TV not to miss
Mildred Pierce
Sky Atlantic, 9pm
While it’s time for other networks to scale down their offerings until the autumn season, viewers with Sky Atlantic will have one of the best dramas of the year to keep them entertained through the summer. This five-part mini-series from HBO stars Kate Winslet as the eponymous heroine of Todd Haynes’s faithful adaptation of James M Cain’s 1941 novel. Set during the Great Depression, Winslet’s character is a middle-class housewife who initially has to drop down a few rungs on the social ladder to fend for her family after splitting up from her philandering husband — played by Cavan actor Brian F O’Byrne. Later in the series, Guy Pearce pops up as a love interest, and much of the focus switches to the relationship between Mildred and her daughter (Evan Rachel Wood). The series it takes a little while to acclimatise to the first episode and its almost stage-like diction, but stay with it for top-class acting and some of the best female characters you’re likely to see on TV. For style watchers, it also does a bit of a Mad Men for the early 1930s, with revealing insights into the dress sense and social norms of the era.
Lee Mack’s All Star Cast
BBC One, 9.50pm
The Lancashire funnyman has Henry ‘Fonz’ Winkler on the show, as well as Shane Richie and Ulrika Jonsson.
This Is Spinal Tap
3e, 12.30am
The all-time classic mockumentary with David St Hubbins and his amps that go up to 11, the miniature dolmens, love pumps.
Glastonbury 2011
BBC Two and Three, from 5.30pm
The final day of coverage includes sets from Plan B, Pendulum, Kaiser Chiefs and Queens Of The Stone Age. Festival-goers are in for what could be the performance of the weekend, however, from Beyonce Knowles, right. She’s so not in the mould of traditional Glasto headliners, but her groovalicious pop anthems may be the perfect way to round off a fine weekend of music.
Farmers: A Year On The Land
TV3, 6.20pm
The observational documentary is up to June and the focus this evening is on Ireland’s chicken farmers. From the pasture-fed, free range birds of Ronan ‘Friendly Farmer’ Byrne in Athenry, to the million chickens a year that Alo Mohan produces in Co Cavan, we see both ends of the spectrum on chicken production. A decent show, even if the scheduling means that plenty of farmers miss out on it because they’re out working on these bright evenings.
The TV Book Club
More4, 7.30pm
First episode of the new series for book club buffs. Presenters such as Jo Brand and Adrian Edmondson lead a discussion on a particular book each week, with contributions from various public reading groups. First up is The Lantern, Deborah Lawrenson’s tale of love and mystery in Provence.
Top Gear
BBC Two, 8pm
New series of the incredibly popular motoring show has Jeremy Clarkson celebrating the 50th birthday of the Jaguar E-type by driving a modern, £500,000-version of the classic sports car. Richard Hammond is in South Africa to test a bigger, even more rugged alternative to the Hummer, while the BMW 1-series M is on the test track. Toys for the boys.
Made in Britain
BBC Two, 9pm
Don’t let the title of this show put you off. Evan Davis, right, presents a series which provides excellent social history, gives accessible explanations of world economics and also has plenty of insights that could be useful in an Irish context. Last week the presenter looked at the decline of British manufacturing and pointed out that China’s provision of cheap goods had beneficial effects for consumers in this part of the world. This time around Davis looks at how innovation can help Britain keep its elevated position in the global economy. Sound familiar?
The Walking Dead
RTÉ Two, 9.55pm
It’s down to the second-last episode in the six-part series, so we’re probably not spoiling anything by warning that it won’t be bowing out with some satisfying conclusion. Filming for season two is underway in the US, and this one kind of fizzles out next week. Tonight the group reach the Center for Disease Control, but they don’t quite find what they were hoping for.
Gil Scott-Heron: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
BBC Four, 11pm
Superb profile by Don Letts of the recently deceased musician and poet. Contributors include Chuck D and Mos Def. As well as being one of the originators of rap music, it also reveals how Scott-Heron was the original voice on the famous ad, “You know you’ve been Tangoed”.
Paul Flynn: Irish Food
RTE One, 7pm
We really do need yet another food show about as much as we could do with another gardening programme, but at least this new series combines the talents of Paul Flynn, right, with a theme of keeping it simple and affordable. Flynn made his reputation for using quality Irish ingredients at the Tannery in Dungarvan, and tonight he gives us some new ideas for two of our staples: potatoes and apples.
Scannal
TG4, 7.30pm
Scannal looks back at the scandal which had us all horrified when it broke in 1998. How could a reputable bank get into such dodgy dealings as helping customers avoid tax? How could a member of a prominent political family be involved in such disreputable behaviour? Ah yes, the story of National Irish Bank and Beverly Flynn. At least we learned our lesson on both the banks and Fianna Fáil before they got us into any more trouble. Ha ha.
Perfume — Something Old, Something New
BBC Four, 9pm
New three-part series about the global perfume industry. Episode one visits Guerlain in Paris and Estee Lauder in New York, where they are trying to formulate a fragrance for Tommy Hilfiger. We’ll see how packaging and marketing are as important as the smell itself.
True Stories: Sperm Donor Unknown
More4, 10pm
Documentary on a young American woman JoEllen Marsh searching for her sperm donor father, only known to her as Donor 150. Funny and moving, it raises all sorts of questions about our concepts of parenthood.
How Healthy Are You?
TV3, 7.30pm
Looks at challenging behaviour in children. What’s normal and what can be an indicator of more serious issues? A nutritional therapist and a child psychologist join forces to help a troubled 10-year-old.
The Way We Worked
RTE One, 8.30pm
Talks to women who worked in shops. Kitty Drea (pictured right with her husband) from Co Kilkenny took over the post office in Inistioge when she was 23-years-old. She had six children but was normally back behind the counter within a week. We also hear from Dorothy Humphries who worked in a drapery store in Cork. She was a regular on the picket line fighting for the rights of female workers.
When I Knew
Sky Atlantic, 10.15pm
Documentary that interviews dozens of gay men and women about the moment they realised they were gay. From the hilarious to the heartbreaking.
A Girl’s Guide To 21st Century Sex
TV3, 10pm
The sheer explicitness of this show has been causing plenty chatter around the water-coolers. Along the way there are also plenty of practical tips and explanations for both genders. Tonight’s topics include male masturbation and a position that gives women plenty of control.
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