TV HIGHLIGHTS
SUNDAY
Dancing on Ice, TV3, 6pm It’s one thing foxtrotting on polished floorboards but performing a dance routine on ice, while trying to remain graceful, is quite another. Morning TV favourites Phillips Schofield and Holly Willoughby host the dangerous, if highly entertaining, competition. Skating legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean lead the judging panel alongside acid-tongued returning judge Jason Gardiner and new addition, Diversity’s Ashley Banjo. Dancing with the Stars, RTE1, 6.30pm If you can’t get enough of celebrities being thrust outside of their comfort zone, here’s another reason to put your feet up while you ignore the fact that you have to set your alarm for another working week. Amanda Byram and Nicky Byrne present the star-studded competition as this week the female contestants including Norah Casey, Deirdre O’Kane and Maia Dunphy battle it out for the much-coveted glitter ball trophy. Striking Out, RTE1, 9.30pm Hurrah, still time for a little escapism, even if it’s being glad that you’re not a workaholic solicitor. Amy Huberman stars as Tara Rafferty, a talented legal eagle who is dealt more than her fair share of life’s ups and downs. Here, tenacious Tara takes the case of a father who wants to launch proceedings to gain full custody of his child from his ex who is living on a commune. Elsewhere, a rejuvenated Ray has been released from prison and Eric’s charming younger brother makes an entrance.
MONDAY
Extreme Cake Makers, Channel 4, 5.30pm It’s no longer just about the taste of a cake that matters, but how it looks as well. Sales of occasion cakes have rocketed in recent years, and they show no sign of slipping as customers are requesting more and more extravagant, edible creations. In Lancashire, 26-year-old Molly has received a commission that will push her baking skills to the limit — building a life-sized, edible cow cake for the Bakewell Festival. Will it be moo-rish? Elsewhere, ex-fashion designer Nastassja Lusengo creates a twofoot wide edible art installation for a street art exhibition. Next of Kin, TV3, 9pm Contemporary thriller, starring Archie Panjabi and Jack Davenport. The charmed life of successful GP Mona Shirani is shattered when her brother is brutally murdered while working overseas for a medical charity. The untimely death unearths buried secrets, drawing Mona into a web of betrayal, conspiracy and murder. She must find a way to protect everything she holds dear, while also discovering the truth about her sibling’s demise. The Nick, 3e, 10pm Three-part documentary following the daily trials faced by on-the-beat-cops in Brighton. The seaside tourist trap attracts more than eight million visitors a year, and it is up to Division Commander Nev Kemp and his teams of determined officers and detectives to maintain law and order. The series begins with officers dealing with a prowler who has been breaking into people’s homes under the cover of darkness, and also conducting a major raid on a drugs den.
TUESDAY
Operation Transformation, RTE1, 8.30pm The first week draws to a close and three of the leaders face the dreaded scales to see if their blood, sweat and tears have paid off. There’s also the first Operation Transformation event, with nationwide walks taking place in over 50 locations. If you need inspiration to drag yourself off the sofa, then look no further. First Dates Ireland, RTE2, 9.30pm The restaurant opens its doors to more savvy singletons hoping to sate more than their appetite for food. Stephen hopes he will impress his date Denise when he orders oysters, but he undoes his good work when he finds them hard to swallow. Next up, Lawson returns having been stood up last week, but will it be love at first sight second time around? Plus, Sarah stuns her date Andreas when she says she “works in terrorism”. Is it possible that he may have misheard her? Transformation Street, TV3, 10pm Three-part series exploring the world of gender confirmation or reassignment surgery. It follows the fastidious work of worldrenowned plastic surgeon to the stars Christopher Inglefield and his private clinic on London’s Wimpole Street. The clinic has seen a dramatic rise in applications for the life-changing surgery from people who identify as trans from all walks of life.
