TV WEEK (Wednesday 12th to Tuesday 18th)
By John Daly
WATCH OF THE WEEK
Disturbing Disappearances (More4, Friday 14th, 9pm)
French crime drama set around a school excursion to Strasbourg Cathedral that turns into tragedy when a teacher is murdered in the cathedral square and nine children disappear. The police are informed that the children were led away by someone resembling the Pied Piper of Hamelin. What are the parallels with the old fable and how much danger are the children in?
TOP SPECIALS
Charleen and Ellie’s Football Fever (RTÉ Player, Wednesday 12th, 9am)
Two of Ireland’s top influencers, Charleen Murphy and Ellie Kelly, embark on a journey to support the Girls in Green ahead of the Women’s World Cup. The unlikely soccer enthusiasts may be clueless when it comes to the offside rule and corner kicks, but that won’t stop them from diving in headfirst and immersing themselves into ‘The Beautiful Game’.
Murder On The Blackpool Express (BBC 2, Wednesday 12th, 9pm)
Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson star in this feature-length comedy where Terry, a Blackpool coach driver, who, along with tour guide Gemma, is caught up in a deadly conspiracy when the passengers start mysteriously dying, one by one.
Five Bedrooms (RTÉ 2, Wednesday 12th, 10pm)
Tired of their perpetual single status, five friends at different stages of their lives make the bold decision to pool their funds and buy a house together. The fourth season continues this tale of commitment and its consequences. Good measures of love and heartbreak are expected as part of such an intricate partnership.
Secret Restoration (Sky History, Thursday 13th, 9pm)
Inside a century-old tool factory in New England, a group of America’s top restorers and craftsmen have come together to repair and restore family heirlooms and precious items, from hot-rods and pinball machines, to guitars and 19th century canons. Their mantra says ‘no challenge is too great’.
Celebrity Save Our Sperm (CH4, Thursday 13th, 10pm)
Over the last 40 years, male sperm count has dropped in the West by a shocking 59%. At that rate, it could reach zero by 2045 if we don’t find a way to halt the decline. Made In Chelsea star Ollie Locke, DJ Melvin Odoom and comedian Russell Kane take part in experiments designed to improve their sperm quality and count.
BEST FILMS
Haywire (Sky Cinema Thriller, Wednesday 12th, 8pm)
Gina Carano, Michael Fassbender and Ewan McGregor star in thriller in which a CIA agent is betrayed by someone in the agency. Knowing her survival depends on learning the truth behind the double-cross, she uses her black-ops training to set a trap. Filmed partly in Dublin, with a fight scene worth watching.
Green Book (RTÉ1, Friday 14th, 9.35pm)
Dr Don Shirley is an African-American pianist who embarks on the unthinkable – a concert tour of the racist Deep South in 1962. In need of a driver and protection, he recruits Tony Lip, a tough-talking bouncer from an Italian-American neighbourhood in the Bronx. Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali are a class act.
Breaking Point (Sky Cinema, from Friday)
The rise of two brothers through the ranks of the British Breakdance Team try-outs for a once in a lifetime chance at the world stage. Along the way they defy grief and their differences to compete their way through national try-outs and dream about heading to the Olympics in 2024.
CLASSIC MOVIE
American Gangster (RTÉ2, Thursday 13th, 9pm)
Denzel Washington plays Frank Lucas, one of New York’s most famous 1970s gangsters, who uses his own ingenuity and business code to become one of the inner city’s most powerful crime bosses. But he has to stay one step ahead of veteran cop Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe), who’s determined to bring him down.
KIDS STUFF
JFK Revisited: Through The Looking Glass (Sky Documentaries, Wednesday 12th, 12pm)
Filmmaker Oliver Stone takes a journey though declassified evidence in the assassination of President Kennedy – the most consequential American murder mystery of the 20th century. Oscar-winning narrators Whoopi Goldberg and Donald Sutherland uncover compelling evidence that the ‘conspiracy theory’ is now ‘conspiracy fact’.
The Sky At Night (BBC 4, Thursday 13th, 7pm)
A team of astronomers present an in-depth look at what is on show in the night sky as they delve deep into a wide range of general astronomical and space-related topics.
ON DEMAND
Hijack (Apple TV)
Sam Nelson works in mergers and acquisitions, and flies first class. On a routine flight, he is caught up in a hijacking – and sets about using his negotiation skills to save the day. A body language expert, crisis communications adviser and high-stakes game theorist, Sam is trying to out-think his adversaries at every turn.
A Thin Line (Paramount+)
German drama concerning twin sisters Anna and Benni, who run the anonymous online platform, Climate Leaks, who determined to stop the destruction of the planet. Using strategic planning, hacking and daring action, they set about saving the forest they grew up in – which involves the task of unmasking the deeply corrupt Minister of Transport. Deadly dangerous.
Wham! (Netflix)
Charts Michael and Andrew’s journey from childhood friendship to global superstardom, having achieved multiple hits and built a worldwide fan base. The film takes a personal look at the price of fame, including Michael’s struggles as a closeted gay man in the age of the AIDS epidemic – he would ‘come out’ following a 1998 arrest.
Around The World With 30 Kilos (Paramount+)
With millions of dollars of cocaine hidden in their luggage, two young Canadian social media influencers, Isabelle and Melina, are nabbed on board a luxury cruise ship in Australia in 2016, making headlines around the world. But the case of the ’cocaine cowgirls’ only scratched the surface – until now.
SPORTS CENTRE
All Ireland Senior Football Semi-Finals (RTÉ 2, Saturday 15th, 5.30pm + Sunday 16th 4pm)
Can Monaghan prove everybody, including the bookies, wrong, and defeat the mighty Dubs? That could be the shock result of the decade. And on the following day, could the men from Derry take the Kingdom scalp in another seismic sporting upset? It’s going to be some weekend.