Best of the Week's TV (Saturday, June 15 - Friday 21)

Highlights include Jeremy Irons back for the third series of The Borgias and The Review Show’s interview with author Iain Banks, who died recently.

SATURDAY

David Attenborough Micro Monsters

Sky 1, 8pm

While we’ve been spoiled with images of whales, lions and other big animals over the years, the new frontier for wildlife filmmakers is the small critters. In this new six-part series, Attenborough and his team use high-tech cameras to get down and dirty with incredible ants, spiders and beetles.

Inside Man

RTÉ One, 9.30pm

Decent heist film from Spike Lee in which Clive Owen plays a bank robber with a much bigger agenda than just escaping with the money.

SUNDAY

Operation Snow Tiger

BBC Two, 8pm

Second and final episode looking at Liz Bonnin’s trip to Siberia. She witnesses the problems faced by a hugely important reserve for the rare Siberian tiger. Ussuryisk may not have any females of breeding age, so the males in the park may disperse. The Irish presenter also catches up with the cubs rescued in the previous episode and goes on an anti-poaching patrol with American tiger expert Dr Dale Miquelle.

The Returned

Channel 4, 9pm

Second episode of the innovative French zombie thriller. We learn how other ‘dead’ people seem to be returning to try and take up life in the village again.

District 9

Channel 4, 10.05pm

Superb sci-fi tale from 2009 in which South African authorities try to keep alien visitors confined to a township.

The Queen

RTÉ One, 9.30pm

Helen Mirren is superb in this 2006 film based around Queen Elizabeth II’s actions at the time of Diana’s death.

MONDAY

The Family Project

RTÉ One, 7.30pm

Padraig O’Ceidigh of Aer Arann and other enterprises is embedded with the O’Regan family from Galway. Finbarr and Marguerite have four children aged six to 16, and also run a sailing school. As with previous episodes, the father is nudged towards more hands-on involvement in his children’s education. Each of the kids is also given the task of writing their own individual blog for the family company’s new website.

Food Unwrapped

Channel 4, 8.30pm

Kate Quilton is in Mozambique looking at the country’s cashew crop, and discovers why, unlike other nuts, they’re not sold in their shells. Also Jimmy Doherty goes aboard a trawler to check out the source of scampi, and there’s also an investigation into whether there really is a difference between expensive sea salt and cheaper varieties.

The Borgias

Sky Atlantic, 9pm

Season three brings Jeremy Irons’s character back for another 10 episodes, the type of sexual and other shenanigans that were part of the legend of the infamous Pope. Last season, we saw Roderigo Borgia defeat his rivals, and this time around, he’s bent on revenge on those who tried to poison him. The pontiff’s son Cesare Cesare (Francois Arnaud) is also given the task of purging the College of Cardinals.

TUESDAY

Kitchen Hero: HomeCooked

RTÉ One, 8.30pm

Donal Skehan visits the Riverfest Festival in Limerick where his dishes will include griddled beef, and butterflied rosemary chicken with romesco sauce.

The Review Show: Iain Banks — Raw Spirit

BBC Two, 10pm

Scottish novelist Iain Banks gives a rare interview in which he talks about his recent diagnosis of terminal cancer, and describes what he’s doing as he tries to face up to death. Tragically, Banks died last weekend.

The Greatest Shows On Earth

Channel 4, 10pm

This new four-part series looks at what a nation’s TV viewing says about their culture and outlook. First up is Brazil, and Daisy Donovan goes behind the scenes on the popular talent show called Miss Bum Bum. It’s sort of like one of our singing competitions, but the young women involved are vying for the prize of the most appealing arse. Disgusting objectification of the female form, or harmless fun? She also takes part in Na Mira, a bloodier equivalent of RTÉ’s CrimeCall. Broadcast around lunchtime, it often features shocking footage of the aftermath of some of the violent crimes that are common in Brazil.

How To Find Love Online

Channel 4, 10.35pm

One of several shows on Channel 4 this week dealing with the world of online dating. Dawn O’Porter presents what she terms a “definitive guide” to that strange new world. She meets singletons on the hunt, and also interviews experts in the field. The various scams that are associated with the industry are also examined.

Sport

British & Irish Lions v Brumbies (Sky Sports 1, 10am) has the tourists coming up against the formidable Canberra side. In soccer, the UEFA European U21 Championship final (Sky Sports 1, 4.30pm) should have some of the continent’s best young talent on display.

WEDNESDAY

Horizon

BBC Two, 9pm

The gas extraction method known as fracking is going to be big news in the coming years, and its controversial methods are investigated by geologist Iain Stewart. He travels to North America to hear both sides of the story from there — those who have become rich from it, and others who worry about its effects.

THURSDAY

Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model

Sky Living, 8pm

A double bill of episodes to begin series nine. The contingent of 28 girls in the competition includes a crop of Irish aspirants and a new judge in the shape of Dannii Minogue. She’ll join Elle Macpherson and Tyson Beckford in whittling the candidates down to just 14 tonight.

Mariella’s Book Show

Sky Arts, 8pm

Irish writer Edna O’Brien talks to Mariella Frostrup about her autobiography Country Girl and its tale of leaving rural Ireland and ending up in the celebrity circles of London in the Swinging Sixties. Other guests on the show include Colum McCann and Carl Bernstein.

FRIDAY

Tracks And Trails

RTÉ One, 8.30pm

A repeat of the show in which Paschal Sheehy walks the Kerry Head, beginning and completing his route at Ballyheigue beach.

Oliver Stone’s Untold History of the United States

Sky Atlantic, 9pm

Final episode examines the Obama administration and looks at such issues as climate change, gun control and the American military presence overseas.