TV hIGhLIGhTS
SUNDAY Lords & Ladles,
RTE1, 6.30pm The chefs conclude another series of their culinary adventures, as Catherine Fulvio and Paul Flynn travel to Drishane House in Co Cork, which is noteworthy for being the former home of legendary Irish author Edith Somerville. They are shown around the property and given an insightful history lesson, before they take to the kitchen to prepare a mouth-watering meal influenced by 19thcentury dinners, which features a macaroni tower, Irish Moss Blancmange, and a rice dish created for Florence Nightingale.
Dunkirk: The Forgotten Heroes,
Channel 4, 8pm The real-life events of what happened on the beaches of France in 1940 are far more horrifying than any Hollywood blockbuster could ever capture, and this documentary looks back at the story behind one of the most significant events of the Second World War. It gives the remaining members of the 51st Highland Division a chance to talk about the events in their own words, as they relive the decision that saw them left behind to fight on bravely while the British army pulled their other forces out.
The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan,
BBC2, 9pm The comedian has visited some of they most visually-stunning, yet politically-troubled locations around the world. Now the series concludes in Albania. Romesh is greeted by heavy rain, but his spirits are high when he is given a guided tour by local television presenter Erjona Rusi. He gets the chance to meet all sorts of characters on his travels, as he learns about the country’s colourful history and what it is really like to live there.
MONDAY
Nadiya’s Family Favourites,
BBC2, 8pm
The chef, who won her way into viewers’ hearts during The Great British Bake Off, returns for a new series in which she demonstrates how to make simple, satisfying meals that are both healthy and suitable for any occasion. In this opener she begins with recipes that are perfect for a family day out, including chai spiced vermicelli, cheese biscuits with tomato jam, and prawn saffron biryani.
Our Guy In Russia,
Channel 4, 9pm Petrolhead Guy Martin is back on our screens, as he takes the ultimate trip around Russia, hoping to leave current misconceptions behind and embrace the country’s true experiences. In this opener to the three-part series, he begins his travels in Moscow, where he gets the chance to ride with a pro-Putin biker gang, test his daredevil skills with a pair of rooftoppers, and drive a priceless Zil limousine right into Red Square. He finishes up with a first for him — an aerobatic display in a 500mph aircraft.
Picnic at Hanging Rock,
RTE2, 9.30pm The haunting period drama, starring Natalie Dormer, makes its Irish network debut. It revolves around Hester Appleyard, an English widow who travels to Australia at the tail end of the 19th-century. There she sets up an esteemed school for young women. However, trouble follows close behind, as some of the school’s pupils and a teacher mysteriously vanish without a trace during the Valentine’s Day picnic.
Stonemouth,
RTE1, 10.35pm The two-part drama, starring Peter Mullan, concludes. Stewart seeks Ellie’s help in unravelling the truth that surrounds Callum’s death. However, everyone is about to discover that time is not on their sides, and the fallout could end up tearing the Murston family apart.
TUESDAY
The Life Swap Adventure, RTE2, 8.30pm This experimental new series takes two people and drops them into each other’s worlds to see how they get along outside of their comfort zone. In this opening instalment, two fathers are given one week to see what life is like on the opposite side of the globe. Will they cope with the pressures or will homesickness and the new surroundings be too much for them?
Mark Kermode’s Secrets of Cinema,
BBC4, 9pm The veteran film critic knows a thing or two about the history of cinema, and this new series gives him a platform with which to offer his insight and analysis. Each edition sees him study what makes a great genre flick, from horror to sci-fi and beyond. The series begins with this look at romantic comedies and how, despite often being disdained by critics, they have been loved by audiences for decades.
My Broken Brain,
RTE1, 9.35pm This one-off special gets to know just some of the 700,000 people across Ireland who live with neurological conditions — including Epilepsy, Motor Neurone Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease. It follows them along the various stages of their journeys, including testing, surgery and treatment, showing viewers the touching moments and lifealtering decisions that go into the treatment of such conditions.
WEDNESDAY Live Well For Longer,
Channel 4, 8pm Kate Quilton, Tamal Ray and Morland Sanders present this new series, looking at what we can be doing to help our general health and well-being. This opener looks at how we affect our bodies with sex, drugs and alcohol consumption. The team goes its separate ways to look into the frontline of medical developments. Kate and Tamal examine a potentially hangoverfree version of alcohol, Morland tests controversial smart drug Modafinil, and a group of women decide to give up alcohol for one month to see what result it may have on their bodies both inside and out. Killed By My Debt, BBC1, 9pm Chance Perdomo, Craig Parkinson and Juliet Cowan star in this one-off drama, originally released online via BBC3. It follows 19-year-old Jerome Rogers, whose life begins to spiral out of control after two £65 traffic fines begin to grow with interest — eventually landing him in debt for more than £1,000.
ThUrSDAY Size Matters,
BBC4, 9pm Hannah Fry presents this twopart special, which looks at why things in the natural world are the size that they are. In this opener, she examines what life would be like on Earth if it was to a bigger scale, and experiments with aspects including g-force, the size of animals, and what a human body would look like if it grew to be a massive 15m tall.
Prison,
Channel 4, 9pm Cameras are given the unique opportunity to find out what life is really like for the inmates and staff at Durham jail in England. Filmed over a seven-month period, this opener begins with a panic surrounding dangerous new drug ‘spice’, as those working on the inside attempt to combat a prison-wide spread.
Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back,
Channel 4, 10pm Chef Gordon Ramsay returns for a new series, as he travels the length and breadth of America, helping restaurants who are in desperate need of cleaning up their acts. In this opener he begins at the family-run Italian restaurant Bella Gianna’s in New York, but will he be able to work his magic in just 24 hours?
Acquitted: The Rugby Rape Trial,
RTE1, 10.15pm The trial surrounding allegations against Ireland and Ulster rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding, and Blane McIlroy and Rory Harrison had the nation talking earlier this year. This special offers analysis of the events of the trial, that took place at Belfast Crown Court, as each twist and turn unfolded.
FrIDAY The Crystal Maze,
Channel 4, 8pm
Richard Ayoade returns for a new series of the eccentric gameshow, as another team gets ready to face a number of wild and wacky challenges. In this opener, The Gamers square up to the maze, but will these professional videogame players walk away with the grand prize at the end?
The Best of the Late Late Show,
RTE1, 9.35pm Ryan Tubridy concludes his look back at the latest series of the chat show, with this edition focusing on the spectacle that was the most recent Late Late Show Country Music Special. Celebrity guests include Daniel O’Donnell, Nathan Carter, Gloria, Philomena Begley, Jimmy Buckley and many more. Room 101 — Extra Storage, BBC1, 11.05pm The comedy panel show is never off our screens for long, and host Frank Skinner is back for a new run. The series begins with journalist and screenwriter Charlie Brooker, TV personality Scarlett Moffatt and actor Pearl Mackie attempting to cast their pet peeves into oblivion.
SATUrDAY
Proms Extra, BBC2, 6.50pm The BBC Proms are an annual highlight for classical music fans, always providing audiences with powerful performances and superb spectacles. In the first instalment of this new series, Katie Derham looks back at the first seven days of this summer’s shows, picking out the best musical moments so far.
The Voice Kids,
TV3, 8pm It may have only run for a week, but the singing competition aimed at youngsters concludes this evening. Emma Willis presents the action, as judges Will.i.am, Pixie Lott, Danny Jones welcome the final six, who sing their hearts out in an effort to win the big prize — £30,000 towards musical tuition and a family trip to Disneyland Paris.