Prepare yourself, you might just be the next victim of a practical joke by Carl Mullan, Doireann Garrihy, and Donncha O’Callaghan on “The Full Irish Hidden Camera Show”. This Sunday at 8.30pm on RTÉ1, the trio will be armed with a new set of cunning tricks designed to deceive unsuspecting pedestrians. One such trick features a too-good-to-be-true hair regrowth cream, a rapid-fire quiz, an inept fashion designer with delusions of being Versace, a demanding parrot seeking freedom, and an unruly AI expressing contentious opinions.
On the other hand, if you’re more into music, tune in to Channel 4 this Sunday at 9pm and indulge yourself with the acclaimed piano-focused show “The Piano”. Often compared to the Bake Off, but for pianos, the show had a commendable reception during its first season, leading the creators to plan two more series. The premise is straightforward: unsuspicious amateur pianists perform their chosen pieces on randomly placed pianos across railway stations in the UK, not aware that renowned judges Claudia Winkleman, Mika, and Lang Lang are secretly assessing their performances. The top performers secure a spot to contest for a shot at a concert appearance at London’s Royal Festival Hall. In the new season’s first episode, our judges land on Manchester’s Piccadilly Station and encounter some unexpected talents, including a boxer and a dance DJ.
Finally, we move on to “Ireland’s Young Filmmakers of the Year Awards” airing on Monday at 7pm on RTÉ2.
Promising young filmmakers across the nation are displaying their prowess at the 28th IYFTYs, held at Troy Studios in Limerick. This esteemed event is hosted by revered actor, comedian Faye Shortt and radio personality Gemma Bradley. Aspiring to be future Greta Gerwigs and Christopher Nolans, young filmmakers including this year’s contenders Gracie May Burke (7), Louis Martin (17) and Meagha Marcharla (17) are recognised and encouraged. Among the nominated short films, animations and documentaries are Charlie, a film about a homeless teenager by St Brigid’s Community College of Galway; Devil May Care, Nora Twomey’s narrative of her great-grandmother’s part in the Irish Civil War; and Corey Talbot’s Lego mystery adventure, Who Killed Cinema?.
Another noteworthy programme is Miriam: Death of a Reality Star. Airing at 9 pm on Monday on Channel 4, this factual show unearths the inception, turmoil and subsequent mystery surrounding Miriam Rivera’s alleged suicide. In 2004, she was the centre of an infamous reality dating show, There’s Something about Miriam. The show caused an uproar upon its revelation that the attractive Mexican model at the heart of it was transgender.
On Tuesday, RTÉ1 presents Super Garden at 7:30 pm. The 15th season of this garden design challenge focuses on converting five gardens at Connaught Grove’s social housing in Athboy, Co Meath. The contestants, working with a budget of €15,000, have only three weeks. This week’s challenge throws light on Dijana Kalic from Croatia, who is given the task of designing a garden where Michael can remember his late wife, Breda.
The week concludes with Stalking: State of Fear on UTV at 9pm on Tuesday.
This text provides information on an array of programs and documentaries broadcasting on different platforms. The first program focuses on the case of Gracie Spinks, a 23-year-old stalked and subsequently murdered by her stalker in June 2021, despite reporting him to the Derbyshire police four months before. A deeply moving documentary examines the destructive impact of stalking on individuals’ lives, and the failure of law enforcement and legal bodies to address such brutal harassment and menace, altogether giving viewers an insight into the fraught experience of victims through emergency phone calls and police interrogation recordings.
The Off Duty Chef: Bringing it Home, features on RTÉ1, turns the spotlight on a renowned chef. He returns to his birthplace, Ventry in Co Kerry, where local traditions and seasonal items first ignited his culinary passion. He aims to demonstrate how culinary creativity can spring from domestic kitchens by preparing some ordinary dishes with a gourmet twist. Additionally, he ventures through the stunning Co Kerry landscapes and shares some local gastronomic treasures like Krugers Bar in Dún Chaoin, Quinn’s Bar in Ventry, and the Chart House.
On another spectrum, Boxing, Belief and Me is a BBC1 documentary that delves into the world of boxing through the lens of Bhupinder Singh, also known as Pops. Singh, a committed Sikh and boxing coach, seeks to imbue his trainees with self-confidence. He firmly believes boxing has the potential to change young lives captivated by gang and crime culture. The show trails him as he guides the youth at the MLSS Boxing Academy in Walsall in the West Midlands, where the junior boxer Junior Foster is training for his debut professional match.
Finally, Sky Atlantic & Now will showcase The Tattooist of Auschwitz, premiering on Thursday at 9pm.
Harvey Keitel takes on a lead role in a drama series drawn from Heather Morris’ acclaimed novel. The story, based on real events, centres around Lali and Gita, two inmates of a concentration camp during the Holocaust who manage to find love amidst barbarity. Lali, a Jewish individual from Slovakia, is given the task of tattooing ID numbers on his fellow detainees. As he encounters Gita, they form a bond to sustain each other. The series offers an intriguing narrative flux between 1942 and six decades later, depicting an elderly Lali (played by Keitel) narrating his extraordinary life journey to budding author Heather (Melanie Lynskey).
Songlines, a documentary set to air on RTÉ1, presents an extraordinary journey guided by Singer and Traveller, Thomas McCarthy, through Ireland and further. The feature showcases his encounters with other Traveller musicians contributing richly to Ireland’s musical legacy. Directed by Pat Collins, it includes meetings with Rosie McCarthy in Macroom, Co Cork, an incredibly gifted 16-year-old, and Kitty Cassidy in Waterford, who, even at 84, remains a lively singer. The documentary focuses on the significance of preserving traditional songs and the Travellers’ notable contribution to Irish music.
On BBC1, Granite Harbour, an admired Scottish crime show, continues its narrative on Friday. Lindo (Romario Simpson), Bart (Hannah Donaldson), and the Major Investigations Team are involved in solving two murder mysteries while looking to prevent a local gang war and the circulation of a deadly new drug, comprised of cocaine and ketamine, in the streets of Aberdeen. Their situation is complicated by the uncooperative local drug lord, Grace McFadden, following the discovery of her fixer’s demise, and an unresolved death on a Norwegian cargo vessel. An unexpected twist is presented when Lindo’s alienated father makes a surprising entrance from Jamaica, questioning – why now?
Friday also sees ITV Studio Sessions airing on UTV, a new musical show for weekend viewing.
Clara Amfo takes the helm of a fresh Friday musical showcase that places the spotlight on the United Kingdom’s most outstanding musicians while also giving a platform to emerging artists in a cosy environment, reminiscent of Later.. and Other Voices programmes. What sets this series apart is the singular focus on one artist per episode, performed in the O2 Arena’s Blue Room in London. The premiere episode stars the brilliant Jess Glynne, a musical artist with seven no.1 hits in the UK charts to her name. She will be performing newly minted songs, beloved classics, a cover track, and also engages in a candid conversation with Amfo about her musical journey. Future episodes promise the likes of Becky Hill, Cat Burns, and Yungblud.