Best of the Week's TV (March 8-14)
Channel 4, 7pm
Concerns over pedigree breeds prompted the BBC to stop broadcasting Crufts in 2009, but if you can put such issues out of your mind, the doggie extravaganza provides some highly entertaining viewing. Today’s judging includes the Utility Group (poodles, French bulldogs and dalmatians) and the Toy Group (chihuahuas, bichon frises and Yorkshire terriers). Tomorrow, it’s the turn of the gun dogs, and we’ll also get the result of the dog hero competition and the awarding of the ultimate accolade, ‘best
in show’.
UTV, 9.20pm
Richard Branson talks about the next frontier of space tourism, while Elbow provide the music on tonight’s show.
Ireland v Italy (RTÉ Two, ko 2.30pm) will hopefully mark Brian O’Driscoll’s final international game on home soil with a victory. Today’s other game is Scotland v France (ko 5pm). In soccer, it’s the league clashes of West Brom v Man Utd (BT Sport 1, ko 12.45pm) and Norwich v Stoke (Setanta 1, ko 3pm) and Chelsea v Tottenham (Sky Sports 1, ko 5.30pm), as well as the FA Cup encounter of Arsenal v Everton (UTV, ko 12.45pm).
TV3, 7pm
The final episode of the final series has Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, right, reprising their Bolero routine again, and the eventual winners of the show will also be joined by participants from previous years.
RTÉ One, 9.30pm
Even by the standards of revelations about Catholic priests, this Would You Believe special on Fr Marcial Maciel Degollado is shocking. As far back as the 1950s, when the Mexican-born priest was setting up a branch of his Legionaries of Christ in Ireland, the Vatican was aware of unseemly reports about him. What follows is an incredible tale of morphine addiction, embezzlement, corruption and the inevitable accounts of decades of paedophilia. Before his death in 2008, he was also said to have fathered six children, two of whom he also abused. Mike Murphy is among those who remember Maciel, with two of the broadcaster’s own family signing up with the Legion. Isaac Chute from Cork, who joined in the early 1980s, also speaks about his time in the organisation. Maciel was eventually denounced by the Vatican in 2010, after years of close ties with the Church hierarchy, and being championed by the likes of Pope John Paul II, above.
It’s Kerry v Tyrone (TG4, throw-in 2pm) in league football, while Seán Óg Ó hAilpín features in Laochra Gael (TG4, 5.55pm). The FA Cup includes Sheffield United v Charlton (BT Sport 1, ko noon), Hull v Sunderland (UTV, ko 2pm) and Man City v Wigan (BT Sport 1, ko 4.05pm). Six Nations rugby features England v Wales (RTÉ Two, ko 3pm).
TV3, 9pm
Jennifer Hannigan and Dylan Creane talk about the horrific knife attack by Hannigan’s former boyfriend, Shane Clancy, in Bray in 2009. They were both injured, but Dylan’s brother, Seb, was stabbed to death before Clancy took his own life. A Tonight With Vincent Browne (10.30pm) special follows to discuss issues raised by the programme.
RTÉ One, 9.35pm
The dating scene is an ever-changing sphere of Irish life, so Hector Ó hEochagáin dives into the world of speed- dating and online match-making, as well as looking at more traditional methods.
RTÉ Two, 9.30pm
Jennifer Maguire seems to be taking over Miriam O’Callaghan’s title as the busiest woman in Irish broadcasting, and her schedule is about to get even more crowded as she takes up her slot alongside Bernard O’Shea and Kevin McGahern, for a tenth series of the hugely popular entertainment show. The RubberBandits return, and there are also new characters, such as Katie Taylored and The Magician.
RTÉ Two, 11.05pm
Peter Collins introduces a new show, in place of MNS, that looks at various aspects of the Irish game, with an emphasis on the domestic league and the international side.
Ko 7.45pm
Bayern Munich v Arsenal (TV3) has the away side facing the difficult task of trying to claw back a 2-0 deficit against a German team who are again looking very impressive. Elsewhere, it’s Atletico Madrid v AC Milan (Setanta Ireland), with the Spanish side leading 1-0.
RTÉ One, 8.30pm
The second heat features six more hopefuls being given one hour to impress the judges with their signature dish. Four will then go through to Wednesday’s show, where they’ll be sent to work in two Dublin restaurants — The Winding Stair, on Ormond Quay, and Brasserie Le Pont, on Leeson Street.
RTÉ Two, 9.55pm
There are no shortage of twists and turns in this series, and tonight brings another major revelation for the suffering Emily.
RTÉ Two, Ko 7.45pm
If the English club can score first to put a dent in their two-goal deficit, then this second leg game could get really interesting. The match is sure to be a topic of conversation for the Second Captains (RTÉ Two, 10pm) crew, as they make a welcome return to the small screen for a discussion of all things sporting.
Channel 4,9pm
Three astronauts from Nasa show what it’s really like to live in space. As we watch them eating, sleeping and washing on the International Space Station, we hear about the effects of microgravity on the astronauts’ bodies, and also the psychological impact of living in space.
TG4, 9.30pm
Just a mention of the name Arkle will have Irish horse-racing enthusiasts going misty-eyed with memories of many great wins, most notably his defeat of Mill House to win the first of his three Gold Cups in-a-row, in 1964. This documentary looks back at the incredible impact of ‘Himself’.
RTÉ Two, 9.30pm
Conor McGregor, right, is possibly on the cusp of becoming one of the most famous Irish sportstars on the planet, though anyone who hasn’t tuned into the proliferating popularity of mixed martial arts may not have heard his name. Yet. This documentary follows ‘The Notorious’ over six months, from his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut to his first fight in the US.
Channel 4, 10pm
Not that you’d need much instruction, but this show meets some of the world’s wealthiest individuals to hear about their lifestyle and their pet projects.
3e/UTV, ko 8.05pm
As ever, this game will be overshadowed by the week’s action in the Champions League, but the Round of 16 is usually where the Europa League begins to get interesting. Or, in other words, you’ve actually heard of all the teams remaining in the competition.
RTÉ One, 7.30pm
In comparison to some of the other journeys we’ve seen Manchán Magan, right, embark on, this is quite conventional. He speaks English and walks a fairly well-worn path along the Royal Canal, from Mullingar through Killashee, to where it meets the Shannon. Along the way, he hears about the canal’s heyday as a vital cog in Ireland’s economy, and also witnesses its new incarnation as a spot for leisure activities and tourism. Last in series.
There are two Irish teams taking on France in rugby this evening: the women’s side (RTÉ Two, ko 5.45pm) and the men’s U20s (RTÉ Two,
ko 7.55pm).
BBC Two, 9pm
Another impressive First World War documentary from the BBC. Incredibly, we’ve never seen much of this footage before, as many of the interviews featured never made it to the final edit of The Great War series for which they were recorded in the 1960s. Soldiers and others talk about their experiences of artillery bombardment, killing other people, or being at home waiting for bad news about a loved one.
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