TV hIGhLIGhTS
SUNDAY
Strokes of Genius: Federer v Nadal, BBC2, 6.20pm
Tennis veterans Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have certainly proved to be the best of rivals over the years, constantly trying to outdo each other on courts all across the world. This back and forth is the focus of this one-off documentary, which charts their highly-competitive men’s singles final from the 2008 instalment of Wimbledon — seen by many fans as one of the finest matches of tennis ever played. Both men offer insight into their frame of mind during the showdown, and there are also contributions from tennis legends including John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Martina Navratilova and more.
Vienna Summer Night Concert 2018, BBC4, 7pm
Katie Derham introduces this mesmerising classical concert from the Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna. Valery Gergiev conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in a performance that also features soprano Anna Netrebko. Their focus is on the joys of Italian compositions, with the recital featuring pieces by Gioachino Rossini, Pietro Mascagni, Giuseppe Verdi and more masters of composition. Bake Off: The Professionals, Channel 4, 8pm Liam Charles and Tom Allen present what promises to be a thrilling finale to the first series of the culinary competition. Just three teams are left at this stage, but by the end of this instalment only one of them will be crowned the winner. It’s going to be tough to impress judges Benoit Blin and Cherish Finden, who are looking for the teams to prepare a mouth-watering banquet display that serves 80 people, four different desserts, and design a show-stopping showpiece that includes chocolate and sugar. World’s Tiniest Masterpieces, Channel 4, 10.10pm Artist Willard Wigan looks to prove that it’s the little things that matter in this documentary. He is a renowned micro-sculptor and is aiming to set a world record by crafting a carpet fibre into a sculpture so small that it could fit inside a human cell.
MONDAY
Puppy Love, BBC1, 7.30pm
There are some people out there who insist on pampering their pooches and spare no expense to do so. This one-off documentary offers a glimpse inside Mucky Pups, a Welsh business that facilitates just that — and is currently the UK’s biggest doggy boutique and spa. Canines of all shapes and sizes come through its doors every day, and here we get to meet some of them and their owners, and hear about the lavish procedures offered. Lands of the Monsoon, RTE2, 8pm Some parts of the world rely heavily on the arrival of monsoon season, as plants, animals and even economies shift as a result of the rainfall. This opener takes us to Australia and India, where spectacles include the daring red flying foxes risking life and limb to grab a drink while avoiding Australian freshwater crocodiles. Elsewhere, millions of red crabs swarm across Christmas Island as they head to their breeding grounds. Stonemouth, RTE1, 10.40pm Christian Cooke, Peter Mullan, and Charlotte Spence star in this two-part drama. It revolves around Stewart Gilmour, who must break his self-imposed exile by returning to his hometown after word reaches him of his friend’s death. Although it is being reported that he died by suicide, Stewart isn’t convinced and starts digging into the case.
Pope: The Most Powerful Man in History, RTE1, 11.50pm
This insightful new six-part series looks at the power that comes with the title of being the Vicar of Christ, and how the position has evolved over the centuries. Taking us back 2,000 years, we get to hear about the foundations that would expand into the rich history of Catholicism, and how the importance of the papacy rose along side it.
TUESDAY
The Rise and Fall of Nokia, BBC4, 9pm Finnish company Nokia played a huge part in the astronomical rise of the mobile phone, but despite having a strong grip on the market, it soon began to crumble under the weight of its own success. This special examines how this happened, hearing from employees who lived it, as we discover how the firm’s ingenuity eventually gave way to stagnation.
The Split, RTE1, 10.40pm Nicola Walker, Annabel Scholey, Anthony Head and Stephen
Mangan star in this drama. Divorce lawyer Hannah Dafoe needs to create space between herself and her formidable clan, so she quits her position at the family-run business. She takes a new job with a rival firm, but her estranged father re-emerges, quickly stirring up the toxic feud he has with her mother Ruth.
