What to watch this week
SATURDAY
Steven Spielberg’s take on Herge’s adventure comics was the director’s first animated film, and generally met a favourable reception on release in 2011.
Emma Bunton is on the show to publicise the Spice Girls reunion tour, while Jeremy Clarkson discusses his latest TV ventures. Mumford & Sons provide the music.
A documentary on the Amritsar massacre which took place 100 years ago on April 13, 1919. In that infamous incident in the Punjab, a group of British troops commanded by Col Reginald Dyer — a former pupil of Midleton College in Co Cork — opened fire on an unarmed crowd, killing up to 1,500 men, women and children.
SUNDAY
The Brennan brothers are at Loftus Hall, on the Hook Peninsula in Co Wexford. They’re not impressed with the offering, however, and come up with a radical plan for the family who own the premises.
The second of the weekend’s Steven Spielberg’s films takes us back to the director’s breakthrough from 1975, a film that stands up to yet another watch.
We know from previous series that by episode three of the police thriller, we’ll be more puzzled than enlightened. Tonight brings more shocking discoveries for the AC-12 unit, while in the criminal world, the troublesome gang hatch a new plot. Don’t worry about following all that’s going on — just strap yourself in and enjoy the ride.
MONDAY
The wait is over. Episode one of the final series brings the beginning of the end of the biggest TV show in history. There’s much to be resolved over the next six episodes, which vary in length from the opener’s 54 minutes, to 80 minutes for episode three.
And while the machinations in the human world have been the most interesting facet of the show, the first big issue is the war with the Night King now that the White Walkers have breached the Wall. Then we can ponder about Jon Snow and Daenerys. And whether Cersei can outsmart them all. Or which of the major characters will even still be around to see who sits on the Iron Throne.
Lee Mack returns with a tenth series of his long-running sitcom. He won’t be reinventing the wheel for a solid ratings performer, and episode one rolls out the laughs as members of the family decide to do a sponsored parachute jump.
The Coen brothers’ bowling comedy from 1999.
A new series in which Irish people who feel they aren’t catered for by conventional styles or sizes spend a stint working with a designer and stylists to create their own clothes. For instance,
Cork pharmacist Robert Murphy finds his athletic build works against him when he’s trying to find clothes for his favourite trends.
Also, Hayley Fitzsimons has the opposite problem in terms of size — she’s fine in the tracksuits and other sports gear for her training and competitions as part of the Dwarf Sports Association Ireland, but struggles to find clothes for dressing up.
Horrible Histories is one of the best shows on television for young people, and now the team behind it are turning their hand to grown-up laughs for this new comedy series. A couple inherit a grand country house, but the spirits who live there aren’t happy with plans to turn it into a hotel.
TUESDAY
Irish presenter Angela Scanlon helms a new home makeover show that harnesses the power of virtual reality technology. In each episode, a family will face a choice between two different designs, and they’ll don VR headsets for a walkthrough of what their home would look like with each. First up are a couple with £55,000 to spend on their three-bed house to make it more suitable for life with three small children.
New eight-part documentary series filmed in credit unions in Tralee and other centres. It follows members who are looking for loans for all sorts of projects. As we see from the first episode, people need the money for careers, cars and — in the case of unfortunate Thomas — for a private operation to save his sight.
WEDNESDAY
The pop queen’s performance from the 2018 Coachella festival will be interspersed with interviews, backstage footage, etc.
Part of this episode was filmed at the All Together Now festival in Co Waterford last summer, where the organisers banned traders from single-use plastics, presumably setting a trend that will soon be followed by other events. There’s also a demonstration of how easy it is to grow french beans in this country.
The medical advice series returns with a visit to Cloyne, Co Cork, and the home of Peter, Catherine and their three children. Poor diet has had a detrimental effect on the couple, but they get plenty advice on how to get their health back on track.
THURSDAY
One-off show which has David Attenborough looking at the science of climate change, and exploring what can be done to prevent the threat. The presenter also delves into what will happen if we don’t tackle the problem, with huge storms, rising seas with more acidic water, etc, having a catastrophic effect on the natural world and human society.
New three-part series in which former Slaughtneil camogie captain, Aoife Ní Chaiside, looks at women in sport in Ireland. First up, she’s looking at team sports, chatting to Katie Mullan of the Irish hockey team, Cork football star Rena Buckley, and various others involved both on and off the pitch.
The final episode of the current series has footage from the show’s stage at last year’s Electric Picnic, with the likes of Passenger, Dermot Kennedy and Sigrid.
FRIDAY
The final episode has Dana and the other pilgrims facing into the final 65km leg of their journey to Rome. It takes them through an impressive woodland, the archaeologically-rich town of Sutri, and a triumphant last walk into Rome where Pope Francis awaits them for a private audience.
A young Mel Gibson stars in this 1981 tale by Peter Weir about the World War I battle in Turkey that still has such a huge part in Australia’s national consciousness.
