic drama chronicling the unexpected and unlikely love story between a wry music student and the university’s beefcake star hockey player, exploring themes of love and the complexities of adulthood through deep friendships and enduring bonds.
Worst Ex Ever (Netflix)
Returning for its second season, this series we can all relate to features gripping testimonials, startling bodycam footage, and vivid animated reenactments that bring harrowing tales of betrayal, violence, and deceit to life – exposing some of the most monstrous relationships and exes you’ll ever encounter.
Good Omens (Amazon Prime)
Returning for its final season, Good Omens stars David Tennant as the demon Crowley and Michael Sheen as the angel Aziraphale, friends for centuries but who had a heartbreaking falling out at the end of season two. Aziraphale, now Supreme Archangel, seeks Crowley’s help as plans for the Second Coming take a dangerous turn. Can the angel and demon reconcile their differences before it’s too late?
Legends (Netflix)
In the 1990s, when the UK Customs and Excise was losing its battle with drug smuggling across its borders, the solution was extraordinary. In a top-secret operation, a small team of Customs employees were sent undercover to infiltrate Britain’s most dangerous drug gangs. None were trained spies – just ordinary men and women placed in extreme jeopardy for a cause they believed in.
SPORTS CENTRE
Champions League Live (RTÉ 2, Wednesday 6th, 7.30pm)
Peter Collins is joined by Didi Hamann and Kevin Doyle for live coverage of Bayern Munich v Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final, second leg, from the Allianz Arena. Two of Europe’s best battle it out to make the grand final – a cracker in store. KO 8pm.