A whole glorious bank holiday weekend lies before us, and while it's all well and good to want to do something productive with this time, it's also perfectly acceptable (and just lovely) to kick back, put the kettle on and just let the good old tellybox entertain you.

FRIDAY

Episodes
BBC Two: 10.00pm

New series of this Emmy-nominated series which stars Matt Le Blanc as... Matt LeBlanc! Well, a parodied version of himself anyways, (we hope). Several months have passed and Matt's show The Box is now a runaway hit. Unfortunately for Matt, this means that he must have daily contact with his producer Merc Lapidus and, if anything, the animosity between the two has only got worse.

The Late Late Show
RTÉ One: 9.35pm

Graham Norton isn't back until next week so if you're looking for your Friday chat show hit, The Late Late Show is where it's at. The lineup tonight includes Bob Geldof, Maeve Higgins, Bryan Dobson and Finbar Furey. Forget all them though, there's going to be donkeys! We will get to meet some of the animals rescued and restored to full health by The Donkey Sanctuary.

Rob Beckett's Playing for Time
Channel 4: 11.15pm

This new series sees comedian Rob Beckett and guest Scarlett Moffatt revisit the 1980s, dressing in appropriate fashion and reminiscing about the music, fashion, toys and pop culture of the era. Timelord of the space-time continuum Peggy Aytean (Kerry Godliman) offers guidance and advice to the duo as they then travel forward through the decades to the present day. Could be a bit of craic.


 

SATURDAY

Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway
TV3: 7.00pm

Dec takes on his first hosting gig without his trustee companion Ant following the presenter's controversial arrest over drink-driving recently. He will have plenty of company though as Stephen Merchant is on duty as the Star Guest Announcer, and Stephen Mulhern hits the streets of Warrington for the latest round of In for a Penny. Plus, Paloma Faith takes to the stage in the End of the Show Show and Irish band The Script are in the studio for Singalong Live. There will also be plenty of surprises as more Places on the Plane are given away, and another lucky player gets the chance to Win the Ads.

Hamlet
BBC Two: 9.00pm

The Almeida Theatre's 2017 acclaimed production of Shakespeare's play, recorded as-live in its West End transfer on the stage of London's Harold Pinter Theatre. Robert Icke's production stars Andrew Scott as the Prince compelled to seek vengeance by an encounter with his murdered father's ghost. The film features the original cast of the stage production and is directed for the screen by Rhodri Huw. Also starring Juliet Stevenson as Queen Gertrude, Angus Wright as Claudius and Jessica Brown Findlay as Ophelia.

Watermelon
TV3: 9.00pm

If you've ever read a Marian Keyes book on public transport, you will know the sheer trauma it is trying to stifle buckets of laughter over her words. Hell, sometimes we just go for it, let them judge. Watermelon is one of the writer's earlier books and tonight's movie on TV3 is the adaption. While it does fall victim to the 'book being way better than the movie' cliche, it's still a charming watch. Anna Friel stars alongside Brenda Fricker and Sean McGinley in this story of a Dublin woman living in London, who is left holding the baby when her doting boyfriend discovers the child he thought was his is actually her ex's. Tricky situation but with Brenda Fricker as her mammy, no doubt it will all get resolved.

SUNDAY

Room to Improve
RTE One: 9.30pm

We've gotten quite attached to having good old Dermot Bannon fixing up gaffs of a Sunday evening, saying "we need MORE LIGHT" and such, but sadly this is the final episode in the current series of Room to Improve. Hopefully they have saved the best until last though as Dermot is in Stillorgan in South Dublin where he will be attempting to bring a vision of 'Malibu style' to the 1960s home of clients Lorna and Rory.

Ordeal by Innocence
BBC One: 9.00pm

This new BBC adaptation of Agatha Christie's novel has had its fair share of drama already after Ed Westwick's character had to be replaced following allegations made against the former Gossip Girl star last November. Christian Cooke took over the role and he stars alongside Bill Nighy, Catherine Keener and Downton Abbey’s Matthew Goode. It tells the story of a former husband of a murdered heiress who is preparing to remarry 18 months after her adopted son was convicted of killing her, before dying himself in a prison brawl. However, the wedding preparations are disrupted by the arrival of a mysterious scientist who has returned from an expedition to the Arctic - and who claims to be able to prove the supposed murderer is innocent.

Countdown to Calvary
RTE One: 8.00pm

Former Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville travels to Jerusalem to tell the story of the last six days of Jesus' life, in a programme that uses CGI to recreate the city as it was in the 1st century.

MONDAY

Dave Allen at Peace
RTE One: 9.30pm + BBC Two: 9.00pm

Aidan Gillen returns to the small screen for this biopic about legendary Irish comedian Dave Allen. Commissioned by the BBC in association with RTÉ, it follows the story of Dubliner Allen, who was one of the most popular but also controversial comedians of his time, enjoying a 40-year career. He died in March 2005. Aidan Gillen will play the provocative godfather of modern stand-up, while comedian and RTÉ presenter Tommy Tiernan will play Dave’s father. Pauline McLynn (Father Ted) and Ian McElhinney (Game of Thrones, Derry Girls) also have roles in the show while other members of the cast include fellow Game of Thrones star Conleth Hill as well as Joanne Crawford (Line of Duty), Simon Day (The Fast Show) and Robert Bathurst (Cold Feet).

Travel Man: 48 Hours in Brussels
Channel 4: 8.30pm

Richard Ayoade returns with the offbeat tourism show and is joined in the first edition by comedian and Not Going Out star Lee Mack for a short break in the Belgian capital. Their two-day trip features culture, comics, pralines, puppets and attractions both large and small, including the Grand Place and the famous atom-shaped Atomium, as well as waffles, mussels - including Moules Ghenghis Khan - and the secrets of chocolate-making.

The Island with Bear Grylls
Channel 4: 9.00pm

The survival challenge returns with two separate groups being abandoned at opposite ends of a remote uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean, with the 16 Islanders facing extreme tropical weather, limited resources and environmental hazards. One team of castaways consists of professionals living off an average income of £100,000 a year, while the members of other earn below the UK national average wage. In the first episode, Bear Grylls drops them off in caiman-infested mangroves and deep water.