Tuesday’s TV tips

What's on telly tonight? These shows are, and you should watch them.

Tuesday’s TV tips

FILM: The Third Man (Film4, 4.50pm)

(1949) Orson Welles stars in this classic Oscar-winning thriller based on Graham Greene’s novel.

An American writer visiting Vienna after the Second World War discovers that an old friend presumed dead by the authorities is alive and well and spreading misery by dealing drugs on the black market - leading to a dramatic confrontation in the sewers beneath the city.

Welles’s appearance in a shadowy doorway and Anton Karras’s unforgettable theme are superb, while the final speech about cuckoo clocks (an ad lib by Welles) is delicious. Joseph Cotten and Alida Valli also star in arguably one of the best films of the week.

Starring: Joseph Cotten, Orson Welles, Alida Valli, Trevor Howard

SPORT: Liverpool v Basel (TV3, 7.30pm)

It's the final night of the group stage and places in the Champions League knockout stages are up for grabs. Tommy Martin presents live coverage from Anfield with commentary from Dave McIntyre and Mark Lawrenson.

CRAFT: Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas (Channel 4, 8pm)

Is there anything Kirstie Allsopp can’t do? After all, she’s the woman who will not only find you a house with plenty of period features, but also teach you how to knock up some lovely scatter cushions to put in the window seats.

In this year’s seasonal special, she’s got her own little grotto (no doubt guaranteed to increase in value) in the very desirable location of Blenheim Palace’s magical Christmas fair, where she’s joined by top crafters from across the UK to show us how to add the personal touch to this year’s celebrations.

Kirstie will be immersing herself in some of the workshops available at the fair, but she’ll also be looking a little further a field for her inspiration as she heads to Norway to learn more about the customs that make up a Scandinavian Christmas.

She’ll incorporate them into her own projects, and hopefully inspire viewers to come up with their own ideas. After all, it may be a little late to start handmaking all your presents – especially if you come from a large family – but there’s still plenty of time to add a personal touch to your festive celebrations.

DRAMA: The Missing (BBC1, 9pm)

Ever since that heart-stopping opening episode, where dad Tony (James Nesbitt) realised his son Oliver had disappeared, we’ve been hooked on this series – and desperate to know what really happened to the youngster.

And while some similar high-profile real-life cases have remained unsolved, it seems we may be going to find the answers as we reach the penultimate episode.

The flashbacks have moved forward to 2009, three years after the little boy went missing. Tony and Emily’s marriage is on the rocks, and it feels like no significant developments been made in the case – until a surprising turn of events brings the couple back to Chalons du Bois for the first time since 2006.

Meanwhile in the present day, new information gives Julien a lead in the case - albeit a somewhat tenuous one. Feeling as if they may finally be making progress, Tony and Emily’s relationship begins to improve, but can they really afford to get their hopes up?

FILM: The Women (More4, 9pm)

(2008) Wealthy New York clothes designer Mary Haines thinks she has a perfect marriage, until she learns her husband is having an affair with a salesgirl at Saks. Her close-knit group of gossipy wisecracking friends are soon on hand to offer their advice, but it becomes clear they have romantic problems of their own.

This comedy drama remake marks an impressive feature film directorial debut from Diane English. It has some nice moments, but lacks the charm of the 1939 classic it is based upon.

Don’t let that put you off though - the supporting cast features some heavyweight names, while Meg Ryan is superb in her lead role

Starring: Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Bette Midler, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith, Candice Bergen, Carrie Fisher

MUSIC: Bressie’s Teenage Kicks (RTE Two, 10pm)

Last week, Bressie began his mission to form a band in Limerick. He’s bringing together six teenagers from different communities, helping them to express themselves through music. This is a step into the unknown. Bressie will help the group produce an EP, perform live and then see for themselves just how far they can take it.

Bressie has decided that the Limerick rap scene is where it’s at. But rap is something he knows very little about. He chose rappers Calvin, Damien and Nathan and three top-line singers are Kelsey, Sherisse and Leanne.

Bressie always knew it wasn’t going to be easy to put together a band in such a short space of time.

But he didn’t realise the obstacles he would have to overcome before their first studio session…

COMEDY: Brian Pern: A Life in Rock (BBC2, 11.50pm)

Earlier this year, BBC Four brought us a history of rock that differed from its usual Friday night music documentaries – it was fronted by Brian Pern (aka The Fast Show’s Simon Day), ageing frontman of the groundbreaking progressive group Thotch.

It proved so popular, that Pern has now been given his own mockumentary series, complete with an impressive supporting cast that includes Michael Kitchen, Paul Whitehouse and Nigel Havers.

It begins with Brian reuniting with the rest of Thotch to discuss the making of their first jukebox musical, Stowe Boys. However, we shouldn’t expect too many cosy trips down memory lane, as the band all hate each other – and if the atmosphere wasn’t already tense enough, it’s about to get more awkward on the opening night, as Brian is arrested as part of Operation Bad Apples (what could that possibly be spoofing?) for a crime he didn’t know he’d committed.

Will he make it back in time for the second act?

FILM: The Lookout (BBC One, 12.35am)

(2007) A teenager with a promising future has his life turned upside down when he’s involved in a car crash that leaves him with brain damage affecting his memory.

He takes a job as a janitor at a bank, but soon falls in with a gang of crooks led by a former school friend. When he becomes aware of their plan to pull off a robbery, though, he makes a desperate attempt to stop them.

This is an enjoyable effort which won’t fail to grab your attention from the outset, thanks to a stunning performance from Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Some brilliant performances from supporting cast Matthew Goode, Jeff Daniels and Isla Fisher also make this well worth a look.

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jeff Daniels, Matthew Goode, Isla Fisher.

COMEDY: British Comedy Awards Nomination Show 2014 (Channel 4, 11.05pm)

Amid all the backslapping and gushing speeches of the average award show, The British Comedy Awards stand out by virtue of being hugely unpredictable and genuinely entertaining. So, who can blame Channel 4 for wanting to stretch them out a bit by devoting a separate special just to the nominations?

Admittedly the element of surprise is missing from this show, as the list has already been announced, but if you’re trying to avoid any major spoilers, let’s just say that this programme offers us clips of some of the funniest moments from 2014.

There are also interviews with some of the biggest names in comedy, including Greg Davies, Stewart Lee, Matt Berry, Aisling Bea, Joe Wilkinson, Ian Hislop, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith.

But will they be celebrating, or railing against the injustices of the judging panel?

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

British Academy Film Awards 2024 Christopher Nolan and wife Emma Thomas to receive knighthood and damehood
Alessandro Michele Former Gucci designer Alessandro Michele named Valentino creative director
The 88th Academy Awards - Vanity Fair Party - Los Angeles Whoopi Goldberg: Script for Sister Act 3 is in the works
Lifestyle
Newsletter

The best food, health, entertainment and lifestyle content from the Irish Examiner, direct to your inbox.

Sign up
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited