The late Charlie Bird is the focus of Ransom '79, Punt: The Irish and The NFL looks at those seeking a career in American Football, there's a Ken Dodd night on the Beeb – and there’s the first Mastermind semi-final . . .
Pick of the Day
Ransom '79, 9pm, Virgin Media One
Streaming on Virgin Media Play
In October 2022, legendary Irish journalist Charlie Bird was met with a devastating diagnosis: he was suffering from the early stages of Motor Neuron Disease (MND), a brutal degenerative condition that would severely curtail his life expectancy.
Still reeling from the news, he met with an old source, former Head of the Fraud Squad Wille McGee, who let slip details of what Charlie believed could be one of the biggest stories of his career.
In September 1979, the Minister for Agriculture received an anonymous letter. Failure to hand over £5m, the letter read, and the dreaded Foot and Mouth virus would be purposely let loose in Ireland.
This would be an act of criminal terrorism that would buckle the then faltering Irish economy.
Senior staff were left shaken and appalled, not only for the brazenness of the demands within, but also for the potential devastation that would be wreaked on the State if the demands weren't met.
Over the next seven months an often-surreal game of cat and mouse played out between a mysterious criminal gang and the authorities.
New or Returning Shows
Punt: The Irish and The NFL, 9.35pm, RTÉ One
Streaming on RTÉ Player
This documentary takes a look at some Irish sportsmen seeking a career in the highly lucrative world of American Football.
It’s become an option for the likes of gaelic football and rugby union players, whose skills can be honed and modified to suit the gridiron game.
It follows GAA stars Rory Beggan, Charlie Smyth, Mark Jackson and ex-Connaught rugby player Darragh Leader as they re-train in an attempt to get drafted to the NFL.
Love and Loss: The Pandemic 5 Years On, 8.30pm, BBC One
Here’s a feature-length documentary charting the pandemic through the eyes of those who lost loved ones to Covid-19, including director Catey Sexton, whose mother died in a care home.
She and 12 other families across the UK share their stories of loss.
Some need answers from the public inquiry, others are trying to accept what happened, and for some, it is too painful to remember that time.
Cailini Comhraic, 8.00pm, RTÉ One
Streaming on RTÉ Player
This is a night of documentaries!
This one features Irish women breaking boundaries in combat sports, beginning with Christina, who set her sights on competing at the 2024 Olympics.
Cameras also follow Rosa as she prepares for the European BJJ Trials, and in Mary attends her first karate competition of the year, ready to prove herself on the mat.
New to Stream
Draw with Will, Sky Kids and NOW
Get ready to sketch as world-renowned comic book maestro, Will Sliney returns for a brand new fourth season of Draw with Will.
Join Will in 20 exciting new episodes as he guides young viewers through drawing some iconic characters that will leap off the page.
From mischievous Minions to everyone’s favourite ogre, Shrek, and Sky Original characters Isadora Moon and BooSnoo!, Will's easy-to-follow instructions will bring these beloved characters to life in no time.
So, grab your pencils, unleash your creativity, and get ready to learn some amazing drawing skills!
Don’t Miss
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, 9.30pm, TG4
Here’s what Slow Horses might have looked like if it was set in the 1970s.
It’s Cold War thriller based on John le Carré's 1974 novel, starring an Oscar-nominated Gary Oldman, alongside Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Benedict Cumberbatch, Toby Jones, Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds and Roger Lloyd Pack.
George Smiley, the deputy to the head of British intelligence, is forced into retirement after an operation ends in disaster with the death of an MI6 agent.
Smiley is later recruited by the government to return to duty and investigate the possibility of a Soviet mole in a high-ranking position within MI6.
Mastermind, 7.30pm, BBC Two
It’s squeaky bum time on the legendary Mastermind chair.
Clive Myrie (above) chairs the first semi-final of the quiz, inviting four contestants back into the glare of the spotlight as they brave the black chair.
Their specialist subjects are the Clash, the ironclad battleship HMS Warrior, the films of Marilyn Monroe and Pieter Bruegel the Elder
An Audience with Ken Dodd, 9.00pm, BBC Four
A series of Ken Dodd-related programmes kicks off with comedy and entertainment from the Liverpudlian funny man, in a programme originally aired in 1994 to mark his 40th year in showbusiness.
Among the audience helping him celebrate are actors James Fox and Warren Mitchell, actress Mollie Sugden, TV presenter Carol Vorderman, former glamour model Samantha Fox, magician Paul Daniels and fellow stand-up Frank Carson.
It’s followed at 10.05pm by an Arena documentary called Ken Dodd's Happiness, originally shown in 2007 to mark his 80th birthday.
Ken Dodd also features in The Good Old Days at 11.05pm, then he’s interviewed on Face to Face at 11.50pm, Finally, at 12.30am there’s Ken Dodd's Liverpool Walkabout.
Batch from Scratch: Cooking for Less, 8.00pm, Channel 4
Joe Swash (below) and Suzanne Mulholland help the Evans family in Bridgend reclaim their mealtimes.
Chaotic mealtimes and a disorganised kitchen have led to overwhelming stress and a reliance on convenience foods.
Suzanne teaches Kellie and Dom how to prepare easy, nutritious meals that can be batch-cooked and frozen for later.
Tempting Fortune, 9.00pm, Channel 4
After eight days of jungle life, one fortune-seeker hits a brick wall and quits, costing the group a whopping £30,000.
Meanwhile, the campmates are tempted with coffee and pastries, and an enticing all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet - but both come with heavy price tags.
