As well as The Late Late Show, another hectic Friday offers a Neil Diamond night, new relationship series Open House: The Great Sex Experiment, Gary Oldman in Slow Horses, and Jean Smart in Hacks . . .
Pick of the Day
The Late Late Show, 9.35pm, RTÉ One
This week's line-up includes Michael Bublé, Siobhán McSweeney and Barry McGuigan. Plus there will be a live link-up with Charlie Bird in Westport as he prepares to climb Croagh Patrick.
Canadian singer Bublé (below) will chat about working with his heroes Paul McCartney and Willie Nelson on his new album Higher, why he might just quit music for TikTok (yeah, right) and his son's hilarious reaction to finding out that another baby is on the way.
Derry Girls star Siobhán McSweeney will chat about going home to Cork to film her new television series, how she ended up in a nursing home after breaking her leg and making saucy candlesticks during lockdown.
Siobhán McSweeney will talk about going home to Cork to film her new TV series
As preparations get underway on the eve of the Climb with Charlie event, Ryan Tubridy will go live to Westport to check in on Charlie Bird, his family, supporters, and friends.
Plus, Michael English will perform a song written exclusively to support the Climb with Charlie.
Don’t Miss
Neil Diamond Night on the BBC
If you're a Neil Diamond fan, here's a three-hour treat . . .
Neil Diamond at the BBC, 9.00pm, BBC Four
The pick of the iconic American singer-songwriter's performances for the British broadcaster over the decades.
This compilation features performances from the early 1970s of hits like Sweet Caroline, Forever in Blue Jeans and Solitary Man, and appearances on a range of BBC programmes including Wogan, The Shirley Bassey Show, Later with Jools Holland and Top of the Pops.
Alongside all the hits are some rarely-seen clips that capture Neil's feelings about his enduring career, his dislike of fame, and passion for performing songs he and his fans love so much.
Neil Diamond: Electric Proms, 10.00pm, BBC Four
The singer-songwriter performs a selection of his greatest hits and cover versions from his album Dreams, accompanied by a six-piece band, at London's Roundhouse in 2010.
The concert explores the songs he loves from the 1960s and '70s, and reinvents his classic tracks.
Sings Neil Diamond, 11.00pm, BBC Four
An archive collection of performances from artists covering tracks by Neil Diamond. Including Red Red Wine by UB40, Urge Overkill's version of Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon, Robert Wyatt's take on I'm a Believer, and Lulu singing Boat That I Row.
Not Going Out, 9.30pm, BBC One
Last week’s opener was a nice 'sort-of’ tribute to the late Bobby Ball, with Lee Mack, Sally Bretton (both above) and co in great form.
This week, when Lee accidentally sends a rude text about Anna to Lucy, he makes the silly mistake of sending it to Anna herself.
Lee and Lucy now face the impossible task of stealing Anna's phone and deleting the text before she read it.
New or Returning Shows
Have I Got News for You, 9.00pm, BBC One
Back for its 63rd run, this topical quiz/panel show is well rusty, but it still packs a few laughs.
This week, Mastermind host and frontline news reporter Clive Myrie (above) invites writer and comedian Andy Hamilton and fellow journalist Helen Lewis to join regulars Ian Hislop and Paul Merton as they delve into the news.
Open House: The Great Sex Experiment, 10.00pm, Channel 4
Typical Channel 4 show or a bold new social experiment?
The central plank of this new programme is exploring whether relationships can thrive without monogamy. I bet a bloke came up with that concept . . .
Cameras follow a group of currently monogamous couples as they explore for the first time whether they would be happier in an open relationship.
In this first episode, Welsh sweethearts Mady and Nathan are interested in bringing another woman into their relationship, a process that begins by having a threesome.
Also keen to open up their relationship are married couple Jon and Danielle from Bolton. They're interested in having group sex, but are unclear whether this will help overcome the demons of their past.
New to Stream
Slow Horses, Apple TV+
Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jonathan Pryce and Jack Lowden star in what’s been billed as a darkly funny espionage drama.
It follows a team of British intelligence agents who serve in a dumping ground department of MI5 due to their career-ending mistakes.
Led by their brilliant but volcanic leader, the notorious Jackson Lamb, they navigate the espionage world’s smoke and mirrors to defend England from sinister forces.
The Many Saints of Newark, Sky Cinema & NOW
The big screen prequel to The Sopranos, the iconic TV series that launched a thousand box sets, lands on our TV laps.
Alessandro Nivola, Leslie Odom Jr, Vera Farmiga, Jon Bernthal, Corey Stoll and Ray Liotta star, but the main focus was on Michael Gandalfini playing a young version of his late dad’s character, Tony Soprano.
Soprano is growing up in one of the most tumultuous eras in Newark's history, becoming a man just as rival gangsters begin to challenge the all-powerful DiMeo crime family's hold over the city.
Caught up in the changing times is the uncle he idolizes, Dickie Moltisanti, who struggles to manage both his professional and personal responsibilities.
Moltisanti’s influence over his impressionable nephew will help make the teenager into the all-powerful mob boss we'll later come to know: Tony Soprano.
Hacks, Amazon Prime Video
HBO Max’s Emmy-winning series, starring the always memorable Jean Smart, lands exclusively on Prime Video in Ireland.
It explores a dark mentorship that forms between Deborah Vance (Smart), a legendary Las Vegas comedian, trying to salvage her waning career, and Ava (Hannah Einbinder), an entitled, outcast TV writer.
Vance is losing her relevance, and the head of the casino wants to reduce the number of her performances.
Ava has been ostracised for an "insensitive tweet" and is struggling to find work. The duo realises they could help each other and reluctantly decide to team up.
Trivia Quest, Netflix
Here’s Netflix’s first daily, interactive trivia series, based on etermax’s hit Trivia Crack, the number one, multi-platform trivia franchise in the world.
They’ll launch one new episode every day throughout the month.
Adapting Trivia Crack’s game play, each episode features 24 questions across categories including science, history, entertainment, sports, art and geography.
Each question is a multiple-choice play, with four potential answers to choose from.
Trivia Quest also has a narrative twist, taking players on a mission to help hero, Willy, rescue the animated citizens of Trivia Land from the Evil Rocky.
Better Nate Than Never, Disney+
Nate Foster, an unpopular 13-year-old middle school student from Pittsburgh, has a goal of one day becoming a Broadway musical star.
When Nate is repeatedly overlooked, and never cast in the lead roles he deserves, he and his best friend Libby, sneak away to pursue their life's dreams in the Big Apple.
A random encounter with his estranged aunt Heidi, turns their adventure upside-down. Only together can they make their dreams come true.
