Best of the Week’s TV (May 24-30)
Elections 2014
RTÉ One, 4pm
Coverage of the local and European elections, as well as the two Dáil by-elections.
Sport
The annual day of the big finals seems unusual for neither having an Irish team in the rugby, nor an English side in the soccer. But there is still plenty to draw fans to the Heineken Cup final clash of Toulon v Saracens (Sky Sports 2, ko 5pm) and the Champions League equivalent with Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid (RTÉ Two, UTV, ko 7.45pm). Incredibly, there’s probably even more money at stake for the winner of the Championship play-off final with QPR v Derby (Sky Sports 1, ko 3pm).
Jazz Legends In Their Own Words
BBC Four, 7pm
There’s a pile of jazz-related material across the BBC at the moment, and despite an inauspicious start to the network’s relationship with the music, when BBC founder John Reith declared it to be “a filthy product of modernity”, the Beeb has an impressive archive of jazz footage. This show digs up some of that classic material, with interviews and music from Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie and Ella Fitzgerald. That’s followed at 8pm by Jazz 625 At The BBC featuring performances from the legendary jazz concert to mark the launch of BBC Two, including Dave Brubeck and the Julian ‘Cannonball’ Adderley Sextet.
The Genealogy Roadshow
RTÉ One, 7.30pm
Irish links to the likes of Che Guevara and Joe Biden are investigated, while Michael Kenning from Mallow tries to find out whether his grandmother was a Catholic from Cork, or from a family involved in the Orange Order in Belfast.
Sport
The Sunday Game Live on RTÉ Two features Derry v Donegal (throw-in 2pm) in football, and the hurling clash of Cork v Waterford (throw-in 4pm). In soccer, the first of the summer friendlies features Republic of Ireland v Turkey (Sky Sports 1, ko 6pm; highlights RTÉ Two, 8.25pm) as Irish eyes look beyond the World Cup to the Euro 2016 qualifiers in September.
Britain’s Got Talent
TV3, 7.30pm
The live semi-finals take place from Monday to Thursday, with nine acts each night. The act with the highest number of public votes each night goes through to the final on Saturday, June 7, and the judges pick one more artiste fromthe runners-up.
The Family Project
RTÉ One, 8pm
Season two of the show that aims to inspire parents to help their kids learn in a fun way at home. Each participating family is assigned a family mentor, and, in this first episode, John Lonergan works with the Menton family in Dublin, particularly guiding 15-year-old Aaron in trying to realise his dream of becoming a tour guide.
Springwatch
BBC Two, 8pm
Chris Packham and co are back for their nightly look at how creatures are coping in this most busy of seasons. Badgers, otters, white-tailed eagles, etc.
Modern Family — Australia
Sky 1, 8.30pm
A change of location for the hit comedy show has some of the characters heading to Australia so Phil can fulfil his mother’s dying wish of visiting the country where he was conceived. As well as a cast of Antipodean critters such as jellyfish and kangaroos, Rhys Darby, from Flight of the Conchords also makes an appearance.
Coronation Street
TV3, 9pm
Rumours have been doing the rounds about the demise of Tina Mcintyre, and in tonight’s dramatic show she’s attacked and left for dead. There are four main suspects in the attack — Peter Barlow, Carla Barlow, Tracy Barlow and Rob Donovan — and over the next few nights the whole street will be speculating about who the assailant is, as Tina lies in a critical state in hospital.
Garraí Glas
TG4, 8pm
Síle Nic Con Aonaigh visits Sean Boylan at his farm and clinic in Dunboyne, Co Meath, where they sample such concoctions as a hawthorn flower and berry nectar drink.
The Consumer Show
RTÉ One, 8.30pm
While online retailers can often offer goods at better prices, some fall down when it comes to customer service. The main segment of tonight’s show has Kathriona Devereux looking at the difficulties faced by one set of customers trying to get refunds for Christmas presents that were not delivered. Three supermarket own-brand washing-up liquids are also put to the test.
Later Live with Jools Holland
BBC Two, 11.50pm
Imelda May, Arcade Fire and Hank Marvin are on the show. Longer version on Friday.
Fair City
RTÉ One, 8pm
While Tommy is in custody, he’s still very much divorced from reality and in tonight’s episode, Judith contemplates visiting him in prison. Earlier in the week, she reveals to Orla and Wayne that she had told Tommy their secret, and they were understandably shellshocked.
Coast Australia
BBC Two, 9.10pm
Neil Oliver and his team combine history, nature and science as they explore the Great Barrier Reef. Lizard Island now houses a spectacular resort, but we hear about the dark days of conflict between Aboriginals and Europeans in the 19th century. Emma Johnston joins Google’s underwater project taking images of the reef.
Mad Men
Sky Atlantic, 10pm
This seventh episode of the current series is officially a mid-season finale, but we won’t see the last ever seven episodes until next year. Don is troubled by a letter he receives, while Peggy considers a new venture.
Super Garden
RTÉ Two, 8.30pm
The final of the show has all five gardens facing a final assessment before the winner is chosen and the lucky designer is awarded their slot at the Bloom festival in the Phoenix Park.
Burning Desire: The Seduction Of Smoking
BBC Two, 9.30pm
We’ve had decades of warnings and a whole industry dedicated to quitting, but thousands of people still use tobacco products that will probably damage their health and shorten their lives. In this two-part series Peter Taylor looks at how the tobacco industry itself still seems to be in good health, with profits of more than £30 billion last year and legions of new young customers. He shows how the cigarette companies manipulate smokers, and is given access to the second-largest tobacco company in the world, British American Tobacco.
The Good Wife
RTÉ Two, 11.20pm
Series five of the excellent American drama series returns in an unfortunately late
scheduling slot. Those who’ve been following it on More4 will know that this season contains a major shock with the loss of one of the main characters, but RTÉ viewers don’t have to worry about that development for a few weeks yet. Stars Julianna Margulies, right.
Bloom
RTÉ One, 8pm
The annual gardening festival at the Phoenix Park runs from Thursday 29th to Monday, and Keelin Shanley presents a show looking at some of the highlights at the event. The 30 showgardens are obviously a major attraction at Bloom, and we’ll also see some of the food stalls showing off Irish produce.
England v Peru
UTV, ko 8pm
Roy Hodgson’s side get some practice against South American opposition before they head off for further friendlies in the US on their way to the World Cup. Unlike previous occasions, England seem to be heading to this tournament with realistic expectations.
The Graham Norton Show
BBC One, 10:35pm
You’d imagine Tom Cruise’s chatshow contract comes with a list of subjects he can’t be asked about, but presumably he will talk about his new film Edge of Tomorrow. Charlize Theron and Seth MacFarlane complete a heavyweight line-up of guests, while Coldplay provide the music.
