{"id":273656,"date":"2026-02-08T10:46:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T10:46:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/273656\/"},"modified":"2026-02-08T10:46:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T10:46:11","slug":"the-best-new-shows-to-watch-starting-tonight-the-irish-times-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/273656\/","title":{"rendered":"the best new shows to watch, starting tonight \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pick of the WeekLord of the FliesSunday, BBC One, 9pm<\/p>\n

It might surprise you to hear toxic masculinity didn\u2019t start with TikTok<\/a>. Seventy years ago, author William Golding<\/a> addressed the issue, though his setting was not a social media<\/a> platform but a desert island in the Pacific. Now the BBC<\/a> launches its highly anticipated new four-part drama, adapted from Golding\u2019s much-loved novel by Adolescence<\/a> co-creator Jack Thorne and Marc Munden, director of Covid-19 drama Help. You know the story: a group of schoolboys are stranded on an uninhabited island following a plane crash; all the adults are dead, and it\u2019s up to the boys to form a society of sorts in order to survive. Rules are made, roles are set out, and Ralph (Winston Sawyers) is named leader, with brainy Piggy (David McKenna) as his adviser. But Jack (Lox Pratt) has his own ideas about how things should be run, and they don\u2019t involve keeping to rules, so he leads a breakaway group who tap into their primal instincts. Soon the island is looking like America 2026, as two polarised groups vie for control, leading to inevitable tragedy. The series remains faithful to its original 1950s setting, but it\u2019s still got a lot to tell us about today\u2019s fractured world and the importance of democracy and civil society. The series features an ominous score by Cristobal Tapia de Veer, with Hans Zimmer<\/a> and Kara Talve co-creating the main theme.<\/p>\n

HighlightsBetrayalSunday, UTV<\/a>, 9pm\"ZahraZahra Ahmadi and Shaun Evans in Betrayal. Photograph: ITV <\/p>\n

Morse joins MI5<\/a> in this new spy thriller series written by David Eldridge and starring Shaun Evans \u2013 best known for his role as a young Inspector Morse in the hit series Endeavour. Here, Evans is MI5 agent John Hughes, who is struggling to maintain a work-life balance in a business where one wrong decision could cost you your life. When John kills an assassin who has just executed one of his informants, he faces an internal investigation, and soon no one \u2013 not even his wife Claire (Romola Garai) knows who to trust. Convinced there is a plot by an extreme Iranian faction to carry out an attack on British soil, John desperately tries to learn the target of the planned atrocity, all the while trying to keep his marriage and personal life from completely imploding. The series also stars Zahra Ahmadi and Nikki Amuka-Bird. <\/p>\n

Scoil Samhraidh Joe Mooney Sunday, TG4, 9.30pm\"AaronAaron and Ava Glancy performing on Scoil Samhraidh Joe Mooney. Photograph: TG4 <\/p>\n

The Joe Mooney Summer School<\/a> has been held in Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim<\/a> for the past 35 years, and this four-part series captures the vibrancy and spirit of the event, named after local senator Joseph Mary Plunkett Mooney, who was a champion of traditional music, and a co-founder of Comhaltas Ceolt\u00f3ir\u00ed \u00c9ireann<\/a>. Filmed during last year\u2019s festival in July, the series features some of the finest traditional musicians and singers around, delivering memorable performances in various venues around Drumshanbo. Among the artists showcased across the series are Charlie McGettigan<\/a>, Damaris Woods & Jim Murray, Mair\u00e9ad N\u00ed Fhlatharta, Lillie Crossley and Catherine Cullen, Brian McNamara and Seamie O\u2019Dowd. There\u2019ll also be lots of chat and celebration, all with the beautiful Leitrim lakelands as a backdrop, in this series directed by traditional musician and film-maker Edel Fox.<\/p>\n

RT\u00c9 Investigates: The Psychiatric Care ScandalMonday and Tuesday, RT\u00c9 One, 9.35pm\"RTÉRT\u00c9 Investigates: The Psychiatric Care Scandal \u2013 a two-part investigative series <\/p>\n

Twenty years ago, the Irish government promised a complete reform of the State\u2019s mental health<\/a> services, particularly in the area of psychiatric care. A policy document, A Vision for Change, set out plans to move the focus of psychiatric care away from large institutions and towards more community-based treatment. One of the big issues to be addressed was the criminalisation of psychiatric care, where people who suffered from mental health problems were put in isolation cells, ostensibly to prevent them harming themselves or others, but having the unintended consequence of causing further mental distress. This two-part investigative series asks if the promise of better community mental healthcare has come about, or is psychiatric care still in the dark ages. The series will uncover how individuals and families are left in limbo by the continued criminalisation of psychiatric treatment, and questions whether successive governments are serious about providing adequate mental health services to the most vulnerable people. <\/p>\n

Small ProphetsMonday, BBC Two, 11pm\"PearcePearce Quigley and Lauren Patel in Small Prophets. Photograph: BBC\/Treasure Trove\/Blue House\/Matt Squire <\/p>\n

