John Byrne’s TV choices for the week ahead (Dates covered: Saturday Mar 28-Friday Apr 03)
There's a Eurovision special, Kim Cattrall's return to TV, a one-off drama about Noah's Ark, while it's so long to Mr Selfridge and Louis Theroux.
Pick of the week
Eurovision's Greatest Hits, Friday, RTÉ2/BBC One
London’s Eventim Apollo Hammersmith will roll out the red carpet for an event that will feature an array of iconic performances from across the Eurovision Song Contest’s colourful 60 years. Graham Norton – no stranger to Eurovision - and Sweden’s Petra Mede will co-host the show, which, as well as featuring a number of both classic and contemporary acts, will also feature surprise guests.
Given that Ireland holds the record with seven wins, there's a green tinge to proceedings and Johnny Logan, the only person to win the competition twice, will sing a medley of What’s Another Year and Hold Me Now.
UK winners Brotherhood of Man will perform Save Your Kisses For Me, and Israel’s Dana International will sing Diva, but what about Abba? No chance, presumably. But it should be fun even without them.
Here's Johnny Logan at the 1980 Eurovision:
Star of the week
Richard Ayoade
Travel Man: 48 Hours in Barcelona, Monday, Channel 4
He's a successful comedian, actor, writer, TV presenter and director, but Richard Ayoade is probably best known for playing Maurice Moss in The IT Crowd. It's quite apparent that this guy can turn his hand to almost anything, and recent work includes directing music videos, a voice part in The Boxtrolls, and being a team captain on Channel 4 panel show Was It Something I Said?
His latest incarnation sees him playing tour guide in Travel Man. In the first episode of this new four-part series, Ayoade is joined by actress Kathy Burke on a ruthlessly efficient weekend away in Barcelona.
In just 48 hours, he reveals plenty of what this destination has to offer - from its famous art galleries and bafflingly popular football stadiums, to wild new culinary trends and long sandy beaches.
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Starting this week
Sensitive Skin, Wednesday, Sky Arts 1
This Canadian black comedy, based on the British series of the same name, stars Kim Cattrall as Davina, a former model and actress going through a mid-life crisis. She struggles with sexual temptation and professional jealousy, while trying to cope with her fear of the future alongside her husband, Alan (Don McKellar). The couple have sold their comfortable family home in the suburbs and moved into an ultra-modern condo in downtown Toronto in an effort to stay relevant and start again.
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Stalker, Monday, Sky Living
Hard-headed Detective Beth (Maggie Q) and her partner Jack (Dylan McDermott) are back as the debut season of the slick but so far bog-standard thriller returns. Perry is in custody for attacking Janice, leaving Beth with 36 hours to prove he has been stalking her.
David Suchet: In the Footsteps of St Peter, Friday, BBC One.
The journey begins in Rome, where the story of Peter ends, as David Suchet learns how a fisherman from Galilee became the founding figure of one of the most powerful religious movements in history.
Get the Numbers Write, Monday, TV3
Sheana Keane returns to TV screens to present this three-part documentary series that follows five individuals, each with their own unique challenges with regards to numeracy and literacy, as they embark on an emotional journey of self-improvement.
Whitechapel, Tuesday, RTÉ One
The grim British procedural arrives on Irish TV. DI Chandler, DS Miles and the team investigate a bizarre murder as a man on the run is crushed by stones. As the killer’s macabre methods become clearer Chandler is faced with a sinister 16th century precedent.
Who'd be a Billionaire, Tuesday, Sky Living
Strangely missing a question mark at the end of its title, this new show promises to expose 'outrageous tales of excess and expense' as it reveals what it’s like to be among the richest people in the world.
