Titanic gets a fresh look in a two-part series broadcasting on Channel 4 on Sunday at 8pm. Previously presented in black-and-white, the series shifts to full colourisation, with in-depth research and the utilisation of every 1912 footage available to effectively capture the doomed maiden voyage of the Titanic. While it is true that no genuine footage exists of the ship’s sinking, the creators have reconstructed reality by presenting the luxury of the ship’s interior, encounters with those who built the ship, and narratives of survivors and their families.
The crime drama “Vienna Blood” is set to air its fourth series on Sunday at 9pm on BBC2. Based on Frank Tallis’s novels, the series chronicles the work of Dr Max Liebermann, a detective with expertise in the emerging field of psychology in the early 1900s in Austria. Liebermann’s knowledge about the human mind assists the jaded police officer Oskar Rheinhardt. Thus far, each episode dealt with a singular case. The new series, however, introduces a complex mystery that might lead to the downfall of the Austro-Hungarian empire. The cast features Matthew Beard as Liebermann and Juergen Maurer as Rheinhardt.
Come Monday at 6.30pm, tune into “Scannal 20 Bliain” on RTÉ1.
Celebrating 20 years of eye-opening coverage, Scannal is set to return with three exclusive – one hour long – episodes focused on the stories that sent shockwaves through the nation over the last half-century. The debut episode, titled ‘Believe in Me’, delves into the exploitative individuals who have bamboozled the public, only to watch their puffed-up claims explode spectacularly. Notable highlights include Brian Lenihan Snr’s infamous misuse of ‘mature recollection’ during the 1990 Presidential race, as well as Pee Flynn’s unapologetic detailing of his extravagant European Commission lifestyle on the 1999 Late Late Show.
Coming Monday on Channel 4 is ‘Yorkshire by the Sea’, an immersive four-part series journeying through the breathtaking 100-mile span of Yorkshire’s coastline, from Saltburn and Scarborough in the North, to Spurn Point in the South. However, as viewers enjoy the picturesque tour and encounter the engaging community, the series also shines a light on the pressing battle against coastal erosion threatening the region which is being faced by the very same members of the local community.
On RTE1 this Tuesday at 9.35pm, ‘Around My Island’ permits viewers a harrowing experience alongside Tom Dolan, an Irish solo-sailor attempting a sail around the entirety of Ireland single-handedly. Despite misconceptions of the task being a cakewalk, this programme paints a clear picture of the endeavour as one of the toughest challenges in sailing, across roughly 700 nautical miles of hazardous waters. The show, narrated by Brian Dobson, also explores Dolan’s backstory, demonstrating how a traumatic childhood event steered him from a farming lifestyle to becoming a resolute sailor.
Another noteworthy programme, ‘Corridors of Power: Should America Police the World?’ airs on BBC4 at 10pm this Tuesday.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States assumed the global position of principal authority, intervening in worldwide conflicts, negotiating treaties, and maintaining international stability. This television series examines the successes and failures of the US from the Cold War’s end until 2016. The first episode delves into the US’s relationship with Iraq formed to counter the growing influence of Iran post the Islamic revolution, the country’s disregard for Iraq’s massacres and chemical weapon use during the Iran-Iraq war, and how Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait changed its ally into an adversary. This eight-part series is voiced by Meryl Streep and features interviews with prominent US political personalities such as Madeleine Albright, Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, and Hillary Clinton.
Abba: Against the Odds, airing Wednesday on RTÉ1 at 9.35pm, presents the tale of one of the world’s most successful pop groups who continue to sell records and tickets for their virtual reality concerts, Abba: Voyage. Despite overwhelming odds, including negative reviews, band member separations, and the unexpected consequence of winning the Eurovision Song Contest, they succeeded. The documentary draws from rare interviews, archived footage, and input from friends, colleagues, and the band members themselves.
RTÉ2 is broadcasting ‘Eoin Morgan – England’s Irish Captain’ on Wednesday at 10.30pm, a documentary focusing on ex-England cricket champion Eoin Morgan’s remarkable journey from a working-class family in Rush, North Co Dublin, to captaining England to their World Cup triumph in 2019. The programme offers a personal perspective of Morgan, featuring anecdotes from family, friends, and fellow cricketers, and it explores Ireland’s vibrant and intricate history with this markedly English sport.
Eyewitness to History: Norma Percy on Watergate will be airing on BBC4 on Thursday at 8pm.
Documentary filmmaker Norma Percy is recognised for her prowess in uncovering the depths of major global news stories to create compelling television content. An exemplary piece of her work is the 1994 Watergate series, an in-depth investigation of the flawed break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1974 which ignited one of the US’s most significant political scandals and culminated in the eventual stepping down of President Richard Nixon. Percy sheds light on the difficulties she encountered while developing the documentary and shares how she succeeded in involving key players in the incident.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, a recent offshoot of the popular zombie apocalypse series, airs on Thursday on Sky Max and Now at 9pm. In this series, the entire crew takes a holiday to Paris – or at least that’s how it seems. In reality, Daryl Dixon, portrayed by Norman Reedus, wakes up stranded on the shores of France, clueless about how he ended up there. Making matters worse, France is the epicentre of the zombie virus epidemic, forcing Daryl to quickly vacate the area. Along his journey, he stumbles upon a group referred to as the Pouvoir des Vivants (Power of the Living) and a new strain of zombies known as burners due to their peculiar acid-spitting skill. Isn’t spitting considered ill-mannered?
Champions: Full Gallop is a swift-paced series that delves into the world of horse racing. It’s a chronicle of the rivalry among horse trainers and jockeys to secure significant victories in esteemed racing events worldwide. The fourth episode focuses on an intense competition between trainers Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton, held at Cheltenham. The rivalry is heightened as Skelton once served as Nicholls’s assistant. Additionally, this week features Irish trainer Willie Mullins, hoping his horse Galopin Des Champs will achieve the Gold Cup victory for the fourth time in six years. However, he faces a tough competitor in Nicholls-trained Bravemansgame.
Tune in for Miriam Margolyes’s new exploration – A New Australian Adventure, airing on Friday on BBC2 at 9pm.
The seasoned actress proceeds with her exploratory journey throughout Australia, stopping by the illustrious Byron Bay. Known for its invigorating spirit of liberty and positivity, where all is accepted and negativity is outrightly discouraged. Margolyes is eager to discover if the utopian vision of the hippy culture remains intact here or if there are underlying complexities concealed by the carefree facade. She firmly holds the belief, “My life experiences have occurred due to my forward movement towards life, not by retreating from it,” Margolyes exemplifies this in the series as she intrepidly delves into her ideal existence.