Best of the week's TV
, TV3, 7pm
Can the return of Simon Cowell save the top talent show?
, UTV, 9.35pm
Suede provide the music, while former pop stars Martin and Gary Kemp of Spandau Ballet are on the show to talk about their new TV series about British crime gangs.
(RTÉ Two, ko 6.30pm) in the RaboDirect PRO12 gives the home side a chance to build momentum from last week’s stirring Heineken Cup win. The FA Cup semi-final clash of (ESPN, ko 5.15pm) should feature several Irish players, while other soccer today includes (Setanta Ireland, ko 3pm) and (RTÉ Two, ko 3.55pm). Football action features the (TG4, throw-in 1.30pm) and the (3.15pm).
, RTÉ One, 6.30pm
There are just two shows left until the final, and tonight’s will see each of the coaches losing one act, leaving just six singers for next week.
,TG4, 9.30pm
The little village of Ventry (Ceann Trá) near Dingle, Co Kerry, has long punched above its weight in terms of national prominence. Now it has another TV series dedicated to the area, and over the next four weeks we’ll meet some of the natives and blow-ins that live there. Among those featured on the first episode are a number of farmers, including Seán Moriarty, who reflects on his bachelor status; Muiris Ó Fiannachta talks about his reservations about the problems posed by mink, and how changes in EU policies will affect marginal areas; and Dave O’Shea remembers how his father and brother once had to fight a sow off with a chair to prevent her from eating her young.
The football league semi-finals feature (TG4, throw-in 2pm) and (TG4, throw-in 3.45pm), followed by deferred coverage of . In soccer, it’s (Sky Sports 1, ko noon), (Sky Sports 2, ko 12.45pm) and (Sky Sports 1, ko 2.05pm), while the FA Cup semi-final features (UTV, ko 4pm). It’s also the final round of the (BBC 2, 6.30pm) from Augusta National.
, RTÉ One, 7.30pm
Remember Kevin McAleer, the deadpan comedian who entertained us on Nighthawks with tales of life in Tyrone in the 1980s? He’s back for a four-part series of more serious stories from the North, as he explores the culture and outlook of the Ulster Scots, a group that many people south of the border know precious little about. Even McAleer himself, raised in Ulster, admits he was largely oblivious to their culture.
, TV3, 9pm
The second episode of the observational documentary from Ballybeg, Waterford, takes a look at the lives of 19-year-old Tommy, doing his best to get to college, and mother-of-16 Nellie.
, RTÉ One, 9.35pm
A documentary on the man who joined the Dubliners in 1964 and is the last surviving member of that era. We see how his quiet nature and classical training set him apart somewhat from the other members, but he quickly became an integral and much-loved part of the group. Much to his father’s chagrin, he even gave up a good job in the ESB to play with Ronnie Drew and co. Outside of the Dubliners, Sheahan’s other claim to fame was his composition of ‘The Marino Waltz’, a tune that entered the charts and was also used on a TV ad for peat briquettes.
, RTÉ One, 7pm
New six-part series on the hugely popular amateur drama movement in Ireland, looking at such groups as Kilmeen in West Cork and Nenagh Players from Tipperary as they prepare fro the All-Ireland Festival, held in Athlone.
, Setanta Ireland, ko 7.45pm
Tallaght Stadium hosts the first leg of the semi-final of the Setanta Sports Cup. The return game is at Turners Cross on Apr 22.
, RTÉ One, 8.30pm
An alarm bell rang for many parents recently when a story emerged from Britain about a six-year-old who had spent £1,000 playing Zombie Takeover, a game downloaded for free to his mother’s iPad. In tonight’s show, Tadhg Enright investigates how many games for smartphones and tablets tempt children to make ‘in-app’ purchases.
, RTÉ Two, 6.30pm
Tamara’s uniform protest in school has inspired Sasha to start a petition in support. Meanwhile, Romeo is still keeping his skin-cancer diagnosis a secret, but Indi fears his strange mood means he’s having second thoughts about the gym. By the end of the episode, he receives further devastating news from the hospital.
, Sky Sports 2, ko 7.45pm
Both managers will be anxious that their teams don’t get complacent even though their respective statuses are all-but-assured. The home side should be safe below the mid-table mark, while Alex Ferguson’s have one hand on the trophy, despite recent blips.
, Sky Atlantic, 10pm
Jon Hamm is active on both sides of the camera for episode three as he takes the directorial reins. As well as his Don Draper character, Peggy Olson Olson (Elisabeth Moss) also figures prominently when she tries to motivate staff at her new agency.
, TG4, 8pm
Cork footballer Juliet Murphy is the star of the show as she reflects on an incredible career that has included seven All-Ireland wins. Among the contributors are Eamonn Ryan, the coach who did so much to foster Murphy’s team’s success.
, RTÉ Two, 9.30pm
Eddie Murphy’s menswear shop in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, is the scene of this week’s worker takeover. Eddie senior and his son, Eddie junior, step aside for two weeks to let their staff run the show. A fairly traditional shop that sells a lot of suits, it undergoes a drastic change as the staff order a consignment of hoodies.
, TG4, 9.30pm
An episode entitled Arbhar looks at the grains in Irish culinary history: oats, barley, wheat, etc. Includes a contribution from Donnchadh Ó Corráin, pictured.
, BBC Four, 9pm
Repeat of both parts of Living in the Material World, the superb documentary by Martin Scorsese on George Harrison.
, BBC One, 10.35pm
Tonight’s guests include actress Gwyneth Paltrow, soon to be rolled out in yet another instalment of the Iron Man franchise, and comedian Lee Mack, the Lancashire comedian who starts in the Not Going Out sitcom. There will also be the usual music and red-chair segments.
Brian Kerr is on co-commentary duties for the clash of (RTÉ Two, ko 7.05pm), with the away side currently topping the table, following seven wins from seven games. In rugby, it’s (TG4, ko 7.45pm) in the RaboDirect PRO12.
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