Fourth Hothouse Flower for one night
TV WEEK (Wednesday 5th to Tuesday 11th)
TOP SPECIALS
Voices of the Valleys (Sky Arts, Wednesday 5th, 9pm)
Voices of the Valleys follows three male voice choirs and their charismatic conductors from across Wales as they each prepare for key events in their choral calendar, from challenging competitions to a performance in front of 70,000 people. Follow the passionate choristers, from a 24-year-old soloist yet to reach his full potential to one of the country’s more experienced and celebrated tenors.
The Disappearance Of Captain Nairac (RTÉ 1, Wednesday 5th, 9.35pm)
Northern Ireland in 1977 was one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a British soldier. On 14 May, Captain Robert Nairac set out on an undercover mission to a rural bar near the Irish borderland known as ‘Bandit Country’. A few hours later he was abducted, driven over the border, shot by the IRA and secretly buried. Almost 50 years on, his remains have never been found.
The Body Detectives (CH4, Thursday 6th, 10pm)
There are more than 1,000 unidentified bodies in the UK – those of people who have died, but no one ever came forward to claim the body. This series follows the work of Locate International, an organisation dedicated to revisiting forgotten cases and giving a name and a story to each unidentified person. Former detective Dave Grimstead calls on a network of forensic experts, each with their own expertise, to help solve each case.
Elvis, The Colonel and The Mob (CH4, Saturday 8th, 10pm)
Elvis Presley was more than just the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll – he was also a pawn in the Mafia’s control over Las Vegas entertainment. People surrounding him were entangled in a much darker world of organised crime, backroom deals, and manipulation, as the Mob built and controlled Las Vegas. Elvis was both a goldmine and a tool to attract high-rollers and launder money through casino empires. At the centre of it all was his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, whose own gambling debts kept the King locked in to mafia-run venues.
WATCH OF THE WEEK
Possession (Sky Atlantic, Thursday 6th, 9pm)
Gugu Mbatha-Raw is an ambitious young lawyer who travels to Jamaica to challenge an inheritance claim made by a local man against Oliver Connaught (Jonny Lee Miller), a wealthy white aristocrat. But the case takes an unsettling turn when the fledgling lawyer discovers that the disputed estate is the Connaught family’s former plantation – a place where secrets of their brutal past begin to reappear.
BEST FILMS
You’re Cordially Invited (BBC 1, Wednesday 5th, 10.40pm)
When two weddings are accidentally booked on the same day at the same venue, the bridal parties are determined to upstage one other for the better enjoyment of this tangled situation – especially when the father of one bride (Will Ferrell) and sister of the other bride (Reese Witherspoon) find themselves locked in a winner-takes-all contest. Every couple’s worst nightmare in real life is here in all its comedic chaos.
The Bright Side (RTÉ 2, Friday 7th, 9.35pm)
Directed and co-written by Ruth Meehan, the plot centres on ageing stand-up comedian Kate McLoughlin, who finds herself battling a cancer diagnosis and who reluctantly agrees to her family’s wish that she undergo treatment. Even with cynicism and blackly comic jokes, Kate bonds with the four other women in the chemo ward – an experience that makes her view life through a different lens.
28 Days Later (BBC 1, Friday 7th, 10.45pm)
When bike courier Cillian Murphy wakes up from a coma he finds London all but deserted. On the run from the zombie victims of the Rage virus, he encounters a group of survivors, including Naomie Harris and cab driver Brendan Gleeson on a perilous journey to what they hope will be safety. A classic horror flick in which a young Cillian proved his growing acting skills.
CLASSIC MOVIE
Women Talking (BBC 2, Thursday 6th, 12am)
Winner of the an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, the story follows eight women of a cloistered Mennonite community who have to decide what to do about the abuse they have endured at the hands of their menfolk – having been repeatedly drugged and raped for years. Adapted from the 2018 Miriam Towes novel, the cast includes Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley and Frances McDormand.
KIDS STUFF
Tradfest – The Dublin Sessions (RTÉ 1, Friday 7th, 8.30pm)
Clare Sands joins the Hothouse Flowers on fiddle for one night as a fourth ‘Flower’ alongside Liam Ó Maonlaí, Fiachna Ó Braonáin and Peter O’Toole, reworking some of the band’s classics, like Give It Up, and taking the songs to new places. Like all Hothouse Flowers live shows, there is no set-list as the band play numbers on the fly without even talking about it.
The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (Sky Cinema Premiere, from Saturday)
That’s not all folks! Porky Pig and Daffy Duck, one of the greatest comedic duos in history, are making their hilarious return in a sci-fi comedy adventure in which our unlikely heroes find themselves Earth’s only hope when facing the threat of alien invasion. A buddy-comedy of epic proportions, it’s going to be out of this world!
ON DEMAND
Let's Marry Harry (Netflix)
Heartthrob Harry Jowsey is done playing the field. After years of dating, and getting it wrong, his mates have carefully selected a pool of potential matches to help Harry find authentic love and marriage. As expected, the path of true love does not run smoothly.
Beast Race (Amazon Prime)
In a dystopian future, Rio de Janeiro lies in ruins and has become the setting for a deadly competition between runners, each representing an animal, risking their lives to compete for a cash prize that can change their lives. In order to compete, each runner offers another person as collateral – and only the winners are allowed to recover their loved ones.
Ricky Gervais Alley Cats (Netflix)
The man who created The Office turns his hand to this adult animated sitcom series following the trials and tribulations of a group of feral cats from all walks of society, who seek companionship while ruminating on everyday life – and avoiding the larger kitties with longer nails. The traditional black Gervais humour works well on these terrible tabbies.
SPORTS CENTRE
Dublin Horse Show (RTÉ 2, Friday 7th, 1.30pm)
The Dublin Horse Show is one of the most prestigious and long-standing events in the equestrian and social calendar, hosted by the RDS in Dublin for more than 150 years. It’s a highlight for horse lovers, and also a fantastic day out for the whole family. Ruby Walsh and the team present an afternoon of coverage across all areas, including the oldest team competition, the Nations Cup.