What to watch on TV this week

The best of what you can enjoy while you're on the couch.

SATURDAY

Chelsea Does

Netflix

Chelsea Handler may sound like she should be a steward at Stamford Bridge but the American talk-show host goes to even stranger places for this new series available on the streaming channel from today. Over the four one-hour episodes, Chelsea does drugs, marriage, racism and Silicon Valley. For example, in the drugs episode, she hangs out with Willie Nelson smoking his beloved weed, and also travels to Peru to try some of the hallucinogenic ayahuasca plant in the presence of a shaman.

War Horse

BBC Two, 7.20pm

Steven Spielberg won widespread acclaim for his adaptation of Michael Morpugo’s drama about a boy who forms a close bond with a horse before they both go off to fight in the trenches.

The Girl Who Forgave the Nazis

Channel 4, 8pm

Documentary on 81-year-old Holocaust survivor Eva Kor, who hit the headlines last year when she embraced 94-year-old ex-Auschwitz accountant Oskar Groening during his trial.

Body Of Lies

RTÉ2, 9pm

Despite the presence of Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe among the cast, and Ridely Scott as director, this spy thriller never quite adds up to the sum of the parts. It does make for watchable fare, however, with its tale of a CIA agent juggling the intentions of his bosses and Jordanian security services while trying to stop terrorist attacks on England.

SUNDAY

At Your Service

TG4, 8.30pm

Nuala’s bar and restaurant in Scariff, Co Clare, is definitely in need of an overhaul, but revamping the premises while staying open proves to be a tough task for Francis Brennan and the owners he’s helping.

Louis Theroux: Ultra Zionists

RTÉ2, 9.20pm

The presenter spends time with some of the Jewish fundamentalists who believe they have what is literally a God-given right to take land in the West Bank and other areas.

Storyville

BBC Four, 10pm

An episode entitled ‘The Great Gangster Film Fraud’ proves that truth can indeed be stranger than fiction. It follows the story of Irish actress Aoife Madden and a Jordanian businessman who were involved in a scam to get millions of pounds in tax relief on a film that didn’t exist. When out on bail, they tried to prove their innocence by making a film.

The Meaning Of Life With Gay Byrne

RTÉ One, 10.35pm

As well as her music, Dolores Keane chats about her battles with alcoholism, breast cancer and depression.

MONDAY

Panorama

BBC One, 8.30pm

This show interviews ‘insiders’ in Russia who claim Vladimir Putin has used his power to amass a fortune.

Nature’s Wonderlands: Islands Of Evolution

BBC Four, 9pm

The second episode of the series on the unique evolution that occurs on some islands looks at Madagascar and its wondrous fossas, lemurs and toxic frogs.

TUESDAY

Ear To The Ground

RTÉ One, 8.30pm

A number of government policies have contributed to the fact that it’s no longer viable for doctors to run practices in many rural areas. The result is that the GP is going the way of the post office, garda station, petrol stations, banks, etc. This segment of the show visits Co Mayo where an estimated 15 villages are in danger of losing their GP in the coming years. There’s also a feature on a livestock farmer who’s also passionate about protecting wildlife.

Winterwatch

BBC Two, 8pm

A new four-part series from Chris Packham and co as they check out how animals are coping the warmest and wettest winter on record.

Adoption Stories: What Happened Next

TV3, 8.30pm

A few years ago, actor Alan Stanford discovered he had been adopted and his participation in this series led to the discovery of six half siblings in England. Unfortunately, their mother had passed away. Now based in the US, we follow the actor, best known for his portrayal of George in Glenroe, as he meets his family members again and also undergoes DNA testing to try to find out who his father might have been.

The Mad World of Donald Trump

Channel 4, 9pm

The next leader of the free world? This documentary looks at transition of the controversial billionaire from golf club owner and figure of fun to a leading candidate for the Republican ticket in the next US presidential election.

The Real Marigold Hotel

BBC Two, 9pm

This new travel documentary creates its own version of the hit film by observing eight older celebrities as they travel to India. Singer Patti Boulaye, actress Miriam Margolyes and dancer Wayne Sleep are among the group who begin their jaunt in Rajasthan.

Jim Driscoll, Dornálaí

TG4, 9.30pm

A documentary on a Cardiff-born boxer of Irish parents who became a household name in Britain in the early part of the last century before he died of TB in 1925.

WEDNESDAY

The People’s Debate with Vincent Browne

TV3, 10pm

As election fever begins to take hold, this show comes from Firgrove Hotel in Mitchelstown to discuss issues of interest for the Cork East constituency.

THURSDAY

Operation Transformation

RTÉ One, 8.30pm

It’s the half-way mark in this year’s series so, over last night’s and tonight’s episodes, the participants face up to a weigh-in and a realistic appraisal of how they’re doing.

FRIDAY

The Last Legs Goes Down Under

Channel 4, 10pm

First of a two-part series in which Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker travel to Australia to undertake a 3,000 mile journey in two weeks.

Music Moguls

BBC Four, 10pm

Essential viewing for anybody with an interest in the music or PR industry. We see how the public relations people have become so important and powerful behind the scenes, both in the promotion of music and also putting a spin on stories about artists’ personal lives.