What's on? Top TV for the Weekend

If you're going no further than the sofa, here are some tips on what's worth watching on the box over the weekend. As ever, it’s a busy one . . .

Pick of the weekend

Striking Out, 9.30pm Sunday, RTÉ One

It's the season two finale of the legal drama starring Amy Huberman and Neil Morrissey and Eric is devastated to find that Lucy has left Dunbar’s without a farewell, and that Richard and Sam were behind her departure.

Meanwhile, Vincent and his team gather all the evidence they need to take down the 'Entitled Ones' in the inquiry but a scandal involving Vincent is leaked to the press by Steve after the squeeze has been put on him.

Sam establishes himself as Richard’s right hand man and Eric is firmly out of the fold, while Tara is left wondering how they will ever pick up the pieces.

We need your consent to load this YouTube contentWe use YouTube to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences

New or Returning Shows

Jamestown, 9.00pm Friday, Sky One

Alice, Jocelyn and Verity return as new wives show up, marriages break down, ghostly happenings spook the residents and a threat to Jamestown puts Yeardley to the ultimate test.

The recently arrived Angolan workers will be forced to adapt and fast. Plus, a traitor will threaten the peace and one Jamestown resident will learn what it means to lose everything.

Modus, 9.00pm Saturday, BBC Four

The second season of this Swedish crime drama series starts with US President Helen Tyler on a state visit to Sweden where things suddenly go pear-shaped.

Ingvar Nyman is assigned to the role of special FBI liaison officer, while his now pregnant partner Inger Johanne Vik is asked to join the investigation as psychological profiler.

Ending this weekend

8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, 9.00pm Friday, Channel 4

Jimmy Carr hosts the words and numbers game as Johnny Vegas and Rhod Gilbert face off against Joe Wilkinson and Roisin Conaty. Tom Allen is in Dictionary Corner with Susie Dent, while Rachel Riley is in charge of the letters and numbers.

Jamie and Jimmy's Friday Night Feast, 8.00pm Friday, Channel 4

Hollywood star Josh Hartnett gets shown how to cook his favourite ramen dish. Jamie also whips up a curry made from game and aubergine. Jamie and Jimmy look at a method of farming that could be the future in crowded cities: aquaponics.

I'm ordering in a pizza.

Hard Sun, 9.00pm Saturday, BBC One

Tired of operating on the defensive, Hicks and Renko take the fight to Grace’s door, as the Beeb's disjointed, pre-apocalyptic drama comes to an end.

DCS Roland Bell arrests Grace and brings her into Lethe Road for questioning, but she will not remain outmanoeuvred.

Meanwhile, Mooney has uncovered a series of suicides in which no body has been recovered and suspects the deaths are the work of a predatory serial killer.

I'd have started with the script writer of this show.

Still Open All Hours, 7.30pm Sunday, BBC One

A trip to Scarborough presents David Jason's Granville with an opportunity to combine business with pleasure as Mavis invites him for lunch in a seaside hotel. But can Granville get a moment alone with her without Madge?

McMafia, 9.00pm Sunday, BBC One

It's the finale of this complex and stylish drama starring James Norton. As Alex arrives in Moscow ready to do business, but he’s unaware of the devastation that Dmitri’s actions have caused - and the danger he faces.

Alex must play the only card he has left to try and save himself, before facing a final showdown with Vadim.

New to Download

My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman: George Clooney, from Friday, Netflix

David Letterman returns in a monthly series of in-depth interviews with globally relevant personalities, plus field segments 'expressing his curiosity', whatever that means.

In a notable coup for both Letterman and Netflix, the first guest is none other than 'gorgeous' George Clooney, one of Hollywood's most iconic stars.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, From Friday, Sky Box Sets and NOW TV

This film tells the story of Henrietta Lacks (Renée Elise Goldsberry), an African-American woman whose cells were used to create the first immortal human cell line.

Told through the eyes of her daughter, Deborah Lacks (Oprah Winfrey), the film chronicles her search, aided by journalist Rebecca Skloot (Rose Byrne), to learn about the mother she never knew and to understand how the unauthorised harvesting of Lacks’ cancerous cells in 1951 led to unprecedented medical breakthroughs.

Don't Miss

Dancing with the Stars, 6.30pm Sunday, RTÉ One

It’s ‘switch-up’ week on the star-spangled dancing show as the remaining celebrities each get paired with a new professional dancer.

As ever, the pressure will be on for the celebs and pro dancers alike as they get to grips with their new partners, even though there will be no eliminations this week.

Chat Show Line-ups

The Late Late Show, 9.35pm Friday, RTÉ One

It's the Late Late Valentine Special, so this week's very special guest is Cupid! Also joining Tubs are the stars of The Young Offenders, China in Your Hand chart-toppers T'Pau and 80s popstar Sinitta plus 200 looking-for-love singles!

The Graham Norton Show, 11.05pm Friday, BBC One/9.30pm Saturday, TV3

Graham's sofa stars this week include Irish Oscar hopeful Saoirse Ronan and Eric McCormack, who's back on RTÉ2 next Monday with the rebooted US sitcom Will & Grace.

The Ray D’Arcy Show, 9.45pm Saturday, RTÉ One

Joining Ray this week are television personality and businesswoman Katie Price, GAA legends Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh and Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, and controversial comedian David McSavage

Weekend movies

Love is All You Need, 11.40pm Saturday, BBC Two

Trine Dyrholm stars in this stylish Danish romcom which is well worth checking out as an antidote to all that dark Scandi-dram that's become popular in recent times.

She plays Ida, a cancer survivor who, with her less-than-perfect husband, travel to Italy for her daughter's wedding. The future son-in-law's da is a widower played by Pierce Brosnan.

Say no more . . .

Also . . .

Ted, 11.35pm Saturday, Channel 4

Seth McFarlane fans will be sure to lap up another chance to see this very funny tale of a man who can't let go of his childhood toy bear.

Mark Wahlberg's pretty good in the role, but far better is the foul-mouthed animated Ted, who was voiced by McFarlane himself.

Box Set Binge

Divorce: Season 1, Sky Box Sets

This caustic dramedy written by Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe) features former Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker as Frances, a New York woman who suddenly begins to reassess her life and marriage, and finds that a clean break and fresh start aren't easy.

Parker's pretty good in this tale of middle class angst and despair, but Thomas Haden Church as Robert Dufresne, Frances' hapless husband who discovers the affair and pushes for divorce, is superb.

Click here for more TV News and Listings

What's on? Top TV for the Weekend

More stories on

Read Next