John Byrne’s TV choices for the week ahead (Dates covered: Saturday Feb 21 – Friday Feb 27).
There's plenty on offer this week in Tellyland, from the Oscars to Ant and Dec as well new medical drama Critical, while it's bye-bye to Broadchurch, Wolf Hall and Operation Transformation.
Pick of the week
Operation Transformation, Wednesday, RTÉ One
Yep, it's that time of the year already. After seven weeks of hard work and dedication, it's finally time for the five OT leaders to run the 5km race before getting a makeover for the catwalk finale, which you can see on Wednesday's programme. The following night sees the leaders celebrate their various achievements as they take to the catwalk for the finale show special.
Here's one of this year's highlights: the Fire Brigade challenge
Star of the week
Neil Patrick Harris
The 87th Annual Academy Awards, Sunday/Monday, Sky/RTÉ2
Award-winning star of stage and screen Neil Patrick Harris will host the 87th Oscars, his first time hosting the ultimate awards' ceremony.
A natural showman, he's no stranger to this kind of thing and has hosted the Tony Awards on Broadway a total of four times. Most recently he starred opposite Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike in David Fincher’s critically-acclaimed feature film, Gone Girl. Harris previously won multiple Emmy and Golden Globe award nominations for his role as Barney Stinson on the TV sitcom How I Met Your Mother, and he won an Emmy for his guest-starring role on Glee in 2010. He also recently starred in the title role of Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway, earning the 2014 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.
He could be a brilliant Oscars' host but he'll have a job topping his intro at the 2011 Tony Awards:
Starting this week
Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, Saturday, UTV Ireland VIDEO ON SITE
Olly Murs becomes the latest celebrity to fall foul to Ant & Dec as they return with their award-winning hit series.
The dastardly duo infiltrate what the singer believes is the final session for his very own wax figure which is going to reside in Madame Tussauds in Blackpool. Murs not only believes that this is a genuine session with the Tussauds' team but also that he will be the first celebrity in the world to be measured by their brand new scanning machine.
What he doesn't know is that the scanner is fake and a creation of Ant and Dec's, who are ready to cause havoc for the hit maker. With some remodelling of their own, Ant is transformed into Madame Tussauds’ new caretaker Sean, whilst Dec plays the inventor of the scanner, boffin Gareth.
Olly Murs said: "Ant & Dec got me hook, line and sinker. I had no clue that this was a prank even when they made me wear the tightest leotard! I love a practical joke so boys beware, I might just have a few ideas up my sleeve to get you back!"
Highlights coming up during this latest run include an exclusive End of The Show Show featuring Ed Sheeran, whilst Cheryl Fernandez-Versini will star in the unmissable I'm A Celebrity . . . Get Out Of My Ear!
Here's Olly:
Critical, Tuesday, Sky 1
This brand new medical drama is written by Jed Mercurio, whose small screen hits include Cardiac Arrest, Bodies and Line of Duty. The cast includes Lennie James (The Walking Dead), Catherine Walker (Strike Back), Claire Skinner (Outnumbered) and Kimberley Nixon (Fresh Meat), and the 13-parter follows the do-or-die efforts of a group of highly skilled doctors and nurses as they race against the mercilessly ticking clock to help patients during the most life-threatening hour of their treatment.
Suburgatory, Tuesday, RTÉ2
We're up to season three of this quirky comedy starring Jeremy Sisto, Jane Levy and an assortment of excellent character actors. George hopes to rebuild his relationship with Tessa; upset about George and Dallas's breakup, Dalia shuns her mother.
The Blacklist, Friday, Sky Living
With plenty of questions left unanswered, the hit thriller starring a joyfully OTT James Spader returns after a winter break. Red is captured by criminal agents and taken to a secret detention facility where he encounters Luther Braxton (Ron Perlman), a thief who shares a complicated history with him.
About a Boy, Sunday, Sky 1
Big changes are afoot for Will as season two of the sweet US comedy begins. Returning from New York to San Francisco, he tries to reinsert himself into Fiona and Marcus’s lives, only to discover it’s easier said than done.
Life, Friday, TV3
Sybil Mulcahy gets her own evening show and the opener sees her heading to Ballymoate in Sligo to meet a man who has transformed his front room into a personalised retro sweet shop.
Ending this Week
Broadchurch, Monday, TV3
Last week's penultimate episode left viewers waiting on the verdict from the jury. Will Joe Miller be found guilty or not guilty? How many of the other issues will get resolved? Will there be a third season of Broadchurch after the second season suffered quite a mauling?
Trailer Time:
Wolf Hall, Wednesday, BBC Two
This top-notch historical drama concludes as Anne accuses Cromwell of betrayal when she finds out that he tried to protect Mary and not Elizabeth at a time of crisis. But Anne’s power is rapidly dissolving and her enemies are gathering.
Catastrophe, Monday, Channel 4
A heavily pregnant Sharon tells Rob she's invited an old friend from Ireland to be her maid of honour. Rob decides to ask Sharon's brother Fergal to be his Best Man, and learns that Fergal's wife has left him. Rob and Sharon's stag and hen nights spiral out of control.
Music Inc, Friday, RTÉ2
Just two teenagers remain in this year’s battle to win MUSIC INC. Former Westlife singer turned solo performer Shane Filan sets the final challenge – to be his tour manager in Hong Kong!
Death in Paradise, Thursday, BBC One
Murder suspect Jack Harmer is found shot dead whilst in police custody. With tight security in the prison cell, including three locked doors and Dwayne and JP on the scene, how did a killer manage to slip through undetected?
Drama of the week
Justified, Saturday, TG4
The sixth and final of this superb modern cowboy drama opens with Dewey Crowe released from jail based on some technicality just after Raylan Givens returns from Mexico. While there, Raylan tracked down a Mexican police officer who can testify he saw Dewey Crowe witness Boyd Crowder kill Johnny Crowder in Mexico in the previous season.
Trailer Time:
Comedy of the week
Nurse Jackie, Thursday, RTÉ2
Straight on from last week's season five finale, the Edie Falco-starring comedy-drama about a well-meaning but addictive nurse continues into season six. And it begins on familiar ground as Jackie's back using again, but she's doing it differently this time. She's managing to maintain a clean and sober cover, going to 12-step meetings and even finding herself a sponsor. All the while she's getting her drugs from the towel girl at the gym.
Trailer Time:
On Demand
Community, Netflix
Here are all five seasons of this quite eccentric, often brilliant comedy starring Joel McHale as lawyer Jeff Winger. When his degree is found bogus, Winger is sent back to college, where he meets students and teachers with credentials as dubious as his own. Also stars Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown, Alison Brie and Chevy Chase.
Trailer Time:
Documentary of the week
Discovering Elizabeth Taylor, Wednesday, Sky Arts 1
Born in London in 1932, Elizabeth Taylor made her film debut in One Born Every Minute at the age of ten and achieved stardom with National Velvet two years later. Here, movie experts look back on her career. Although she won Academy Awards for her work in BUtterfield 8 (1960) and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf ? (1965), Taylor was just as famous for her many marriages (eight in total to seven different men), extensive jewellery collection and pushing the envelope on sexuality. And she liked a drink.
Here's a trailer for Butterfield 8 with Taylor in Oscar-winning form:
Film of the Week
Silver Linings Playbook, Saturday, Film 4
Jennifer Lawrence was certified A-Lister gold after her Oscar-winning performance alongside Bradley Cooper. Jacki Weaver and Robert De Niro also star in this UK television network premiere of David O Russell's dark 2012 comedy about dance, romance and psychological troubles faced by two brittle people.
Trailer time:
