Young, Black and Right-Wing
Sunday, Channel 4, 10pm
We’ve seen one high-profile black superstar bend the knee to Trump, but in this documentary Zeze Millz looks at the reality of being a young black conservative in Britain. We assume all black people are right-on left-voting types, but in this film Millz, who has been outspoken in her own conservative views, uncovers the range of political viewpoints across the black community, and finds that not all of them are liberal, lefty or “woke”. She meets black right-wing groups of all hues, from those seeking to uphold traditional moral values to those who want to see more scope for increasing personal wealth. She also asks, has the left lost touch with black voters?
Children of Ukraine
Sunday, UTV, 10.30pm
Putin’s cruel and pointless war has changed the lives of millions of children in Ukraine – and so far killed more than 400 children – and this hard-hitting documentary lays bare the full horror suffered by children as Russian forces bombarded their homes. Film-maker Shahida Tulaganova interviews 10 children about their experience of the Russian invasion, including six-year old Kira from Kharkiv, who had to shelter in a basement from relentless bombing, and 11-year-old Boris from Kyiv, who vividly remembers the day when Russia began its brutal attacks on the city.
10 Things to Know About
Monday, RTÉ One, 8.30pm
It’s season eight of the popular show looking at science from an Irish perspective, and the opening episode sounds very appetising, as Kathriona Devereux and Jonathan McCrea explore how edible insects could be the solution for the world’s food shortage problem. Crunchy crickets on your cornflakes? Slurpy slugs on your salad? We may not be too far away from that, so maybe start adapting your recipes to include lots of delicious, protein-filled creepy crawlies. Fergus McAuliffe also looks at how wartime medics used maggots as a miracle treatment.
1966: Who Stole the World Cup?
Monday, Channel 4, 10pm
We remember 1966 as the year England won the World Cup, but before the contest began, the world was gripped by the mysterious theft of the Jules Rimet trophy, as British and international authorities frantically tried to find the trophy in time for the kick-off of the competition. The trophy was eventually found on time by a dog named Pickles, but who nicked it? This new documentary promises some dazzling revelations, along with lots of entertainment value.
Beauty & the Beast review: On the way home, younger audience members re-enact scenes. There’s no higher recommendation
Matt Cooper: I’m an only child. I’ve always been conscious of not having brothers or sisters
A Dublin scam: After more than 10 years in New York, nothing like this had ever happened to me
Patrick Freyne: I am becoming a demotivational speaker – let’s all have an averagely productive December
Future Island
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, RTÉ One, 7pm
With Science Week in full swing, Anna Daly presents three consecutive programmes looking into the crystal ball to see what scientific breakthroughs are coming down the tracks for Ireland’s future generations. We’ll all be dead by then, but our children’s children will benefit from a range of innovations in the areas of health, sustainability and energy consumption. They’ll probably all have their own personal teleporter as well. Anna will be joined by a panel of experts, including physicist Dr Jessamyn Fairfield, who is also a stand-up comedian.
Louis Theroux interviews ... Bear Grylls
Tuesday, BBC Two, 9pm
Louis Theroux has a tough task ahead of him: get through Bear Grylls’s tough-guy exterior to uncover the cuddly softie within. Theroux meets the adventurer, television presenter and author – who can survive in the wilderness with nothing but a toothpick – at his private island (no, it’s not a remote desert island). Theroux learns about Grylls’s childhood at boarding school, and how he was taken to see self-help gurus. He also joins Grylls at a scout camp and a marine reserve training camp – but which one is the more gruelling?
Limitless With Chris Hemsworth
From Wednesday, Disney+
Australian actor Chris Hemsworth is well known for playing an immortal god in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but in this new series from National Geographic, the Hollywood heart-throb is on a quest to find the secret of eternal youth – or at least put off old age for as long as possible. He travels the world to explore the science of prolonging our lifespans, and goes through some hair-raising challenges designed to improve his strength, resilience and memory, and maybe even unlock the body’s hidden regenerative powers and find the key to reversing the ageing process.
Location, Location, Location
Wednesday, Channel 4, 8pm
The long-running househunting series returns for its 38th season, with Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer once again pulling out all the stops to help people find their ideal home in the most desirable areas. Following the pandemic, the housing market is moving again, but priorities have changed, and price has become a huge factor, so Kirstie and Phil will have their work cut out helping their house-hunters land on the sweet spot.
The Horne Section TV Show
Thursday, Channel 4, 10pm
Alex Horne is the creator of Taskmaster, but he has grown tired of playing second fiddle to presenter Greg Davies, and now it’s time for him to get out of the big man’s shadow and front his own show. He’s going for a musical chatshow format, with help from his band The Horne Section, but nobody at Channel 4 is biting. Luckily, Alex’s wife’s mate Thora has a bit of pull with the station, and she takes on production duties on this shambolic and hilarious half-hour of music, mayhem and merriment.
The English
Thursday, BBC Two, 9pm
Emily Blunt stars as English toff Lady Cornelia Locke – not in any way worried about being typecast – in this frontier adventure set in the Wild West of the late 19th century. Lady Cornelia is not a tourist, though: she’s out for revenge on the man she holds responsible for the death of her son. Along the way, she falls in with Eli Whipp (Chaske Spencer) who is a member of the Pawnee nation, and finds they have much in common. In episode two, they encounter an orphaned child and baby. The starry cast includes Stephen Rea, Ciarán Hinds, Rafe Spall and Toby Jones.
Children in Need 2022
Friday, BBC One, 7pm
If you’re going to sit in and flake in front of the telly on Friday night, you may as well do it for the kids. The BBC’s Children in Need telethon (now there’s an old-school word) will feature sketches, live performances, music and dance, along with fun versions of old gameshows like Blankety Blank and The Weakest Link. It’s all to help local charities and projects in communities across the UK, helping disadvantaged children and young people. Among the presenters will be Ade Adepitan, Mel Giedroyc and Jason Manford, and of course Pudsey Bear will make an appearance in his spotty bandanna.
The Great Game
Friday, Sky Atlantic, 9pm
Just in time for the World Cup, here’s a drama series all about high-level shenanigans in the Italian football transfer market, featuring Russian oligarchs, mobsters, greedy agents and crooked chief executives. If The Great Game is to be believed, Italian football beats the Mafia in terms of double-dealing and deadly rivalry. Football agent Corso is trying to get back in the game after a scandal, and he enlists the help of hot young agent Marco to sign up champion footballer Quintana. But Corso ‘s up against a formidable rival: his ex-wife Elena. All together now: Show me the money!
