Antiques Roadshow
Sunday, BBC Two, 7pm
The team are back and at Portchester Castle in Hampshire to evaluate various treasures, including a set of RAF medals awarded for extreme bravery to an airman who served in Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain. There's also some rare punk clothing by fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and a roll of ornate Arts and Crafts wallpaper, which nearly ended up on a bonfire. Did its rescuer manage to save a small fortune from the flames? Meanwhile, presenter Fiona Bruce learns more about an intriguing chapter in the castle's history: during the late 18th century, Portchester was used as a prisoner of war camp, housing freed slaves from the Caribbean who had fought for France and been captured by the British.
Louis Theroux's Forbidden America
Sunday, BBC Two, 9pm
He's been making documentaries for more than 20 years, many of them focusing on the US and its subcultures. As Theroux points out, America is now a very different place, and that's mainly down to the rise of the internet and social media. In his new three-part series, Theroux will explore how that has affected people who are involved in extreme lifestyles. He begins with an investigation into the far right, which was thrust into the international spotlight following the notorious Capitol Hill riots. Theroux learns how its leaders are building solidarity through online networks, and how the movement is emerging from the darker corners of the internet to influence events in the "real" world.
Faoi Bláth
Monday, RTÉ One, 7.30pm
On Valentine’s Day thoughts turn to all things floral, but in this new series presenter Aedín Ní Thiarnaigh focuses on those wildflowers we take for granted – the common daisies, dandelions and buttercups. She explores Ireland’s parks, lakes, bogs and mountains in search of the most beautiful blooms growing in their own natural habitats. As a wildflower enthusiast, Ní Thiarnaigh knows the Irish names and also the stories behind them. These include the centaury, which is known as the Dréimire Muire as Gaeilge, and is said to have been used by the Holy Mary herself as a ladder to heaven.
RTÉ Investigages: The Accountant, the Con, the Lies
Monday, RTÉ One, 9.35pm
RTÉ Investigates exposes a scam involving an Irish businesswoman well known in sporting circles. The programme reveals how those behind the scheme lied to defraud Irish homeowners of hundreds of thousands of euro. Using secret recordings of meetings and phone calls, RTÉ Investigates reveals the intricacy of the scheme and speaks to some of those affected, who describe both the human and financial impact they have suffered.
Shakespeare & Hathaway – Private Investigators
Monday, BBC One, 2.15pm
Jo Joyner and Mark Benton are back as the chalk-and-cheese duo Frank Hathaway and Luella Shakespeare, who spend their days investigating crime in the Bard's back yard, Stratford-upon-Avon. In this opener, the sleuths find themselves drawn into what passes for Stratford's Silicon Valley, after Spider (Darren Evans) calls upon their help to expose a mole working inside a technology firm. Will our heroes be able to crack the code and nab the culprit?.
Rise of the Nazis: Dictators at War
Monday, BBC Two, 9pm
The acclaimed historical documentary series is back with a three-part run, this time focusing on Hitler’s journey after achieving power. It begins with the fall of Paris in June 1940, which leaves the Fuhrer loved by the masses and believing more than ever that he has been chosen to lead Germany to global domination. With that in mind, Hitler turns his attention to the Soviet Union – a pathway that will determine the outcome of the war. In Moscow, Joseph Stalin attempts to assess how much of a threat Hitler’s European ascendancy is to his own position. Further west, the Fuhrer emulates Napoleon and begins planning for the biggest land invasion in history: Operation Barbarossa.
The Millionairess and Me
Monday, Channel 4, 10pm
Amanda Cronin appears to be the woman who has everything – the ex-model is beautiful, wealthy and has a luxury pad in the swanky London suburb of Belgravia. Cronin also has a new friend, documentary-maker Martin Read. The pair are complete opposites; he's a rough diamond with an unreliable income, has been homeless and served time in a Dubai prison. But as the well-worn saying goes, opposites attract. The result in this case is a documentary in which Amanda and Martin find out how the other half lives.
Imagine – Labi Siffre: This Is My Song
Monday, BBC One, 11.15pm
Last week Alan Yentob hung out with author Marian Keyes. This week he’s having a chinwag with Labi Siffre. Born Claudius Afolabi Siffre in Hammersmith, London, in 1945, the singer-songwriter released 10 albums between 1970 and 1998, and is perhaps best known for penning such hits as It Must Be Love (which became a bigger success for Madness when they covered it) and (Something Inside) So Strong, while parts of his 1975 track I Got The... have been sampled by many hip-hop acts, including Eminem. Here Siffre welcomes Yentob to his Spanish hom to discuss his life and career, both of which have been shaped in recent years by personal tragedy.
