TV HIGHLIGHTS
SUNDAY Puppy Secrets, be3, 6pm
What better way to spend a Sunday that by watching adorable puppies be... well, adorable? In this hour-long edition, the first of a new series, viewers get to meet canine families up and down the country. Here, three Chihuahuas are being reared in Devon by hobby breeder Dan. In the Cotswolds, six Labrador and Golden Retriever crosses have a very special destiny — to be assistance dogs for charity.
The Island with Bear Grylls, Channel 4, 9pm
In this new series of the survival documentary, the young take on the old in a bid to be kings and queens of the jungle. The younger group of contestants are lead by 18-year-old Freddie, who must take them to a beach. After just a few days, the group are suffering from exhaustion and dehydration. The older group are led by Frank (66), who gets off to an impressive start, finding a place to set up camp and starting a fire with ease.
Genius, Sky Atlantic, 9pm
This new series dramatises the fascinating stories of one of the world’s most brilliant innovators — Albert Einstein, an imaginative patent clerk who struggled to land an academic post in his early years. Of course, he went on to become the greatest scientific mind of the 20th century. Geoffrey Rush, Richard Topol, Robert Lindsay and Emily Watson star.
MONDAY Tonight at the London Palladium, be3, 8pm
This variety show is one of the UK’s most-loved shows with some of the best comics and entertainers in the business. Bradley Walsh is the master of ceremonies and will introduce jaw-dropping acts from around the world as well as the very best homegrown talent. It’s one way to guarantee your Monday is a little less blue.
Made in Chelsea, E4, 9pm
There’s just no end to the bed hopping with this lot. But of course, isn’t that one of the reasons we tune in? Julius feels bad about cheating on Ella, but he may have missed his chance with her when her ex rolls into town. Frankie and Jamie aren’t faring too well either and it’s revealed that they’ve both cheated on one another. Plus, Ollie tries to prepare JP for fatherhood. That’ll be funny.
Peter Mark VIP Style Awards, TV3, 8pm
Darren Kennedy presents this glitzy bash which will see the stars come out to play. The nation’s best known faces will be donning their very best threads to turn heads on the red carpet and keep those camera bulbs flashing. The Xpose team will also be on hand to bring all the frocks, frolics and backstage gossip from the big night out.
TUESDAY How to Cook Well with Rory O’Connell, RTE1, 7pm
Wondering what to have for dinner? Look no further. Rory prepares tasty lentil and curly kale soup Italian style, grilled duck with watercress, radicchio and orange salad and roast potatoes and coconut rice pudding with a compote of sour cherries. It’s enough to make your mouth water.
Madeline McCann: 10 Years Missing, TV3, 9pm
It’s a decade since little Madeline vanished from her Portuguese holiday flat without a trace. This gripping special looks at the private investigation into the youngster’s disappearance. With unprecedented access, the documentary digs into Operation Omega, the secret search to find Madeleine McCann, set up by security consultant Kevin Halligen. As the investigation went on, it transpired that Halligen was an audacious con man. Despite this, leads from the operation went on to form part of the Scotland Yard inquiry to find out what happened to the girl.
Single Mums Club, Channel 4, 11.05pm
There’s no doubt that bringing up children with no father in the picture is challenging, but this group of women are proving that they’re sisters doing it for and by themselves. In Liverpool, a feisty group of single mums are hoping to turn their fortunes round by earning money to provide for their offspring. Sarah, 26, and Mel, 32, have given up on men. Sarah, a mum to twin boys, is studying for a university degree while Mel, mum to four kids with two different dads, is taking over the local tanning salon.
WEDNESDAY What Would Be Your Miracle, be3, 8pm
This heartrending series looks at families with more than their fair share of heartache. In this opening edition, Emma Willis is in Aberdare, South Wales where she meets nine-year-old Garin Morgan, his parents Ashley and Adele and sister Emily. Garin was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was just two years old and was told he would never walk. His wish is to play football. In the same week, his mum was told she had multiple sclerosis, meaning that she is in a wheelchair.
