TV HIGHLIGHTS
SUNDAY
Les Miserables, BBC1, 9pm The six-part drama based on Victor Hugo’s seminal novel concludes. As Paris descends into anarchy, the revolutionaries clash with the army. Valjean is caught in the middle when he seeks Marius, conflicted about the man who may take Cosette away from him. Marius is wounded and Valjean tries to flee with him. However, the dogged Inspector Javert is on their tails. Africa with Ade Adepitan, BBC2, 9pm The host presents a four-parter in which he travels the continent. He starts off on the island nation of Cape Verde, where he meets people living beside an active volcano. Next he is in Senegal, hearing from fishermen whose hauls are being taken by western companies. In the Ivory Coast, he meets footballers looking to join European leagues, before heading to his birthplace of Nigeria. Resistance, RTE1, 9.30pm The drama set during the War of Independence reaches its conclusion, and the stakes have never been higher. Brogan is intent on coming out of this ordeal alive, but he needs to find Jimmy to do it. He manages to sneak a message to Jimmy. The pair meet at Croke Park, but it’s not long before the shooting starts as General Winter has told Major Mills to take his men there. Celtic Connections, TG4, 9.30pm Donal O’Connor presents the second and last programme which was recorded at the Glasgow-based festival last year. Appearing on this edition are the trio of Eamonn Coyne, Dermot Byrne and John Doyle, Americana stars I’m With Her, Irish folk outfit Notify and singer-songwriter Kim Carnie.
MONDAY
Food Unwrapped Takeaway Special, Channel 4, 8pm Matt Tebbutt, Kate Quilton and Jimmy Doherty look at what goes into our favourite fast food. Matt explores the secrets of KFC and looks at how they make their fries, while Kate examines food courier Deliveroo so see how they’re changing the takeaway game. Plus, Jimmy is in New York to investigate some of the health benefits of Mexican food. There’s also a less palatable segment as Matt explores what goes into cheap takeaways. Teachers Training To Kill, Channel 4, 9pm School shootings in America are on the rise, with reports showing 2018 was the worst year for gun violence in schools since records began. This documentary follows teachers at Faster, a controversial summer school, where they are taught how to deal with the situation should it arise — including shooting to kill. Understandably, not everyone is on board and it has fractured their local community.
The Irish Revolution, RTE1, 9.35pm
Cillian Murphy narrates this three-part documentary to mark the centenary of the Irish War of Independence. This insightful film explores how a small group of rebels forced one of the world’s most powerful countries out of Ireland, and uses rare archive footage and 3D maps to examine the tumultuous period as it has never been seen before.
TUESDAY
How the Other Kids Live, Channel 4, 8pm This three-part documentary gathers children from all walks of life as they have a playdate together. This edition sees three sets of kids in Birmingham spend time in each other’s homes, including well-off twins Tom and Billy, Yasmin, whose parents are from Nigeria, and Brendan, who was brought up Catholic but whose mother wants him to experience different cultures. Silent Witness, BBC1, 9pm The latest series of the longrunning drama concludes with the second episode of the twopart finale. Nikki is suspicious when Thomas sides against her. Suspecting foul play, she takes drastic measures to prove her theory. Elsewhere, Jack and Clarissa follow a trail which connects a dead researcher to a billionaire, and the pair stumble upon a secret testing programme. Vera, Virgin Media 1, 9pm This will be our last helping of the drama following the mordant detective for a while, but viewers are in for some edge-of-your-seat viewing. A cold case is reopened when a skeleton is found, and it is confirmed to be that of a former friend of Vera’s father’s. However, the case becomes even more complicated when another body is discovered, forcing the sleuth to use all her powers of deduction to expose the culprit and put old ghosts to rest.
Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century: Live Final, BBC2, 9pm
Since mid-January, viewers have been voting for their favourite figure from the past 100 years. Here, the winners of each category — leaders, entertainers, explorers, scientists, activists, sports stars, and artists and writers — are pitted against one another before the overall winner is chosen by the general public.
