John Byrne’s TV choices for the week ahead (Dates covered: Sat Oct 11 – Fri Oct 17)
Another titanic week of telly with new HBO drama The Knick, a Spandau Ballet special, Angela Scanlon's Full Frontal and the return of Not Going Out just the tip of the gogglebox iceberg.
Pick of the week
The Knick, Thursday, Sky Atlantic
Clive Owen stars in, while Steven Soderbergh directs, this new medical drama from HBO. The boundaries of science, morality and race are re-drawn during a period of major upheaval at The Knickerbocker, a Manhattan hospital facing financial collapse in a city swarming with disease and corruption during the dawn of the 20th Century. Dr John Thackery (Owen) has just become chief of surgery at The Knick. And while he's a master in the operating theatre, Thackery's a disaster elsewhere thanks to a worsening addiction to cocaine and opium. Pressure from The Knick's last wealthy patrons, the Robertsons, threaten to also stunt his success, with Cornelia Robertson (Juliet Rylance) insisting on choosing Thackery's new assistant: the Harvard-trained Dr Algernon Edwards (André Holland), the first black surgeon at the previously all-white hospital. Thackery is reluctant to hire Cornelia's candidate as assistant chief over his own protégé Dr Everett Gallinger (Eric Johnson), despite the fact that Edwards' intelligence and at-all-costs attitude mirrors rivals his own. Cue trouble . . .
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Star of the week
Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet: True Gold, Tuesday, UTV
Anyone who grew up loving pop music in the 1980s will surely lap up this TV special with one of Britain's top acts of the time, Spandau Ballet. Having first burst onto the music scene at the start of that decade, the New Romantics soon dominated the charts with hits such as True, Gold, Communication and Through The Barricades. Gary Kemp and co sold over 25 million albums worldwide. Here they perform some of their greatest hits live in the studio and take a trip down memory lane, charting their stratospheric rise to fame. From humble beginnings in North London to becoming one of the biggest UK bands, topping the charts and performing sell out concerts around the world. The event is hosted by Christine Bleakley.
Here's the video for Gold:
Starting this week
Full Frontal, Thursday, RTÉ 2
Angela Scanlon presents this new and provocative four-part series, the first episode of which takes an intimate look at some of the ways in which Irish people like to get naked. She meets up with naturists from home and abroad as they gather for their Congress in Drumshanbo; finds out why a growing number of Irish women want to have their pictures taken in the nude; why thousands of Dubliners went for a dip in the nip on Sandymount Strand (sure the walk to the sea there is horrendous!); how one Irish woman became a centrefold for Playboy; and why butchers in Swords couldn’t wait to get their aprons off.
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Also starting this week:
Doctor in the House, Monday, TV3
In this new series, a team of doctors and medical professionals will visit a number of households, to assess their lifestyles and implement new habits that can drastically improve their health.
Returning this week
House of Lies, Friday, Sky Atlantic
Season three of this cutting US comedy drama begins with the aftermath of the gang's decision to go their separate ways and, so far, they’re enjoying varying degrees of success.
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Also returning this week:
Trust Me, I'm a Doctor, Wednesday, BBC Two
In the first episode of this returning series, the results of a never-before seen experiment are revealed.
Justified, Saturday, TG 4
Season five of this super drama brings the latest in the trials and tribulations Deputy US Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant). This time around he confronts a deadly, lawless family from Florida intent on settling in Harlan.
The Apprentice, Tuesday, BBC One
Taking part in this year's contest to find a business fledgling to work with Alan Sugar are Dubliners Pamela Uddin and Roisin Hogan.
Ending this week
Inside Probation, Monday, RTÉ One
This new landmark documentary series concludes its journey following people working at the frontline of Ireland's criminal justice system, focusing on the day-to-day work of probation officers, who deal with all kinds of people who have broken the law, ranging from minor offenders, to dangerous criminals and high-risk sex offenders. Being a probation officer is probably one of the most stressful occupations, but it could also be one of the most rewarding.
Ramsay's Costa Del Nightmares, Tuesday, Channel 4
In the final episode in the series, Gordon visits a sleepy village in the Costa Blanca that's home to Quelcutti's - a restaurant and bar run by the Quelcutti family.
Design Doctors, Thursday, RTÉ One
Aoife and Garry help Tralee resident, Pat de-clutter his home with some clever storage solutions and help transform his home into the perfect entertaining space.
Abhainn, Monday, RTÉ One
Pádraig O’Driscoll meets the people of the Nore as it meanders through counties Laois and Kilkenny before joining sister rivers The Suir and The Barrow to reach the sea.
Gadget Man, Monday, Channel 4
Richard Ayoade confronts some property conundrums with the help of gadgets. For example, an army of window cleaning robots help him get the gadget house ready for viewing.
A League of Their Own, Friday, Sky 1
The guests in this finale include Olympic snow medallist Jenny Jones, comedian Johnny Vegas and footballer-turned-manager Gianfranco Zola.
Drama of the week
Gomorrah, Monday, Sky Atlantic
You could nickname this show Amore/Odio as it's very much an Italian Love/hate. In the penultimate episode, Genny is cornered when the Savastanos' rivals rally around Conte to help revenge Daniele's death. Genny also faces trouble on the home front as a deadly battle erupts between his supporters and old lieutenants. When Imma is forced to intervene, she manages to establish a fragile order within the clan, as well as realising that Ciro is the one behind this civil war.
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Comedy of the week
Not Going Out, Friday, BBC One
Lee Mack brings his multi award-winning gag-fest back for one more run. Currently the BBC’s longest running sitcom, and this new season continues to follow the hilariously ill-thought-out plans and mishaps of Lee, as he desperately tries to impress long-suffering landlady and object of his affection, Lucy. For starters, Lucy has her handbag stolen from under Lee’s nose so he feels the need to prove his manliness - over and over and over again.
Here's an clip from season six:
On Demand
Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD, Sky Anytime
Get up to speed with the first season of this very watchable series created by Avengers Assemble director Joss Whedon. Set shortly after The Avengers have saved New York from extraterrestrials, SHIELD’s back-from-the-dead Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) is recruiting a team of elite agents to protect the world from strange and unconventional threats. Look out for Ruth Negga in later episodes as one of the baddies.
Season 1 Trailer:
Documentary of the week
Curing Cancer, Wednesday, Channel 4
With unprecedented access to the new Macmillan Cancer Centre at University College Hospital, this Cutting Edge documentary follows four patients taking part in trials of some of the most advanced cancer treatments in the world. Dennis, Debra, Jeffery and Pete are all facing the future with trepidation, but they have all agreed to take part in ground-breaking trials aimed at improving the way cancer is diagnosed and treated.
Film of the Week
The Wolf of Wall Street, Friday, Sky Movies Premiere
Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio alongside a host of acting greats, there's a lot to admire in this black comedy based on the true story of Jordan Belfort and his rise to becoming a wealthy stock-broker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government.
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