TV not to miss
Latin Music USA
BBC Four, 8pm
Repeat of the second episode of the magnificent documentary series looking at the salsa music scene in New York in the 1970s. Essential viewing for anybody with an ear for Cuban sounds, or an interest in the cultural history of the melting pot of the US city.
Dylan Moran: Aim Low
Channel 4, 11.20pm
A sort of greatest hits compilation from the Irish comedian comprising footage of stand-up gigs over the past decade, with subjects such as aging, religion and children being subjected to his inimitable observations.
The Alamo
TG4, 1.10pm
John Wayne wore his jingoistic heart on his sleeve when he directed and starred in this classic tale of how a group of Americans held out for a while against a huge Mexican army during the war for part of Texas in 1836.
Louis Theroux — Miami Mega-Jail
BBC Two, 9pm
Concluding part of Theroux’s trip to one of the largest prisons in the US, where a large number of the 6,000 inmates are still awaiting trial. As well as meeting a triple murderer who could be facing a death sentence, he also visits a tough-boot camp programme for younger inmates. Here a 14-year-old on remand for armed robbery explains how if he can last the four-months of brutal training and indoctrination, he may get out of a 10-year sentence.
Queen — Days Of Our Lives
BBC Two, 10pm
It’s 40 years since rock band Queen were formed in London, and this two-part documentary looks at the history of a group who have sold more than 300 million records. In this first episode, recent interviews with the three surviving members and archive footage of the late Freddie Mercury, right, trace the group’s rise to the position of the world’s biggest band by 1980. Part two tomorrow looks at the later years, with footage from gigs in South America where 150,000 people were present, and also includes Live Aid in 1984 where they were probably the best band on the bill. It also delves into the controversy of Queen’s breaking of the artistic embargo on apartheid South Africa when they played gigs in Sun City, as well as looking as Freddie Mercury’s tragic decline and death.
Horrible Histories
CBBC various times daily
A new series of the show, based on the popular childrens’ books by Terry Deary and Martin Brown. Making history accessible and fun for children, they’ll see sketches featuring Aztec food on Historical Masterchef, toilet-cleaning from the reign of Elizabeth I and a song from the first world war. Runs Monday to Friday.
Britain’s Got Talent
TV3, 7.30pm
After chugging along at a moderate pace through the auditions up until Sunday, it’s foot to the floor for Simon Cowell’s talent show from Monday to Friday, with a live semi-final every night. Two acts will go through from each of these events to the final next Saturday, June 4. The act with the highest number of votes is automatically placed in the final, while it is up to the panel to choose between the runners-up in a results show each night. Cowell himself also returns to the judging panel alongside Michael McIntyre, Amanda Holden and David Hasselhoff.
A Story With Me In It
RTÉ One, 7.30pm
Louis de Paor is paired with Connemara man Eoin Ó Tuaraic, below, in an attempt to help him overcome his literacy problems in his first language, Irish. Ó Tuaraic returned to education to write down his father’s stories and with the help of the Cork-born poet will first attempt to compose and perform a poem in tribute to his dad.
The River Wild
TG4, 9.30pm
Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon star in a fine thriller centred around a family whitewater rafting trip which encounters a couple of escaped criminals.
Sons Of Anarchy
RTÉ Two, 11.55pm
First episode in the third series about the biker gang in southern California. Season two ended with a battle with the rival Mayans, and two killings of associates of the group. This series also has an Irish angle, with one fugitive fleeing to Belfast where they have contacts with that well-known republican group the True IRA. Chock-full of corny lines, but still has some interesting anti-heroes and loads of Harley action.
Prime Time Investigates
RTÉ One, 9.35pm
The Human Price Of Cut Backs looks at some of the stories of people who face daily suffering because of the reduction in investment in the health service.
Gordon’s Great Escape
Channel 4, 9pm
Final episode in Gordon Ramsay’s travels around south-east Asia has the British chef in Thailand learning some of the country’s delicious dishes from local people. A group of women from the Thai equivalent of the ICA compete for the title of best fish paste, while Ramsay also helps to cook up a spicy sausage and goes diving for giant oysters.
Scannal: Drimoleague
TG4, 7.30pm
Revisits the bitter dispute in Drimoleague, Co Cork, in 1976 which ended up becoming the longest school strike in Irish history. A principal had been appointed that the INTO objected to on the grounds that he didn’t have the required experience. The ensuing dispute caused huge division in the local community.
Whose Art Is It Anyway
RTÉ One, 10.15pm
In recent months, public sculptures have been in the news because of the attention they’ve been attracting from thieves for their scrap metal value, but Joe Duffy, right, puts the spotlight on other aspects. From looking at the commissioning process and talking to the artists themselves to hearing negative and positive opinions from the public.
The View
RTÉ One, 11.15pm
Among the pieces up for review by John Kelly and his panel are the film Senna, the Abbey production of Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw and Eoin Colfer’s new book Plugged.
Diagnosis Live From The Clinic
Channel 4, 8pm
Second episode in the series focuses on foot issues, allowing viewers to interact with two doctors via Skype to discuss their problems. As well as the live cases, there will be consumer-focused reviews on medicines and investigations into procedures such as eye surgery.
Hector san Afraic
TG4, 9.30pm
Repeat of Hector Ó Heochagáin’s travels from Cairo to Cape Town. The Navan man is a personable presence who usually gets a good reaction from the people he encounters.
Unreported World
Channel 4, 7.30pm
While Israel was set up to provide a homeland for Jews, its relative prosperity has made it an attractive destination for thousands of Africans seeking to escape the problems in their own country. Reporter Ramita Navai travels through the Sinai, meeting up with some of the people who risk death in the desert, being shot by border guards or ripped off by people smugglers. This joint British-Australian series is one of the best world affairs programmes around at the moment.
Modern Family
Sky 1, 8.30pm
Final episode in season two has Phil coming face-to-face with his college nemesis at the mall. Always provides a few laughs.
Paul Merton’s Birth of Hollywood
BBC Two, 9.30pm
Second of three episodes in the British comedian’s series on how early film pioneers such as DW Griffith, Irving Thalberg and Fatty Arbuckle laid the foundations for the modern industry.
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