John Byrne’s TV choices for the week ahead (Dates covered: Saturday, September 5 to Friday, September 11)
There are loads of new and returning shows this week including Strictly, Gogglebox and Lady Chatterley's Lover. There's simply no need to go outside any more!
Pick of the week
Gogglebox, Friday, Channel 4
When this show first arrived I thought it would be unwatchable rubbish, but it turned out to be an absolute delight. Isn't it amazing that, at this stage in our evolution, we'd be entertained by watching a TV show about other people watching television?
Star of the week
Daniel O'Donnell
Strictly Come Dancing, Saturday, BBC One
Although his name came out of the blue, the reality is that Daniel O'Donnell is hugely popular in the UK and has been for a long time. The only surprise, really, is that he wasn't invited to appear on Strictly Come Dancing before now. This could be a very good fit.
Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman host the star-studded launch of the 13th run of the show. The celebrity contestants’ journey towards the famous Glitter Ball Trophy begins as they discover which professional dancer they will be paired with. The celebrities and professionals will also take to the dancefloor together for the very first time for an eye-catching group performance.
Starting this week
Alan Carr: Chatty Man, Friday, Channel 4
Smart this, getting off the mark before Graham Norton returns. In tonight's first episode, actor Tom Hardy talks about his latest movie Legend, where he plays both lead roles as the infamous twins Reggie and Ronnie Kray, Stephen Graham and Vicky McClure discuss starring in Shane Meadows' This Is England '90, while musician/actress Demi Lovato chats to Alan.
An Klondike, Tuesday, TG4
A major new original four-part drama set in the harsh world of the gold mines of Alaska during the great gold rush of 1895.
Also starting this week:
Claire Byrne Live, Monday, RTÉ One
Studio discussion on major issues.
Doctor Foster, Wednesday, BBC One
Suranne Jones stars as a trusted GP whose life is about to explode.
The Taste of Success, Tuesday, RTÉ One
Food innovators from all over Ireland compete for a €100,000 prize.
Grand Designs, Wednesday, Channel 4
Clinton Dall is attempting to build a very large home
Apres Match of the Day, Monday, RTÉ2
The lads take a look back at the Ireland v Romania game in Italia 90.
Hunted, Thursday, Channel 4
14 British citizens are given fugitive status and go on the run.
Doc Marten, Sunday, UTV Ireland
Martin Clunes returns as the eponymous physician who now faces marital problems
Second Captains Live, Wednesday, RTÉ2
Topics for discussion include the GAA finals, Euro 2016 qualifiers and the Rugby World Cup.
Secrets and Lies, Wednesday, Watch
American version of the superb Australian drama about a man suspected of murdering a boy.
It Was Alright in the 70s, Saturday, Channel 4
Matt Lucas host this look back at television as it was in the 1970s.
Crossing Lines, Saturday, Alibi
Season two of the international crime-solver
Major Crimes, Monday, Universal Channel
A spin-off from the superb procedural The Closer, with many of that show's cast and characters involved.
Dave Gorman's Modern Life is Goodish, Tuesday, Dave
Stand-up Gorman's back with another run of his home-made documentaries.
Ballers, Tuesday, Sky Atlantic
New US comedy starring Dwayne Johnson as a retired athlete turned financial manager.
Rick & Morty, Thursday, Fox UK
Adult animation about an alcoholic scientist Rick and his easily influenced grandson Morty.
Ending this Week
The Walking Dead, Tuesday, RTÉ2
It's the final episode of the zombie-tastic drama starring Andrew Lincoln as a former cop who's now heading a group of survivors as they struggle against outrageous odds, widespread dystopia and an endless flow of zombies. While the people of Alexandria decide Rick's fate, Glenn and Nicholas have their confrontation.
Also ending this week:
Madam Secretary, Thursday, Sky Living
Flashbacks, former friends and two subpoenas make for a tense finale to this political drama.
Grand Canal Journeys, Saturday, Channel 4
The final journey is along Burgundy's Canal du Nivernais with stop-offs at Chablis and Auxerre.
Drama of the week
Lady Chatterley's Lover, Sunday, BBC One
Here's the latest adaptation of DH Lawrence's 1928 novel. Lady Constance Chatterley (Holliday Grainger) enjoys a happy marriage to the dashing aristocrat Sir Clifford Chatterley (James Norton), until he's severely wounded during the First World War.
Confined to a wheelchair and impotent, he becomes more distant, and Constance finds comfort in the company of the estate’s brooding, lonely gamekeeper, Oliver Mellors (Richard Madden). In the England of the 1920s an affair between a posh lady and a working man would scandalise society and ostracise them both.
Lady Chatterley must choose between propriety and love, while Mellors risks his safety, as they both strive to evade the growing suspicions of her jealous and vengeful husband.
Comedy of the week
Mount Pleasant, Friday, Sky 1
The Manchester-set comedy drama returns to Sky 1 for a new eight-part run. Last time around Lisa and Dan (Sally Lindsay and Daniel Ryan) cement their family unit as they welcomed daughter into the world but now their marriage is far from stable. And their problems are only highlighted by the arrival of very-much-in love new neighbours Jenna and Cameron (Nicola Hughes and Patrick Robinson). War is immediately waged between Lisa and Jenna, whose noisy salon happens to be next-door to Lisa’s newly refurbished office.
On Demand
The Walking Dead, from Thursday, Sky on Demand
With season six lurking just around the corner, here's a chance to get up to speed on one of the biggest US dramas of recent years, with seasons one to five all available. The action kicks off with sheriff's deputy Andrew Lincoln waking up in hospital in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.
Documentary of the week
Crumlin, Thursday, RTÉ One
Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin is the largest paediatric hospital in Ireland. Here, life and death is a daily reality. Filmed over eight months, this four-part series observes paediatric care from the point of view of the medical practitioners as they grapple with ethical decisions, complex cases and rare conditions.
Each episode centres on a department and first up is Cardiology, where baby Zack Murphy has been diagnosed antenatally with hypoplastic left heart, dextrocardia and situs inversus. In layman's terms his heart is located on the right side rather than the left, and all of his organs are the wrong way round.
Film of the Week
Se7en, Tuesday, Sky Movies Select
If you haven't seen this you're in for quite a treat and a truly jaw-dropping finale. This 1995 American neo-noir crime psychological thriller was directed by David Fincher, and stars Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, John C McGinley and Kevin Spacey.
The story follows a newly-transferred David Mills (Pitt) and the soon-to-retire William Somerset (Freeman), two homicide detectives who become deeply involved in the case of a sadistic serial killer whose meticulous murders correspond to the seven deadly sins of gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, pride, lust and envy.
John Byrne