Brendan O’Connor’s Cutting Edge, RTE1, 9.35pm
The quick-witted host puts the rollercoaster week that was under a microscope and sorts the wheat from the chaff. As usual, he is joined by a panel of colourful guests who’ll no doubt be spoiling for a playful pow-wow. Tonight’s panellists are Ivan Yates, Fiona Looney and Sinead O’Carroll.
Brief Encounters, be3, 9pm
Drama about a group of feisty women who bond over erotic lingerie in a bid to increase their confidence... and their income. It’s Sheffield 1982 and mum-of-one Stephanie sees an ad in the local rag looking for Ann Summers demonstrators. While taking her son to school, she bumps into Nita, a mum of four who is struggling financially.
THURSDAY New Girl, E4, 9.30pm
Jess and Cece jump on the campaign trail and make a bet with a cynical Schmidt that they can recruit some new voters for the upcoming presidential election. What tricks will they have up their sleeve to secure them the bet?
Body Shopping, RTE2, 9.30pm
For some individuals, a wardrobe of new clothes is not enough to give them the ego boost they crave. In this startling new series, Dr Ciara Kelly explores the lengths that some people will go to in search of what they deem to be the perfect look. Here, a man has a hair transplant and a woman discovers an alternative to breast implants.
Home of the Year, RTE1, 8.30pm
This is the big one. The judges have selected the seven finalists and must now choose the overall winner. In this last in the series, the homeowners come together for the first time at Palmerstown House in Co Kildare, where eagle-eyed judges Hugh Wallace, Deirdre Whelan and Declan O’Donnell deliberate and crown the lucky winner.
FRIDAY Tracks and Trails, RTE1, 8.30pm
The final episode looks at the Royal Canal, fondly known by locals as the Green and Silver line. Dublin native and Olympian Annalise Murphy is joined by her mother Cathy McAleavey, a former Olympian, and together they explore the first twelve locks of the Royal Canal. They begin at Spencer Dock on the north bank of the River Liffey, and walk the urban route alongside Croke Park and Mountjoy prison.
Versailles, BBC2, 9pm
The lavish period drama about infidelities and intrigue continues. The king’s affair with Madame de Montespan is causing brows to furrow, namely his queen and the zealous Father Pascal. Meanwhile, Fabien Marchal faces an uphill struggle as suspicious mood-enhancing powders sweeps the palace. Elsewhere, Philippe must meet his new bride, Princess Palatine.
Spin, More4, 9pm
As President Alain Marjorie is fighting fire on all fronts, Apolline is kidnapped by a terrorist group in Lebanon just as she is about to close her investigation. Elsewhere, the ambitious Anne-Marie Carrere must use everything in her means to shake the presidency and get rid of her rival Philippe Deleuvre.
SATURDAY Doctor Who, BBC1, 7.20pm
It’s London, 1814, and the city dwellers have turned out in throngs for the biggest Frost Fair in decades. Despite the merriment above the ice, there is an evil monster below, snatching revellers indiscriminatingly. Can the ever-resourceful Doctor and Bill stop the voracious beast before more and more people meet a chilling end?
All Round to Mrs Brown’s, RTE1, 9.20pm
It’s the last in the series of the comedy chat show starring Brendan O’Carroll’s beloved matriarch, Mrs Brown. In this fun-filled edition, the Irish mammy packs the house with guests including West End legend Michael Ball, ghost hunter Yvette Fielding who goes on a tour with spooky results and actress Sunetra Sarker. The Vamps will provide the musical entertainment. Don’t miss it.
Billionaire’s Paradise: Inside Necker Island, RTE2, 8.15pm
If you’re in the mood to jet off to sunnier, warmer climes, this special will be right up your street. For the first time, viewers are given an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at one of the most exclusive holiday destinations in the world — Necker Island — one of the British Virgin Islands just north of Virgin Gorda. This film is an intimate portrait of the lives of the rich and famous who holiday there, and of the lives of the people who serve them.