TV guide: 39 of the best shows to watch this week, beginning tonight

Lawn & Order: Keep Off My Grass!
Sunday, Channel 5, 8pm
This documentary profiles people who are obsessed with their lawns, such as Stuart Grindle (78), who won Britain's Best Lawn in 2017. He shares how he keeps the "love of his life" at precisely 10mm and looking immaculate. There's also Keith, who was named 2018 Best Creative Lawn Stripes winner after beating competitors from around the world. Keith and his garden have taken the internet by storm, racking up millions of TikTok views, and he shares his secrets to the perfect lawn stripes. Finally, there's Kevin, who is so lawn-obsessed that when his wife went into labour he asked her to hold fire so he could mow the lawn before they left.

The Killing of Fr Niall Molloy
Monday, RTÉ One, 9.35pm
It was like something out of Murder, She Wrote – except no one was charged with murder, and the chief suspect was cleared of manslaughter. It was 1985, when moving statues were the big headline-grabbers and the bizarre story of Fr Niall Molloy's death briefly gripped the nation. He was found dead in the bedroom of his friends Richard and Teresa Flynn on the weekend of their daughter's wedding in Clara, Co Offaly. Apparently, the three had been chatting in the bedroom when an argument broke out over who would go downstairs to get more drinks. But what really happened that night, and what was the nature of the relationship between Fr Molloy and the couple? In this two-part documentary, the programme makers go to extraordinary lengths to reconstruct the scene of the crime, building a replica of the bedroom and dusting off all the available evidence to see if they can piece together what really happened.

Ar An Sliabh
Monday, RTÉ One, 7.30pm

Ar An Sliabh is a six-part observational portrait of life in Ireland’s mountain communities, focusing on the lives of the people who live in four different mountain regions during one extra-ordinary year. There is Cérill (12), who, cut off from his friends, finds solace in his beloved animals and the nature around him. Sheep farmer Séamus contemplates a lonely rural existence amid the beauty of the foothills of the Mournes. The Glenmalure lodge in the heart of the Wicklow mountains closed its doors for the first time during Covid and now the Dowling family who run the hotel wonder when they will ever be able to open up again. Cider maker Seán keeps a close eye on his growing apple crop on the sunny side of Slieve Gullion and beekeeper John Ross tries to avoid getting stung as he harvests his Mourne Mountains honey. Student Niamh struggles with the college experience that is now confined to her kitchen table while school principle Pól tries to keep his students and staff motivated until he can finally welcome his pupils back to school.

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Themes such as love and loss, coping with family illness and celebrating life’s milestones, growing up and growing old, self-love and nurturing others are gently explored through the prism of the people who have chosen to live in the most rugged regions of Ireland.

X-Rated: Ireland's OnlyFans
Monday, Virgin One, 9pm
OnlyFans hit the headlines after some Irish users revealed they earn over €50,000 a month on the subscriber platform. From Kerry Katona to former Love Island stars to parents and housewives, the platform has gained users and popularity during lockdown. This "non-judgmental" documentary follows the experience of Ireland's OnlyFans content creators, including Irish dad Mattie Gilbert, aka The Irish Viking, who is about to get married and start a new life in Dubai; and Ireland's highest paid female Only Fans user, whose newfound fortune has cost her her relationship with her family.

Silent Witness
Monday/Tuesday, BBC One, 9pm
Just when you thought Silent Witness had been consigned to the great TV in the sky, it rises like a phoenix, ready to keep viewers gripped to their screens once again. Or something like that. It should be worth waiting for; not least because there's been a shake-up at the Lyell Centre following the departures of Thomas Chamberlain (Richard Lintern) and Clarissa Mullery (Liz Carr), so expect a fresh face or two. We're also promised five new two-part stories, beginning with Redemption, in which Nikki is confronted by a dangerous criminal from her past.