Mackenzie Crook<\/a>, star of The Office<\/a> and the Pirates of the Caribbean<\/a> films, surprised everyone in 2014 when he created Detectorists, a subtle, meditative comedy about two men (played by Crooks and Toby Jones<\/a>) and their metal detectors, searching for fabled Saxon treasure. It quickly became a national treasure, and since it ended in 2022, fans have waited patiently for Crook\u2019s next project, and he has a few surprises in store with a series that blends ordinary northern England life with extraordinary supernatural phenomena. Crooks has created, produced and written the series, but he doesn\u2019t play the central character, Michael Sleep. That role is taken by Pearse Quigley, with Michael Palin<\/a> playing Michael\u2019s dad, Brian. Michael, a widower who works at the local DIY superstore, has found a very unusual hobby: growing homunculi in jars in his garden shed, following a recipe revealed to him by his dad. They\u2019re like miniature humans, with the power to predict the future, and Michael has just one question for his magical, prophesying creatures: when will he be reunited with his girlfriend Clea, who disappeared seven years ago? No surprise that the homunculi soon wreak havoc in this sleepy suburb. Crook plays the DIY superstore\u2019s manager, Gordon, who seems to have a Black & Decker up his ass, leading a fine supporting cast that includes Lauren Patel, Sophie Willan, Jon Pointing and Paul Kaye.<\/p>\n

The SummitTuesday, UTV, 9pm\"TheThe Summit <\/p>\n

TV execs have been spending long hours in boardrooms, gathered around a whiteboard and frantically brainstorming clever new ideas for reality shows to feed viewers\u2019 insatiable appetite for the next Traitors<\/a> or I\u2019m a Celebrity<\/a>. In this new reality series, contestants have to … climb a mountain. Er, that\u2019s it. It\u2019s based on an Australian series from 2023, and will see 14 strangers set off on a 100km trek through spectacular New Zealand landscape, followed by an 8,500ft climb. To make it more interesting, each contestant carries their share of the 200 grand prize money along with their other gear, but only those who reach the summit will get to divvy up the booty. During the ascent, contestants will be set various tasks by a sinister figure known as the Mountain\u2019s Keeper; they will also get to plot and scheme against each other, and have a chance to vote each other off the mountain at various campsites along the way. Overseeing it all is This Morning co-presenter Ben Shephard.<\/p>\n

StreamingThe Artful DodgerFrom Tuesday, February 10th, Disney+\"TheThe Artful Dodger <\/p>\n

Thomas Brodie-Sangster<\/a> returns as Dr Jack Dawkins in the second series of the comedy-drama featuring characters from the Charles Dickens classic Oliver Twist. Jack, formerly known as the Artful Dodger, has moved to Australia and is using his light-fingered talent as a respected surgeon. But when his old gaffer Fagin (David Thewlis) shows up, Jack is tempted to pick a pocket or two, and soon he\u2019s dragged back into a life of crime. As series two opens, Jack is being pursued by Inspector Henry Boxer (Luke Bracey). Meanwhile, his true love, Lady Belle Fox (Maia Mitchell), is pursuing her ambition to be the greatest woman surgeon. While Jack has to keep away from Belle to avoid the noose, Boxer tries to move in on his girl. When Fagin comes up with a plan for a big heist, Jack sees a chance to get himself out of a tricky spot \u2013 but will he just end up in more hot water?<\/p>\n

CrossFrom Wednesday, February 11th, Prime Video<\/p>\n

Aldis Hodge<\/a> returns as the titular homicide detective for a second series of the crime drama based on the novels by James Patterson and set on the mean streets of Washington, DC. Alex Cross is not only a damn good cop but also a brilliant forensic psychologist, and his speciality is getting into the minds of the serial killers he\u2019s hunting \u2013 great for catching killers but not very good for your long-term mental health. This season Cross is on the trail of a murderous vigilante who is targeting corrupt billionaires \u2013 of which there\u2019s no shortage in DC.<\/p>\n

How to Get to Heaven from BelfastFrom Thursday, February 12th, Netflix\"HowHow to get to Heaven from Belfast: Roisin Gallagher, Caoilfhionn Dunne and Sinead Keenan in the new Netflix series by Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee. Photograph: Netflix\/Christopher Barr <\/p>\n

Imagine the Derry Girls<\/a> grew into adulthood and their lives became even more chaotic \u2013 and more dangerous \u2013 than ever before. This new comedy thriller from Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee<\/a> stars R\u00f3is\u00edn Gallagher<\/a>, Sin\u00e9ad Keenan<\/a> and Caoilfhionn Dunne<\/a> as Saoirse, Robyn and Dara, three thirtysomething women who have been friends since childhood. There was a fourth bestie, Greta, but she has long been estranged from the gang. When they get an email informing them of Greta\u2019s death, the friends head to the wake \u2013 and discover that the body in the coffin is not Greta\u2019s. So begins a surreal odyssey around Ireland and farther afield as the trio set out to unravel the mystery while being pursued by various unsavoury characters. The cast includes Natasha O\u2019Keeffe, Bronagh Gallagher, Michelle Fairley, Ardal O\u2019Hanlon and Emmet J Scanlan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Pick of the WeekLord of the FliesSunday, BBC One, 9pm It might surprise you to hear toxic masculinity…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":273657,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[2974,154427,26606,156,7386,150274,154426,1094,111,139,69,150273,42351,103072,150276,437,135983],"class_list":{"0":"post-273656","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tv","8":"tag-bbc","9":"tag-charlie-mcgettigan","10":"tag-disney-plus","11":"tag-entertainment","12":"tag-itv","13":"tag-lisa-mcgee","14":"tag-michael-palin","15":"tag-netflix","16":"tag-new-zealand","17":"tag-newzealand","18":"tag-nz","19":"tag-prime-tv","20":"tag-rte","21":"tag-tg4","22":"tag-thomas-brodie-sangster","23":"tag-tv","24":"tag-tv-guide"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273656","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=273656"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273656\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/273657"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=273656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=273656"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=273656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}