A look inside how the Pope is elected, one of the best Irish films in recent years, and a new feature-length documentary about the GAA from TG4. . . here is your top telly for today
Secrets of the Conclave, BBC Two, 9.00pm
The papal conclave is a succession drama like no other. Triggered by the death of Pope Francis last April, 133 cardinals descended on the Vatican to elect his successor. But these cardinals are not just electors - they are candidates too. One of these 133 men will become pope. It is an ancient ritual of prayer and isolation that determines the future of the Catholic Church - and it all unfolds in secrecy. With unprecedented access to the Vatican, this documentary offers a rare insight into a ceremony that has decided the church's leadership for centuries, featuring a glimpse of what happened inside and told by those who were there.
Dr Zhivago, BBC Two, 2.55pm
Doctor and poet Yuri Zhivago is brought up in the family of Alexander Gromeko, whose daughter Tonya he eventually marries. But his true love is for the passionate and beautiful Lara, the mistress of a political opportunist. With the outbreak of the Great War, and with Moscow transformed by the Revolution, their romance is disrupted by the social upheaval surrounding them. David Lean's Oscar-winning epic set in revolutionary Russia is based on the novel by Boris Pasternak.
GAA '70s - Réabhlóid Shóisialta, TG4, 7.45pm
This new feature-length documentary from TG4 captures one of the most defining eras in Gaelic Games and Irish society. In this cinematic and emotionally rich film, some of the greatest players from Dublin, Galway and Kerry reunite in their county colours to reflect on their friendships, rivalries, and the journey to Croke Park.
It also unearths hidden stories in locations including Galway Golf Course with the Dubs and the Tribesmen close to the banks of the picturesque Galway Bay; and the breathtaking Ring of Kerry, where iconic figures from the Kingdom and the Capital reflect on an era that shaped the modern GAA. The documentary contextualises the evolution of Gaelic Football within the broader social changes of 1970s Ireland.
An Cailín Ciúin, TG4, 9.45pm
This quietly devastating adaptation of Claire Keegan's short story, Foster, was one of the best movies of 2022. Set in early 1980s Ireland, it follows Cáit, played by Caitríona Clinse, a young girl whose family send her to her mother’s cousin to be cared for while her mother has another baby. She is cared for by Eibhlín (Carrie Crowley) and her initially distant husband Seán (Andrew Bennett). It is a whole new world for the neglected child as she is ushered into an idyllic domestic tableau full of love and proper care. The first Irish language film to be nominated for an Oscar, An Cailín Ciúin is also among the greatest movies ever made about an adult world seen through the eyes of a child. Read our full review here.
Hamleys: Top 100 Toys of All Time, Channel 4, 7.30pm
Father/daughter Jonathan Ross and Honey and mother/son Alison Hammond and Aidan and best friends, comedians Lou Sanders and Harriet Kemsley celebrate the greatest toys of all time. They're given exclusive afterhours access to run wild in Hamleys’ Regent Street toy shop in London, reliving the excitement of playing with beloved toys from their childhoods, from Lego to Hungry Hippos to the Pogo stick and Operation. This new documentary brings back fond memories of these classics, including ads from the 70s and 80s, as well as commentary from experts and historians.
Celebrity Mastermind, BBC Two, 7.30pm
Clive Myrie asks the questions in this celebrity edition of the classic quiz as four famous faces brave the black chair and donate to their chosen charity. Journalist and news presenter Maryam Moshiri, singer-songwriter Chesney Hawkes, comedian Desiree Burch and Uncanny host Danny Robins go under the spotlight, answering questions on the Bridget Jones films, The Beatles' White Album, the actress Viola Davis and the Star Wars television series The Mandalorian.
New on Netflix
Sicilia Express
Well, this looks . . . interesting. This Italian television miniseries follows Salvo and Valentino, two Sicilian nurses working in a Milan clinic. They commute between the city and Sicily on low-cost flights, which, as you can imagine, can be pretty exhausting. Then one enchanting evening, thanks to a wish made by Valentino's daughter, they discover a magical dumpster (no, not the one where Netflix get most of their ideas) that teleports them from Piazza del Duomo in Milan to their hometown in Sicily, and back again. O . . . K . . .
Full TV listings here
