TV guide: 27 of the best shows to watch this week, starting tonight

Top Gear
Sunday, BBC One, 8pm
Freddie Flintoff, Chris Harris, and Paddy McGuinness are back with more cars and comedy. While the last series was hampered by strict Covid restrictions, the new season looks set to be a return to some sort of normal. If you count spewing milk all over a Mercedes EQC as normal, that is. The trailers gave us a sneak peak of some of the features including an international trip to Iceland – the show's first foreign shoot since prior to the pandemic. However, they kick off the new series with a day at the Silverstone Circuit testing three high-performance cars with three F1 Drivers. Freddie and Sebastian Vettel get behind the wheel of an Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition, Chris and Lando Norris drive the McLaren 765LT, and Paddy takes the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm for a spin, alongside Antonio Giovazzini.

Shoulders of Giants
Sunday, RTÉ One, 8.30pm

For every generation of Irish entertainers, sportspeople and writers a trailblazing generation has gone before – those legends who paved the way and showed ehat was possible. This six-part series follows six contemporary personalities who pay tribute to those veterans who had an inspirational influence on their careers. Each episode takes on the tone of a quest as the contemporary figure goes in search of the spirit of their predecessor, meeting their friends, colleagues and families, and visiting the places where they lived, performed/played, wrote and recorded.

In episode one, singer Nathan Carter recalls that growing up in Liverpool, a visit to his grandmother’s house always came with an electrifying soundtrack. Ann McCoy was a Joe Dolan superfan and she aroused a lifelong love for the Mullingar Bachelor in her grandson. Through the magic of digital technology, Carter was able to perform a posthumous duet with his hero on The Late Late Show in 2016, thoughhe never got to meet the man who inspired his earliest interest in music and performance.

Christopher Walken destroys Banksy painting in comedy finale

---

Aldi’s Christ the Carrot, Amazon’s fake kindness: The Christmas TV ads, 2021

---

Claire Byrne challenges Ireland’s climate strategy: ‘People are being asked to pony up a lot’

---

The Lakes with Simon Reeve
Sunday, BBC Two, 9pm
Adventurer Simon Reeve has spent the past two decades touring the world. But after exploring Cornwall last year, he once again stays on home turf. Over the next few weeks, we see him head to the beautiful and unique landscapes of Cumbria, discovering some of the rare wildlife that inhabit this area of Britain, and hearing from the locals who have personal stories to tell. Tonight, Reeve meets people with different visions for the future of the national park, including the campaign group striving to protect the remaining red squirrel populations. On the high fells, he meets a farmer who has spent his life breeding sheep and fell ponies, but who now feels that this way of life is on the point of extinction. The host also joins a group of youngsters from Barrow-in-Furness as they sample the wonders of Windermere for the first time.

Dr Alex: Our Mental Health Crisis
Sunday, BBC One, 10.30pm
Children and young people across Britain are facing into short-, medium- and long-term impacts on their emotional wellbeing as a result of the pandemic. This film sees Dr Alex George explore how local charities, including BBC Children in Need-funded projects, are making a difference. As an A&E doctor, who serves as the UK Youth Mental Health Ambassador, George has seen first-hand the effects of the pandemic on young people's mental wellbeing, but he never thought it would affect his own family. In July 2020, his 19-year-old brother Llyr, who had struggled with anxiety during lockdown, took his own life. In this poignant film, George follow the journeys of young people who are facing mental-health issues, and explore the difference that can be made thanks to projects like SAFA, The Wave Project and YoungMinds.

MTV Europe Music Awards 2021
Sunday, Channel 5, 11pm
American rapper Saweetie hosts the ceremony celebrating the best music of the year, held at the Laszlo Papp Budapest Sports Arena. Justin Bieber leads the EMA nominations with a total of eight, while Doja Cat and Lil Nas X are both tied with six nominations. Meanwhile, BTS are the most nominated male group and K-pop act, while Little Mix have received the most nominations for a female group. The category of Best K-pop has been introduced this year, while performers on the night include Colombian singer-songwriter Maluma, Italian rock band Maneskin and German musician Kim Petras.

With God on Our Side
Monday, RTÉ One, 9.35pm

Religious differences played a huge part in stirring up divisions in Northern Ireland, but can religion also play a role in resolving conflict in the North? The question is explored by former president Mary McAleese in this wide-reaching documentary marking the centenary of Partition. Growing up in the Ardoyne area of Belfast, McAleese had direct experience of the Troubles: her family were targeted by loyalist gangs and eventually forced out of their home. Can religion help heal the scars of sectarianism and provide common ground to move forward in a changing society?

