The Dance is a documentary about Michael Keegan-Dolan's dance production MÁM, Nathan Fillion returns with a new run of The Rookie, and there's handbags on this week’s Dragons’ Den . . .
Pick of the Day
The Dance, 10.15pm, RTÉ One
Streaming on RTÉ Player
If you were ever curious about how a show comes together, you should get a lot of answers here.
It’s an observational documentary going behind the scenes of Michael Keegan-Dolan's dance production MÁM.
The focus covers from the first day of the show’s rehearsal to the opening night performance at the Dublin Theatre Festival in 2019.
Following the success of his acclaimed re-imagining of the world-famous ballet Swan Lake/Loch na hEala (2016), Michael Keegan-Dolan and Teaċ Daṁsa created another mythic yet timely production that acknowledges how life's polarities can on occasion come together and find resolution.
Acclaimed director Pat Collins’ (Song of Granite, Silence) documentary The Dance, gives viewers a unique insight into Michael Keegan-Dolan’s creative process.
The documentary was filmed in 2019 and features the virtuoso concertina player Cormac Begley, who has since won Best Folk Instrumentalist 2022 at the RTÉ Folk Awards and Irish Times Album of the Year 2022, with his second solo album B.
The documentary also features the European musical collective s t a r g a z e and twelve international dancers who travelled to the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland.
Don’t Miss
The Dog House, 8.00pm, Channel 4
More canine ups and downs in this heart-tugging series.
Albie the Jack Russell puppy has a second chance of a home with 10-year-old George - provided he can win over George's mum and dad over.
Then there’s Duchess, a bassett hound, that expects to be treated like a queen and retired businesswoman June may be just the person to meet her requirements.
There’s also the mistreated lurcher Sam who seeks some home comforts. He needs Leeds couple Laura and Martin to see past his size and find a place for him in their hearts.
First Dates Ireland, 9.30pm, RTÉ2
Streaming on RTÉ Player
Love is on the menu once more – but will anybody bite?
Serial dater Laya (26, below) who lives in Cork but is originally from Georgia, USA brings some southern hospitality to the restaurant on her date with Charlie (27) from Louth who’s 'run out of swipes on Tinder’.
Meanwhile Clodagh (27) and Adam (28) from Tallaght have matched many times on various dating apps but never met up… until now. Has destiny set its course for love?
Long-time singleton Josh (20) from Monaghan is hoping his drag alter ego Celtic Tigress won’t intimate his date, the super chatty student union president Brian (24) from Dublin.
And plumber Kevin (36) from Carlow is obsessed with teeth but will he bring a smile or a grimace to the face of social care worker Julianne (33) from Cavan?
Dragons' Den, 8.00pm, BBC One
Entrepreneurs Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett preside over more business opportunities.
Among those making pitches are a Welsh fashion designer with a selection of handbags made from fish skin and an 18-year-old hoping to make a mint with his personalised bank card business.
Also appearing are two neighbours aiming to save the high street pitch their shop local app, and the inventor of an alarm system that tackles van crime before the damage has already been done.
The Apprentice, 9.00pm, BBC One
It’s ‘on yer bike!’ time for the remaining apprentices.
The candidates are tasked with branding an electric motorbike and creating an advertising campaign before pitching to a panel of experts.
Passionate about motorbikes, one project manager has his vision ignored. The other team's campaign backfires when its members focus on story, rather than subject.
Later in the boardroom sparks fly as the always animated Alan Sugar (above) tells one candidate to get on their bike.
Laochra Gael, 9.30pm, TG4
This week’s episode tells the story of Kerry gaelic footballer, Aidan O'Mahony.
He overcame chronic health problems in his youth to take his place on one of the greatest teams of all time.
But when he was in his prime, he became embroiled in controversy as the first GAA player to fail a drugs test.
His mental health deteriorated and after a spell in a treatment centre, he faced the greatest challenge of his life - to rediscover his purpose and his love of the game.
New or Returning Shows
The Rookie, 9.00pm, Sky Witness
Streaming on NOW
Nathan Fillion returns for Season 5 of this so-so cop drama that would surely be long gone if it wasn’t for his presence.
He plays John Nolan, the oldest rookie in the LAPD, has used his life experience, determination and sense of humour to keep up with rookies 20 years his junior.
Nearing the end of his training, Nolan now faces his biggest challenge as a police officer when he must come to terms with the choices he has made in pursuit of the truth.
In the season five opener, Nolan is once again face-to-face with serial killer Rosalind, and she wants him to know she's not done with him yet.
Meanwhile, officers Bradford and Chen work undercover with Detective Lopez and the Las Vegas Police Department to arrest leaders of a major criminal enterprise.
Who Killed Billie-Jo? 9.00pm, Virgin Media One
This documentary tells the case of Siôn Jenkins who, in 1997, was convicted of murdering his foster-daughter, Billie-Jo.
When the youngster moved from a broken home in London to a new life with a family in Hastings, a happier life seemed to be there her, but her fate was sealed at the hands of an unknown killer
Jenkins was later acquitted and his supporters say he was the victim of a gross miscarriage of justice.
New to Stream
Freeridge, Netflix
Here’s a new teen dramedy, a spin-off of On My Block, and – as the title makes clear – is set In the same rough inner-city Los Angeles neighborhood, Freeridge.
This time around, fourteen friends work to reverse a curse after a peculiar old box seems to bring misfortune - and more - into their lives.
Ending Today
Céim Chun Cinn, 8.00pm, TG4
In the last show of the series, Anna is preparing for Vietnam after her exams.
Meanwhile, Clodagh recovers from an operation at home in Gaoth Dobhair, and Naoise returns home with his college class for a Gaeltacht course.
Also, Darragh brings his university years to a close at a formal ball.
