TV HIGHLIGHTS
SUNDAY
Eat the Week, Channel 4, 12.30pm Chef Simon Rimmer comes to the rescue of families who aren’t enjoying food in the way they should. He meets the Barnard family who eat the same thing all the time and comes up with recipes to make meal times fun. As the Barnards try out his spicy alternative to the Sunday roast, Michela Chippa discovers why beer is taking over wine and why goats’ cheese is a tasty trend.
Dara & Ed’s Road to Mandalay, BBC2, 9pm This series sees Dara Ó Briain and Ed Byrne explore the wonder of Malaysia. The pair arrive in Kuala Lumpur and are keen to throw themselves into more farflung places. Their first activities are watching a chicken beauty pageant and a mass cycle ride. They head on to the Genting Highlands to stay in the largest hotel in the world and watch the finals of the World Lion Dance Championships before meeting a Malaysian indigenous tribe.
Who Runs Our Schools? A Would You Believe? Special, RTE1, 10.35pm In Ireland, 96% of national schools have a religious ethos and over 90% of them are Roman Catholic. The National School System is no longer fit for purpose as it doesn’t reflect the beliefs of Ireland’s population and the demand for other types of schools. Mark Peelo tells the story of how the changing face of belief in Ireland is affecting the predominantly Catholic primary school system and why the State is having difficulty changing it.
MONDAY
Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby, BBC2, 9pm It’s the final episode of the series which sees Monica Galetti and Giles Coren visit the world’s
most extraordinary hotels. Here, they travel 200km north of the Arctic Circle to Sweden’s magical Lapland. Naturally, they visit the Ice Hotel where the team are working to keep it open all year round — powered by the sun. Monica meets head chef, Alex who shows her the art of using natural ingredients from the local forest, and Giles puts the finishing touches to the icy reception desk.
Gino’s Hidden Italy, be3, 7.30pm Series which sees everyone’s favourite cheeky chef travel throughout the stunning country. Here, he visits Pescara and learns about the region’s culinary offering, Chitarra pasta. Gino D’Acampo then travels along the Trabocchi coastline where he meets a 25-year-old fisherman who tells him how his family are keeping an ancient tradition alive. Finally, Gino travels into the mountainous terrain where locals make their living working on the land.
The Undocumented, RTE1, 9.35pm Documentary which asks what it’s like to be a ghost living in Donald Trump’s America. Viewers meet six undocumented Irish living and working in the Big Apple, despite the obvious risks. Here, they tell their unique stories and explain why they are pursuing the American Dream.
TUESDAY
Extreme Cake Makers, Channel 4, 5.30pm Baking is rising and rising in popularity and with that, becoming more extreme and extravagant. Here, Michelle Wibowo is catering to the whims of a lucky birthday girl — by creating a five-foot edible Wizard of Oz mural out of Genoese sponge covered in painted icing and sweets. Elsewhere, Natassja Lusengo is decorating her famous red velvet cake in edible gold leaf. Tasty, if a bit wacky. Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners, Channel 4, 9pm In the last of the series, obsessive cleaners Caren and Dave travel to the north west of the US to take on the titanic task of cleaning the clutter-filled house of single mum Britta. The hoarder lives in a three-bedroom bungalow. Once a welcoming home, it’s now coming down with food scraps and dog poo. Can the gregarious pair tackle this monstrous job?
Bake Off: Creme de la Creme, BBC2, 8pm Another helping of the indulgent series where bakers compete to become the cream of the crop. Here, it’s whisks at dawn, as two teams battle it out for the last two semi-final places. For the miniature challenge, the teams must create 72 designer viennoiserie and the same number of flavour-filled petit fours. The second challenge sees the bakers create towering chocolate showpieces along with 108 moulded chocolate bon bons.
