Best of the Week's TV (Saturday, Jul 6 - Friday 12)
RTÉ One, 10.55pm
If you missed this documentary on ITV last week, fans will enjoy the day in the life of the witty Canadian as he hangs out in Vancouver.
TV3, 10.15pm
The series ends with a ‘greatest hits’ of clips from the past few months. It’s been another superb season for the West Cork man as he’s progressed to a level way above the competition on both sides of the Irish Sea.
Last week’s dramatic win by the home side left the Test series at one apiece, so today’s final encounter of Australia v British & Irish Lions (Sky Sports 1, ko 11.05am) really is a winner-takes-all affair. In the hurling championship, it’s Kilkenny v Tipperary (TV3, throw-in 7pm), while the Wimbledon ladies final (TG4, BBC One) takes place at 2pm. One of the highlights of the Athletics: Diamond League (BBC Three, 7pm) from Paris should be Usain Bolt’s participation in the 200m.
RTÉ One, 6.30pm
Grainne Seoige is the first celeb to tell the tale of a famous journey in Irish history in this new four-part series. She follows in the footsteps of Thomas Carlyle and Charles Gavan Duffy who spent a month travelling around famine-ravaged Ireland in 1849.
Fox, 9pm
The final series begins just a week after its broadcast in the US. Season eight’s finale saw the serial killer with a moral code being protected by his sister, Deb, but surely he’ll either die or be discovered. In truth, despite some gripping finales over the past few years, Dexter has flagged since its fine, opening season and the producers are probably doing everyone a favour by ending it now.
It’ll be interesting to see what lead actor, Michael C Hall, does next, considering his fine performances here and in Six Feet Under.
An attractive double bill of GAA games on RTÉ Two features Kerry v Cork (throw-in 2pm) in the Munster football final from Killarney, and Dublin v Galway (throw-in 4pm) in the Leinster hurling final at Croke Park. In tennis, the gentlemen’s final at Wimbledon (TG4, BBC One) is due to begin at 2pm.
BBC One, 8.30pm
A look at American businessman Donald Trump’s controversial project in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Five years ago he promised 6,000 jobs and £1bn in investment with two golf courses, a five-star hotel and hundreds of homes. The land value has increased tenfold, but many of the promises have yet to be fulfilled.
BBC One, 9pm
There are just four episodes left in this year’s series, so it all steps up a gear for the remaining candidates over this week’s three shows. Tonight, the five are profiled by friends, family and former bosses, as Nick Hewer and Karren Brady also give Alan Sugar their opinions.
BBC Two, 9pm
Stein learns about making pulao and searches for the best chicken korma in Lucknow. He also observes the making of the unrefined sugar, jiggery, which is used as a sweetener in so many Indian foods.
BBC Two, 8pm
There seems to be a lot of foodie fare on at the moment, but it does present a welcome relief from all the repeats on the schedules. This new series has the French chef demonstrating basic cooking techniques. Slow-cooking is the theme of tonight’s show, with a beef shin with papaya salad, a squid and chorizo stew.
RTÉ One, 9.35pm
A documentary on the nine-year-old light rail system that has become such a useful way of getting around Dublin city. We meet some of the people working on the Luas, including the staff (25% are non-Irish) who deal with fare evaders and anti-social behaviour, and also get a glimpse behind the scenes at the logistics of moving so many people around the capital, as well as seeing the maintenance and cleaning staff who work through the night.
RTÉ Two, 9.50pm
Another superb episode has the survivors dealing with all sorts of problems as they attempt to make the prison safer.
RTÉ One, 8pm
Earlier in the week, Paddy persuaded Vivienne to let him into the house and then revealed his dark secret, but tonight we see them growing closer on the back of the revelations. Callum and Rachel also regret taking an ill-fated joyride together.
BBC One, 8pm
Episode two of the new consumer show deals with the motor industry in Britain, and presumably there will also lessons to be learned for Irish car buyers. Hidden cameras reveal mis-selling of second hand cars, and one of the large garage chains is exposed for performing unnecessary work.
BBC Two, 9pm
Michael Mosley explores how much of our personality we’re born with and how much is formed. He also tries two methods to see if he can become more of an optimist.
RTÉ One, 7pm
The final episode in the series follows the students through their last few weeks on the course. They’re obviously feeling the pressure as Fiona has nightmares about failing, and even the normally cool Martin shows signs of stress.
Thursday, TV3, 8.30pm
The final episode of the series features Cillian O’Dwyer, from Limerick, a baby diagnosed with Hirschprungs disease at birth. It follows his progress, over seven months, with the rare bowel condition. In the emergency department, nine-year-old Gerald O’Regan has swallowed a coin.
More4, 9pm
Episode two of the highly rated US thriller series in which crisis management expert Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) tries to protect the reputations of the rich and powerful. Tonight her firm is employed by the wife of a famous pastor who’s been caught in a compromising position, while the White House also needs help on a foreign policy emergency.
BBC One, 8.30pm
A repeat of The Hounds of Baskerville has our dynamic duo investigating the strange events at a secretive defence facility.
TV3, 8.30pm
An eventful week in Weatherfield has left the community divided, and the pressure is on Paul to apologise to Lloyd. Meanwhile, Carla is worried about Peter, and Sinead has a clear warning for Chesney.
Film4, 11.15pm
Danny Boyle’s superb zombie flick stars Cillian Murphy as the bike courier who wakes from an accident-induced coma to find London overrun by the crazed victims of a mystery virus. The director introduces this screening of a 2002 film that also features Brendan Gleeson among a decent cast.