Home of the Year
Tuesday, RTÉ One, 8.30pm
Home envy is a real thing now, as people covet their neighbours’ fabulous homes and compete to have the trendiest, priciest refurb in their cul-de-sac. And what better way to channel this jealousy than by watching the new series of Home of the Year? Once again, a panel of expert judges will visit 21 homes around Ireland looking for the most imaginative, inventive and individual. There’s a new judge on the panel, as architects Hugh Wallace and Amanda Bone are joined by interior designer Sara Cosgrove. The judges will have to decide which of the homes have the creativity, clever design and wow factor to go through to the final in April. Episode one features actor Camille Lucy Ross, who has turned her terraced house in Dublin into a reflection of her own personality; Tony and Imogen McManus, whose Kerry home looks trad from the outside but is thoroughly modern on the inside; and Caroline Crowley and Jason McCormack, who took on the task of completely refurbishing a rundown cottage in Co Longford.
Finné
Wednesday, TG4, 9.45pm
Úna Ní Bhroin would often be brought to protests on her parents’ shoulders as a child, and her life of protest continued into young adulthood. when Wicklow County Council wanted to build a motorway through the Glen of the Downs in 1997, this ecowarrior knew her time had come and she went to live in the trees. Ní Bhroin and 12 other protesters were arrested and spent a week in prison over their actions.
Gemma Collins: Self-Harm & Me
Wednesday, Channel 4, 9pm
The former Only Way Is Essex star has lived much of the past decade in the spotlight. Collins joined the reality TV show during its second series in 2011 and since then has taken apart in I’m a Celebrity... and Celebrity Big Brother; other projects include her own TV series. Collins has always been open about her feelings on certain subjects as well as personal experiences, but there’s one matter she hasn’t discussed, until now. In this brave documentary, she describes her relationship with self-harm, and explores how self-esteem issues, sometimes caused by comments on social media, can exacerbate the situation. Collins also meets fellow sufferers and learns what help is available.
Clear History
Thursday, RTÉ2, 10.30pm
Clear History is back to rewrite more “mortifying moments2 in the name of comedy. The panel show is fronted by Kevin McGahern, with Jason Byrne joining Joanne McNally as a team captain. Weekly guests will be asked to put the comically cringy moments from their personal histories on public display. Kevin, Joanne, Jason and their two weekly guests will also relive iconic and infamous moments from the nation’s history as well as sharing their own personal embarrassments, hoping to make them all much funnier the second time around. The teams will take a deep-dive into these moments from Ireland’s colourful past, selecting unforgettable and regrettable moments that could do with being cleared from history. Clear History also gives members of the public an opportunity to have their own mortifying moments “cleared from history” as they share their tales of woe in studio.
Seal le Dáithí
Thursday, TG4, 7.30pm
Dr Lisa Ní Chuinneagáin Guthrie is this week's guest. With a particular interest in emergency medicine, Guthrie began training with the Order of Malta when young and has studied and trained across Ireland. She spent a time in England working on the frontline throughout the pandemic and training with the helicopter team providing emergency care. She also describes her experiences using social media to inform people about the health system.
Extraordinary Escapes with Sandi Toksvig
Thursday, Channel 4, 9pm
The broadcaster, comedian and writer returns for another series of jaunts around the UK in the company of women she admires. Future episodes will feature Sue Johnston, Sara Pascoe, Jenny Eclair, Sunetra Sarker and Philippa Perry. The run begins with Sarah Millican, who takes a break from her 170-date tour to explore what Devon has to offer. She and Toksvig stay in a variety of luxurious places while connecting with nature on Exmoor (Millican is particularly fond of the local pony population), rock pooling in Lee Bay and sampling the delights of a spa at Crowness Cleave. The pair clearly get on like a house on fire – get set for an entertaining whistle-stop tour.
Jonathan Ross' Comedy Club
Thursday, Virgin Two, 10.30pm
Mawaan Rizwan co-hosts the first episode, which features Kae Kurd, Flo & Joan and Sophie Duker, as well as some new material from Rob Beckett.
Caroline: The Murder That Fooled the World
Thurday, Channel 5, 9pm
On May 11th, 2021, British-born Caroline Crouch was found dead on a bed in her Greek home, her 11-month-old baby girl – thankfully still fit and well – by her side. The family's puppy had also been killed in an attack Caroline's husband, Greek pilot Charalambos Anagnostopoulos, claimed had been carried out by a gang of foreign burglars. However, as we learn via this documentary, the truth was very different indeed, and data from the victim's smartwatch proved vital in unmasking her real killer.
Britain's Novel Landscapes with Mariella Frostrup
Thursday, More4, 9pm
The presenter heads to the breathtaking Lake District to discover how its unique landscape inspired Beatrix Potter to create her famous animal stories. Frostrup also reveals why there might never have been a Lake District National Park without Potter, uncovering the extraordinary lengths the author and illustrator went to preserve the area for future generations. Potter was so determined to save the area from development that she bought up huge areas and left it all to the National Trust.
The Graham Norton Show
Friday, BBC One, 10.35pm
Another gaggle of A-listers settle down for a natter on the affable host's scarlet sofa. The glamour comes from Oscar-nominated Andrew Garfield, who talks about his role in the critically acclaimed Tick, Tick... Boom!, and Channing Tatum, plugging his canine-buddy road-trip movie Dog. Funny stories come from writer and performer Dawn French and Rob Beckett, co-presenter of the hit podcast Parenting Hell. And Natalie Imbruglia performs her current single, Nothing Missing.