The Good Karma Hospital, RTE1, 11.50pm Amrita Acharia and Amanda
Redman return for the drama’s second series. Junior doctor Ruby has been adjusting to her new life in India, but is tested when she is left flying solo during a night shift. Things take a further twist when a big storm hits Barco.
WEDNESDAY
Picnic at Hanging Rock, BBC2, 9.05pm
Natalie Dormer leads the cast of this six-part adaptation of Joan Lindsay’s novel, which also stars Lily Sullivan, Madeleine Madden and Samara Weaving. The troubled Hester Appleyard travels to Australia, where she takes up the position of headmistress at Appleyard College. However, her time there is hit with tragedy, when a teacher and three star pupils vanish into the Outback during the Valentine’s Day picnic. The Syndicate, TV3, 10pm Alison Steadman and Mark Addy star in the second series of the drama. Some of the staff at St Anthony’s Hospital band together to form a lottery syndicate. Much to everyone’s shock their numbers come up. However, it’s not quite time to celebrate, as Becky, a member of the syndicate, was out the night before and can’t remember what she has done with the winning ticket.
ThUrSDAY
Eat Well for Less? BBC1, 8pm Gregg Wallace and Chris Bavin return to help more households with their naughty eating habits and get them back on the highway to good health. In this opener, they meet the Atkinson family in Blackpool, whose sky-high weekly food bill and reliance on fast-food present a hefty challenge for the hosts. Supershoppers, Channel 4, 8pm Leading brands watch out, as the dynamic duo of Anna Richardson and Sabrina Grant conclude their money-saving series. As always they’re out to find ways to help save viewers a little on the side, as they investigate the latest loopholes found both in stores and online. Included in this instalment is a look at the difference between premium and value pasta, train delays and the reliability of lifetime guarantees. The Handmaid’s Tale, RTE2, 9.30pm Season two of the hit drama, starring Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski and Joseph Fiennes concludes. There have been twists and turns all series long, as Offred and her companions have attempted to survive the many dangers of Gilead. However, there are still pitfalls and shocks ahead, and the grim possibility that this episode will leave us with a nail-biting finale. Who Do You Think You Are? RTE1, 10.15pm The series that charts the family trees of various celebrities returns, with this opener featuring singer Cheryl. Along the way she unearths surprises including a sea-faring ancestor and a relative who fought in one of the most famous battles of the First World War.
FrIDAY
Food Unwrapped Summer Diet Special, Channel 4, 8pm No matter what condition your beach body is currently in, allow the team of Jimmy Doherty, Kate Quilton, Matt Tebbutt and Dr Helen Lawal to offer their findings and advice on the food that we eat. Included in this special edition is a look at weight-loss pills, tiger nut milk, collagen drinks and crash diets. 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Channel 4, 9pm Canadian comedian Katherine Ryan hosts this special edition of the comical take on the classic quiz, as she and an all-female panel of guests mark 100 years of women’s suffrage. Roisin Conaty and Jessica Hynes go up against Sara Pascoe and Lolly Adefope, with Rachel Riley handling the numbers and letters. Morgana Robinson — in character as Natalie Cassidy — joins Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner.
Dicte — Crime Reporter, More4, 9pm
This week’s entry into the Walter Presents archive is the third series of this Danish crime drama. Dicte has given up her job as a journalist and has married Bo. However, there’s a shock in store when details about Bo’s latest assignment come to light, meaning that she has to go further than ever before to find the answers that she seeks.
SATUrDAY
The Voice Kids, TV3, 8pm
The singing competition aimed at youngsters between the age of seven and 14 returns. Judges Danny Jones, Pixie Lott and Will.i.am are on the lookout for something special, as hopefuls show them what they’ve got. Reginald D Hunter’s Songs of the Border, BBC2, 9pm The comedian travels the distance of the US/Mexico border, discovering what music from both sides of the divide can tell us about the current state of affairs between the nations.