John Byrne’s TV choices for the week ahead (Dates covered: Saturday October 4 to Friday October 10)
Absolutely loads of new and returning shows to look forward to, from gritty gangland tale Love/Hate to period crime drama Grantchester, sports chatters Second Captains Live to the self-explanatory Human Universe with Professor Brian Cox. Here goes . . .
Pick of the week
Love/Hate, Sunday, RTÉ One
Back for a fifth season, there's a massive sense of anticipation as gritty gangland drama Love/Hate steps back up to the plate. Nidge (Tom Vaughan Lawlor) is once again king of all he surveys. The crippling paranoia that grew from his guilt - over Darren, over Linda, pretty much over every single thing he’s done - has passed and he's narrowly avoided prison following Moynihan’s surveillance operation. But he’s had to take out a huge loan from an Irish drug dealer based in Spain and, as a result, he’s now saddled with Pauley (Johnny Ward) who has come back from Spain to protect the lender’s interests and keep Nidge out of trouble . . . but his enemies are closing in on the gangland boss.
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Star of the week
Twiggy
Who Do You Think You Are? Thursday, BBC One
Model, actor and fashion designer Twiggy is credited with being one of the world’s first supermodels and is surely one of the people who define 1960s' Swinging London. Born Lesley Hornby, her life changed when, at the age of 16, a journalist spotted her photo on the wall of a Mayfair hairdresser's and ran a story describing her as the ‘face of the 60s'. Immediately, a legend was born. After modelling, Twiggy went on to enjoy a successful career as a screen, stage and television actress and even made some hit records. She hosted her own TV show, Twiggy's People, in which she interviewed celebrities, and more recently appeared as a judge on America's Next Top Model. She certainly makes an interesting choice for the 100th edition of Who Do You Think You Are?
Starting this week
Grantchester, Monday, UTV
James Norton (Happy Valley) plays the role of clergyman Sidney Chambers in this new six- part drama, with Robson Green (Reckless) joining him as plain speaking, over-worked Police Inspector, Geordie Keating. Set in 1953 in Cambridgeshire, Sidney’s unlikely partnership with gruff, down to earth Geordie is central to the story. Geordie’s methodical approach to policing complements Sidney’s more intuitive techniques of coaxing information from witnesses and suspects. They forge a friendship and offer different insights into the crimes they investigate. ITV do this kind of thing quite well, so Grantchester is certainly worthy of investigation.
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Also starting this week:
Human Universe with Professor Brian Cox, Tuesday, BBC Two
Former D:Ream keyboard player and now physics professor Brian Cox tackles the most profound questions ever asked: why are we here? How did the universe make us? What made the universe? Are we alone? And what is our future? And how did D:Ream score a No 1 hit? In his own words, Cox describes Human Universe as a 'love letter to humanity'. In the opening episode he explains how, on a tiny planet tucked away in an insignificant corner of the universe, a group of apes evolved to make the greatest leap of them all.
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Our Island, Wednesday, TV3
This series explores the people, places and surroundings of Ireland's coastline. Environmentalist, writer and broadcaster Dick Warner talks about fish, island survival, Nazi warships, smuggling and shipwrecked Spaniards as he travels from Bundoran to Warrenpiont.
Returning this week
Marvel's Agents of SHIELD, Sunday, RTÉ2
The first season of this Avengers' movie spin-off picked up really well after a sluggish start, and Ruth Negga was great as the nasty Raina. The second season opens with Coulson - played, as usual, by Clark Gregg - and his team now wanted fugitives with limited resources. But of course that's not stopping them from keeping the world safe from powerful and unseen threats everywhere. But with new members they hardly know, will SHIELD ever be trusted again?
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Also returning this week:
Lewis, Friday, UTV
There’s something missing in Lewis’s life. It’s not Hobson’s fault, but retirement plainly doesn’t suit him. So when the call comes from Innocent to take up his badge and rejoin the force, he jumps at the chance.
Second Captains Live, Wednesday, RTÉ2
The crew returns just in time for the November rugby internationals and some crucial Euro 2016 qualifiers. Eoin McDevitt, Ken Early and Ciaran Murphy will again be joined by the most insightful names in sport. The lads will uncover more Irish television archive, embarrass themselves by competing in farcical quizzes and Roddy Collins returns with more Boring Irish Sporting Tweets.
Obsessive, Compulsive Cleaners, Tuesday, Channel 4
Back for a third run, this show matches people who cannot stop cleaning with others whose homes are in dire need of a spring cleaning, and promises more dirt, grime and hugely challenging cleans than before.
Ending this week
Domestic Divas, Tuesday, RTÉ One
Aisli and Cat meet Liam in his new home in Mayo, a place he has dedicated to making as eco-friendly and self-sufficient as possible. But the Divas remind Liam that he should also be putting the same time and effort into looking after himself.