Unreported World
Friday, Channel 4, 7.30pm
Rich nations may be celebrating the success of their vaccine programmes, but most people in Africa haven't yet received one injection. In the first episode of the new series, Seyi Rhodes joins an expedition team set up by a British charity and heads to one of the most remote regions of South Sudan. At this point, just over 200,00 people in the country have been fully vaccinated. The region is struggling with conflict, floods and other medical challenges, as well as the drip-feeding of supplies from wealthier nations. But these aren't the only obstacles the charity faces when trying to get the vaccine to the most vulnerable. Rhodes discovers that anti-vaxx sentiment is growing – and one influential local preacher has been misinforming his congregation.
ON DEMAND
Bel-Air
From Monday, Sky Peacock/Now
From 1990 to1996, NBC had a runaway hit with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, starring a wisecracking young actor named Will Smith. The series launched Smith’s megastar career, and now Peacock, NBC’s subscription service that’s now part of the Sky offering, hopes to repeat the magic with a new, more dramatic “reimagining” of the show, focusing on Will’s journey from the mean streets of Philadelphia to the gold-lined streets of Bel-Air. The show is set in the present, with young actor Jabari Banks as Will and the real Smith producing. With TV execs lacking the imagination to generate new programme ideas, this could be more like The Stale Prince of Bel-Air.
jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy
From Wednesday, Netflix
Admit it: you'd love to know how Kanye West rose to become one of the world's biggest celebs, and you'd also like to find out where he started to seriously lose the plot. Well, wonder no more, because this documentary in three acts by Coodie & Chike features much unseen footage of Ye shot over the past 20 years, charting his journey from his early days as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records to his success as a rapper, his appetite for controversy, and his more recent right turn into Trumpism and an stunt run for the US presidency. Will this provide insights into what motivates West, or will it be just another infuriating ego trip from one of the world's most accomplished self-promoters? I kind of hope it'll be the latter – that could be more entertaining.
Forgive Us Our Trespasses
From Thursday, Netflix
This 13-minute drama might not be easy viewing, but it promises to be both compelling and moving. It also features an incredible debut performance from Knox Gibson, a 14-year-old from New South Wales who had the lower part of his right arm amputated following a traumatic accident 10 years ago. He’s since embarked on a successful career as a model and broadcaster; acting is just another of this inspirational young man’s achievements. In Forgive Us Our Trespasses he plays a farm boy whose life takes an unexpected turn after the Nazis come to power in Germany. On learning that the authorities are hunting down and killing anyone with a disability, he decides to go on the run in an effort to save his life.
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel
From Friday, Amazon Prime
Back in 1960, stand-up comedy was still the preserve of men: Jimmy Carr’s cruel joke about Roma people and the Holocaust would not only have been considered hilarious, it would probably have been broadcast on a Saturday evening family variety show. But in The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, comedy’s cosy consensus is under threat from a divorced Jewish ex-housewife who knows how to make people laugh without mocking minorities or turning genocide into a joke. The 1960s dawn in the fourth series as Midge looks for more creative freedom on stage. But can Mrs Maisel balance her edgy new material with the sensibilities of her family and friends?
Space Force
From Friday, Netflix
Steve Carrell returns as the well-meaning but cringe-inducing General Mark Naird, who has been tasked by Potus to head up the new US Space Force and take on the Chinese in a 21st-century space race. In series two there's a new Potus in charge, and Naird and his motley crew must prove their worth and prevent the plug from being pulled. Despite a heavyweight supporting cast that includes John Malkovich, Lisa Kudrow and Tawny Newsome, series one didn't quite achieve lift-off, so there's a sense that season two is a last throw of the dice for this show. Judging from the manic trailer, they're going to throw all the madness and mayhem they've got in the hope that some of it will stick in our funny bones.
Severance
From Friday, Apple TV+
Although he's no stranger to directing, Ben Stiller clearly chooses his projects carefully, taking charge of only a smattering of productions in a career lasting 35 years. So that should indicate how much faith he has in this new drama series in which he also appears alongside Patricia Arquette, Christopher Walken, John Turturro and Adam Scott. Severance takes place at a company which is carrying out the ultimate life-balance experiment – it uses a procedure to surgically separate its employees' work memories from those involving their private life. However, one staff member begins to suspect all is not as it seems..
Lincoln's Dilemma
From Friday, Apple TV+
Based on acclaimed historian David S Reynolds' award-winning book, Abe: Abraham Lincoln in His Times, this four-part documentary aims to deliver fresh insights into President Lincoln and his efforts to end slavery. The story has been told many times, but the makers have been given access to rare archival materials while also utilising the narratives of enslaved people, delivering a more nuanced look at the man dubbed the Great Emancipator. Also offering their opinions are a range of journalists, educators and Lincoln scholars. The result is a view of an America divided over issues including economy, race and humanity which underscores Lincoln's battle to save the country, no matter the cost. Jeffrey Wright narrates.
Contributing: PA
