Sunday’s TV Tips

Here’s our spoiler-free guide to what you should watch on the box tonight.

Sunday’s TV Tips

SPORT: The Sunday Game Live (RTÉ Two, 12.30pm)

Michael Lyster is joined by Ciaran Whelan, Colm O’Rourke and Joe Brolly for live coverage from Croke Park of the All-Ireland Senior Football Final between Munster champions Kerry and 2012 All Ireland champions and reigning Ulster champions Donegal.

The game itself will be preceded by a season review as well as a studio-based preview of the big match, featuring a look at the day’s papers, the views of the fans and a look back at some classic archive of All Ireland Finals from the past.

Commentary from Ger Canning. Throw-in is at 3.30pm, or catch highlights on The Sunday Game at 9.30pm.

HEALTH: Ireland’s Fittest Family (RTÉ One, 6.30pm)

Following its successful first series on RTÉ One, Ireland’s Fittest Family is back.

Kicking off a seven-week run, the series will once again pit 12 sports-obsessed families against each other.

Through a series of intense and extreme physical challenges they will battle it out for the €15k prize and the title of Ireland’s Fittest Family 2014.

This week’s episode comes from Spike Island prison in Co. Cork with the first two of our four qualifying rounds where each coach’s three families compete for the two places on their team.

First up it’ll be the turn of our newbie coaches as Derval and Jason put their families through two gruelling events, Hard Labour and Prison Break. Four families will go through, two will go home.

ENTERTAINMENT: Sunday Night at the Palladium (ITV, 7pm)

You can’t keep a good thing down, which is perhaps why this variety show has been popping up on our screens intermittently since its debut in 1955.

Among its most famous hosts in its heyday were some of the era’s biggest names, including Tommy Trinder, Bruce Forsyth and Jimmy Tarbuck. So it was slightly underwhelming when Stephen Mulhern was chosen to helm its return last week.

Thankfully, it’s back on track this time, with Jason Manford taking control.

Music will be provided by Maroon Five, who make a rare UK TV appearance here, disco legends Earth, Wind and Fire play some of their most memorable hits, new pop sensation Ella Henderson unveils her new song Glow, and Madalena Alberto, star of the West End’s Evita, sings Don’t Cry for Me Argentina.

Comedian Hal Cruttenden provides more laughs, while Canadian acrobats Les 7 Doigts de la Main delight the crowd and audience members vie for the chance to win some incredible prizes.

Downton Abbey (ITV, 9pm)

Life above and below stairs at Downton Abbey rumbles on - this is the fifth series of Oscar-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes’ baby, and it shows no signs of growing old or tired yet.

It’s now 1924, and a new Labour government has swept to power. That political change has a huge effect on Britain, and there are alterations at Downton too - not least for Branson and Mary.

Meanwhile, Edith struggles to cope with being parted from her baby daughter.

Most of the cast have been working together for several years now, and it’s clear that is helping them produce amazing performances.

Hugh Bonneville says: “Clearly the show has gained a place of affection in lots of people’s hearts – and that’s great. It’s thrilling to be in something that seems to have brought large numbers of the viewing public together in shared enjoyment.”

DOCUMENTARY: Operation Maneater (Channel 4, 8pm)

Mark Evans has become Channel 4’s go-to guy when it comes to animal-based series.

The former chief vet at the RSPCA was recently seen presenting a new run of The Secret Lives of Dogs, in which he helped various troubled pooches and their owners.

This time he’s tackling rather more exotic and potentially dangerous subjects by traveling across the globe to come face-to-face with three deadly predators - the Nile crocodile, polar bear and great white shark.

When these creatures attack humans, there is no winner.

While people are killed or maimed, the animals are killed in retaliation – but Mark believes that adopting new technological methods could help protect both sides of the equation.

To convince others of that, he must test out his theories in the wild, and viewers will see the fruits of his labours in this programme over the coming weeks.

DRAMA: Our Girl (BBC1, 9pm)

You can run but you can’t hide from Lacey Turner at the moment.

She’s currently in EastEnders playing Stacey, the character who helped turn her into a star, and now she’s back with a new run our Our Girl, in which she portrays young soldier Molly – the role that gave her a chance to prove she can do more than cry, scream and be generally miserable.

Not that Molly is a stranger to the more downbeat aspects of life, but when we meet her again, she’s in a good mood – she’s over the moon about being sent to Afghanistan on one of the army’s final deployments.

However, on her arrival, she struggles to fit in with the other members of her new platoon which contains an old flame who seems keen to make her life a misery.

And to make matters worse, Molly’s commanding officer doesn’t seem to notice she even exists – until a tricky situation allows her to prove her worth.

FILM: Safe House (Channel 4, 9pm)

Agent Matt Weston is caretaker of a CIA safe house in Johannesburg. Humdrum routine is thrown into disarray by the arrival of grizzled agent Daniel Kiefer with a prisoner: rogue operative Tobin Frost, who famously sold out the agency to the highest bidder.

In the middle of a highly charged interrogation, the building’s defences are compromised by a gang of gun-toting thugs led by Vargas.

Safe House accelerates into top gear in the frenetic opening 10 minutes and barely touches the brakes as director Daniel Espinosa orchestrates each set piece with aplomb.

Ryan Reynolds copes admirably with the rigours of his underwritten role, while Denzel Washington is as watchable as ever.

RottenTomatoes.com Rating: 53%

MUSIC: The Imelda May Show (RTÉ One, 9.30pm)

Filmed in front of a live studio audience, The Imelda May Show celebrates Ireland’s love of music, hosted by the one and only Imelda May.

Tonight’s episode features Sinead O’Connor, Hozier, The Strypes and Paul Brady.

Fans of the show can also watch extra exclusive online content on RTÉ Player, including additional performances and interviews with artists from show.

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