Best of the rest on TV
Churchill and the Fascist Plot
Channel 4, 7pm
In May 1940, the British leader wasn’t just facing a threat from the massing German forces across the Channel. A group of well-connected fascist aristocrats called the Right Club were also plotting to bring down the British government and make an alliance with Hitler. This documentary traces the intriguing story of how they were foiled.
Spiral
BBC Four, 9pm
Final two episodes of this series of the enjoyable French crime thriller.
The Saturday Night Show
RTÉ One, 9.45pm
Brendan O’Connor’s guests include broadcasters Mary Kennedy and Kathryn Thomas, comedian David McSavage and athletes Fionnuala Britton and Linda Byrne.
The Jonathan Ross Show
UTV, 9.20pm
Welsh band Stereophonics provide the music, while guests include actors Matt Smith (Doctor Who) and Ruth Jones (Gavin & Stacey).
The Voice Of Ireland
RTÉ One, 7pm
It all gets a little bit more serious with the first live show tonight and each of the celebrity coaches will lose one act. The coaches themselves will also combine on a group performance.
Dragons’ Den
BBC Two, 7pm
As our own Dragons do their thing at 10.05pm, their British equivalents have also started into a new series. Tonight’s pitches include a grandmother trying to secure investment for a food website, a children’s haircare brand and a man trying to convince them of the money-making potential of giant sand sculptures.
Toughest Place To Be A Farmer
BBC Two, 9pm
A dairy farmer swaps his usual green pastures in Devon and heads to Kenya to join the cattle-herding Samburu tribe. Obviously, it’s quite a change. Severe drought has made the Samburus’ life even more difficult in recent years, and part of Gibson’s daily task will be to dig holes in the baking heat to try to find water for his charges. The herders survive on a little maize and milk, while there is no food some days.
Lón sa Spéir
TG4, 9.30pm
Documentary on the iconic photograph from 1932, Lunch atop a Skyscaper, taken 69 floors up during the construction of the Rockefeller Building. The filmmakers make the case that two of those sitting on the girder with their feet dangling came from the Co Galway village of Shanaglish.
Sport
Live hurling action from Galway v Tipperary (TG4, throw in 2pm) is followed by deferred coverage of Kilkenny v Waterford. In rugby, it’s the Leinster Schools Cup final from the RDS featuring Blackrock v St Michael’s College (Setanta Ireland, ko 4pm).
Coronation Street
TV3, 7.30pm
It’s probably the biggest week in Weatherfield since the 2010 tram crash, as a fire will devastate the Rovers Return and lead to the loss of two lives. Spoiler alert: the actress who plays Sunita (Shobna Gulati) has already said she’s leaving the show, so her character is one victim. Stella Price (Michelle Collins) is also seen screaming for help through an upstairs window. The major question that won’t be immediately answered is who lit the fire?
James Nesbitt’s Ireland
UTV, 8pm
The Ballymena actor explores the island of his birth in this eight-part series. He begins at a place that possibly has the claim to being the most beautiful on the island — the Dingle Peninsula — and then moves onto Co Cork where he kisses the Blarney Stone and visits Ballyvolane House.
The Challenger
BBC Two, 9pm
Remember William Hurt? The 63-year-old actor stars in this factual drama about American physicist Richard Feynman’s attempts to reveal the truth behind the 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster.
Don’t Just Stand There, I’m Having Your Baby
BBC Three, 9pm
New series following clueless (is there any other kind?) dads-to-be as they attempt to learn about pregnancy, labour, and the birth itself. Midwives put them through their paces with a robo-baby with the ultimate goal being that they’ll even be of some use in the delivery ward.
In The Name Of The Republic
TV3, 9pm
Professor Eunan O’Halpin’s two-part series will probably spark plenty of debate among historians as it takes a look at rumours about brutal acts that may or may not have been carried out by the IRA during the War of Independence. First up is a journey to Laois to investigate the possibility that bodies of executed men from north Tipperary were dumped on a farm. Next week’s episode will deal with similar rumours about bodies being dumped near Knockraha, Co Cork.
Girls
Sky Atlantic, 10pm
The final episode of series two sees Hannah with just one day to write her book. And don’t worry — series three has already been commissioned, though you’ll have to wait until next year to see it.
I, Claudius
BBC Four, 10pm
Repeat of the classic 1976 series about life in ancient Rome.
Neven Maguire: Home Chef
RTÉ One, 7.30pm
The celebrity chef is in Howth, Co Dublin, visiting Aidan McManus in his King Sitric Restaurant, where the host demonstrates how to prepare hake with tomato vinaigrette.
Wwoofáil
TG4, 10pm
New series following Mairéad Ní Chuaig and Conall Ó Máirtín as they join the international Wwoof movement of ‘willing workers on organic farms’. Often used by backpackers, it’s a simple deal: you do some work on a farm in exchange for accommodation and food. As well as locations in Ireland, the duo also travel to Portugal, Seville and Morocco.
The Takeover
RTÉ Two, 9.30pm
New series fronted by Norah Casey, the former Dragon and current Newstalk presenter. Each week, a boss of a company leaves the employees to run the show and make the changes they’ve always wanted to make, with a bit of mentoring from Casey. First up is Navan Golf and Race Course.
Big Wave Bootcamp
RTÉ Two, 5pm
The Irish teenagers are taken way out of their comfort zone with sessions at the Outer Reef and the aptly named Pounders Beach.
Dúshlán 1881 — Living The Eviction
RTE One, 8.30pm
Final episode of the enjoyable series where families live in the same manner as their 18th century ancestors.
