Pat’s life is essential viewing...

Patrick Kielty has always came across extremely well. Back in the day, he was one of - if not the only comedian who managed to regularly perform material about the troubles that was so clever and undeniably funny - it appealed to everyone.

He took his first babysteps towards a career in comedy hosting end of year shows at St Patricks Grammar in Downpatrick - a few months before I started at the same school.

What’s remarkable about that is just a year or so previous to him getting laughs from the stage in that old gymnasium, he lost his father, shot dead by the UVF in Dundrum, where he lived.

‘My Father, The Peace Deal and Me’ was broadcast on Wednesday night on BBC 1, with Paddy heading back to Dundrum, and across the country, to meet other folk who’s lives changed in a profound way during the troubles. There’s also footage of Paddy in a balaclava during early shows at The Empire and of him chatting with Mo Mowlam on his BBC NI TV show.

There’s present day conversations with everyone from Arlene Foster to Sinn Fein’s Emma Rogan, who’s father was also shot dead during the troubles possibly by members of the same gang who murdered Jack Kielty. It’s remarkable TV, smart and thoughtful - and an absolute credit to Paddy himself.

It’s also sober viewing at times. At one point, we see Paddy celebrating the ease at which he can now dander from Northern The build up to The Biggest Weekend has been great fun - as Belfast prepares to become the coolest corner of the UK for a few days, next month. We already know that Beck, Lykee Li, Manic Street Preachers and Underworld are amongst a startlingly cool bill to play at Titanic Slipways the last weekend of May - but now details of the Biggest Weekend Fringe are starting to bleed out.

It’s a series of events all around the city in the build up to the main weekender, courtesy of not just the BBC - but local promoters who do great work all year round. I’m chuffed to say that as part of all that, Across the Line - the show I Ireland to the Republic, only for the camera to pan back and reveal an ugly signpost warning of Brexit - and a possible hard border.

Yes near the end, we find

Paddy chatting with a number of students from the Shimna (Integrated) College in Newcastle. They’re an inspiration, frankly some of them politically motivated, some of them not, all of them well spoken and intelligent and - crucially - happily debating, side by side. He pleads the case for integrated schools just like Liam Neeson, Carl Frampton - and anyone with an ounce of sense, really. It ends on a relatively positive note as a result. Essential viewing - check it out on the iplayer. present, has a very special live broadcast planned for Monday 21st at BBC Blackstaff. Titans of the local scene - and literally one of the most respected live bands on the planet - And So I Watch You From Afar will perform live, alongside the incredible Katharine Philippa, an act who had me more than a little weepy the last time I saw her perform. Also on the bill - the very new - but very hotly tipped female trio Cherym, with three more acts to be announced along with details as to how you can get (free) tickets - on this Monday’s show. We’re determined we’ll start a monumental week of live music with a real bang.