McAleese meets former DUP leader Arlene Foster, whose family were targeted by republican paramilitaries; Pat Hume, the widow of peacemaker John Hume, in her last interview before her death; and former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, who talks about the role of Fr Alec Reid in setting up secret talks between him and John Hume. She also meets perpetrators and victims of violence from both sides, and a group of young people born after the Belfast Agreement who reject the old labels that signified hatred.

Kate Humble: Good Life, Green Life
Monday, Channel 5, 8pm
Living a greener life isn't just good for the planet – according to Kate Humble, it can also increase our own sense of wellbeing. The presenter has strived to keep sustainability at the heart of everything she does on her farm and in her own home, and has found that rather than feeling like a chore or sacrifice it has actually brought her joy. Now, in this one-off special she shares some simple ways to save the planet. They include making your own pond, which can help our fast-disappearing wildlife. And if that sounds like it requires a lot of space and money, she shows you can do your bit with a planter or barrel on a balcony. There are also tips on growing your own food and attracting bees.

Ancient Secrets of Althorp with Charles Spencer
Monday, Channel 4, 9pm
The stately home of Althorp has been in the Spencer family for more than 500 years, and has more recently become famous as the childhood home of Diana, Princess of Wales. However, her brother and the current Earl Spencer, Charles, is keen to go even further back into the estate's history and discover if there's any truth to the legend that a lost Anglo-Saxon village once stood in its grounds. So, for the first time in the history of the 500-acre park, he's opened its gates to an archaeological dig. The Saxon village proves elusive, but the team eventually uncover something even more extraordinary. For more on Althorp's 20th-century inhabitants, the documentary is followed at 10pm by Diana: Queen of Style, which looks back at some of the Princess's most memorable outfits.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Celebrity Special
Tuesday, ITV, 9pm
Jeremy Clarkson returns to the much-loved quiz to host a special charity fundraising edition. TV judge Robert Rinder and reality TV stalwart-turned-presenter Scarlett Moffatt are the brave souls entering the spotlight. All that stands between them and winning the jackpot are 15 multiple-choice questions. No doubt they both feel pretty confident about their chances of success, but even the brightest sparks have been known to crumble once they sit under the spotlight in that infamous hot seat. Fingers crossed that doesn't happen to either of them.

Miriam and Alan: Lost in Scotland
Tuesday, Channel 4, 9.15pm

A while ago, Miriam Margolyes and Alan Cumming appeared together on The Graham Norton Show. Some bright spark TV executive spotted the chemistry between the two thespians and decided to sign them up for this three-part travelogue. Margolyes is no stranger to the format, having appeared in such series as The Real Marigold on Tour and Miriam’s Big American Adventure; hopefully she’ll take Cumming under her more experienced wing as they hit the road in a motorhome. Their plan is to rediscover their Scottish roots, and they begin their journey in Glasgow, where Margolyes’ family once lived, before exploring the Highlands, in particular Cumming’s links to Cawdor Castle, and catching up with fellow thespian Bill Paterson.

Small Axe: Education
Wednesday, TG4, 10.30pm

This drama in film-maker Steve McQueen’s series (originally shown on BBC One in December) features an extraordinary central performance from screen newcomer Kenyah Sandy. Kingsley (12) is fascinated by astronauts and rockets, but he is also about to be accused of being disruptive in class, causing him to be sent to a school for those with “special needs”. His parents, distracted by working two jobs, are unaware their son has become caught up in an unofficial segregation policy – until a group of West Indian women take matters into their own hands.

It's a Park's Life
Thursday, RTÉ One, 8.30pm

The pandemic caused many a TV production to be either delayed or halted, but happily series three of It’s a Park’s Life is all wrapped up and ready to entertain families by the fireside this autumn. Keeping Covid-safe on set was probably a lot easier, as much of the action takes place in the wide outdoor spaces of the Phoenix Park. We’re promised a jam-packed third series as we return to Europe’s biggest urban park to catch up on the work, sport and play being conducted daily by an array of people. Rangers Kieron and James are back, and gardener Brian is joined by new partner Kathy in the Walled Garden. And, of course, the deer are back in force, along with a herd of Dexter cattle to graze the land around Áras an Uachtaráin. In this series, Sabina Higgins brings us into the gardens of the Áras to show us how biodiversity is being promoted, and we watch the Garda Mounted Unit, based in the stables of the Áras, go through their training paces in the park. The ever-reliable Baz Ashmawy again narrates.

