74 Days: The Hunger Strike of Terence MacSwiney looks at a pivotal moment in Irish history, there's the return of US drama Billions, the arrival of Donal’s Family Food in Minutes, while Angela Scanlon looks back on The Noughties . . .
Pick of the Day
74 Days: The Hunger Strike of Terence MacSwiney, 9.35pm, RTÉ One
Terence MacSwiney’s 74-day hunger strike is one of the longest on record, and his actions inspired similar acts worldwide, most notably by Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.
Ultimately, MacSwiney’s hunger strike was a catalyst for the intensification of Ireland’s War of Independence.
Following his death, and the publicity garnered across the world by the circumstances in which he died, the British government returned to the negotiating table. The eventual outcome of which was the establishment, in 1922, of the Irish Free State.
Presented by historian Sarah-Anne Buckley, this documentary uses contemporary science insights and alongside the original medical notes recorded during MacSwiney’s hunger strike to bring a fresh perspective onto a pivotal moment in recent history.
Don't Miss
Urban Myths, 10.00pm, Sky Arts & NOW TV
Zach Wyatt and David Haig star as Jimi Hendrix and George Frideric Handel, two eccentric musical geniuses from different centuries who both grappled with the stress of the music business.
In January 1969, Hendrix (Wyatt) and his girlfriend Kathy Etchingham (Harriet Cains) moved into their first real home in Brook Street in London, the same building that Handel called home 246 years earlier (and where he wrote The Messiah).
This intimate and highly original comedy imagines the events leading up to a transformative moment when Jimi sees Handel’s ghost.
New or Returning Shows
The Noughties, 10.00pm, BBC Two
The New Old starts now.
Angela Scanlon (above) invites comedians Ellie Taylor and Geoff Norcott to join her on a light-hearted look back at the decade that kicked off a brand new century - the noughties.
For openers they focus on the year 2000. Together, they share their memories of celebrating a new millennium and the biggest and best of the year’s films, music and television.
It was the year that the Big Brother house opened its doors for the first time, Kylie was Spinning Around in gold hotpants, Victoria Beckham went solo and Anne Robinson became TV’s most feared woman, keeping quiz contenders in their place on The Weakest Link.
Billions, 9.00pm, Sky Atlantic
Another show I gave up on some time ago, Damien Lewis and Paul Giamati return for a fifth season as Bobby Axelrod and Chuck Rhoades, who see their vicious rivalry reignited, while new enemies rise and take aim.
As the drama resumes, Bobby reach a major milestone and Chuck struggle to get his bearings. Meanwhile, tensions are high at Axe Camp now that Tyler Mason is back.
Donal’s Family Food in Minutes, 8.30pm, RTÉ One
Recently swapping Los Angeles for Dublin unlocked a sense of nostalgia for Donal Skehan and he recalls some of his favourite family meals.
In the first episode, he whips up a seriously more-ish Family Taco Feast, inspired by the taco truck he visited every Tuesday when he lived in Los Angeles.
This will be followed by his most popular recipe, an indulgent Chocolate Biscuit Cake to satisfy any chocoholics dreams.
His One Pan Italian Chicken, will have everyone coming back for more and to finish up is his Damn Good Shepherd’s Pie, which features slow-cooking lamb shanks so the meat falls off the bone.
There’s Something About Movies, 9.00pm, Sky One v& NOW TV
Alan Carr continues as host of the third season of the film quiz, with Jennifer Saunders and Michael Sheen returning as team captains.
They’ll be joined by various showbiz guests, with Gemma Arteton, Jonathan Ross and Guz Khan ready to put their movie knowledge to the test this week.
Expect more of the likes of this:
Harlots, 9.00pm, BBC Two
Season three of the period drama about prostitution begins with Isaac and Hal Pincher becoming the new owners of the Saracen's Head tavern, with ambitions of taking over London bawdy houses. Their first target is Charlotte Wells.
Lucy tries to branch out on her own by joining forces with Elizabeth Harvey and her son Fredo, and Lydia Quigley continues to suffer the abandonment of her family and the experimental treatments of her doctors in bedlam.
New to Download
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman: Season 3, Netflix
TV chat show legend David Letterman - whose beard is so long now, he looks like Dumbledore - teams up with Dave Chappelle, Robert Downey Jr and more for another season of in-depth interviews and curiosity-fuelled excursions.
Ending Today
Love Life, 10.45pm, BBC One
Ending with a triple-bill of episodes isn’t a good sign, but that’s how this HBO romantic dramedy series starring Leslie Manville and Anna Kendrick wraps its BBC One run.
First up, the girls head upstate to celebrate Mallory’s engagement. At the cabin, Darby struggles to get through to Sara as their paths continue to diverge.
Nadiya Bakes, 8.00pm, BBC Two
Nadiya shares her favourite biscuits and bites to have with a cup of tea, from raspberry amaretti biscuits to chocolate florentines and insanely wicked chicken doughnuts.
Nadiya cooks up some wow-factor celebration bakes, from an eight-layered birthday cake to sparkly Mardi Gras king cake, and from hot cross buns to a spectacularly festive biscuit tower.