Ending this Week
Mr Selfridge, Sunday, UTV Ireland
In the season three finale of this fun period drama starring Jeremy Piven in the eponymous role, Harry Selfridge prepares for a board meeting, with his nemesis Loxley waiting to pounce. Elsewhere, Nancy forges ahead with work on the Selfridge Estate, but Gus is losing his confidence in it all. Meanwhile, Princess Marie can’t shake her concerns about the architect, ‘Mr Gerrard’, after seeing his boarded up offices. She pays a visit to the British Institute of Architects to check up on him. At Selfridge's Mr Grove is shocked when Miss Mardle hands him her letter of resignation. It's going to be an eventful hour and no mistake.
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The World's Weirdest Weather, Saturday, Channel 4
This week's wonder include sunlight transforming water into liquid gold at a waterfall in California; a heatwave in Australia wiping out thousands of bats; and in the deserts of the Middle East, weird weather makes sand dunes sing.
Louis Theroux: By Reason of Insanity, Sunday, BBC Two
Louis Theroux spends time with psychiatric patients whose personalities are so intertwined with their illness it makes them more difficult to treat.
Troy, Friday, Channel 4
Troy plays a trick on two unsuspecting music lovers in a vinyl record store in London. And on a holiday break in Barcelona with friends, Troy can't help but unleash the magic at Park Güell where he becomes a conjuring currency converter.
Vic And Bob's House Of Fools, Monday, BBC TWO
Vic receives an exciting letter from his ex-girlfriend, enlists help and begins preparations for her visit and their big date. But when she has to cancel at the last minute Bob concocts a cunning plan to make sure Vic isn’t left disappointed.
Nurse, Tuesday, BBC Two
Herbert becomes lonely and confides in Liz that he would like some female company, whilst ex-soldier Jack begins to build himself a dug-out in the back garden. Liz finally makes a breakthrough with Graham but her own personal troubles come to a head.
Drama of the week
The Ark, Monday, BBC One
This one-off, written by Tony Jordan (Hustle, The Nativity) and starring David Threlfall (Frank Gallagher in Shameless), is the retelling of the biblical story of Noah and The Ark.
Noah, a farmer and family man, is instructed by an angel to build an ark in the middle of a desert in order to save both his family and the faithful from a devastating flood. A seemingly impossible task, especially when his sons refuse to believe him and help. Noah risks ridicule and humiliation from the townsfolk, as well as from his exasperated family in his quest to carry out his mission.
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Comedy of the week
Marry Me, Tuesday, RTÉ2
From the people behind Happy Endings, this equally slow-to-begin-with sitcom might prove worthy of some loyalty, but from what I've seen it's got a long way to go.
Here's the story: six years ago, Annie (Casey Wilson, Happy Endings) and Jake (Ken Marino, Eastbound & Down) bonded over their mutual love of nachos, and they have been inseparable ever since. Now, after returning from a romantic two-week island vacation, Jake’s all set to pop the question.
But his surprise proposal goes south when Annie lets loose on Jake about his inability to commit.This flimsy set-up won't keep a comedy going, but the cast is excellent.
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On Demand
Modern Family, from Wednesday, Sky on Demand
Season one to five of the multi-award-winning sitcom come to on demand just in time for the Easter break. The hilarious exploits of the extended Dunphy-Tucker-Pritchett clan have amused millions around the world and now you can binge on back-to-back episodes at your leisure.
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Documentary of the week
Abortion: Ireland’s Guilty Secret? Wednesday, RTÉ2
Abortion is against the law in Northern Ireland, unlike the rest of the UK, where it has been legal for nearly 50 years. In the Republic of Ireland, the right-to-life of unborn children is enshrined in the constitution. But these laws don’t stop Irish women having abortions. In this film, reporter Alys Harte shares her investigation into the abortion issue and how it divides young Irish people.
Film of the Week
Jersey Boys, Friday, Sky Movies Premiere
In recent years the Four Seasons have finally been acknowledged as one of pop music's greatest acts, and music fan Clint Eastwood directs this screen adaptation of the Broadway musical that did much to put Frankie Valli and co back in the spotlight with this rags-to-riches tale.
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