WEDNESDAY
Assassins: Ireland’s Contract Killers, TV3, 9pm This episode looks at the bloody legacy of hitwoman Rose Lynch. Aged five, the future contract killer joined Fianna Eireann and rose through the Republican ranks. Lynch killed driver and dad-of-two David Darcy in a clinical fashion, the hallmark of an assassin. This documentary looks at the motives of the blonde markswoman. Public Enemy, Sky Atlantic, 10pm New Belgian drama which centres on the story of Guy Beranger. At the end of his prison sentence for child murder, he is due to be released on parole into the custody of monks at Vielsart Abbey. As expected, his release prompts a public outcry and it’s not long before a young girl goes missing near the outskirts of the Abbey. Is Beranger responsible? Stephanie Blanchoud and Angelo Bison star. Confessions of a Junior Doctor, Channel 4, 9pm Fly-on-the-wall documentary which follows young medics as they set about making a name for themselves in the competitive field of medicine. Here, new registrar James is stepping up to the senior level of junior doctor. As well as leading operations for the first time he must also make life-and-death decisions, while Zeeshan, who is fresh out of medical school, is determined he will become a surgeon — but he’s not looking after himself.
THURSDAY
The Truth About Sleep, BBC1, 9pm Statistics show that most of us rank very high when it comes to sleep deprivation. We’re just not getting enough of it. In this special, Michael Mosley finds out what happens when we don’t get enough z’s and surprising solutions to help us have better quality time in the land of nod.
The Eurovision Song Contest: Semi Final 2, RTE2, 8pm It’s time for one the world’s biggest talent competitions. Flying our flag in Kiev, Ukraine, is Brendan Murray. He’ll be singing for a coveted place in the Grand Final on Saturday in the 62nd annual Eurovision Song Contest. Marty Whelan will provide the entertaining commentary.
Body Shopping, RTE2, 10.05pm Cameras follow Donna Fletcher as she travels abroad for her breast augmentation in her quest to look as good as possible. Elsewhere, Margaret Cregan is going under the knife for an eyelift and a mother and daughter join forces to future-proof their looks in the last of the series.
FRIDAY
MasterChef: The Finals, BBC1, 8.30pm The search for the country’s best amateur cook reaches its climax. This is the final chance for the remaining three chefs to pull out all the stops and showcase the skills they have honed over seven weeks. The trio have three hours to impress the discerning taste buds of judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace. It promises culinary highlights as the three exceptional amateurs cook up a storm to take the coveted title. The Graham Norton Show, BBC1, 11.05pm Imelda May has undergone something of a transformation and she’s on the show tonight, sporting new bangs. She’ll be performing her new single
Should’ve Been You. Providing the banter are iconic British director Guy Ritchie, who’ll be talking about his latest movie King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. Also on the show is the film’s star, the hunky English actor Charlie Hunman.
Versailles, BBC2, 9pm Lavish period drama set in France. King Louis XIV plans to send an army into the Netherlands and Philippe oversees troops training with new weapons, leaving his new bride at a loose end. Elsewhere, Madame de Montespan tackles the Catholic Church in the form of Father Pascal Chevalier.
SATURDAY
Yorkshire Wolds Way, BBC2, 7.30pm New series which sees adventurer Paul Rose explore the 79 miles of the beautiful Yorkshire Wolds Way, one of the lesser known national walking trails. He starts at the Humber Estuary and ends up at the Yorkshire seaside resort of Filey. Along the way, Rose stops to enjoy the stunning scenery from the top of the Humber Bridge and learns to ride a penny farthing.
The Restoration Man, Channel 4, 7pm
Three years ago, Mark Hinchcliffe and Laura Rushton came up with a plan to convert a Sunday school building in Harrogate, to sell on to raise funds to restore the huge church next door. Mark had big plans and very high standards, but did he pull the feat off ? George Clarke returns to see the couple were able to make their grand plans a reality.
Eurovision Song Contest, RTE1, 8pm It’s the grand final of the 62nd annual song contest with commentary from Marty Whelan. Following the colourful artists’ parade and an introduction from the sassy hosts, the show will begin as 26 acts take to the stage in a bid for Eurovision glory.