American Rust
Thursday, Sky Atlantic & Now TV, 10.05pm

With a title like American Rust, you can pretty much surmise that this is a gritty, weather-beaten blue-collar drama with lots of iron in the soul, and starring some grizzled veteran of the screen – in this case Jeff Daniels. He plays Del Harris, the chief of police in a small steel town in Pennsylvania’s rust belt, who is conducting a murder investigation after a body turns up in an abandoned steel mill. When a young man (Alex Neustaedter) is accused of the murder, Harris finds his loyalties sorely tested – and his position compromised – as he is in love with the suspect’s mother (Maura Tierney). Will he play everything by the book or make some very bad decisions? You tell me.

The Works Presents
Thursday, RTÉ One, 11.15pm

Fiddle player Martin Hayes is recognised both at home and internationally as a master musician. From his early days in Co Clare, playing alongside his father in the Tulla Ceili Band, to his seminal work with guitarist Dennis Cahill, to the extraordinary success of the Irish-American supergroup The Gloaming, Hayes has constantly explored music in ways that have taken him to unexpected places – working with string quartets, chamber orchestras and collaborating with artists such as Paul Simon and Yo Yo Ma. It’s a musical journey that would perhaps surprise the teenage Martin Hayes, six all-Ireland titles already under his belt, and devoted to traditional Irish music – and in particular the music of one of its most celebrated sources: Co Clare.

The Invisible Hand
Thursday, Sky Arts, 9pm

A new filmed version of the sell-out revival of Pulitzer Prize winner and two-time Tony nominee Ayad Akhtar’s seminal play, which ran at London’s Kiln Theatre in July. Directed by Indhu Rubasingham, the production stars Tony Jayawardena, known for his role as Mr Bhamra in Bend It Like Beckham: The Musical. American banker Nick Bright knows that his freedom comes at a price. Confined to a cell in rural Pakistan, every second counts. Who will decide his fate? His captors, or the whims of the market?

Seachtar na Cásca: Thomas MacDonagh
Friday, TG4, 8pm

Docu-drama about the seven men who signed the 1916 Proclamation. Thomas MacDonagh was born in 1878, the eldest son of two primary school teachers in Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary. He went to Rockwell College in 1892 to study for the priesthood but left again in 1901 abandoning his vocation. A playwright, poet and university lecturer, MacDonagh commanded the Volunteer forces in Jacob’s Biscuit Factory during the Rising and was jailed after like all the other leaders. MacDonagh was executed on May 3rd, 1916 leaving behind a wife and two children.

Children in Need 2021
Friday, BBC One, 7pm
The full extravaganza is here, featuring a mix of music, dance and comedy – and a few surprises. Fitness presenter Joe Wicks and Love Island host Laura Whitmore are among the famous faces involved, alongside singers Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Ella Henderson, I'm a Celeb winner Giovanna Fletcher, rappers Professor Green and Lady Leshurr, and presenters Katie Piper and Ade Adepitan. And of course, there will also be reminders of the good causes supported by Children in Need.

Unreported World
Friday, Channel 4, 7.30pm
Reporter Minnie Stephenson is in Senegal to meet Khadjou Sambe, the west African country's first professional female surfer, and learn more about the obstacles facing young women who want to take up the traditionally male sport in the predominantly Muslim state. Stephenson also discovers that the experiences of Sambe and the other young women and teenagers fighting to get their surf-school recognised points to a wider debate in Senegal about the role of women, with some political figures arguing that female empowerment encourages debauchery in the young.

The Wild Gardener
Friday, BBC Two, 8pm

Wildlife cameraman Colin Stafford-Johnson has travelled around the world capturing images of incredible animals, but in this series he focuses on the flora and fauna in his childhood garden in Ireland. Filmed over the course of two years, it sees him transforming the plot he once spent his summers mowing and spraying into a celebration of native plants and animals. In the first episode, he gets to work digging ponds, clearing brambles, planting woodland and sowing meadows in his quest to lure the local wildlife back. He also speaks to other wild gardeners for inspiration, but even with their expert advice, he runs into trouble, especially when a weeks-long drought threatens the entire project.

Griff's Great New Zealand Adventure
Friday, ITV, 8pm
For his latest TV travelogue, comedian Griff Rhys Jones is making his way from the tip to the toe of New Zealand – and just to make it a little more challenging, he's going to do it while avoiding Highway One. He begins at the northernmost point of New Zealand, Cape Reinga, where he is welcomed by the region's Maori chief. Griff takes this as a starting point to learn more about the many people who have 'made themselves at home' in the country, from English whalers and missionaries to modern tourists.

Bridget Riley – Painting the Line
BBC Two, 9pm

At 90, Bridget Riley has a strong claim to be Britain’s greatest living painter. Her work, which has taken in simple black and white geometric shapes, repeated curves of colour and arrays of muted dots, has helped to challenge our perception of the form. Riley now speaks to Kirsty Wark about her life and career, and tackles a few of the misconceptions about her, including the idea that she’s a titan of abstract art (she considers herself to be a traditional painter). There are also contributions from some of her admirers, including Tracey Emin, Michael Craig-Martin and Martin Freeman.

