There's plenty on offer this week, ranging from the final run of Shane Meadows' This is England, Dark Ages drama Vikings, hidden camera show The Fear and Later . . . Live with Jools Holland.
Pick of the week
This is England 90, Sunday, Channel 4
The fourth and final chapter in Shane Meadows' outstanding drama series about life in England during the Thatcher era lands in 1990, with Maggie on the way out and rave culture breaking through to the mainstream.
Since the 2006 cinematic release of the original film, This is England has morphed into three further TV miniseries on Channel 4, painting an uncompromising picture of life for disaffected youth. What started out as a film about skinheads in 1983 has turned into a much-lauded series about a period of great change in England and how it's affected a group of working-class mates.
It’s two years since the less-than-festive Christmas of '88, with some of the gang embracing the new decade with more gusto than others. This last chapter comes in four parts and in Sunday's opener (repeated on Monday), Woody is in his element as a stay-at-home Dad sharing the fun with Milky. Meanwhile, Lol flourishes running the School Kitchen. Harvey and Gadget get baked all day, Chrissy's got a girlfriend and Shaun is pining for Smell. On top of that, there’s a party brewing.
Star of the week
Kelly McDonagh Mongan
Meet the McDonaghs, Tuesday, RTÉ2
Reality shows are ten-a-penny these days, but the first season of Meet the McDonaghs offered a rare insight into the world of the Irish travelling community – more specifically, the family of former The Voice of Ireland contestant, Kelly McDonagh Mongan.
It’s a busy year for all the family with a new arrival, a christening, a surprise wedding, summer holidays and new opportunities in the McDonagh household. In the opening episode of this three-part run, 21-year old Kelly invites viewers to her latest home, in Galway. She's expecting her second baby and still hoping for a big break in her singing career.
Starting this week
Vikings, Monday RTÉ2
Filmed in Ireland, Vikngs tells the extraordinary tales of the lives and epic adventures of warriors and portrays life in the Dark Ages, a world ruled by raiders and explorers, as seen through the eyes of Viking society.
The family saga of Ragnar, Rollo, Lagertha and Bjorn hits season three, which begins with Ragnar as King and follows the great responsibility that now rests on the shoulders of the former farmer.
With the promise of new land from the English, Ragnar leads his people to an uncertain fate on the shores of Wessex.
Also starting this week:
An Inspector Calls, Sunday, BBC One
David Thewlis heads the cast in the latest adaptation of the mysterious detective thriller, set in 1912 and written by celebrated British dramatist JB Priestley. Following the suicide of a young woman, an inspector (Thewlis) calls unexpectedly to interrogate the wealthy Birling family.
Scannal, Monday, RTÉ One
This excellent bilingual documentary series returns, focusing on the horrific attack in 1982 that left Dubliner Declan Flynn dying in a public park. His killing - and the controversy surrounding the criminal trial that followed - sparked a groundswell of support for gay rights.
One Hundred and Eighty, Tuesday, Sky1
Davina McCall hosts a brand new game show with Freddie Flintoff in which world-famous darts players team up with darts-mad members of the public to win prizes.
Richard Hammond's Jungle Quest, Wednesday, Sky1
Filmed in the Brazilian rainforest, former Top Gear guy Richard Hammond journeys along the Amazon River as he attempts to photograph the creatures that captivated him as a child.
Grand Designs, Saturday, Channel 4
Kevin McCloud meets Clinton Dall, who is aiming to build a massive house.
Countdown to Life: the Extraordinary Making of You, Monday, BBC Two
Dr Michael Moseley explores how the human body develops, beginning with the crucial first eight weeks, when a single cell turns into a foetus.
The Changing Room, Tuesday, Channel 4
This show-off show offers an inside look at the changing rooms in some UK high street shops, opening with a group of lads buying holiday gear.
Logainm, Tuesday, TG4
Musician and singer Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich explores the meanings behind Irish place names, beginning with a focus on the land.
Later . . . Live with Jools Holland, Wednesday, BBC Two
Guests in this returning show include Foals, Jools' former bandmates and Squeeze songwriters Glenn Tillbrook and Chris Difford, and Rickie Lee Jones.
