TV not to miss

Knocked Up

TV3, 10pm

The smash-hit rom-com has grossed over $200 million since it was released in 2007 and, unusually for the genre, plenty of its fans are male. That’s probably down to the pairing of writer/director Judd Apatow with his favourite lead, Seth Rogen. His character is a lovable slacker who scores way out of his league with a drunken Alison Scott (Katherine Heigl, above). A pregnancy occurs, and it’s an ideal scenario to roll out the laughs as the world of straight girl and stoner boy collide.

The Saturday Night Show

RTÉ One, 9.50pm

Guests on Brendan O’Connor’s show tonight include British dancing politician Ann Widdecombe, singer Gavin Friday and writer Sarah Harte.

SUNDAY

Britain’s Secret Seas

BBC Two, 8pm

Whatever’s found off the coast of Britain is usually also found in Irish waters. This new four-part series has marine biologist Tooni Mahto joining up with underwater archaeologist Frank Pope to explore some of the wonders of a world that’s often neglected at the expense of more exotic locations. First up is an encounter with an incredible basking shark in the Irish Sea, while they also come across an army of giant spiny spider crabs.

Vera

UTV, 8pm

Second episode of the detective series has Brenda Blethyn’s character trying to solve the murder of a 15-year-old girl. After the original suspect commits suicide, news comes in of another killing and it looks like it might be linked.

Lord Sugar Tackles Football

BBC Two, 9pm

In the week when Alan Sugar begins a new series of The Apprentice, he’s also putting the spotlight on English soccer. As a former (and controversial) chairman of Tottenham Hotspur, he does have an informed perspective on the game, and focuses on why the business plan for the footballing industry is such a shambles. Despite the huge revenues that pour into clubs, they are still lumbering under a combined debt of £3.3 billion. Along the way, Sugar interviews the likes of Harry Redknapp and Michel Platini, as well as owners, agents and players.

Heartland: What’s Ireland Eating?

RTÉ One, 9.30pm

The national broadcaster is bundling a bunch of radio and TV shows this week into a ‘Heartland’ banner, with all looking at different aspects of rural life and farming in Ireland. The pick of tonight’s programmes is this focus on the food industry, where Philip Boucher Hayes, right, makes the case that our eating habits are bad for our health and the economy. He looks at the issues raised by processed food and imported produce, and says the pressure on retailers to hold their market share is causing problems for the people supplying them. At times it’s a difficult case to make, especially in the midst of a recession when the first choice for many people is the cheapest option, but Boucher Hayes will make you think twice before you buy that cut-price chicken.

Thar Sáile

TG4, 9.30pm

Manchester is a city with numerous Irish links, and presenter Ann Marie Ní Dhubhchóin traces some of the connections. As well as delving into the thriving rock and trad music scenes, she also visits Old Trafford and finds out why the city’s GAA club is doing so well.

La Haine

3e, 12.15am

Superb film from 1995 that’s set on a council estate in Paris. Three friends spend their time dodging the police in the aftermath of a riot.

MONDAY

Game Of Thrones

Sky Atlantic, 9pm

Episode 4 of the medieval fantasy series has Ned Stark still trying to adjust to the endless plots and double-dealing among the elite of King’s Landing. Irish actor Aidan Gillen pops up as one of the slipperiest customers of all, and across the water Viserys makes the mistake of attacking his sister, only to find out that she is no longer the obedient little girl that he sold off for marriage to the Dothraki.

Gordon’s Great Escape

Channel 4, 9pm

First episode of Gordon Ramsay’s travel and food show. He’s in Cambodia sampling the likes of tarantula and frog, while also learning how to cook the perfect pork and pumpkin curry. In future episodes he’ll travel to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Tuesday

Misfits

Channel 4, 11.05pm

Nathan gets a surprise when a brother he never knew he had shows up. The group also go clubbing, and inevitably pop some pills that they shouldn’t have, resulting in their superpowers being affected.

True Stories: Tyson

More4, 10pm

Love him or loathe him, there’s no denying that Mike Tyson has been one of the most interesting sports figures of recent decades. James Toback’s 2008 documentary features the ex-fighter reflecting on the ups and downs of his life and career.

WEDNESDAY

24 Hours In A&E

Channel 4, 9pm

New fly-on-the-wall series filmed at King’s College Hospital in London, home to one of Britain’s busiest A&E departments. Among the most serious cases is a ‘code red’ — a patient with potentially fatal injuries — who has been brought by helicopter after being run over by bus. A serious pelvic injury has left him with his nose touching his toes. We also see a man who fell head-first off a ladder.

Wonderland — The Trouble With Love And Sex

BBC Two, 9pm

Zac Beattie’s documentary film takes the real conversations of people attending relationship counselling service Relate and sets them to animation, right. It makes for a superb mix, as knowing their identity will be protected, allows them to be much more open than usual about their lives. From tales of champagne and romance in the bath, to confessions of impotence and infidelity, we hear about it all.

The Sopranos

Sky Atlantic, 9pm

Season two begins. With Junior out of the picture, Tony has assumed control of New Jersey, but the Feds have him in his sights and he also knows he can’t even trust his own family. To complicate matters, the stroppy Richie Aprile has finished a long spell in prison and isn’t so inclined to take orders from his new boss, despite the fact that he’s going out with his sister Janice. A great show that really kicked into gear in the second series.

An Píopa

TG4, 9.30pm

A repeat of Risteard Ó Domhnaill’s excellent documentary on the Corrib gasfield controversy follows locals and other protestors as they become embroiled in a battle with Shell and the Irish state.

THURSDAY

The Shadow Line

BBC Two, 9pm

Second episode of the highly watchable conspiracy thriller. More clues emerge in the murder as both the cops and the criminals are anxious to solve it all. The old goodies v baddies lines become blurred as traditional moral presumptions go out the window. Watch out for Stephen Rea, right, as the strange and vicious Gatehouse.

FRIDAY

Made In Chelsea

E4, 11.10pm

Another ‘reality’ show following a group of glamorous guys and gals as they go about their daily lives. This time, it’s the well-heeled youngsters of Chelsea, and the first episode has them partying hard at an ‘exclusive’ bash.

* Get daily TV news, previews and reviews on Twitter via @examinertv