Here's TEN's Sarah McIntyre talking to the Domestic Divas:
Also ending this week:
The Driver, Wednesday, BBC One
It's the final part of this tense drama starring the always impressive David Morrissey as Vince McKee, the eponymous driver. As the gang prepare for a major job, Vince offers Col a way out, but for Vince everything is closing in.
The Great British Bake Off: the Final, Wednesday, BBC One
The flour-filled contest reaches its climax with the remaining bakers facing a Signature pastry challenge that would normally take them a day to complete, but all they have here is a paltry three hours. Following that, they face their last daunting Showstopper.
Our Zoo, Wednesday, BBC One
A visiting inspector represents the family’s last hope but when the aviary nets are slashed George throws a major wobbly. Concerned that he might throw away their last chance to save the zoo, Lizzie reaches out for legal help, but it comes at a cost.
Darndale: Edge of Town, Monday, TV3
The arrival of summer means that change is on the horizon for many Darndale residents. For example, Bullseye (aka Darren Darren Sweeney) is training a young fella how to ride bareback, but is concerned about the future of his temporary stables.
Meet the McDonaghs, Thursday, RTÉ Two
The final episode marks the summer holidays for the McDonaghs. There’s the annual day out to Cahirmee horse fair, a visit by the family to Kelly in Galway and Kelly performs her biggest gig.
Here's Antoinette playing Mammy:
Justified, Saturday, TG4
The fourth season of this hugely enjoyable cowboy cop show comes to a close with mobster Nicky Augustine targeting Winona with the aim of convincing Raylan to hand over Drew Thompson.
Gino's Italian Escape, Friday, UTV
Gino D’Acampo heads to Bologna, a place viewed by many as Italy’s gastronomic capital. As a chef, D’Acampo can’t come to the northern Italian city without investigating its world-famous Bolognese sauce.
Crimes of Passion, Saturday, BBC Four
The Swedish drama comes to a close and it's December 24 in the vicarage as the vicar and his guests celebrate a Christmas that the peaceful village will never forget.
Operation Maneater, Sunday, Channel 4
Mark Evans travels to Western Australia where seven people have been killed by sharks in three years to help find non-lethal solutions to keep both people and sharks safe.
Duck Quacks Don't Echo, Monday, Sky 1
Lee Mack kicks off the final episode by showing guests Chris Tarrant, Kimberly Wyatt and Robert Webb an unorthodox way of drinking wine, proving that you can open a bottle of vino with a boot.
Drama of the week
Homeland, Tuesday, RTÉ2
Season four of this paranoia-soaked drama, starring Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison, a Central Intelligence Agency officer with bipolar disorder, begins as Carrie’s career at the CIA takes off when she becomes an overseas station chief in Kabul. But every drone strike and tactical raid comes at a cost and she quickly learns the true price of power. Back in the United States, Carrie's former boss Saul is struggling to adjust to his new role in the private sector.
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Comedy of the week
Enlightened, Friday, Sky Atlantic
Followers come in all kinds of guises as technology takes centre stage in the latest episode of the acclaimed comedy drama starring a magnificent Laura Dern. As Amy continues her quest to take down Abaddon, she reconnects with journalist Jeff, who sparks her interest in social media and invites her to a speech by a Twitter revolutionary. Amy is a little out of her depth in a room full of noted activists and charity workers, but gets a boost when her relationship with Jeff takes a turn for the romantic. Meanwhile, back at Abaddon, Amy and Tyler’s scheming arouses Dougie’s suspicions and Amy runs into the company’s enigmatic CEO Charles Szidon.
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On Demand
Criminal Minds, Sky Living
Meet the FBI’s most perceptive profilers in this long-lasting and often dark procedural that started off with Homeland star Mandy Patinkin in the lead role for two seasons. The smart US drama sees the team apply their impressive knowledge of criminal psychology to catch the most heinous offenders at large. Get up to date before season 10 begins.
Here's a trailer from the first season:
Documentary of the week
Inside Probation, Monday, RTÉ One
This two-part documentary examines the day-to-day work of probation officers across Ireland, monitoring and rehabilitating a range of offenders, from minor criminals, to high-risk offenders. Every day 10,000 people on Probation, often for serious crimes, are free to walk Ireland's streets in an attempt to keep them from entering or re-entering the overcrowded prison system. What are the benefits and what are the risks? Probation Officers ensure that these people do not present a danger to the public - or to themselves.
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Film of the Week
Downfall, Wednesday, BBC Four
If you want a good laugh, the naughty Blazing Saddles is on Tuesday on Sky Movies Comedy, but this is an excellent drama about the final days of Adolf Hitler. Bruno Ganz is quite astounding as the doomed Nazi leader - so much so that one of his famous desk-thumping outbursts has become a YouTube staple whenever anyone wants to have a rant about something. Usually football.
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