Country Music Awards 2021
Friday, BBC Four, 10pm
Highlights from the 55th Annual CMAs, staged on November 10th at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Luke Bryan is hosting the ceremony for the first time, while nominees for the prestigious Entertainer of the Year gong are Eric Church, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton and Carrie Underwood. Among the performers on the night are Jason Aldean, Jimmie Allen, Dan + Shay, Mickey Guyton, Brittney Spencer, Madeline Edwards, Old Dominion, Brothers Osborne, Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde, Blake Shelton, Chris Young and Kane Brown.

ON DEMAND

Tiger King 2
From Wednesday, Netflix
Tiger King was a lockdown hit almost as big as Normal People – except the protagonists here were anything but normal. Viewers were riveted by the antics of big cat owner Joe Exotic, just one of a menagerie of colourful characters who thankfully were so removed from real life they may as well have been made up in a screenwriters' workshop. No surprise that Netflix is going for a second series, though it may fall foul of the law of diminishing returns. Joe Exotic is now in jail, so he won't feature much, while rival big cat owner Carole Baskin has refused to take part, even taking Netflix to court to stop it using footage of her. Sounds like series two will just be kicking over the bones of the first, and this tiger saga may not have enough left in the tank to lure us away from Squid Game.

Cowboy Bebop
From Friday, Netflix

It’s a bit of a pseudo-hipster title, but probably suitable for a series that mashes up westerns, sci-fi, sitcoms and pulp detective fiction. This live-action version of the original anime stars John Cho as super-cool bounty hunter Spike Spiegel, who crosses the cosmos in pursuit of outlaws with his fellow “cowboys” Jet Black (Mustafa Shakir) and Faye Valentine (Daniella Pineda). Of course, all three are also on the run from their own pasts – and from a deadly group known as the Syndicate. We’re promised a hyperkinetic feast for the senses, and no end of intergalactic one-liners, plus so much bling, you’ll need radiation-proof visors to watch.

The Wheel of Time
From Friday, Amazon Prime
And so the quest for the new Game of Thrones continues, as programme makers scour the bookshelves for worlds that can replace Westeros. This new fantasy series, taken from the bestselling novels of Robert Jordan, centres round a cabal of female mages known as the Aes Sedai, who are among the chosen ones granted access to deep magic (women only – sorry guys). Rosamund Pike stars as Moiraine, a member of the organisation who embarks on a world-spanning journey in search of a rumoured messiah known as the Dragon Reborn, who has the power to either save or destroy humanity (could go either way with these things). Amazon isare pumping big money into this production, but it may be little more than an appetiser for the streaming network's big Lord of the Rings adaptation next year.

Hellbound
From Friday, Netflix
This impressive-looking South Korean TV series is directed by Yeon Sang-ho and based on his own "webtoon" of the same name. Mysterious judgels condemn individuals to be hellbound, while otherworldly beings appear exactly at the specified time to kill the condemned in a brutal burning. Rising above the chaos resulting from these inexplicable occurrences is the commanding voice of Jung Jinsu, the leader of an up-and-coming religious group, The New Truth. As the world becomes a living hell, Min Hyejin, a lawyer, challenges Jung by claiming the demonstrations are simply supernatural occurrences. She joins forces with the few who try to protect the hellbound and together they go up against The New Truth.

Tick, Tick...Boom!
From Friday, Netflix

In his three-star review from last week, IT critic Donald Clarke writes: “Lin-Manuel Miranda’s translation of the late Jonathan Larson’s semi-autobiographical musical, a cult hit off-Broadway in the early 1990s, asks a lot of even the most indulgent audience. The music has the same AOR feel as Larson’s Rent. The celebrations of downtown New York are exhausting. There is so much zip and zest in Andrew Garfield’s central turn – not to mention decent singing –  that it seems mean-spirited not to let it wash ingenuously over you. The neat structure allows some songs to gain extra dimension. Miranda never forgets he’s making cinema. The darn thing just about works.”

Miranda makes his directorial debut with this adaptation of the autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson, creator of Rent. Andrew Garfield stars as Jon, a composer waiting tables at a New York City diner in 1990 while writing what he hopes will be the next great American musical. Days before he’s due to showcase his work in a make-or-break performance, Jon is feeling the pressure from his girlfriend Susan (Alexandra Shipp), who dreams of an artistic life beyond New York City, and his friend Michael (Robin de Jesus), who has created a life of financial security amid an artistic community ravaged by the Aids epidemic. With the clock ticking, Jon must answer the question: What are we meant to do with the time we have?

Contributing: PA