Best of the Week’s TV (June 21-27)
Jennifer Lawrence stars in the first instalment of the excellent three-parter about a totalitarian state in which young people from various regions fight to the death in a TV game show.
World Cup action features Argentina v Iran (RTÉ Two, ko 5pm), Germany v Ghana (ko 8pm) and Nigeria v Bosnia & Herzegovina (ko 11pm). Coverage of the Irish Open (RTÉ Two, 12.50pm) continues, and rugby action includes New Zealand v England (Sky Sports 1, 8am) and South Africa v Wales (Sky Sports 1, 1.30pm). It’s Laois and Fermanagh (RTÉ One, throw-in 3.30pm) in the All-Ireland football qualifiers.
Simon Delaney presents a new six-part series that does exactly what it says on the tin. Episode one looks at how the Normans introduced castle-building to Ireland.
There’s been a growing awareness in recent years that you don’t have to go to the Serengetti or the Great Barrier Reef to experience wonderful wildlife. This new four-part series looks at some of the incredible creatures living in the seas around Ireland, beginning with bottlenose dolphins. We have half of Europe’s population of these much-loved mammals, and while Funghi has been the poster-dolphin for the species, his yin has been met with the yan and bad press afforded to Dusty in Clare. Dr Simon Berrow talks about what may be triggering the aggressiveness of the Doolin dolphin, and we also hear about the alarming number of marine mammals being washed up on Irish shores.
Enda Kenny appears on what will undoubtedly be the most talked-about show of the series. Politicians are notoriously careful about what image they portray, so will Byrne be able to get past the PR coaching as he discusses the Taoiseach’s deepest beliefs and outlook on life?
Coverage of the final round of the Irish Open (RTÉ Two, 12.10pm) comes from Fota. In the World Cup, it’s Belgium v Russia (ko 5pm) and South Korea v Algeria (ko 8pm), while a double bill of GAA features Donegal v Antrim (RTÉ One, throw-in 2pm) in Ulster football, and Galway v Kilkenny (RTÉ One, throw-in 4pm) in Leinster hurling.
John Spillane is in Loughrea, Co Galway, to help 16-year-old Declan O’Brien, who recently dropped out of secondary school. The Cork singer works on a songwriting project with the teenager to boost his confidence
Female couple Tina and Tosh have several issues to clear before they start a family, while Ronnie is also in reflective mood as she gets ready to make a major decision.
We’re already reaching the end of the opening phase of games in what has been a hugely entertaining tournament so far. Today’s opener on RTÉ Two will be one of the final games in Group B (ko 5pm), with the broadcaster deciding between Australia v Spain or Netherlands v Chile; followed by one of the final games in Group A (ko 9pm), Cameroon v Brazil or Croatia v Mexico.
In world of celebrity chefs, Thw is still considered the new kid on the chopping block, but in this new series he goes to meet some of the stand-out names of the previous generation. First up he visits publisher Michael Gill to talk about food writer Theodora Fitzgibbon, and also talk about how cookery books have changed over the last 40 years.
Broadcasters will choose a final game in Group D (ko 5pm; either Italy v Uruguay or Costa Rica v England followed by an equivalent fixture in Group C (ko 9pm; Japan v Colombia or Greece v Ivory Coast).
If you fancy a break from all that soccer, this partly-true tale of British king George VI’s efforts to overcome his speech impediment justifies much of the acclaim it received in 2010. Stars Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush.
The choice of World Cup games offers some attractive games as the group stage nears its end: in Group F (ko 5pm) it’s Nigeria v
Argentina or Bosnia & Herzegovina v Iran; while Group E (ko 9pm) concludes with either Honduras v Switerland or Ecuador v France. In GAA, it’s Offaly v Wexford (TG4, 7.15pm) in the Leinster U21 hurling semi-final.
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Documentary on the latest in a long line of scandals from Ireland’s Church-dominated past. The show features people who lived or were born in mother and baby homes, as well as campaigners and historians.
Group D (ko 5pm) finishes with a broadcast of either USA v Germany or Ghana v Portugal; and Group H (ko 9pm) has South Korea v Belgium or Algeria v Russia. These games mark the end of the group phase, and there’s a break in play tomorrow before the Round of 16 begins on Saturday.
Final episode in the series about enterprises that have flourished in the recession looks at an area in Britain that has had many Irish participants — housebuilding. It looks at everything from acquiring land, designing homes, planning process and the build itself.
Daniel Radcliffe is interviewed by Melvyn Bragg about his role in The Cripple of Inishmaan, the play by Martin McDonagh which has moved to New York
The annual music extravaganza will be covered across a range of the BBC’s channels today and over the weekend. BBC Two carries the big headliners, such as Arcade Fire tonight, while BBC Three will focus on some of the younger acts, including Rudimental and HAIM.
The final episode in the current series is a sort of greatest hits moments from the previous 12 weeks, featuring excerpts from interviews with the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Ricky Gervais and Kylie Minogue. Norton finishes the series with his reputation as king of the chatshows very much intact.
A double bill of episodes has the inhabitants of the prison still dealing with the infection that has ravaged their ranks. We also learn that they could soon be facing an old enemy. Series four hasn’t hit the heights of season three, but there’s still enough decent drama and shocking gore to keep fans engaged.
