Pick of the week
Table of Contents
Dancing with the Stars
Sunday, RTÉ One, 6.30pm
As we lift our groggy heads after the Christmas and new Year’s Eve party, it feels like we’ve been velcroed to our couch, and it’s gonna take a heavy crane to lift us out of our post-festive season torpor. So what better way to liven up yourself for the new year than with a bit of rumba, merengue and cha-cha-cha? The new season of Dancing with the Stars gets off on the good foot, with a new batch of celebrity contestants, along with some new faces among the judges, presenters and professional dancers.
The big news is that Strictly Come Dancing star oti Mabuse is stepping in as head judge, taking over from Lorraine Barry, who stepped down from the show to pursue other projects.She’ll be bringing some Strictly glitz to Montrose (not that DWTS needs it) and also her serious expertise and sparkling personality as she joins Brian Redmond, Karen Byrne and Arthur Gourounlian on the judging panel. And Laura Fox is filling in as co-presenter with Jennifer zamparelli while Doireann Garrihy is off on maternity leave. Simultaneously occurring, three new dance professionals – Arianna Favaro, Leonardo Lini and James Cutler – will be making the stars look good on the dance floor.
Oh, yes, the stars.What about the stars, I hear you ask with barely contained excitement. Well, we’re in for a treat this year as the Paudfather himself aka Traitors Ireland contestant Paudie moloney swaps deception for dancing as he goes for the glitterball trophy. Remember, Paudie, hips don’t lie. Also in this year’s celeb troupe is Nationwide presenter Anne Cassin, Eurovision winner Niamh Kavanagh, Rose of Tralee Katelyn Cummins, Fair City actor Stephanie Kelly, comedian and actor Michael Fry and singer Tolu Makay, plus a few other famous faces I’m sure you’ll know.
And even more excitement: this year DWTS will feature its first women same-sex pairing, when podcaster Amber Wilson (sister of Vogue Williams) and Alex Vladimirov pair up. This is also the show’s first double same-sex pairing, as singer-songwriter brian Kennedy pairs up with James Cutler.
Highlights
room to Improve
Sunday, RTÉ One, 9.30pm
dermot Bannon is back to bring his vision and flair to a mix of home enhancement projects, but with building and renovat
On the Beat & High Road, Low Road
Two cops from opposite sides of the class divide share a burning desire to see justice done, and no surprise to find they make a formidable investigative duo. But Lynley’s boss, Detective Chief Inspector Brian Nies (Daniel Mays) sees Lynley as a threat, not just as he’s higher up on the social ladder, but also a lot higher up in the IQ department. Irish actor Niamh Walsh also stars as a former Oxford classmate of Lynley’s.
On the Beat
Monday, RTÉ One, 9.35pm
[Image of on The Beat, series 2. Photograph: RTÉ]
There’s no doubt about it – police work has become infinitely more challenging for An garda Síochána in recent years. The second series of On the Beat brings us back behind the scenes as the Garda gets on with the tough job of law enforcement, dealing head-on with gangland crime, drug-dealing and armed robbery. We’re thrown in to the deep end in this first episode, as the Garda’s Limerick Drugs Unit carries out hazardous operations to tackle the city’s notorious criminal gangs controlling the illegal drugs trade. The series takes us inside the Garda stations and control centres, and takes us along as the team carries out drug raids. Further episodes will bring us insights into Garda operations in Monaghan and waterford.
High Road, Low Road
Tuesday, RTÉ One, 7.00pm
## Neven’s English Food Tour & can You Keep a Secret? – TV Highlights
Chef Neven Maguire has explored many corners of the globe in his culinary adventures, but his latest destination might surprise you: the northeast of England. Maguire uncovers hidden artisan gems in Newcastle, Northumberland, and County Durham, encountering recipes entirely new to him. This, he notes, is the first Irish TV food and travel program set entirely in the UK. “but I am sure it won’t be the last”. In Newcastle, Maguire ascends the 847-year-old main tower for panoramic views of the Tyne and its seven bridges, including the Tyne Bridge – a sister structure to Sydney Harbour Bridge, designed by Dorothy Buchanan.He also meets Terry Laybourne, Newcastle’s first Michelin-starred chef, at The Broad Chare, sampling conventional Geordie snacks like crispy pigs’ ears and haggis Scotch eggs. Maguire also speaks with Colin Young, biographer of Irish hero Jack Charlton.
Can You Keep a Secret?
Wednesday, BBC One, 9.30pm
in the emergency department, cyclist Barry has been brought in following a collision with a car on the Beara Peninsula, and Dr. Oge Iwegbulem will have to assess the level of trauma to his head,spine,chest,abdomen,and pelvis. Expectant mother Caroline,who has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer,is in for her 30-week scan,and consultant oncologist Dr. Richard bambury must work out a safe and effective treatment for her and her baby.
Black Ops
Thursday,BBC One,9.30pm
[Image of Black Ops Series 2. Dom (Gbemisola Ikumelo) and Kay (Hammed Animashaun). Photograph: BBC/James Stack]
Hapless cops Dom and Kay are back for a perilous new police operation in the second series of the comedy thriller series starring Hammed Animashaun, Gbemisola ikumelo and Akemnji Ndifornyen, and created by Ikumelo and Ndifornyen. Having been drafted into the undercover squad and survived, community support officers Dom and kay now find themselves working for MI5, but they seem to be doing more admin than actual spying.”Not everyone can be James Bond,” they’re told.But when they meet glamorous spy Steve (Ed Speleers), the pair find themselves involved in a dangerous mission that’s way above their pay grade. Annette Badland, Cathy Tyson and Nigel Havers are among the guest cast for series two.
Streaming
Beast Games
From Wednesday, January 7th, prime Video
The Beast is back with a new series of his global gameshow, which broke records for the number of contestants (1,000) and size of the cash prize ($5 million). MrBeast, aka Jimmy Donaldson, is a household name to millennials and Gen Zers thanks to his viral YouTube videos, in which he sets challenges such as filling a friend’s house with 10 million Lego bricks, playing Battleship with real ships, and a
Worth a look