TV Week: Leo Varadkar in the wild mountains of South Africa

TV WEEK ((Wednesday 14th to Tuesday 20th)

TOP SPECIALS

David Frost Vs – Part Two (Sky Documentaries, Wednesday 14th, 9pm)

The second part of David Frost Vs kicks off with Richard Nixon – it was the inside story of the most watched and one of the most important political interviews of all time. Frost conducted a titanic battle of wits over 28 hours with disgraced former president, Richard Nixon, speaking for the first time since the humiliation of his resignation over the Watergate scandal.

Bad Nanny (BBC 1, Wednesday 14th, 10.40pm)

Carrie Jade Williams appeared on social media in 2022, telling her ‘heart-wrenching’ story of living with the degenerative Huntington’s disease – emotional videos that struck a chord with many people. Before long, however, some social media sleuths discovered that ‘Carrie Jade’ wasn’t this person’s real identity. And much else of what they uncovered was even more shocking.

Eurovision Song Contest 2025 (RTE 1, Saturday 17th, 8pm)

It’s that time of year again, when we tune in for surprises in a competition that seems to have found a second wind of late. Live from St Jakobshalle, Basel, Switzerland, artists and songs from 26 countries will be competing in the 69th annual running of Europe’s favourite television show. It’s an event with colour, national identity, cultural weirdness, and, in fairness, some very decent songs. The presenters in Basel are Hazel Brugger, Sandra Studer and Michelle Hunziker. Our own inimitable Marty Whelan is in the commentary box.

Garbo: Where Did You Go? (Sky Arts, Wednesday 14th, 9pm)

‘I vant to be alone.’ One of the most enduring statements in Hollywood history – spoken by one of the great actresses of the Golden Age. The first definitive, authored feature documentary portrait of Hollywood heroine and icon, Greta Garbo –beautiful, talented, sombre and enigmatic, a troubled genius with a proclivity for solitude, still considered one of the greatest Hollywood actresses of all time.

Forever Home (BBC 2, Thursday 15th, 7pm)

Dreams of the perfect profession, pastimes and even partner often lure young people away from the their home towns to the bright lights of a big city. As time passes and ambitions are fulfilled, many wish to swap the excitement of city life for a more settled lifestyle. One such young couple, Jess and Colin, are leaving London to return to rural Wales, where they hope to create their dream house.

Legacy (RTÉ 1, Sunday 18th, 6.30pm)

New four-part documentary series featuring 15 of the National Historic Properties, each episode having a specific theme: Centres of Power, Writers and Collectors, Memory and Commemoration, and The Art of the Portrait. Director David Hare, explains: “The thematic approach enabled us to include very different and seemingly unrelated buildings and sites from very different eras, and weave them together so that the connections between them become clear.”

WATCH OF THE WEEK

Uncharted With Ray Goggins (RTÉ 1, Wednesday 14th, 9.35pm)

Former taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, teams up with singer Lyra to travel with Ray to the wild untamed mountains of Drakensberg, South Africa. The unlikely trio sleep in caves, scale gigantic peaks and climb sheer rock faces as they make their way to the top of one of the tallest waterfalls on the planet, Tugela Falls. No stranger to scaling political heights, how will Leo fare when faced with a death-defying vertical climb?

BEST FILMS

Mob Cops (Sky Cinema Premiere, from Wednesday)

Kevin Connolly and David Arquette star in a crime drama set around what happens when a retired NYPD detective writes a book about his family’s ties to the mob, and ignites a firestorm between the dirty cops and the good officers trying to bring them to justice.

Mrs Harris Goes To Paris (RTÉ 1, Friday 16th, 9.35pm)

Leslie Manville stars in the story of a widowed cleaning lady in 1950s London who falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress, and decides that she must have one of her own. She embarks on an adventure to Paris which will change the very future of the House of Dior.

Eastern Promises (BBC 2, Friday 16th, 11pm)

Viggo Mortensen plays a shady individual who has ties to one of the most dangerous crime families in London. Then he crosses paths with Anna, a midwife who has come into possession of potentially damaging evidence against the family, which forces him to set in motion a plan of deceit, death and retribution.

CLASSIC MOVIE

Carol (Film4, Wednesday 14th, 11.20pm)

Director Todd Hatnes takes on a delicate story of 1950s forbidden love when aspiring photographer Therese spots the beautiful, elegant Carol perusing the displays in a 1950s Manhattan department store. The two women develop a fast bond that becomes a love with complicated consequences. Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara are a perfect match.

KIDS STUFF

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (Sky Cinema Premiere, from Friday)

Beetlejuice is back! After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic.

Rebellious (Sky Cinema Premiere, from Wednesday)

In this modern twist on a classic fairy tale, a headstrong princess is stolen by an evil sorcerer, and her scholarly fiancé must use his wits in an epic quest to find her while she boldly challenges her captors and plots a daring escape.

ON DEMAND

Secrets We Keep (Netflix)

When the young Filipino au pair Ruby disappears from one of the most affluent neighbourhoods of Copenhagen, curious neighbour Cecilie becomes convinced that something bad has happened and starts to investigate the rumours circulating. The case of the missing foreigner is a low priority for the police, though, and the newly minted investigator Aicha needs all the assistance she can get.

The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives (Disney+)

Follows a group of eight Utah-based TikTok influencers, known as ‘MomTok’, as they navigate the complexities of their personal and professional lives. Things get interesting when one influencer reveals that she and her husband had been ‘soft-swinging’ with other Mormon couples.

Football Parents (Netflix)

A comedy series that revolves around a group of overbearing parents who shamelessly meddle in their children’s amateur football careers. Lillian wants her son Levi to fit in – but that means she has to befriend Marenka, who is the last person you want to deal with on a Saturday morning.

SPORTS CENTRE

Rugbai Beo (TG4, Friday 16th, 7.30pm)

Munster V Benneton – and it’s another huge test for the Red Army as they try to save a season that has been topsy-turvey at times. Expect plenty of Munster blood and guts as they take on an Italian side that are not any kind of pushover.

League Of Ireland (Virgin Media Two, Friday 16th, 7.30pm)

Bohemians v Shelbourne is a Dublin derby held in the iconic Dalymount Park. These sides have served up some outstanding football so far – expect plenty of goals and hard tackles.