Fever Pitch: The Rise of the Premier League
Monday, BBC Two, 9pm
In August 2020, a time when football fans were gearing up for a new season despite knowing they wouldn't be able to see their favourite team play live, the BBC announced it was making a four-part documentary about the rise and rise of the Premier League. Players (including David Beckham and Eric Cantona), agents, journalists and business expert discuss how the formation of the Premier League transformed the English game, as well as how it's managed to hold the attention of supporters across the globe ever since.

Bin Laden: The Road to 9/11
Monday, Channel 4, 9pm
Shortly before the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks comes this new three-part documentary profiling the man who masterminded them. It charts Osama bin Laden's transformation from quiet and introspective son of a billionaire to global terrorist. Among those helping to tell the disturbing story are his childhood friends, journalists who interviewed him, those who fought beside him and members of al-Qaeda who once revered bin Laden's name, but now seek to distance themselves from his most notorious crimes.

My Childhood, My Country: 20 Years in Afghanistan
Monday, ITV, 10.45pm

Shown to great acclaim at the Sheffield DocFest earlier in the year, this feature-length documentary now received a timely TV broadcast. It was shot over a long period of time, following Mir as he turns from being a mischievous boy of seven living in a cave in central Afghanistan, through his adolescence to his adult years with a family of his own. What makes it so moving is not just Mir’s personal journey, but that some of the landmarks featured have since been destroyed.

First Dates
Monday, Channel 4, 10pm
The fly-on-the-restaurant wall dating show is back for its 17th series. Will any of those taking part in the opening episode find love and happiness? Well, it gets off to a promising start when the first would-be lovers through the doors bond over a passion for Japanese culture – if they can get over their nerves, something rather touching could blossom. A police detective finds common ground with a man who used to be on the force, a journalist who's also a fancy mover tries to impress an actor, and last but not least, an entrepreneur hopes to find someone to share their life.

Ready to Mingle
Monday-Wednesday, Virgin Two/ITV2, 9pm
In this new British reality series hosted by Katherine Ryan, a "stunning single girl [it says here] and 12 hot lads move into a house in Devon, but half the guys are already in relationships and just pretending to be single in order to win a £50,000 prize. Will our girl spot the liars and leave with both love and money?"

Ros na Rún
Tuesday, TG4, 8.30pm

TG4’s flagship Irish-language soap opera begins its 26th season and (consult Wikipedia) 1,878 episode tonight. David (Seán Mistéil) fears Briain (Colm Mac Gearailt) may have tried to commit suicide, but Briain denies it. The joy at becoming a father again is replaced with sorrow when Colm (Pól Penrose) discovers Mo (Marie Breathnach) has gone. Colm worries further when Tadhg (Macdara Ó Fatharta) brutally tells him he is aware that Mo killed Frances. The week’s second episode is on Thursday.

Gafa
Tuesday, RTÉ One, 7pm

What sort of things preoccupy the Irish national psyche? This new Irish-language series examines some of the topics that keep Irish people talking and set us apart from other countries. Whether it’s our weather, the search for the perfect match or simply the joy of a decent tractor, Gafa gives a glimpse into our collective obsessions, beginning with our inherent affinity with the underdogs of the sporting world. We just love any story involving an Irish person beating all the odds to compete with the world’s finest, whether it’s Michael Carruth winning boxing gold at the Olympics, golfer Shane Lowry winning the Irish Open, or the Irish women’s rugby team winning the Grand Slam in 2013.

Wonders of Scotland with David Hayman
Tuesday, ITV, 7.30pm
David Hayman fronts this new series that focuses on something very close to his heart: the beauty, history and culture of his home country. The actor was born in Glasgow, but he's steering clear of the city, at least during the first episode. Instead, Hayman begins his tour at Easdale Island off the west coast; it's the smallest permanently inhabited Inner Hebrides island and was once the centre of the local slate industry. He also keeps a watchful eye on the Corryveckan Whirlpool before visiting Glencoe and the Blackwater Dam.

