Inside Penneys takes a look at the legendary Irish retailer, High Road, Low Road and Selling Ireland's Dream Homes return, and there's new US drama on the double with Monarch and Tell Me Lies . . .
Pick of the Day
Inside Penneys, 8.30pm, RTÉ One, RTÉ Player
This is a brand-new six-part series that takes viewers behind the scenes of iconic Irish clothes wear brand Penneys.
The story starts where it all began, the Penneys HQ on Mary’s Street in the centre of Dublin.
While the retail staff are busy on the shop floor, above their heads is Arthur Ryan House, Global HQ of Penneys/Primark. It’s here all the planning, buying, designing, and strategizing is executed.
This includes the planning for a major new store in Dundrum as well as expansion plans for its Patrick Street store in Cork, which is due a major facelift.
For some regular customers, Penneys has become a weekly even daily pilgrimage in the hope of landing the latest must-haves.
In tonight's opening episode, viewers will see regular shoppers James and Val, both of whom regard a trip to Penneys as a serious business.
While the customers keep the tills tilling, the company’s top brass have descended from all over the world for a major management summit in Arthur Ryan House.
But it couldn’t be a Penneys event without a bit of glamour, so trend forecaster John McCormack alongside a team of interns have arranged a catwalk event.
New or Returning Shows
High Road, Low Road, 7.00pm, RTÉ One
Streaming on RTÉ Player
Back for a third run, it’s the travel show in which two Irish celebrities are sent on a mystery break, beginning with Anna Daly and James Kavanagh heading off to Lanzarote.
While one sets off on a private catamaran and later relaxes in a pool, the other travels budget-style and cuddles goats.
Selling Ireland's Dream Homes, 9.30pm, RTÉ2
Streaming on RTÉ Player
Here’s another series beginning a third season.
Considering the average cost and lack of affordable homes in Ireland, it can be best described as 'aspirational’. It could also be considered tone-deaf.
It offers a sneak peek into the world of high-end property sales, beginning this time with houses once owned by pop stars, including Ballywilliam House, Kinsale, in county Cork.
This was once the creative studio and spiritual haven of Tori Amos.
Tell Me Lies, 10.40pm, BBC One
Here’s a soapy (and rather steamy!) US drama starring Grace Van Patten and Jackson White that follows the unhealthy relationship between two university students.
During Welcome Week in her freshman year at Baird College, an unexpected turn of events flips Lucy's life upside down.
Episode two follows at 11.30pm, As she struggles with the aftermath of Welcome Week and the death of a new friend, Lucy goes on her first date with Stephen.
Monarch, 10.30pm, TG4
This country music drama has a fine cast that includes Susan Sarandon, Trace Adkins, Anna Friel, Beth Ditto, Martha Higareda, Iñigo Pascual, and Joshua Sasse.
Unfortunately, reviews from Stateside aren’t as impressive. Worth a look though. You never know, it could be the new Nashville.
As for the story, Dottie and Albie Roman have created a country music dynasty – but even though the Roman name is synonymous with authenticity, the very foundation of their success is a lie.
When their reign as country royalty is put in jeopardy, heir to the crown Nicolette 'Nicky' Roman will stop at nothing to protect her family's legacy.
SurrealEstate, 9.00pm, Sky Sci-fi
Streaming on NOW
Finding the home of your dreams can be a bit of a nightmare, but this Canadian show takes it to another level.
Don’t take SurrealEstate too seriously and you might enjoy it. The first season was daft fun. A bit like Evil (catch it on Alibi) on stabilisers.
It’s all about The Roman Agency, led by Luke Roman, who is back to do battle with ghosts, demons, and all things that go bump in the night, so he can rid houses of their unsavoury occupants.
In the first episode of this second season, Luke struggles to handle an engaged property, while Susan falls in love with a home with a special power.
Don’t Miss
Inside the Factory, 9.00pm, BBC Two
This week Gregg Wallace (below) visits two factories in Italy and Wales, learning how denim cloth is made and transformed into one of the world's most popular items of clothing - jeans.
Visiting a zip factory, Cherry Healey learns about how the ubiquitous fastener is made and heads to a research facility of a denim manufacturer to witness environmentally friendly ways of distressing old jeans to make them look new.
Discovering an unknown name in the history of jeans, Historian Ruth Goodman looks into the environmentally history behind indigo dye.
This Is Your Life, 9.00pm, BBC Four
Here’s a couple of re-runs celebrating a very special human being, Nicholas Winton (below).
First up, Michael Aspel awards the big red book to Winton, the humanitarian who helped to save hundreds of Jewish children from the Nazis in 1939 Prague.
Followed at 9.30pm by The Arts Interviews: Sir Anthony Hopkins.
Celebrated actors Anthony Hopkins and Johnny Flynn, along with survivors of the Kindertransport, reflect on the 2011 film One Life, which tells the remarkable story of the London stockbroker Nicholas Winton.
Food Unwrapped's Deep South Adventure, 8.00pm, Channel 4
Jimmy Doherty and Matt Tebbutt embark on an extraordinary road trip through America's Deep South.
Starting on the Gulf Coast, in New Orleans, they discover how the shells from the huge number of oysters consumed locally could protect the coastline.
Heading through Mississippi, Jimmy and Matt find out what makes southern sweet tea different from a British cuppa. In Alabama, Matt wants to know why they fry green tomatoes, and Jimmy uncovers exactly what grits are.
Then it's off to Tennessee to visit the Jack Daniels distillery and discover the secrets of sour mash. In Louisville, where the South meets the North, Jimmy and Matt learn about fast-food consistency at Kentucky Fried Chicken HQ.
Ending Today
Single’s Inferno, Netflix
Strictly for reality TV addicts, here’s the season 3 finale of the South Korean show that combines survival and a search for love as contestants are left on an island they must escape, ideally paired off as a couple.
