TV PICKS OF THE WEEK

FILM

Air Force One, C5, Friday 10pm

Having announced a war on terror, the American President played by Harrison Ford in this lively action movie soon does his share of the fighting - by resisting when held hostage on his plane.

U.S. President James Marshall: Popular president and a family man who loves his wife Grace and daughter Alice. Marshall is also a decorated Vietnam veteran and a Medal of Honor winner, speaks reasonably fluent Russian. Feigning escape during Air Force One’s hijacking, he attempts to retake the aircraft, to rescue everybody.

His chief captor is played by a barnstorming Gary Oldman.

DRAMA

THE FIRST, CHANNEL 4, THURSDAY 9PM

Tom, the new commander of the mission to Mars, is arguing with Kayla, the previous commander, as to whether he should replace Nick or Sadie for the mission. Tom is in favor of Nick, while Kayla argues on behalf of Sadie, as she feels personally responsible for Sadie becoming an astronaut. After Sadie fails a training exercise, Tom makes his decision that he should replace her. The Mars Ascent Vehicle, already on Mars, is no longer transmitting, causing concern that it may be inoperative when the crew arrives. Denise goes out with some of her coworkers, including her love interest Finn. After bringing them back to Tom’s house, he confronts her with his concerns that she will relapse into her drug use, and attends a twelve-step meeting with her.

SPORT

PREMIER LEAGUE, BT SPORT, SATURDAY 5PM

Following the international break the Premier League returns and there is no more international football until Feburary by which time there will plenty of points on offer for those at either end of the table.

Chelsea have been one of the form teams so far this season and along with Manchester City and Liverpool are unbeaten after twelve matches.

They cross London to play Tottenham in Wembley. The home side have had their best start to the season for many years, despite losing a couple of matches and along with Arsenal, the capital are staying the pace better this season in the chase of Champions Man City.

FACTUAL

Liveline - Call Back, RTE1, Thursday 7pm

Joe Duffy revisits more memorable reports from his wireless show. First, he takes us back to a February edition in which a woman from north Dublin called about her 87-year-old mother who had fallen and was still lying in the kitchen, waiting on an ambulance. As luck would have it, a doctor who was about to contribute to another Liveline item calmly talked them through the crisis.