Pick of the week The Healy-Raes: Blood Sweat & TearsWednesday, RTÉ One, 9.35pm
Danny and Michael Healy-Rae at the Healy-Rae Bar
The Healy-Rae dynasty has enjoyed 50 years of political dominance in Kerry. But how does the family do it, and how have they weathered recent storms such as Michael’s resignation as minister of State in the wake of the fuel protests? If you’re curious about the world of the Healy-Raes, this documentary from film-maker Jerry Kennelly tantalisingly promises us “unprecedented access” to brothers Michael and Danny. So we’ll follow them from the 2024 general election to the fallout from Michael’s resignation. We’ll get to see them on the farm, at work in their business ventures, and figure out what makes them tick. Plus, we’ll meet the lesser-known Healy-Rae family members who have their eye on political roles in the future. And no look at the family is complete without meeting supporters from the “Healy-Rae army”, the volunteers behind the machine.
HighlightsCelebrating Graceland at the Proms Saturday, BBC Two, 7.30pm
During a personal and professional low point in the mid-1980s, Paul Simon was inspired to head to South Africa after hearing mbaqanga street music on a tape lent to him by musician Heidi Berg. He returned to the United States having recorded his masterwork, Graceland, which, despite concerns around his breaking of the cultural boycott of South Africa, nonetheless drew global audiences to the country’s music and contributed to the discussion around the impact of apartheid-era restrictions. Forty years on, the album sounds as fresh and vital as ever. On August 5th, a Proms concert celebrating the album was recorded. On Saturday, audiences get to watch Simon’s original collaborators Ladysmith Black Mambazo perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London, joined by special guests including Laura Mvula, James Bay, Flyte and the Nu Civilisation Orchestra directed by Peter Edwards. It’s incumbent on you to dance in your livingroom as you watch, just so you know.
Sunny Nights Sunday, ITV1, 10.15pm
Comedian and actor Will Forte and actor D’Arcy Carden team up in this eight-part drama-comedy to play American siblings Martin and Vicki Marvin. They have flown to Sydney after setting up a spray-tan company, believing it’s the best place to make a go of it given the population’s concern about skin cancer. They check into the Sunny Nights motel, where they are unfortunate enough to meet con artist Susi (Jessica De Gouw) and her boss Kash (Miritana Hughes), who soon set their sights on them. While getting involved in the local criminal underworld wasn’t on the cards, the pair have to survive some pretty nefarious behaviour in order to keep their business afloat. This series is less about realism than entertainment, but you’re always in good hands when Forte and Carden are on the screen.
Rose of Tralee Monday/Tuesday, RTÉ One, 8pm
Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas, hosts of the Rose of Tralee
Sixty-six years after it was created, the Rose of Tralee still maintains a strong cultural foothold in Ireland. Though the idea of choosing the lovely girl of all lovely girls feels a little old-fashioned, it’s fair to say the competition has moved with the times and there’s a lot of affection for the Rose of Tralee across the country – not least because the Roses are always a hugely impressive bunch. Returning hosts this year are Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas, who will interview the final 32 Roses live from Tralee at 8pm on Monday and Tuesday. This year, 32 Roses will represent Irish counties and the Irish diaspora, including the United States, UAE, Australia and New Zealand. The most fun part of the show is when the contestants unveil their hidden talents, so let’s hope this year includes a few unexpected moments.
Little BirdTuesday, Sky Atlantic, 9pm
Ellyn Jade and Osawa Muskwa in Little Bird
Canadian network Crave has gone from an unknown in this part of the world to a buzzword for high-quality programming, thanks to the huge success of its queer romance Heated Rivalry. The series Little Bird also comes from Crave, but it’s a very different show. This six-part series is about indigenous woman Bezhig Little Bird (Darla Contois), who was removed from her home in Saskatchewan and adopted into a Montreal Jewish family at the age of five, renamed Esther Rosenblum. The story sheds light on the “Sixties Scoop”, a chilling period of Canadian history lasting until the 1980s, when indigenous children could be taken by child welfare from their homes and sent to white families. In her 20s, Little Bird sets out to find the family she lost, and the show traces her journey to being reunited with them. Though the series first aired in Canada in 2023, it’s a good chance for audiences here to learn more about this element of the country’s history.
Love You to Death Wednesday, Channel 4, 9pm
Lisa Hayden-Johnson claimed her son Matthew had a range of illnesses, from diabetes to an intolerance to sunlight. She appeared on several TV programmes in the UK speaking about her son and his multiple needs, received welfare benefits and donations towards his care. But it turned out her son was not ill at all, and in January 2010 the 35-year-old was jailed for child cruelty and perverting the course of justice. Sixteen years on, this documentary looks at this case of Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Crucially, Lisa is interviewed for the first time since leaving prison.
Ludwig Thursday, BBC One, 9pm
David Mitchell returns for season 2 of the detective show Ludwig.
The name makes this sound like a show about Austrian musical history, but the Ludwig at the centre of this series is John “Ludwig” Taylor, played by David Mitchell. This is the second series of Ludwig, and the man himself is a reclusive genius who is on the search for his missing brother DCI James Taylor. In series one, Ludwig posed as his twin brother, but when the series returns, his true identity is now public and he’s officially working with the police as a crime scene consultant. But while this does put some constraints on his searching, leave it to Ludwig to figure out new ways to look for his brother. Also back on the show is James’s wife, Lucy, played by the always brilliant Anna Maxwell Martin; newcomers include Mark Bonnar (Line of Duty) and Sian Clifford (Fleabag).
StreamingAverage JoeFrom Wednesday, August 19th, Paramount+
When we last saw Pittsburgh plumber Joe Washington, he was plumbing away happily until he discovered that his recently deceased dad had double-crossed the Russian mob, and now they were coming after him and his family, looking for their $10 million back. And their Lamborghini. Luckily Joe was able to tap into his inner Super Mario and give the Russians the bum’s rush and as the first season ended, he was settling back down to everyday life fixing folks’ pipes and faucets. But it’s not long before a spanner is thrown in the works and Joe has to strap on his tool belt and save his family from a mysterious new threat. His latest mission will take him and his team to Cape Town in South Africa, where they’ll soon learn they’re not in Kansas any more. Deon Cole returns as Joe, with Malcolm Barrett as Leon, Cynthia McWilliams as Cathy, Michael Trucco as Touch and new cast members Katlego Lebogang as the mysterious Imani and Hakeem Kae-Kazim as Cape Town crime boss Sipho.