This week’s highlight:
Channel 4 brings you “Generation Z”, a chilling comedy-horror series, airing at 9pm on both Sunday and Monday. A farcical thrill ensues when the teenage residents of the mystical town of Dambury must rise to defend themselves; following an unexpected event, an army truck swerves off nearby, leading to an unusual chemical leak. Consequently, local nursing home dwellers transform into cannibalistic corpses, on a gruesome quest for juvenile flesh. In a commentary on Brexit’s aftermath, these zombies don’t aim to navigate their way to the post office; instead, their goal is to dismember and chew on human meat. The future of Britain rests on Charlie, Kelly, Steff, and Finn’s young shoulders, who must extinguish the senior citizen havoc before their peers are chewed up and served as granny breakfast. The cast includes Robert Lindsay, Johnny Vegas, along with soap celebrities Anita Dobson and Sue Johnson, in this sanguinary satire on Brexit, scripted and directed by Ben Wheatley. It’s reminiscent of EastEnders crossed with Shaun of the Dead.
Watch out for:
“Na Féilte Tine”, debuting Monday on RTÉ One at 6.30pm. This four-part documentary series delves into the history and modern-day relevance of Ireland’s four seasonal fire festivals—Samhain, Imbolg, Bealtaine and Lúnasa. Each episode will highlight the unique characteristics of each festival and showcase local townsmen around the country keeping these age-old traditions alive. The first installment focuses on Samhain, marking the onset of winter and the beginning of the Celtic New Year. It will provide a glimpse into the ancient Celtic ways of celebrating Samhain and a peek into past Halloween festivities.
Also Featuring:
“More than a Whistle”, airs Tuesday on RTÉ2 at 10pm.
Three female referees – Joy Neville for rugby, the retired Michelle O’Neill for football, and Maggie Farrelly for GAA – are the heart of a new programme aiming to show the viewer what it takes to stay at the top of their refereeing game. Each woman’s journey to becoming a referee and commitment to enhancing their sport will be insightfully highlighted. This series follows each woman’s preparation for an upcoming match whilst managing their everyday lives.
The Overlap on Tour is back with another award-winning football podcast. The football squad including Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Ian Wright, and beloved Roy Keane are off on a foreign journey. The premier league legends relish their exciting companionship while exploring renowned European cities and sharing tales of their premier league experiences. The series marks its debut from Turin, where Roy Keane reminisces about his outstanding performance for Manchester United against Juventus in the Champions League semi-final of 1999.
“Public Enemies: Kendrick vs Drake”, airing on Tuesday on Channel 4, explores the toxic rivalry between superstar rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake that has been brewing since the 2010s. The beef escalated dramatically this year, with the duo exchanging toxic diss tracks and heavy accusations. The programme delves deep into the origins of this rancour and asks whether this feud will spiral out of control, much like the notorious Biggie and Tupac contention. The rise of Lamar and Drake to hip-hop fame, the dissolution of their friendship, and the involvement of other hip-hop giants like J Cole and Kanye West in the dispute are key aspects of the programme.
Then, prepare for Donal’s Real Time Recipes on Wednesday, a new show on RTÉ One.
Creating a meal during a hectic work week can sometimes be more stressful than the job itself. However, do not fret, the famous chef, Donal Skehan, is here to assist you. He will help you whip up quick yet delicious meals using ingredients that are easily available in your cupboard. In the premiere episode, Skehan takes a staple pantry ingredient, pasta, and creates several dishes such as a one-pot chicken and mushroom pasta dish, a delectable spiced meatball and burst tomato pasta dish, and a delightful ragu bianco with sausages and crispy sage. Moreover, if your children are refusing to eat their vegetables, Skehan provides an excellent solution with his version of a chopping board pesto pasta.
Leathered
Wednesday, RTÉ One, 9.35pm
The recent inquiry into the historical sexual abuse instances in Irish primary and secondary schools has revealed yet another alarming national issue that has never been properly addressed, widespread corporal punishment in classrooms with devastating aftereffects. An entire generation of Irish children has endured the trauma of severe physical abuse, with priests and teachers freely inflicting physical and mental torture on innocent children, leaving lifelong physical and emotional wounds. This chilling documentary includes the first-hand account of survivors, sharing their experiences and the impact of the violence inflicted by figures of authority on their outlook on life. Among the people who share their stories are the poet and author Theo Dorgan and his childhood friend Mick Hannigan.
Prince William: We Can End Homelessness
Wednesday & Thursday, UTV, 9pm
Prince William is eager to resolve the homelessness crisis in the UK. As easy as it may sound, opening the doors of Buckingham Palace wouldn’t solve everything. This documentary traces the prince’s efforts as he unveils his vision of ensuring every British citizen has shelter through his Homewards programme. “I believe that everyone having the right to a safe and secure home is beneficial for all,” he states, adding, “I am here with the single intention of helping those in need, and I view that as a part of my role… What else is the purpose of my role if I am not using it effectively to impact and assist others where I can? I do enjoy a large challenge, but I cannot take it on alone.”
Storyland: Shush
Thursday, RTÉ2, 10.35pm
The “Storyland” collection of single-episode dramas seeks to shine a light on fresh talent in Ireland’s acting, writing, and film-making fields. The psychological drama, Shush, written by and featuring Liv O’Donoghue, narrates the tale of Ruth, a desperate young mum striving to safeguard her infant, Fia, despite harsh domestic circumstances. A sudden choice by Ruth, who is alone, stressed and scared, will have far-reaching consequences for her and her baby. The drama also stars Mark Huberman as John and twins Bella and Capri Neville portraying Fia.
Take a thrilling walk down memory lane on Halloween night with Sky Arts & Now on Thursday at 9 pm, to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Hammer Films. Their feature documentary delivering wholesome horror revisits the history of this London-based production company that birthed spine-chilling classics such as Dracula, The Curse of Frankenstein, and The Quatermass Xperiment, launching the careers of stars like Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.
Starting October 30th, a Spanish fast-paced thriller “Tú También lo Harías” will be available to stream on Apple TV+. The plot unfolds in the aftermath of a bus heist near Barcelona, with law enforcement confronted by a shocking scene: three dead robbers and six witnesses with conflicting stories and inconsistent timelines. The investigation requires detangling several versions of reality to uncover the real events.
From Thursday, October 31st, Netflix presents “The Diplomat”. This show dispels the stereotype of a diplomat’s life being a continuous cycle of cocktail parties and state banquets. In season two, Kate Wyler resumes her exciting but dangerous role as the US ambassador to Britain. Her mission this season is to prove it’s actually the British Prime Minister, not a rogue state, who orchestrated the lethal attacks on London, which led to her assignment. Keri Russell portrays Kate, while Rufus Sewell plays her husband, Hal, her sole supporter in a setting of distrust.