John Byrne’s TV choices for the week ahead. Dates covered: Saturday August 2 to Friday August 8.
Pick of the week
My Great War, Monday, RTÉ One
This promises to be a landmark documentary series from the RTÉ TV Documentary Unit to mark Irish involvement in World War One. The two documentaries will be broadcast on consecutive nights - Bank Holiday Monday August 4 and Tuesday 5.
200,000 young Irish men fought in World War One, while 30,000 or more died in far flung battles from Gallipoli to Yprès and the Somme. Until this centenary year, they were largely written out of history.
In My Great War, young descendants of an even younger generation of Irish soldiers journey from Ireland to Europe to hear the story of their great-grandfathers, aunts and uncles who fought in the British Army. The decision to enlist may have been triggered by financial necessity or a sense of ‘boy’s own adventure’, but it ended in the bloody horror of the trenches.
For those who survived, injury and post-traumatic stress were only part of the aftermath. The veterans of the Great War arrived home to an Ireland changed utterly by the events of Easter 1916. Many in British uniform were seen as traitors and their stories were ignored. In tracing their involvement a century later, relatives of the Irish soldiers discover the harsh realities of war and its consequences.
Seán Malone, for one, wants to know the truth about his relative, Sergeant Michael Curley, who is said to have killed his own commanding officer while trying to save the lives of his comrades.
My Great War, Monday, RTÉ One
Star of the week
Richard E Grant
Richard E Grant’s Hotel Secrets – Miami, Tuesday, Sky Atlantic
He's spent decades acting in a variety of great roles on both the small and big screen - Withnail & I being an obvious example - but in recent years, Richard E Grant has developed an impressive sideline as a presenter. His 2013 series, The French Riviera: A History in Pictures, was superb, while Hotel Secrets is good fun too.
Back for a second run, Grant visits more of the world’s most ostentations, scandalous and exclusive hotels as his lively new series takes in Hong Kong, Tokyo, New Orleans, Berlin and Venice. His first stop is Miami’s South Beach, home to some of the most hedonistic and extravagant hotels in America.
For example, at the legendary Fontainebleau he takes in million-dollar chandeliers, meets a man with eye-opening stories about Frank Sinatra’s regular visits, and gets a shock when he discovers how much it costs to hire a booth in the hotel night club.
Here's Mr Grant is checking out Dublin's Shelbourne Hotel:
Starting this week
Gomorrah, Thursday, Sky Atlantic
Based on Robert Saviano’s best-selling and hugely controversial book, this gritty Italian crime drama paints a nasty portrait of the brutal Neapolitan crime organisation, the Camorra, as seen through the eyes of Ciro Di Marzo, the obedient and self-confident right-hand man of the clan’s godfather, Pietro Savastano.
The series begins as Ciro and his friend Attilio set fire to the home of ruthless rival Salvatore Conte in an attempt to stop him encroaching on Savastano’s turf. When Conte escapes, however, he makes a vicious retaliation against the Savastanos, meaning all-out war for Pietro.
As the death toll mounts, Ciro suffers a tragedy during the bloody battle. Pietro may be satisfied when he gains upper hand, but Ciro yearns for revenge against Conte.
Trailer Time: It's in Italian - and it's violent
Also starting this week:
First Time Farmers, Thursday, Channel 4
Back for a second run, this fly-on-the-wall series lifts the lid on the lives of 12 ambitious young farmers from across Britain.
Ending this week
Kitchen Hero: Rediscovering the Irish Kitchen, Tuesday, RTÉ One
Floppy-haired culinary whizz Donal Skehan meets Patricia Quinn Murphy who started her working life aged 16 as an assistant cook, in a large house in Wexford, and through her Donal learns about a recent but largely forgotten part of our social history. At Muckross Traditional Farms, Skehan is shown how to make soda bread in a bastible and makes Gur Cake, a popular Dublin sweet bread.
Trailer Time:
Also ending this week:
Amazing Space Shed of the Year, Thursday, Channel 4
As the competition to find Britain's best shed reaches its thrilling climax, George Clarke and his fellow judges look at the final groups of short-listed sheds battling it out for a place in the grand final. George also visits last year's winner: an upside down boat shed. The glamour!
Drama of the week
Ray Donovan, Tuesday, Sky Atlantic
Boston reporter Kate ramps up her investigation into Sully’s death and homes in on Mickey. And when a former member of Sully’s gang turns up in LA, it’s in both Ray’s and Cochran’s interests to get rid of him. But the fixer and FBI boss disagree over how best to do it. Mr Keith, meanwhile, forces Mickey to get a job and Bunchy encounters a potential love interest at his new place of work.
Behind the Scenes:
Comedy of the week
Veep, Wednesday, Sky Atlantic
Selina is in Silicon Valley this week as her campaign trail starts in earnest with a tour of technology company Clovis. On an always cringe-worthy meet-and-greet she is introduced to CEO Craig, who rubs her up the wrong way by continually referring to her as Selina rather than Madame Vice President. Meanwhile, Jonah’s Ryantology website is getting more hits than ever and has attracted the attention of Clovis, who are poised to bid $4 million for it. But just as Jonah is on the brink of becoming a multimillionaire, Dan throws a spanner in the works.
Trailer Time:
On Demand
In Vogue: The Editor’s Eye, From Aug 1, Sky Atlantic,
This HBO documentary examines the iconic images and editors of the world’s most famous fashion magazine. Contributors include Anna Wintour, Grace Coddington, Marc Jacobs, Nicole Kidman and Sarah Jessica Parker.
Trailer Time:
Documentary of the week
Nazi Death Camp: Great Escape, Tuesday, National Geographic
On 14 October 1943, around 600 slave labourers attempted to flee the Sobibór extermination camp in the Lublin area of occupied Poland. Around 300 made it past the German guards’ machine gun fire, over the electric fences and through the surrounding minefield. But of those 300, only 50 lived until the end of the war to tell their stories.
In this documentary, survivors who experienced the terror of Sobibór first hand speak about their experiences, the many victims that the camp claimed, their carefully planned escape plot and the chaos and drama of its execution.
Film of the Week
The Inbetweeners Movie, Saturday, Channel 4
This is a special broadcast introduced by the leading cast members to coincide with the cinematic release of The Inbetweeners 2. The lads have now finished sixth form and have decided to celebrate with a holiday in Malia on the island of Crete. They naturally see this as the perfect opportunity to grab as much sun, sea and sex as possible.
Trailer Time: (contains adult content)