Devious Maids, Tuesday, RTÉ2
Season three of this frothy dramedy picks up at the height of last year’s cliff-hanger, where a deranged gunman takes aim at the maids during Rosie and Spence’s wedding, leaving everyone to wonder who will survive.
Conor McGregor's Ultimate Fighter, Wednesday, TV3
Fighters travel to Las Vegas to become The Ultimate Fighter, with Conor McGregor coaching the Europeans as they take on the Americans, coached by former WEC champion Urijah Faber.
Ending this Week
Show Me a Hero, Monday, Sky Atlantic
This worthy but unfortunately dull drama about class conflict in New York's Yonkers in the 1980s comes to an end with a double-bill as Sky have decided to show episodes five and six consecutively.
David Simon’s miniseries concludes as the low-income housing plans come to pass. The residents who’ll take up occupancy are chosen, but have mixed feelings about moving into neighbourhoods where they’re unwelcome.
Also ending this week:
The Trials of Jimmy Rose, Sunday, UTV Ireland
It's the third and final episode of this drama starrring Ray Winstone as an ex-con trying to readjust after a decade of porridge. Despite Jimmy's attempts at leading a path that's straight and narrow, he's been dragged into one last job to clear his debt to Tony.
Veep, Wednesday, Sky Atlantic
The fourth season concludes as all of POTUS Selina Meyer's efforts come to a head as she faces the results of the presidential election. As Jonah presides over a Meyer-James rally in his own inimitable style, Dan provides commentary on CNN, and the White House gang sit glued to the screen as the results come in.
House of Lies, Wednesday, Sky Atlantic
Marty could be about to make K&A one of the top firms in the business - but only if he can actually get his employees to stick around. Meanwhile, Jeannie finally gives birth to her baby.
Drama of the week
Ripper Street, Friday, BBC One
This third season of the Victorian cop drama has been the best yet, with some great stories, wonderful performances and an overriding arc that should be resolved this week.
The central plot concerns the killing of an American journalist in Whitechapel and his story threatens seismic consequences for numerous Whitechapel residents. Meanwhile, with her business empire slipping through her fingers, Long Susan has to contend with some shocking news - and a manipulative face from her past.
As the men of H Division inch ever nearer to the truth about the train robbery from the opening episode of this run, the revelations expose some disturbing home truths, and life-altering decisions have to be made.
Comedy of the week
The Fear, Monday, RTÉ2
The hidden camera comedy is back for a fourth season. Trawling around the country the gang will be up to their usual tricks, storming across Ireland incognito and generally spreading The Fear.
This season will feature plenty more pranks and see the return of characters such as Irinka The Russian Streetwalker, The Nun, Fred Cooke, Sergeant Major and Jimmy the most annoying man in Ireland. Joining Hilary Rose, Ross Browne and Fred Cooke this season will be some special guest comedians including Dermot Whelan, Karl Spain and Martin Maloney.
On Demand
Mad Men, from Thursday, Sky Box Sets
With the final batch of episodes arriving this week, you can now see Matthew Weiner’s dazzling ad agency drama in its entirety via Sky Box Sets. Starring Jon Hamm as Scotch-swilling womanising ad man Don Draper, this multi-award-winning period drama is already a TV classic.
Documentary of the week
Reality Bites: F**k Cancer, Thursday, RTÉ2
In a week that's got a lot of very interesting documentaries - Monday's The Boston Nanny on RTÉ One, for example - this one really stands out.
The provocatively-titled F**k Cancer is a one-hour observational documentary following 2FM DJ and columnist, Louise McSharry, as she gets treated for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and prepares to marry her fiancée, Gordon Spierin.
Film of the Week
Ace in the Hole, Monday, Sky Select
Billy Wilder directed some of the greatest films ever made – for starters: Some Like it Hot, Sunset Boulevard, Double Indemnity, The Lost Weekend – and this is up there with the best.
Kirk Douglas puts in a typically powerful performance as a cynical, disgraced journalist who stops at nothing to try to regain a job on a major newspaper.
A cynical satire about the relationship between the press, the news it reports and the manipulative manner in which it reports it, it's a story that's just as relevant today, more than 60 years after it was released.
John Byrne