The Yorkshire Vet
Tuesday, Channel 5, 8pm
The 13th run of the ever-popular series begins as veteran vet Peter Wright is called out to attend a cow with a life-threatening stomach problem. He's now in charge of a new practice in Kirbymoorside, North Yorkshire, and has to rely on colleague Charis for assistance. Don't be settling down for something to eat as they take drastic measures to save the unfortunate beast. Meanwhile, over in Wetherby there's an "aww!" moment as Julian Norton delivers the largest number of puppies he's ever seen.

A House Through Time
Tuesday, BBC Two, 9pm

Sometimes the most simple of ideas are the best. Take this series, for instance. Each run sees historian David Olusoga delve into the past of one address, telling the story of its inhabitants from centuries gone by to the present day. This time he’s at 5 Grosvenor Mount, a Victorian family home in the Leeds suburb of Headingley. Olusoga begins by profiling the property’s original owner, idealistic lawyer William Bruce, who twice tried to save men from the gallows. He then moves onto the rags-to-riches tale of the next resident, a former factory worker, before turning his attention to builder William Nicholson, who later found fame as the founder of a dynasty that constructed several local landmarks.

9/11: Life Under Attack
Tuesday, ITV, 9pm
The broadcaster has announced it has a number of factual programmes lined up for the latter part of the year, beginning with this documentary about the terrorist atrocities in the US in 2001. It offers an in-depth look at the terrifying events of that day, in New York as well as at the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania. Previously unseen footage, audio and incredible interviews with survivors are used to piece together what happened, as well as the authorities' efforts to deal with an unprecedented catastrophe.

Neven's Spanish Food Trails
Wednesday, RTÉ One, 8.30pm

Many of us have had to stay close to home for our summer holidays and sorely miss our favourite sun spots. But at least we can get a taste of the Mediterranean via the fourth series of Neven’s Maguire’s foodie outings to Spain. This new series sees Maguire visiting the Balearic islands of Mallorca and Menorca, checking out tapas bars, bodegas and bakeries, and learning to rustle up some authentic Iberian recipes. He starts out with a yacht trip around Palma Bay, meets Spanish telly chef Santi Taura, and learns to make coca, a popular Mallorcan street snack. Right, that’s it, enough of this staycation malarky - I’m booking my sun holiday for 2022 right now.

The Rotunda
Wednesday, RTÉ2, 9.30pm

The difficulties of pregnancy during a pandemic are brought up close and personal in this third series inside the Rotunda maternity hospital. It’s a challenging time for many expectant mothers as they have to deal with the dangers of Covid along with many other factors. This series will follow 20 stories, some heartbreaking, some uplifting, all affirming how precious new life really is. In the first episode we meet young couple Michelle and Clive, who are returning to the Rotunda three years after their first baby, Zach, died after being born prematurely.

Ultimate Hell Week: The Professionals
Wednesday, RTÉ One, 9.35pm
We've all dreamed of it: kidnapping a bunch of celebrities and forcing them to endure some gruelling challenges. Now, an elite crew from Ireland's Army Ranger Wing will be charged with putting 18 celebs through the wringer, as they take on a series of tasks that takes them so far out of their comfort zone, they'll be begging for the safety of the VIP lounge. The rangers will soon turn these models, influencers, presenters, singers and sports stars into lean, mean surviving machines – even if it kills them.

Why Women Kill
Wednesday, TG4, 10.30pm

Set in 1949, season 2 of this satirical US drama explores what it means to be beautiful, the hidden truth behind the facades people present to the world, the effects of being ignored and overlooked by society, and the lengths one woman will go to in order to finally belong. With dreams of status and glamour, Alma Fillcot hopes to fill a recently vacated seat in her local garden club, led by the intimidating Rita Castillo. However, when Alma discovers her loving husband Bertram’s shocking secret, all of that preparation and hard work is jeopardized.

