‘It’s practically Irish night on the famous sofa’
TV WEEK (Wednesday 23rd to Tuesday 29th)
TOP SPECIALS
Nationwide (RTÉ 1, Wednesday 23rd, 7pm)
A programme focusing on young people and their achievements in sport and hobbies where reporter Mary Fanning meets 17-year-old Daniel O’Rahilly, who achieved the impossible earlier this year when he won €80,000 with his greyhound, Knockeen Dazzler. Elsewhere reporter Zainab Boladale meets four Dublin siblings, three of whom recently brought home an impressive five medals from the Youth World Kickboxing Championships held in Hungary.
The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee (Sky Arts, Thursday 24th, 9pm)
An in-depth look at the real-life and cinematic adventures of cinema’s best-loved baddie. His family, friends and some of the world’s greatest living filmmakers have been brought together to explore who he really was and what made him that way. Followed by a special screening of Lee’s 1966 Hammer Horror classic, Dracula: Prince of Darkness.
Beyonce: Live At The BBC (BBC 4, Friday 25th, 9pm)
Beyonce and her band perform a special concert at the front of BBC Television Centre. Songs include Deja Vu, Baby Boy, Naughty Girl, Destiny’s Child, Medley, Ring the Alarm, Irreplaceable and Crazy in Love. Hard to believe she’s been around so long – yet still sounds so immediate and current.
Later… with Jools Holland (BBC 2, Saturday 26th, 9.50pm)
Jools welcomes back Welsh icons, the Manic Street Preachers, with songs from their upcoming 15th album, Critical Thinking, having just completed a co-headline tour with Suede. Band members James Dean Bradfield and Nicky Wire talk about their other projects, including love of the Polaroid image.
The Gone (RTÉ 1, Sunday 27th, 9.30pm)
Having previously solved the case of a missing Irish couple, Dublin Detective Theo Richter discovers that Irish journalist Aileen Ryan has gone missing and pairs up once more with Kiwi Detective Diana Huia in the search. This time the detectives enter a game of cat and mouse with the ‘Goatman’ – who is back and more dangerous than ever.
WATCH OF THE WEEK
The Graham Norton Show (BBC 1, Friday 26th, 10.40pm)
It’s practically Irish night on the famous sofa this week as stars from the upcoming blockbuster, Gladiator 2, stride out and proudly wave the tricolour. Paul Mescal has left his quiet Normal People persona behind – now he’s all buffed up in his swords and sandals gear ready to fight or die in the dust of the Colosseum. Saoirse Ronan is also sharing the limelight, spilling the beans on her latest film, Blitz, set in London during WWII.
BEST FILMS
The Mouse That Roared (Film4, Thursday 24th, 2.55pm)
A comedy cracker from 1959. When Grand Fenwick’s only export, a special wine, begins to be produced in California, their entire economy collapses. Things look dire until Prime Minister Rupert Mountjoy (Peter Sellers) points out that no country that has declared war on the United States has ever gone hungry. So he invades – along with 23 trusty men at arms.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (Sky Cinema Premiere, from Friday)
The Spengler family return to where it all started – the iconic New York City firehouse – to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who’ve developed a top-secret research lab and join forces to save the world from a second Ice Age.
Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead (Sky Cinema Premiere, from Saturday)
Seventeen-year-old Tanya Crandell is looking forward to spending the summer living it up with her friends in Spain before heading to Howard University in the autumn. But when her mother decides to head to a much needed wellness retreat in Thailand, Tanya is forced to stay home with her three siblings instead.
CLASSIC MOVIE
Patton (Film4, Wednesday 23rd, 1.05pm)
George C Scott famously turned down the Best Actor Oscar for this stunning role as one of WWII’s greatest generals. He does chew the scenery, showing the darker side of his heroic deeds – and the soldiers ready to follow him to hell. This warts-and-all biopic is a rousing war film in itself – but elevated to the highest level by Scott’s performance.
KIDS STUFF
Nikhil and Jay (CBeebies, Saturday 26th, 10.15am)
This new series follows the adventures of two young brothers Nikhil and Jay, whose mother is Indian by heritage and whose father is English. With both Indian and English grandparents, their life is a rich blend of customs, traditions, festivals, foods and music.
Maddie + Trigs (RTÉjnr, Monday 28th, 10.20am)
The series follows a seven-year-old girl, Maddie, who has a visual impairment, and her doggy best friend Triggs, as they find music and adventure in the sounds of the everyday by really listening to the world around them. The show was built around five core pillars: accessibility, representation, education, empowerment, and collaboration.
ON DEMAND
Doctor Odyssey (Disney+)
Max is the new on-board doctor for a luxury cruise ship where the small but effective medical team navigate unique medical crises and each other, miles from shore. Joshua Jackson is the resident doc with a cure for most ailments, while Don Johnson, who still looks as youthful as he did in Miami Vice, steers the ship.
Before (Apple TV)
Billy Crystal leaves comedy aside to star as Eli, a child psychiatrist who, after recently losing his wife, encounters a troubled young boy who seems to have a haunting connection to his past. And, as Eli attempts to help the boy, their mysterious bond deepens. The 10-episode series also stars Rosie Perez and Jacobi Jupe.
The Devil’s Hour (Amazon Prime)
Peter Capaldi and Jessica Raine star in this gripping six-part psychological thriller. Lucy wakes every night at exactly 3:33am – a fact that only adds to her life having made no sense for a long time. But the answers are out there, somewhere, at the end of a trail of brutal murders.
SPORTS CENTRE
Champions League Live (RTÉ 2, Wednesday 23rd, 7.30pm)
Joanne Cantwell presents live coverage of Leipzig v Liverpool. Commentary from Des Curran and Ray Houghton. KO 8pm.
Women’s Euro 2025 Play-Off (RTÉ 2, Friday 25th, 4.30pm)
Marie Crowe presents live coverage of the Women’s Euro 2025 Play-Off between Georgia and Republic of Ireland from Tbilisi. Commentary from Des Curran. KO 5pm.
The Overlap On Tour (Sky Max, Tuesday 29th, 9pm)
Footballing legends Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Jamie Carragher and Ian Wright take their adventures and jovial banter overseas to some of Europe’s most beautiful cities, taking part in high octane activities and sharing hilarious stories and personal anecdotes from their playing and management days. The trip starts with a visit to Turin to relive Roy’s Champions League semi-final against Juventus.