Friday’s TV tips

Staying in tonight? Here's the TV shows you should be watching.

Friday’s TV tips

Wild Things (Challenge, 6pm)

Most viewers associate Kate Humble with nature programmes rather than game shows, but this series manages to combine the two – well, after a fashion.

It sees contestants dress as woodland creatures to tackle a tricky obstacle course, while their partners guide them to the end.

Along the way they have to find a treasure trove of coins – and those at the top of the leader board get a chance to play for £10,000 in a final forest challenge.

First to suit up are a student, a handyman, a fashion designer and a detective, while Kate is joined by co-presenter Jason Byrne.

Friday Night at the Proms: Eric Whitacre’s Choral Poem (BBC Four, 7.30pm)

There’s an American theme to this evening’s prom as the Royal Philharmonic, BBC Symphony Chorus and BBC Singers celebrate the work of some of the most inspiring US composers of the past 100 years.

The programme features conductor Eric Whitacre’s compositions The River Cam and Cloudburst, George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, and the European premieres of Jonathan Newman’s Blow It Up, Start Again and Eric Whitacre’s Deep Field.

Just to prove the Proms do move with the times, a free interactive smartphone app allows viewers to join in the performance with unearthly sounds and images.

Would I Lie to You? (BBC1, 8.30pm)

No sooner has she left The One Show sofa, the ubiquitous Alex Jones is back, this time on the panel show in which participants attempt to hoodwink their opponents with absurd facts and plausible lies about themselves.

It’s all in good fun, and host Rob Brydon and team captains David Mitchell and Lee Mack know how to squeeze the maximum amount of laughter from each absurd suggestion. Comedy actor Greg Davies, performance poet John Cooper Clarke and TV presenter Rick Edwards are also along for the ride in this edition.

America’s Got Talent (TV3, 9pm)

Judges Cuts – week 1

While the AGT auditions are completed for Season 10, the first week of Judge Cuts features the return of the judges' favorite acts - and the inclusion of guest judge Neil Patrick Harris, armed with his own Golden Buzzer.

The judges and Neil have a mighty task at hand as they must cut 20 acts down to the seven best that will move on to Radio City Music Hall.

Ripper Street (BBC1, 9pm)

When asked to take over the helm of H Division by Chief Inspector Abberline, Drake is far from keen to preside over his friend’s desk.

The inexplicable death of a clairvoyant leads the team into a world of devious charlatans capitalising on the grief of a sorrowful community.

Further questions arise when Drake and Jackson meet a grieving widow, who unlocks the heart of a deceptive scheme.

Comedian Jason Manford makes an guest appearance in this instalment of the Victorian crime drama, alongside regulars Matthew Macfadyen, Jerome Flynn and Adam Rothenberg.

Rick Stein: From Venice to Istanbul (BBC2, 9.30pm)

The chef continues his gastronomic road trip from Venice to Istanbul taking in the countries of the former Byzantine Empire – a renowned melting pot of East and West.

This instalment finds the gastronome in the city of Ravenna, where he discovers Piadinas, a thin Italian flatbread street food dating back to Roman times.

He then crosses the Adriatic Sea to Croatia – a first for Rick – and a gets a chance to discover new a wealth of dishes such as pasticada, goat stew with peas and lamb peka.

The Imelda May Show (RTE One, 9.35pm)

Filmed in front of a live studio audience and presented by the one and only Imelda May the show will feature a lively mix of chat and live performances from legendary musicians and emerging acts from across Ireland and around the world.

Guest on the show this series include; Bob Geldof and The Boomtown Rats, Lulu, Kodaline, Delorentos, Hothouse Flowers, Coronas, Damien Dempsey, Soak, Mundy and Marc Almond to name but a few and of course Imelda herself will perform live in studio with her band.

This episode will feature The Coronas, Dublin Legends, Ham Sandwich, Cry Monster Cry and The Academic

Miami Vice (TV3, 10pm)

(2006) Based on the 1980's TV drama, this update focuses on vice detectives Crockett and Tubbs as their respective personal and professional lives become dangerously intertwined.

Starring: Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx.

Mountain Goats (BBC1, 10.35pm)

Last year, BBC One revived the Comedy Playhouse format (the anthology that in a previous life gave us Steptoe and Son, The Liver Birds and Till Death Do Us Part) to bring us three sitcom pilots, including Miller’s Mountain, the tale of a ragtag collection of Scottish mountain rescue volunteers.

Although the reviews were a bit on the mixed side, it clearly proved a hit with the public as now, with a new title, it’s back for a full series.

In this first episode, new recruit Conor (Kevin Mains) continues to learn the ropes, but his mum isn’t particularly happy about his new career and no wonder, given that his mentor, Jimmy (Jimmy Chisholm), proves he can’t really be trusted with his own safety after he burns his house down. Watch out for My Mad Fat Diary’s Sharon Rooney as deadpan barmaid Jules.

Edinburgh Nights (BBC2, 11.05pm)

It’s that time of the year when it seems all of the UK’s creative types descend on Edinburgh for the world’s biggest arts festival.

In fact, maybe that’s why Artsnight is currently taking a break – everyone who might have presented or appeared on it is otherwise engaged.

Luckily, we’re still getting our Friday night dose of culture as Kirsty Wark brings us interviews and performances from the festival.

In this opening episode, she’ll also be hearing about the long-lost scripts for Hancock’s Half Hour which were found by actor Neil Pearson in his second job as a book dealer, and are now being staged on the Fringe.

Canadian pianist Chilly Gonzales provides the music, and critic Alastair Sooke gives us his pick of the Art Festival.

The Best of the Late, Late Show (RTE One, 10.40pm)

Tonight on The Best of The Late Late Show – Ryan shares his favourite moments from this year’s season of the Late Late.

The audience have a sing off, Kim Catrall reveals an Irish crush, Bono and The Edge talk homecomings.

Precious (BBC2, 11.35pm)

(2009) Precious is a harrowing account of the life of 16-year-old girl Precious (Gabourey Sidibe), who is pregnant with her second child and living in Harlem with her abusive mother Mary (Mo’Nique).

The story chronicles the journey of self-discovery that leads her out of the darkness of her seemingly hopeless existence – but she has to overcome many obstacles if she is to be free. Fortunately, a caring teacher (Paula Patton) offers her a glimmer of hope.

Directed by Lee Daniels, the film expertly conveys Precious’ troubled life, and Sidibe’s compelling portrayal of the title character will leave an indelible impression on viewers.

To the Wonder (Channel 4, 1.10am)

(2012) Ben Affleck stars as an American man in search of love in Terrence Malick’s erotically charged drama. During a trip to Paris, American engineer Neil (Affleck) enjoys a passionate affair with free spirit Marina (Olga Kurylenko). They tour local regions and Neil forges a strong bond with Marina’s 10-year-old daughter.

He moves back to home soil and takes Marina and her child with him, certain that their relationship will flourish in his natural surroundings. Instead, cracks quickly appear and as Neil begins to doubt his choice, and he acknowledges a spark of attraction to his friend Jane (Rachel McAdams).

Meanwhile, priest Father Quintana (Javier Bardem) experiences a crisis of faith that calls into question everything he holds sacred.

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