Na Slimmers
Wednesday, TG4, 8.30pm
In programme one we meet the seven slimmers as they begin their weight loss journey. We get into their homes lives, their minds and fridges as they face into their new lifestyles choices and their attempts to controlling their weight. We see how each deals with adopting to a healthier lifestyle and the methods they use to achieve their own weight goals. With Bríd Nic Suibhne, Proinsias Ó Raghallaí, Gearóid Mac Roibín, Caroline Kavanagh, Hannah Ní Dhubhcháin, Jamie Ó Flannúra and Aodhán Ó Conghaile.

Go mBeirimid Beo
Wednesday, TG4, 9.30pm

Inspired by the Coronavirus pandemic – and the doomscrolling many of us embarked on as a result – new documentary Go mBeirimid Beo is a tongue-in-cheek look at apocalypses past, present and future, and how the people of Ireland have prepared for them. Or not. Presented by Oisín Mistéil.

Selling Ireland's Most Exclusive Homes
Wednesday, RTÉ One, 10.35pm
This three-parter takes a deep dive inside some of the most expensive houses currently on the market in Ireland – truly jaw-dropping properties. From country lodges to high-tech masterpieces, waterfront apartments to city centre penthouses, these incredible properties could be anyone's dream "home sweet home" – if money was no object.

Animals with Cameras
Wednesday, BBC Two, 8pm
Gordon Buchanan and tech specialist Chris Watts are back to reveal more groundbreaking footage showing the behaviour of our favourite animals. They will uncover the curious lives of koalas and kangaroos, and take to the air with a fleet of flying foxes and a squadron of gannets. The first of four new episodes heads into our oceans. Cape Verde, off the west coast of Africa, has one of the world's largest populations of nesting loggerhead turtles, and here Buchanan meets the scientists working to find out more about this fascinating animal. In the Bahamas, the team are out on the water with experts to fit a specially designed camera to a Caribbean reef shark, giving a view of the reef as they glide through gullies of coral inaccessible to human divers.

Grenfell: The Untold Story
Wednesday, Channel 4, 10pm
The ongoing public inquiry into the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire has revealed much about the worst UK residential fire since the second World War. But one part of the tragedy has not been told until now. A community artist was filming inside the tower throughout its £10 million refurbishment in the years before the fire, when highly combustible cladding was applied to the outside of the building. Constantine Gras documented the struggles of the Grenfell Residents Group, who raised issues and concerns about the work being carried out. Using footage never previously seen, shot by the tower's "Artist in Residence", this film forms a prequel to the disaster and paints a vivid portrait of the community.

Mercury Prize 2021 Live: Album of the Year
Thursday, BBC Four, 9pm
The Hyundai Mercury Prize Albums of the Year celebrate and promote the best of British and Irish music recognising artistic achievement across a range of contemporary music genres. Lauren Laverne of BBC Radio 6 Music is at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London, to guide viewers through each of the 12 shortlisted records, with the ceremony culminating in the announcement of the winner of the much-coveted main prize. Before that, there will be performances by nominated artists Arlo Parks, Berwyn, Black Country, New Road, Celeste, Ghetts, Hannah Peel, Laura Mvula, Mogwai, Nubya Garcia and Wolf Alice.

Edward Carson and the Fall of Oscar Wilde
Thursday, RTÉ One, 10.15pm
Merlin Holland, grandson of Oscar Wilde, tells the epic story of the famous playwright's downfall. In 1895, Wilde fought a spectacular duel in court with his fellow Dubliner, Sir Edward Carson. The trial resulted from an ongoing feud between Wilde and the Marquess of Queensberry, who was enraged at the love affair between Wilde and his son, Lord Alfred Douglas. Queensberry had accused Wilde of being a "sodomite" and Wilde rashly sued the Marquess for libel. Queensberry instructed the up-and-coming lawyer Carson to defend the case. Wilde knew Carson from their young days as fellow students at Trinity. The stage was set for a cataclysmic showdown in court that became one of the most scandalous trials of the Victorian era. Wilde, the prosecutor, was quickly turned into the defendant by Carson's relentless and devastating cross examination. Forced to withdraw the case, Wilde was soon arrested and himself put on trial. It led to Wilde's ruin and imprisonment for homosexuality.