WEDNESDAY
Millionaires’ Ex-Wives Club, BBC2, 9pm The maxim ‘all that glitters is not gold’ says it all for the exwives of the filthy rich — the more money that is involved, the more acrimonious the fight. This special follows women who have split from their multi-millionaire husbands and are fighting tooth and nail, with money they don’t have, to get their hand on what they think they are owed. Michelle, 53, spent 18 years with Scot Young, a property tycoon whose real fortune came from being a ‘fixer’ to oligarchs and Britain’s super rich. However, he lost his entire fortune overnight, leaving him bankrupt, but Michelle refused to believe that he didn’t have millions stashed away in an offshore account. Vikings, RTE2, 9pm Double bill of the historical drama series inspired by the sagas of Viking Ragnar Lothbrok. In the first episode, celebrations are cut short in the aftermath of the battle at York and tensions between the fiery Lothbrok brothers come to a head, with the siblings forced to choose a side. In the second episode, the Saxons devise a battle plan, and Ivar the Boneless strategises on his own. Kiri, Channel 4, 9pm Compelling drama about a young black girl, Kiri, who was snatched before she was due to be adopted by a white foster family. Here, Tobi searches for his son Nate and faces up to some unsettling truths about their relationship, while social worker Miriam is under pressure to take the blame for what happened to Kiri.
THURSDAY
Getaways, RTE1, 7pm The beautiful Greek island of Rhodes is this week’s destination for lucky pair Mairead Ronan and Joe Lindsay. Fun activities include exploring the old and new town of Rhodes, hiking up the historical Acropolis of Lindos, admiring the island’s breathtaking coastline by speedboat and sampling the delicious flavours of Aegean cuisine. They also find time to take a daytrip to the picture perfect Greek island of Symi. We’re not jealous at all. Plus, in this week’s short getaway, modelturned-presenter Vogue Williams takes a foodie and shopping break in the city of Belfast. Will she like what she finds in the Northern Irish capital? Big Cats, BBC1, 8pm The second of this three-part series looking at fascinating feline behaviour. Tonight’s edition features the rare Pallas’s cat who is at home with her kittens in Mongolia, and a pregnant, hungry jaguar patiently waits for thousands of turtles to arrive on a remote Pacific beach. Britannia, Sky Atlantic, 9pm Glossy, epic drama from the writer of Spectre and Edge of tomorrow. In 55BC, Julius Caesar attempted to invade Britannia, but it wasn’t long before his terrified armies returned empty handed. More than 90 years later, the Romans, led by General Aulus Plautius, return to Britannia’s shores to finish the job. What he discovers is an island locked in conflict and inhabited by warrior clans. David Morrissey, Kelly Reilly, Zoe Wanamaker and an unrecognisable Mackenzie Crook star.
FRIDAY
Fleadh Cheoil, RTE1, 7.30pm It’s back to Ennis in Co Clare for the first of a new series of the music competition, hosted by John Creedon and Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain. This opening programme features music from The Nesbitt family and Co Clare musicians Therese McInerney, Brian and Keith O’Loughlin, and Brian Donnellan. Delicious, Sky1, 9pm Series two of the hit drama concludes. The families are dealt a blow when Sam and Gina reveal the secret that Adam has been keeping to himself. Feeling betrayed, Sam makes plans to leave. Meanwhile, Teresa and Michael are honest about their feelings for one another, and a loved-up Gina looks forward to a promising future with James.
SATURDAY
The Voice UK, TV3, 8pm The singers facing this evening’s blind auditions will be feeling the pressure, as the coaches have made some great selections already, meaning that spaces on their teams are limited. Emma Willis watches on as will.i.am, Jennifer Hudson, Olly Murs and Tom Jones tune their ears and check out new hopefuls. The Graham Norton Show, TV3, 9.30pm The host is joined by some A-grade acting talent for this instalment of his chat show. He talks to Liam Neeson, who is promoting new thriller The Commuter, and Jamie Dornan, who is wrapping up the global phenomenon that is Fifty Shades Freed. Helen Mirren also talks new project Winchester, and singer Sigrid performs a new hit. The Ray D’Arcy Show, RTE1, 9.45pm Ray has another brilliant show lined up, with some of the finest entertainers and personalities from both Ireland and abroad landing on his sofa for a chat. He’ll also have a top performer drop in to play their latest track.