The Irish are everywhere as Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway returns with Jesse Buckley on board, it's a big night for CMAT at The Brit Awards 2024, while Angela Scanlon answers for Ireland on Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel . . .
Pick of the Day
Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, 7.00pm, Virgin Media One & UTV
The boys are back as Ant and Dec do what they do best – keeping people entertained.
This is the most impressive Saturday night TV show I think I’ve ever seen. The rehearsals must be nuts because it’s such a slick and seamless show come Saturday.
Sadly, this 20th season will also be the final one as the lads have announced that they want to knock it on the head while it's still fun.
On opening night, Matt Lucas is the Star Guest Announcer and Little Ant & Dec complete their first mission of the series as they interview actresses Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley.
Plus, new games and surprises for the studio audience and everyone at home.
New or Returning Shows
The Brit Awards 2024, 8.30pm, UTV
Coming from the O2 in London, this year’s event will be hosted by Clara Amfo, Maya Jama and Roman Kemp.
Of Irish interest is the International Artist of the Year award, which sees our own CMAT (above) up against the likes of Lana Del Rey, Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift.
Fair to say that just being in that company is an amazing achievement.
Dubliner Jazzy is also in the running for an award as her Giving Me has been nominated for international song of the year alongside the likes of Billie Eilish, Noah Kahan and Olivia Rodrigo.
Performers on the night include Dua Lipa, RAYE - who has made history to become the most nominated artist ever with seven nods - and Kylie Monogue, who will also be picking up the Global Icon award.
Don’t Miss
Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel, 6.40pm, BBC One
Three contestants hope to answer their way to a fortune, guided by seven celebrity experts – but can they help them to win life-changing cash? That all depends on the spin of The Wheel.
Celebrities on The Wheel are Dermot O'Leary on explorers, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill on the Olympics, Roman Kemp on The Simpsons, Adam Kay on medicine, Angela Scanlon (above) on Ireland, Kay Burley on the news and Alex Brooker on boy bands.
Parkinson: The Interviews, 11.00pm, BBC Four
Michael Parkinson looks back at some of his many interviews with the late British comedian, actor, satirist, playwright and screenwriter, Peter Cook.
Followed at 11.40pm by Talking Comedy. A look back through the archives at appearances by masters of satire Peter Cook and Dudley Moore on some of the BBC's best-loved talk shows.
New to Stream
Mavka: The Forest Song, Sky Premiere & NOW
This animated tale is based on a Ukrainian folk tale.
It’s all about young and naive forest spirit Mavka, who develops feelings for a human musician, Lukas.
As they grow closer to each other, an inevitable situation forces Mavka to choose between her love and her duty as a guardian of the forest.
Saturday Cinema
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, 6.35pm, RTÉ One
Superb, Oscar-winning animated adventure, with the voices of Shameik Moore and Nicolas Cage.
Don't be fooled into thinking this is 'just for kids'. Anyone can enjoy this tale.
After being bitten by a radioactive arachnid, student Miles Morales develops incredible abilities, and becomes a version of Spider-Man.
When a super collider device opens a gateway to other dimensions, Miles crosses paths with five counterparts to stop a threat for all realities.
Star Trek Into Darkness, 10.20pm, Channel 4
Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Benedict Cumberbatch star in J J Abrams' second outing as director for the classic sci-fi action franchise.
With the best of intentions, Captain Kirk (Pine) misleads the Federation, and when Spock (Quinto) reports him, he loses command of the Enterprise to Admiral Pike (Bruce Greenwood) and Spock is transferred elsewhere.
Kirk and Spock reunite when John Harrison (Cumberbatch), a renegade Starfleet operative, bombs a secret installation in London, attacks Starfleet Headquarters, killing Pike, and then transports himself to the Klingons' home planet, Kronos.
Kirk and Spock are sent to track and kill him. But when Harrison saves Lt Uhura (Zoe Saldana) from the Klingons, he also reveals that there's hidden treachery within Starfleet.
Family Flick
Mdagascar: Escape 2 Africa, 1.05pm, Channel 4
Alex the lion (Ben Stiller) and his animal friends return in the second instalment of the family favourite Madagascar franchise.
The animals - piloted by their trusty penguin friends - are attempting to return to NYC in a battered old plane after their adventures in Madagascar.
But when they crash land in continental Africa, they find themselves linking back up with their roots, and there's a shock in store for Alex when he learns that lions aren't born to be performers after all.
Also featuring the voices of Sacha Baron Cohen, Alec Baldwin and will.i.am.
Sport
Saturday GAA Live, 4.30pm. RTÉ2
Streaming on RTÉ Player
Joanne Cantwell presents coverage of the Allianz Football League Division One match at Celtic Park as Derry host Dublin (throw-in 5.00pm).
Both teams were promoted from Division Two last season, with Derry topping the regular-season standings, but Dublin prevailing when the sides met in the final.
Then at 7.15pm there’s GAA Beo on TG4, as Micheál Ó Domhnaill presents live coverage of the Allianz Football League Divsion One match between Mayo and Roscommon (7.30pm) at MacHale Park, Castlebar.
URC Live, 7.00pm, RTÉ2
Streaming on RTÉ Player
All the action from the match at Cardiff Arms Park between Cardiff and Leinster (K) 7.35pm).
Leinster have impressed so far this season and scored six tries in a 38-14 win when the sides met at RDS Arena last term.
They will expect to prevail once again this evening, but Cardiff will hope for a stronger showing on home territory.