From a uniquely personal perspective, presenter Merlin Holland evocatively recounts the tale of his grandfather’s demise and asks the question: does Edward Carson deserve his reputation as the man who destroyed Oscar Wilde? The documentary also features key contributions from actors Simon Callow and Rupert Everett who wrote, directed, and starred as Oscar Wilde in his own film “The Happy Prince.”

QI
Thursday, BBC Two, 10pm
The comedy panel show is back for its 19th series, which means we must be up to the letter S. So, presenter Sandi Toksvig will be kicking off the run by asking questions around the theme of sick. And if that sounds less funny following the pandemic, we're promised it's "well sick" rather than the normal illness variety. Trying to come up with quite interesting answers will be comedian Maisie Adam, who is well on her way to being a panel show veteran, but still seems like a newcomer compared with fellow guests Jo Brand and Lee Mack, as well as regular Alan Davies.

Imagine – Tom Stoppard: A Charmed Life
Thursday, BBC One, 10.35pm

He’s widely considered to be one of the world’s greatest living playwrights, having scored his first theatrical hit in the 1960s with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Now, Tom Stoppard is welcoming Alan Yentob into his house in the country to reveal the influences and inspirations behind his plays, including the latest, Leopoldstadt. He also opens up about his family history, including how he was born Tomas Straussler in what was then Czechoslovakia, just before the second World War. Following his father’s death, his mother married an English army officer, and would play down their foreignness and their Jewishness, an experience which helps to inform Leopoldstadt.

The Cleaner
Friday, BBC One, 9.30pm

Fresh from the brilliant Taskmaster, Greg Davies stars in a new sitcom, all about an ordinary guy with an unusual job. He plays Wicky, the man responsible for cleaning up the crime scene after all the forensic teams have packed up. It’s a grisly job but someone’s got to do it. In the first episode, Wicky is rushing to clean up after a particularly nasty stabbing and get home in time for curry night. But when a gun-wielding oddball (Helena Bonham-Carter) turns up, Wicky begins to wonder if he’s going to make it to dinner-time.

The North Water
Friday, BBC Two, 9.30pm
The North Water, a five-episode drama set in the late 1850s, follows Patrick Sumner (Jack O'Connell), a disgraced ex-army surgeon who signs up as a ship's doctor on a whaling expedition to the Arctic. As you'd expect, the conditions are tough as Patrick finds himself battling the elements. But his crewmates are equally ferocious, in particular harpooner Drax (Colin Farrell). Also starring Stephen Graham and Tom Courtney

Love It or List It
Friday, Channel 4, 8pm
For this special episode, showing as part of Channel 4's day highlighting black talent, usual presenters Kirstie and Phil make way for two new experts in the form of a pair of siblings, business partners and experienced property developers, Scarlette and Stuart Douglas are in Ipswich, where Shammie and Norbert share a four-bed semi with their daughter, son and Norbert's mum. He loves the bedroom sizes, the neighbours and the easy commute to work, but Shammie is fed up with the small kitchen, busy road and just one bathroom for the multigenerational household. Can Stuart convince them that they can adapt the house to meet their needs, or will Scarlette persuade them to make a move?

Highlife
Friday, Channel 4, 10pm

C4’s latest special day of programming isn’t just about black presenters taking over familiar shows; it also introduces some new series, including Highlife, which is being billed as a “docu-ality”. It follows the lives of a group of aspirational, ambitious British Nigerians and Ghanians, and begins by introducing viewers to musician Tomi and songwriter fiancee Kamille, who are planning two weddings, including a traditional Nigerian ceremony. Meanwhile, celebrity make-up artist Bernicia wants to reopen her salon following the lifting of Covid restrictions.

