Feewheeling Elton John biopic Rocketman, a new documentary about Irish musical giant Seán Ó Riada and a lavish new period drama from the Beeb - here are your telly picks for St Stephen's night . . .
Rocketman, RTÉ One, 9.35pm
Welsh actor Taron Egerton excels in the lead role in this trippy and tragicomic rock opera about Sir Elton of John. Egerton is ably supported by Jamie Bell, Richard Madden, Gemma Jones, and Bryce Dallas Howard and director Dexter Fletcher delivers a freewheeling musical fantasy that has a streak of madness at its heart. We follow the career and wobbling life trajectory of the suburban boy wonder who became the most unlikely of rock superstars in the gauzy seventies, before morphing into knowing self-parody as the queen bitch of the eighties and nineties. If there was ever a pop star who ate himself and, indeed, everything else, it is Elton. Rocketman is mad fun that captures the absurdity and artistry of one of the most impressive pop performers of all time. Read our full review here.
A Very British Scandal, BBC One, 9.00pm
This lavish new drama from the Been focuses on the 1963 divorce of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, a divorce that was notorious for scandalous accusations and salacious photographs. Considered the most beautiful debutante of the 1930s, heiress Margaret Sweeny (Claire Foy) is in the midst of a divorce when she meets the dashing - and married - Ian Campbell, future Duke of Argyll (Paul Bettany).
The Saw Doctors - Sing a Powerful Song, TG4, 7.40pm
The Saw Doctors were the most popular band in Ireland in 1991 following the huge success of their first two singles N17 and I Useta Lover, which spent a record nine weeks at No. 1 in the Irish charts. The Galway band's debut album If This Is Rock And Roll, I Want My Old Job Back went straight to No. 1 on its release in May 1991 and the album was again hit the top in Ireland in August '91. Relive the madness in this documentary about the bands meteoric rise to fame with live footage of the band playing all their hit songs.
Seán Ó Riada - Mo Sheanathair, TG4, 9.20pm
50 years after his death in 1971, Sean Ó Riada's granddaughter Doireann Ní Ghlacáin resolves to find out more about this divisive and iconic figure. By charting her grandfather's life and times, we uncover the true Ó Riada, in a moving tribute to this giant of Irish cultural life. With performances from Iarla Ó Lionaird, Barry Douglas, Nell Ní Chróinín, Cór Chúil Aodha & Peadar Ó Riada and interviews with contemporaries and family. This new feature length documentary gives an intimate portrayal of Ó Riada.
The Suicide Squad, Sky Cinema, NOW TV
Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Pete Davidson and Sylvester Stallone are among those lining out in this comedy action adventure from Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn. It's anarchy with a capital A as some of the DC Universe’s most violent and unpredictable anti-heroes assemble to take on a near-impossible mission. The rag tag team of expendable cons, including Bloodsport (Elba), Peacemaker (Cena), King Shark (Stallone), and everyone's favourite psycho, Harley Quinn (Robbie) are dropped (literally) on the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese on a lethal search and destroy mission. Trekking through a jungle teeming with militant adversaries and guerrilla forces at every turn, the chances of survival are slim-to-none.