WEDNESDAY
Strictly Business, RTE1, 7.30pm Sonya Lennon heads this series in which she helps six small Irish companies who are trying to up their game and compete on the global stage. Here, she meets Karen and Frank Daly, who own The Academy, a cafe club weightloss and fitness venue in Dundalk, as they look to create a more recognisable franchise and expand their brand. Inside Ireland’s Biggest Prison: True Lives, Virgin Media 1, 9pm This documentary series follows staff and inmates at The Midlands Prison. This opener looks at how the prisoners are prepared for life on the outside, looking at how they earn credits in school, the gym and at work. There is also a meeting with the vice principal of the prison school, as well as Rake, the officer in charge of the tuck shop. Vikings, RTE2, 9.00pm The current run of the violent historical drama ends with a two-parter. In the first episode, Ubbe is thrown into hand-tohand, while there is a shock in store for Floki, and Bjorn returns to Scandinavia to settle old scores. In the final episode, Bjorn achieves one of his father’s dreams and King Alfred faces his greatest threat yet.
ThUrSDAY
Ar gClub, TG4, 8pm This fly-on-the-wall series follows four GAA clubs during the 2018 season. This edition meets the supporters of Cumann Caide na Gaeltachta and Moy Tir na nOg as their teams battle it out in an All Ireland semi-final clash. In Conamara, the CLG na Piarsaigh club’s under 8s team begins the first training session of the season, while CLG Na Dunaibh prepare to host the Comortas Peile na Gaeltachta finals. Flirty Dancing, Channel 4, 10pm Dance expert Ashley Banjo’s matchmaking series comes to an end this week. This week’s lovebirds include dance teacher Daniel, who is matched with student Tatijana. Plus, Rayna, who is on the lookout for a man with a sixpack, is paired with gym-loving trainee firefighter Jay.
FrIDAY
Humpback Whales: A Detective Story, BBC2, 9pm This one-off documentary has an odd history behind it. In 2015, filmmaker Tom Mustill was recording in California when a whale breached and landed on him. Miraculously unscathed, he returns to the site of the accident to investigate whether the animal was trying to hurt him. He also looks at the what the future holds for whales and their relationship with humans. The Late Late Show: Valentine’s Special, RTE1, 9.35pm Whether or not love is in the air for you, Ryan Tubridy will have something for everyone in a special edition of the longrunning chat show. Expect fun and unique twists as the host plays Cupid for some members of the audience. Tune in to see if any romance blossoms as Ryan invites some special guests and hears some of the most heart-warming love stories from across the country. The Graham Norton Show, BBC1, 11.05pm Friday is the night for chat shows and, as usual, the ebullient host welcomes a star-studded range of guests that are sure to entertain. This week he chats to actors Patrick Stewart and Chiwetel Ejiofor, as well as comedian Ricky Gervais, who discuss their latest projects. Plus, Jack Savoretti performs his latest single Candlelight in studio.
SATUrDAY
Ireland’s Got Talent, Virgin Media 1, 7.30pm The contest continues into its second week as more skilled individuals from across the country compete for the 50,000 euro prize. This edition features a magician duo aged 83 and nineyears-old, a dance troupe with an impactful routine, and a mother who takes to the stage despite recent personal troubles. David Bowie: Finding Fame, BBC2, 9pm This one-off, feature-length documentary explores the man behind the musician, featuring unheard recordings and neverbefore-seen archive clips to examine what made him tick. The film focuses on his formative years in the 1960s, showing how he crafted the unique sounds that would shape his career. The Graham Norton show, Virgin Media 1, 10.30pm The host invites another selection of celebrity guests for a chat on his red sofa. This week, Patrick Stewart talks about new fantasy adventure The Kid Who Would Be King, while Ricky Gervais discusses his dark new sitcom After Life. Plus, actors Regina King and Chiwetel Ejiofor talk about their recent projects, while Jack Savoretti performs in studio.