The star-studded Mrs American lands on RTÉ One, Rory O'Connell returns with more recipes, HBO's A Black Lady Sketch Show lands on Sky Atlantic, and Little Birds comes to an end . . .
Pick of the Day
Mrs America, 10.15pm, RTÉ One
If you missed this recently on BBC Two, here’s an impressive US drama loosely based on a true story, and boasting a superb cast that includes Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Sarah Paulson and Margot Martindale.
Blanchett is great as undaunted conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly, who considers another run for Congress, amid the women’s movement’s push for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment.
She’s up against prominent second-wave feminists including Gloria Steinem (Byrne), as the culture wars of the 1970s give rise to the Moral Majority and the USA's move to the right.
Don't Miss
They Came From Manchester: Five Decades of Mancunian Pop, 9.45pm, BBC Two
This was on before, but it’s well worth another look if you're into music. The influence of Manchester over the decades is quite remarkable.
It’s a compilation of BBC studio performances of some of the great Mancunian bands from the 1960s to the near present, including Freddie and the Dreamers, The Hollies, 10CC, the Buzzcocks, The Fall, Joy Division, James, M-People, Oasis and many more.
Here's A Guy Called Gerald:
New or Returning Shows
How to Cook Well with Rory O’Connell, 8.30pm, RTÉ One
There is nothing one-pot or 'gimmicky’ here as Rory O’Connell (below) creates delicious dishes for people who care about fresh ingredients, and the way they are put together to create something greater than the sum of their parts.
In the first episode of the new run, Rory cooks Hot Smoked Salmon with Labneh, Fried Brill and a gorgeous Ginger, Turmeric and Lemon cake for dessert.
Food Unwrapped Does Snacks, 8.00pm, Channel 4
The Food Unwrapped team take a celebratory look back at some favourite snack-centred stories. Jimmy Doherty delves into the weird and wonderful world of funny-shaped crisps, Matt Tebbutt gets stuck into pork scratchings and the dangers of double-dipping tortilla chips, while Helen Lawal explores whether rice cakes really are a dieter's dream.
Scannal, 7.00pm, RTÉ One
In the first programme in the new season of Scannal, the impact of the Smoking Ban in the workplace is under the spotlight.
It’s difficult to believe now, but not so long ago, smoking on a bus, in a cinema or at your table in a bar or restaurant was considered completely normal in Ireland.
In January 2003, then Minister for Health and Children, Micheál Martin (above), took a significant step in the battle against tobacco when he announced that smoking would be prohibited by law in all workplaces.
A Black Lady Sketch Show, 9.00pm, Sky Comedy & NOW TV
Angela Bassett leads the charge in this new comedy from HBO, full of dynamic characters and notable for its numerous firsts: the first all-black women writer’s room, the first black woman sketch director, and the first sketch series cast composed entirely of black women.
In the opening episode, two women seek an escape from an ominous fog; 1960s’ soul group Claude and The Boppers perform their hit song Ice Cream Shop; Maya’s confession in a support group gets a less-than- supportive response, and an invisible spy meets a formidable adversary.
War on Plastic: the Fight Goes On, 9.00pm, BBC One
It’s over a year since Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Anita Rani launched their war on plastic, revealing the enormity of the problem of single-use plastics.
In this follow-up episode, they shift up a gear as they take on the companies that make tea bags and sandwiches, continue the battle with fast-food companies and their plastic toy giveaways and challenge a British family to go plastic free on a budget.
Skin, 10.45pm, BBC One
A special clinic opens its doors to to young people affected by unusual skin conditions.
In the series opener, Chantelle needs to keep her acne at bay, Daniel has been living with a cyst in the middle of his forehead, while Amy was born with a port wine stain birthmark on her face.
Unidentified: Inside America’s UFO Investigation, Sky History & NOW TV
Former Blink 182 star Tom DeLonge returns with a second season of Unidentified. And yep, he's still away with the aliens.
Each episode examines a specific case of the modern Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UAP) and follows a team of investigators led by former military intelligence official and Special Agent In-Charge Luis Elizondo and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence and Intelligence Chris Mellon.
Ending Today
Little Birds, 9.00pm, Sky Atlantic
In the final episode of this colourful if tepid Anais Nin adaptation, Juno Temple's Lucy decides to collaborate with the CIA in entrapping her father, though in reality she has little choice.
Bill has made it clear that dealing arms to the French - which Grant was trying to do via Hugo - goes against American interests in the region and that Lucy can aid them or she can be imprisoned for treason alongside Grant.
When tension and pressure mount to breaking point, Lucy and Cherifa must help each other to free themselves and take revenge on all those who sought to oppress them.
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