TV HIGHLIGHTS
SUNDAY
Dragons’ Den, BBC2, 8pm Returning for this 16th series, the Dragons take their seats in the Den again as they get set to face a fresh batch of entrepreneurs seeking investment. In this series opener, we meet a man who wants the Dragons to take a slice of his anatomy dissection business, and a singer-for-hire service who inspires the Dragons to showcase some of their own vocal talents. Plus, a husband-and-wife team get a few grumbles from the Dragons after a potentially fatal flaw is exposed in their plan.
Fake or Fortune? BBC1, 9pm Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould return for a new series of the show that sees them investigate whether a person’s prized possession is actually worth what they paid for it. In this opening edition they look at a still life by William Nicholson, bought for £165,000 back in 2006. However, a leading authority on the artist has since rejected the piece, claiming it isn’t worth its hefty price tag. Will the team be able to prove the sceptic wrong, or has the buyer been ripped off ?
Travels in Trumpland with Ed Balls, BBC2, 9pm Ed’s first stop this week is Donald Trump’s very own private members’ club, Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, where the President can be found hacking around his golf course most weekends. Hosted by millionairess Toni, a close friend and founder of Trump’s female fan club The Trumpettes, Ed gets to work preparing for the Trumpette Ball, a huge, extravagant party.
MONDAY
Jamie Cooks Italy, Channel 4, 8.30pm Home is where the heart is when it comes to Italian cuisine and in this new series, Jamie Oliver and his old pal Gennaro Contaldo get straight to the heart of the Italian kitchen. Their journey begins in the Aeolian Islands, where the pair search out old recipes before cooking up a Sunday lunch with the matriarch of one of the region’s biggest families.
Bollywood: The World’s Biggest Film Industry, BBC2, 9pm Anita Rani travels to Mumbai — the home of Bollywood — to learn how important films are to everyday folk at one of the city’s oldest cinemas. Anita then goes on set at a film shoot in the city, where she meets one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, Anil Kapoor. Anil explains how the famous dance numbers are shot without rehearsals.
Picnic at Hanging Rock, RTE2, 9.30pm Mademoiselle de Poitiers continues to grow suspicious of Mrs Appleyard’s behaviour, while back at the college, things are falling into disarray with teachers and girls leaving. Appleyard College is quickly losing its standing in society following the disappearances, but the widow Appleyard is dealing with things in her own way.
TUESDAY
1968: The Long March, RTE1, 9.35pm This one-off special marking the 50th anniversary of the civil rights protests in the north is presented by Miriam O’Callaghan. It follows events through 1968-1969 and the marches that culminated with the Martin Luther King-inspired ‘Long March’. About 40 young people set off to walk from Belfast to Derry, but were stopped in bloody scenes which helped spark the Troubles.
On The Edge, Channel 4, 10pm This three-part anthology is aired over two nights and each stand-alone edition is penned by a female writer making their debut and directed by filmmakers from diverse backgrounds. The opener follows Aimee, who has spent most of her young life in and out of prison, and Tessa, a disillusioned parole officer.
The Split RTE1, 10.35pm This slick, witty legal tale about divorce lawyers comes to an end as Maya, Oscar’s second wife, finally arrives in London. As the family try to build bridges and look to the future, Hannah and Nathan are still bidding to save their marriage. However, a revelation leaves Hannah with a difficult decision as she must decide whether to follow her head or her heart.
WEDNESDAY
The Repair Shop, BBC2, 6.45pm Three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold are the centrepiece of the show. This week, a music box is brought back to life; a delicate miniature globe is restored; and a cherished garnet bracelet which has spent years in pieces is repaired, before all the items are returned to the families that love them.
Orangutan Jungle School, Channel 4, 8pm Jungle academy is a school where orphaned orangutans learn vital skills before being released to the wild. The Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rescue Centre in Borneo is the largest primate rehabilitation centre in the world. This series reveals the apes’ heart-rending stories and follows the progress of these endearing creatures as they approach graduation.
Recipes That Made Me, BBC2, 8pm Restaurateur Nisha Katona travels the UK to discover family recipes passed down through south Asian families. In this episode, Nisha heads to Punjabi hotspots to discover all she can about the cuisine and understand more about the ingredients, cooking techniques and culture that has given this food its unique characteristics.
THURSDAY
Fleadh TV, TG4, 8.30pm This year’s colourful celebration of all things Irish has something to tickle the fancy of every music fan. We see and hear the best traditional and folk musicians that are performing at this year’s event in Drogheda, from local legends to the most talented international stars. You won’t want to miss a single second of the Fleadh fun.
Searching for Mum: Sri Lanka BBC2, 9pm This moving documentary follows two women on a journey of self-discovery. After both were adopted overseas as babies they return to Sri Lanka to track down their birth mothers and reconnect to their long-lost identity. It’s a tough road for both as they embark on a journey that could totally reshape who they are.
Celebrity Big Brother 3e, 9pm Love it or hate it, it’s back and host Emma Willis presents as another bunch of well-known faces enter the Big Brother House to see if they can get along for a couple of weeks. The star-studded list of housemates is kept under wraps until the big event, but if the rumours are to be believed then there are wild times ahead.
FRIDAY
Extraordinary Rituals BBC2, 9pm This three-part series takes a closer look at ritualistic ceremonies we all use to mark significant events, like birth, marriage and death. This opener, titled Circle of Life, includes a coming-of-age ceremony in Papua New Guinea, dating rituals in China, and a huge Indonesian funeral that costs £170,000.
Code 37: Sex Crimes More4, 9pm Walter Presents — which showcases the best foreign language drama series — introduces an intense Belgian crime thriller about a vice detective battling bad memories. By now, Hannah has settled in as the head of her team specialising in sexual offences, aka Code 37s. Together with her three colleagues, old-timer Charles, macho Bob and rookie Kevin, she must create an enduring team that efficiently tackles the most serious and violent sexual crimes.
Brendan O’Connor’s Time Out RTE1, 9.35pm The host returns to our screens for this new three-part series, in which he gets to go one-onone with high-profile people, to discuss their lives and careers in an intimate setting. Across the series Brendan will get the opportunity to chat with writer Michael Harding and musician Nile Rodgers, but tonight he begins with Majella O’Donnell. There’s no shortage of things for the pair to discuss, including her fairytale romance with one of Ireland’s most iconic singers, her difficult first marriage, and what Daniel O’Donnell is really like.
SATURDAY
A Year in the New Forest, Channel 4, 7pm This insightful four-part series, that offers a glimpse of the remarkable creatures — both great and small — that inhabit forests, concludes tonight. With this instalment comes the warmth of summer, as an unexpected heatwave has a variety of effects on animals. We get to see how the ponies, cattle and deer fawn deal with the influx of flies and insects, and we see the positives the heat has had on the rare butterfly population.
Fixing a Hole: Saving Planet Earth, Channel 4, 8pm Climate change is a hot topic — no pun intended — at the moment, with this one-off documentary taking a look at the first man-made threat to our planet’s environment — the hole that pierced the ozone layer. It hears the story of the scientists who first discovered the issue, and how they went about trying to resolve the potentially deadly problem. It’s a fascinating story that recalls the involvement of two very unlikely eco warriors — American President Ronald Reagan and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Up for the Match, RTE1, 9.30pm All eyes will be on the All-Ireland hurling final tomorrow, as Limerick clash with Galway at Croke Park (throw-in at 3.30pm over on RTE2). Tonight sees Des Cahill and Gráinne Seoige in the party mood, as they host an evening of entertainment for a selection of raucous fans.