Wolfe
Friday Sky Max & NowTV 9pm

More forensic fun from the creators of Shameless. Babou Ceesay stars as crime scene expert Wolfe Kinteh in this new series on the newly inaugurated Sky Max. When Wolfe is not lecturing forensics students in his local university in the north of England, he’s working with the cops to solve murders. In true telly tradition, Wolfe is a bit of a flawed character, given to unconventional methods and frankly irresponsible behaviour. But when the police are confronted with a gory death in a meat processing plant, Wolfe is the only one they know who could possibly piece the puzzle together.

ON DEMAND

Doogie Kamealoha, MD
From Wednesday, Disney+

Some viewers will grumble at this coming-of-age comedy-drama, inspired by Doogie Howser, MD, and mutter darkly about the lack of original ideas. However, we quite like the thought of a recycled version of the hit series that made a star of Neil Patrick Harris. Hopefully it will do the same for the sparkling Peyton Elizabeth Lee, who plays Lahela “Doogie” Kamealoha, a 16-year-old prodigy juggling a budding medical career with life as a teenager. With the support of her caring and comical ohana (family), including doting father Benny (who helps keep Lahela connected to what matters most), best friend Steph and surfer crush Walter, our heroine resolves to make the most of her younger years by forging her own path.

When the Dust Settles
From Thursday, Walter Presents/All 4
Karen-Lise Mynster heads the cast of this absorbing Danish drama (original title: Når Støvet har lagt Sig), which blends the stories of eight different people in the days before and after a terrorist attack on Copenhagen. Morten and Camilla celebrate their wedding anniversary, but their happy event is cut short when their son is hospitalised following a drug overdose. Chef Nikolaj is planning a career change, Jamal does his best to get a driver's license so he can chauffeur his older brother around on his wedding day, and 10-year-old Marie discovers a bag in the bushes near an asylum centre, which could have dire consequences for minister of justice Elisabeth Hofmann's Bill and marriage to her wife Stina.

Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali
From Thursday, Netflix

In 1962, Cassius Clay was widely dismissed as an obnoxious self-promoter and few believed that he would become the heavyweight champion of the world. Malcolm X, the Nation of Islam’s most high-profile figure, saw potential in Clay. The two became firm friends, though they kept it quiet from the press for fear of jeopardising the boxer’s career. Based on previously untapped sources, including Malcolm’s papers and FBI records, this documentary takes an in-depth look at this complex bond, revealing an extraordinary narrative of love and deep affection, as well as deceit, betrayal and violence. It is a glimpse at the public and private lives of two icons and the tumultuous period in US history they helped to shape.

Come from Away
From Friday, Apple TV+
There weren't many good things that emerged from the wreckage of 9/11, but this charming, uplifting tale counts as one of them. Tony Award-winner Christopher Ashley, who directed the original Broadway musical, helms this filmed version. A staggering 7,000 people are stranded in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland, after all flights into the US are grounded on September 11th, 2001. While the local residents graciously welcome the "come from aways" into their community in the aftermath, the passengers and locals alike process what's happened while finding love, laughter, and new hope in the unlikely and lasting bonds that they forge. Featuring an ensemble cast led by members of the Broadway show.

Lucifer
From Friday, Netflix

All bad things must come to an end, or so the saying sort of goes, but anyone who has devoted their time and energy to this divinely wicked series will be sad to see the back of it. Series six is the final hurrah for Lucifer, Chloe, Amenadiel, Maze, Linda, Ella and Dan, and we can only hope they’re all going out in style. It certainly begins auspiciously, as The Devil himself has become God... almost. So, why is he hesitating? Plus, as the world starts to unravel without a supreme being, what will he do in response? All the big names are back, from leading man Tom Ellis to showrunners Joe Henderson and Ildy Modrovich, so make sure you have the tissues handy because this is definitely the end.

Contributing: PA