TV not to miss: The Voice of Ireland
Ken Follett’s Journey Into The Dark Ages
More 4, 8pm
The concluding part of the novelist’s look at his favourite era features a profile of such trailblazing women as Joan of Arc, and German nun Hildegard von Bingen, one of the inspirations behind the character of Caris in his novel, World Without End.
The Jonathan Ross Show
UTV, 9.45pm
Guests include Kimberley Walsh of Girls Aloud, while members of Madness also have a chat and play some music.
The Week in Politics
RTÉ One, noon
Sean O’Rourke presents another series of the show that mixes news and an analysis of major political events.
The Voice of Ireland
RTÉ One, 6.30pm
Week three and the female judges are way ahead of the men when it comes to picking their teams. Kian does manage to get some great new talent onboard and also continues his banter with Bressie.
Dallamullóg
TG4, 8.30pm
In tonight’s pairing of a tradesman with an artist, plasterer Gearóid Ó Ceannabháin teams up with stone sculptor Clíodhna Cussen as they try to work together to create a piece of art.
At Your Service
RTÉ One, 8.30pm
John and Francis Brennan are in St Helen’s Bay Golf Club, near Rosslare Harbour, Co Wexford, to try and help Larry Byrne expand his business beyond those who want to spend some time on the fairways. The holiday cottages are revamped, but as ever with an enterprise such as this in Ireland, the weather threatens to scupper their plans.
Got To Dance
Sky 1, 6pm
Irish mother-of-three Jo Scanlon says she’s never had a formal dance lesson, but that hasn’t stopped the 54-year-old from entering this year’s competition. “Basically for my age I’m still a nutter, and I love disco music,” she says. “I’ll get on the dance floor even if it’s empty — once I feel the music I just take off.” Watch her strut her stuff tonight.
Raw
RTÉ One, 9.30pm
In recent times, the phrase ‘pop-up’ has become one of the buzz terms of the foodie world and Raw has shown it has its finger on the pulse with Kate’s plans for a pop-up bar. Meanwhile, Jojo’s planned departure from the restaurant is causing major friction between Fiona and Max.
The Meaning Of Life With Gay Byrne
RTÉ One, 10.35pm
Former Mountjoy governor John Lonergan has maintained his high profile since retiring from the prison service. Tonight he talks to Byrne about the beliefs that underpin his often sympathetic attitude to those who break the law.
Wild Things
Channel 4, 8.30pm
New series on how plants offer an understanding of changing wildlife. Though focused on Britain, many of the issues are also relevant to this country. For the first episode, garden designer Chris Myers is joined by botanist Trevor Dines and lichenologist Sally Eaton in exploring the hard shoulders and soft verges of the road network. Among the plants they explore is the rapidly spreading Danish scurvy grass. Often seen on coasts in this country, researchers believe its spread inland has been facilitated by the salting of Irish roads in winter.
What Happens In Kavos
Channel 4, 10pm
There’s something irresistible about this Ibiza Uncovered style show following the fortunes of young holidaymakers in the Greek resort in the title. The term ‘heavy’ doesn’t do justice to the drinking involved, and the resulting end-of-night liaisons probably aren’t the most romantic, or athletic affairs either. The final episode focuses on some of the ex-pat workers, showing how their shenanigans are often wilder than the tourists. Among the people we meet are Jenny, whose regular trips to the sexual infection clinic have been interspersed by further medical treatment for being hit by a car and malnutrition.
Grey’s Anatomy
RTÉ Two, 9pm
An episode of flashbacks has each doctor involved in the plane crash thinking about their rescue and how they’ve coped since.
Soccer
Sky Sports
As well as coverage of a Copa Del Rey (Sky Sports 2, 9pm) game from Spain, there will also be a live broadcast of Swansea City v Chelsea in the second leg of the semi-final of the Capital One Cup (the League Cup). The home side hold a 2-0 lead from the first leg, but know that tonight’s visitors are more than capable of clawing back that deficit. The winners will face either Aston Villa or Bradford in the final.
One Born Every Minute
Channel 4, 9pm
While the expectant mothers understandably get most of the attention, tonight’s show also focuses on two fathers who want a different life for their children. Among them is William, 26, who lost his own mother when she was giving birth to his sister, and his childhood memories of that traumatic event still haunt him as his partner Belem reaches her due date.
Imeall
TG4, 10.30pm
John Montague, 83, may have long departed his teaching post at UCC, but the celebrated poet is now enjoying life in Paris. For this show, Michael Cronin caught up with him when he was on a recent visit to Dublin to launch Wild Dog Rose, his selected poems.
International Rugby
RTÉ Two, 7.30pm
The Irish ‘A’ team is now known as the Wolfhounds and tonight’s encounter with their English equivalents comes live from the Sportsgrounds in Galway (ko 7.35pm).
Mr Nice
Film4, 11.05pm
Rhys Ifans was the perfect actor to play Welsh cannabis smuggler Howard Marks, the man who often used Ireland as an importation point for his shipments. David Thewlis plays his IRA sidekick Jim McCann.
