TV not to miss
The Killing II
BBC Four, 9pm
Lund continues her hunt for the killer, and places herself in danger in the process. Meanwhile, Raben also gets himself in more trouble, and sews the seeds of doubt in Lund’s mind about some of her colleagues. Finishes next week.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Channel 4, 9pm
Like almost every Woody Allen film over the past decade, this Barcelona-set tale was hailed by some critics as the director’s great return to form. However, even an impressive cast that included Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz couldn’t prevent others from regarding it as self-indulgent rubbish. Watch and decide for yourself.
Miracle On 34th Street
TV3, 4.15pm
It’s that time of year again, and among the better seasonal films popping up over the next couple of weeks is this 1994 tale starring Richard Attenborough. In a remake of the original film from the 1940s, Attenborough plays Kriss Kringle, a shop Santa who believes he’s the real thing, and manages to change the outlook of a sceptical little girl.
Tracks And Trails: The Burren
RTÉ One, 7pm
Weather woman Evelyn Cusack goes for a walk across the Burren and, ironically, is subjected to all kinds of Irish weather. Along the way, various experts tell her about the unique geology of the area, efforts to find a rare flower and the discovery of 6,000-year-old stone axes.
Japan’s Tsunami: Caught On Camera
Channel 4, 8.15pm
Such was the drama of the incredible footage of the Japanese tsunami in March, it took a day or two before many people began to appreciate the tragedy of the event. This show gathers together some of the amateur footage of the disaster, parts of which have never been broadcast in this part of the world.
Black Mirror
Channel 4, 9.30pm
Second of Charlie Broooker’s stand-alone dramas is set in a sarcastic version of the future. Everyone in the world is confined to a life of drudgery, with the only way to escape being an appearance to a talent show named Hot Shot, where you do your best to impress the judges. Being broadcast on the same night as the X Factor final gives it an extra layer of believability.
Cogar: Fear na hAimsire
TG4, 9.30pm
Despite the best efforts of Met Eireann and the TG4 weather girls, there’s a large body of people out there who swear by less conventional forecasters. Among the most famous of those who don’t rely on satellite data is Donegal postman Michael Gallagher. “The principles on which I base my predictions have been passed down for hundreds of years,” says Gallagher. “Before the tsunami a few years ago, I saw the animals scarpering for the hills. There are always signs.” As this documentary follows Gallagher on his rounds in rural Co Donegal, we see how birds are a major indicator of what’s in store. Finches seen washing and preening their feathers in a pool of water is a sign of fine weather, while if a robin sings in the evenings in spring or summer, rain will fall on the following day.
Scannal
RTÉ One, 7.30pm
While many of the stories in this series on Irish scandals are well known, the Shanahan’s Stamps sage of the 1950s will only be familiar to those of a certain age. It tells the fascinating tale of how Paul Singer persuaded people to invest in his auctions of rare postage stamps, but when gardaí began to investigate it all, those who wanted their money back were unable to get it.
River Cottage Christmas
Channel 4, 8pm
More festive foodie fare as Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall looks for wild game to grace his table, and serves up wild boar, muntjack deer and greylag goose.
Jimmy’s Grow Your Own Christmas Dinner
Channel 4, 9pm
Jimmy Doherty gives the Christmas dinner a historical twist by delving back to where it all came from and trying out some traditional recipes. For instance, a 19th century Christmas pudding includes cow stomach. He also tries out heritage variety vegetables.
Young Apprentice
BBC One, 9pm
While TV3’s version of The Apprentice is on its penultimate show, tonight’s final of the junior franchise in Britain has an Irish interest, right. Seventeen-year-old Derry lad James McCullagh has made it into the last two, alongside Hertfordshire lass Zara Brownless. Tonight both remaining candidates get help from their fired former colleagues to create a downloadable computer game featuring an advert with the potential to go viral. The eventual winner gets £25,000 for their burgeoning business career.
Angels In America
Sky Atlantic, 9pm
Back in 2004, this HBO mini-series took 11 Emmy awards in the US, breaking a record previously held by Roots. Surprisingly, it never got much of an airing on this side of the Atlantic. Which is why Sky Atlantic’s showing of the six-part show is most welcome. Set during the burgeoning Aids crisis of Reaganite America in the 1980s, it features a heavyweight cast that includes Al Pacino and Meryl Streep.
The Food Hospital
Channel 4, 8pm
This episode of the food-medicine show looks at examples of whether certain food can help with conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome and bad breath. Pixie McKenna also talks to a cancer expert to find out what foods in our diets can influence cancer, both positively and negatively.
My Big Fat Gypsy Christmas
Channel 4, 9pm
Looks at a First Communion ceremony and two weddings filmed around Christmas last year among Irish Travellers in Britain. It also looks at Traveller traditions around this time of year, but presumably, like the hugely popular My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding show from the same company, will lean more towards voyeurism than just cultural insight.
Steve Jobs: Billion Dollar Hippy
BBC Two, 9pm
Evan Davis usually makes excellent documentaries, and considering his subject is the late Apple co-founder, this should be another winner. Contributors include Stephen Fry and web inventor Tim Berners-Lee.
Jerusalem — The Making of A Holy City
BBC Four, 9pm
Second part of Simon Sebag Montefiore’s story of Jerusalem, a city that drips with important history right up to the present day. In this episode, he explores Islam’s relationship with Jerusalem, the construction of the Dome of the Rock, and the Crusaders’ attempts to win back the Holy City for the Christian powers. A cast of historical figures includes Saladin and Richard the Lionheart.
British Comedy Awards 2011
Channel 4, 9pm
Jonathan Ross hosts the annual industry love-in, but it should provide quite a few laughs along the way.
The Searchers
TG4, 9.05pm
John Ford’s classic western from 1956 stars John Wayne as the Civil War veteran trying to find his niece (Natalie Wood) who has been captured by Indians.
Dead Man’s Shoes
Film 4, 11.20pm
Shane Meadows’ dark and brilliant thriller stars Paddy Considine as a former soldier bent on revenge over an incident involving his special needs brother.
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