Tony O’Reilly – The Real Deal (9.35pm RTÉ One) includes interviews with Tony O’Reilly Junior, Seamus Mallon and Michael Smurfit. Republic of Telly (10.00pm RTÉ 2) returns for more smirking mirth, while The Passing Bells (7.00pm BBC 1) sees the first programme in a new five-part drama series about teens who fought on opposite sides during the First World War.
Tony O’Reilly – The Real Deal
9.35pm RTÉ One
For six decades, Tony O’Reilly enjoyed an exceptionally successful career in business. This year the High Court heard that O’Reilly, who was once Ireland’s richest man, was now insolvent. This hour-long documentary made by RTÉ’s Business Editor David Murphy, includes interviews with Tony O’Reilly Junior, Séamus Mallon and Michael Smurfit. The programme features previously unseen early footage of the Irish entrepreneur and one-time Rugby International player.
Republic of Telly
10.00pm RTÉ 2
The IFTA Award-winning Republic of Telly kicks off its eleventh season on RTÉ 2. Presenter Kevin McGahern alongside Jennifer Maguire and Bernard O’Shea will be ripping telly to shreds for your entertainment. The show will continue to terrorise celebrities on the red carpet, 24 cameras will be popping up around the country. Plenty of TV show parodies and comedy music videos to keep you chortling.
The Passing Bells
7.00pm BBC 1
First in a new five-part drama series about teens who fought on opposite sides during the First World War. Deep in the countryside, Michael and Katie are young and in love, as yet untouched by rumours of war. In a small town, delivery boy Thomas is equally oblivious to the rumblings of conflict abroad. But as the news of impending war comes through, both boys are inspired by the thought of heroic deeds. When war is announced, both Michael and Thomas defy their parents and slip out to the recruitment office. As the boys don their uniforms, we see that Thomas is a British soldier and Michael is German. Each set of parents struggle to cope with their children’s deception. Paddy Gibson plays Thomas, Jack Lowden plays Michael, Wilf Scolding plays Freddie and Sabrina Bartlett plays Katie.
