Saturday’s TV tips

Check out our guide to the best of tonight's TV.

Saturday’s TV tips

CONTEST: Ninja Warrior UK (UTV Ireland, 7pm)

Japanese TV has long been the subject of derision, due to its unconventional formats – but westerners obviously love them really, enough to even make another version of this ever-popular assault-course game show from the Far East.

Football commentator Stuart Hall provided the voice-over for the British transmissions of the original show; here, the sporting pedigree continues as Sky Sports anchor Ben Shephard and pundit Chris Kamara join The Saturdays singer Rochelle Humes to bring us all the action.

For the uninitiated, the show involves putting people through their paces on a gruelling – and frankly ludicrous – obstacle course, before the few who make it through are faced with a final daunting challenge... Banzai!

FANTASY: Atlantis (BBC1, 7.45pm)

The BBC’s lavish fantasy epic has been a Saturday night staple for a couple of years. Alas, because each episode cost so much, purse strings had to be tightened and the axe fell a few weeks ago.

However, there’s plenty of action to come before that last-ever episode in a few weeks.

Aside from a scenery-chewing performance from W1A’s Sarah Parish as the evil Pasiphae, the ever-reliable Mark Addy as Hercules, and a barely recognisable Jemima Rooper (Lost in Austen) as Medusa, keep an eye on Jack Donnelly as the heroic Jason. He’s much in demand at the moment, starring in improv football mockumentary United We Fall.

ENTERTAINMENT: Britain’s Got Talent (TV3, 8pm)

BGT has become something of a springtime tradition.

Once more, Cowell, David Walliams, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon will be passing judgment as many brave or deluded acts attempt to impress them.

With £250,000 and a slot at this year’s Royal Variety Performance up for grabs, there’s little wonder so many turns are desperate to win... if they can secure a place in the live semi-finals.

Giggly hosts Ant and Dec will be backstage offering their take on proceedings.

FILM: Jane Eyre (BBC Two, 8.30pm)

After a bleak childhood, Jane Eyre goes out into the world to become a governess at the estate of a mysterious Yorkshire landowner.

Despite being disturbed by strange goings-on in the house, she ends up falling in love with her moody employer – but when she learns that he is concealing a terrible secret, her new-found happiness may end up deserting her.

Charlotte Bronte’s novel is brought to Gothic life by Cary Fukunaga, a second-choice director after Lynne Ramsay turned the film down.

Mia Wasikowska, fresh from her breakout turn in Alice in Wonderland, is excellent in the title role, with Michael Fassbender and Jamie Bell also performing well.

Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Jamie Bell, Judi Dench, Sally Hawkins

RottenTomatoes.com Rating: 84%

FILM: X-Men: First Class (Channel 4, 9pm)

The origins of the friendship between psychic Charles Xavier and metal-bending concentration camp survivor Erik Lensherr are examined in this stylish period fantasy adventure.

When a gifted villain unleashes his power, the world is under threat thanks to the resulting Cuban missile crisis.

Some of the effects are a little ropey but it scarcely matters. There are top turns by the ever brilliant James McAvoy (at times channelling Austin Powers) as the young Xavier, and Michael Fassbender chewing the buckling scenery as the man who would become Magneto.

The brilliant Jennifer Lawrence is also unmissable as shape-shifter Mystique.

Perhaps best of all is the lashings of style, with director Matthew (Kingsman) Vaughn making nods to 007 classics of the early Sixties era, and cult TV show The Avengers.

X-Men: Apocalypse is now in production, and Hugh Jackman claims it will be his last turn as Wolverine.

Look for a familiar face in a bar (one of the best cameos ever), and listen for Take That’s closing theme over the credits.

Starring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Bacon, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult

RottenTomatoes.com Rating: 87%

PANEL GAME: Play to the Whistle (UTV Ireland, 10pm)

Romesh Ranganathan may have left some critics divided with his comedy turns on shows such as 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Mock the Week, but he’s clearly doing something right; panel game bookers are falling over themselves to hire him for shows such as this.

This week he joins fellow ’Cats’ veteran Sean Lock; team captains Bradley Walsh and Frank Lampard; former England cricketer Graeme Swann and Women’s Super League star Alex Scott for sports-based fun.

Once more, Holly Willoughby fronts the show which features quizzes and physical games.

Seann Walsh will be passing judgment in the umpire’s chair, while ex-footballer/I’m A Celebrity runner up Jimmy Bullard makes a guest appearance.

Okay, many will compare it to more established shows like A Question of Sport, but Holly and co have proved this can be great fun for even those who don’t give a hoot about the genre.

FILM: In Fear (Channel 4, 11.40pm)

A couple go to Ireland for a music festival, but get hopelessly lost when driving through a series of country roads.

Their plight turns deadly as they are terrorised by mysterious figures lurking in the darkness, while an encounter with a seemingly harmless local brings dangers of its own.

It’s a low-budget cracker from The Blair Witch Horror school of improvised horror. During filming the cast got a couple of pages day-by-day with ideas, then they would improvise.

Starring: Iain De Caestecker, Alice Englert, Allen Leech

RottenTomatoes.com Rating: 83%

more courts articles

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
Coronation Street actor William Roache (91) given three months to settle tax debt Coronation Street actor William Roache (91) given three months to settle tax debt

More in this section

The 96th Academy Awards - Vanity Fair Party - Los Angeles Tallulah Willis reveals autism diagnosis: ‘It’s changed my life’
James Burton, John Anderson and Toby Keith join Country Music Hall of Fame James Burton, John Anderson and Toby Keith join Country Music Hall of Fame
Newsnight producer brands Britain's Prince Andrew ‘Randy Andy’ in Scoop trailer Newsnight producer brands Britain's Prince Andrew ‘Randy Andy’ in Scoop trailer
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