American Football (BBC2, 1pm)
Nat Coombs presents live coverage of the second game of the 2015 International Series as the Jacksonville Jaguars host fellow AFC Conference side Buffalo Bills at Wembley Stadium. It will be the third successive year the Jaguars have played in London. They were beaten by the San Francisco 49ers in 2013 and lost to the Dallas Cowboys in 2014. Can the improving Jags enjoy that winning Wembley feeling at the third time of asking? The Bills, four-time Super Bowl runners-up in the early 1990s, will be making their first appearance in the UK. Studio analysis comes from Mike Carlson and two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora.
Rugby World Cup: Australia v Argentina (TV3, 2.30pm)
When the draw was made, certain teams would have been hoping to make it into this side of the competition as it was dubbed by some as the easiest. However, there are no easy games in a World Cup knockout and with Australia, Ireland and rapidly improving Scotland and Argentina teams competing in the quarter-finals, whoever made it here will have had to work for it. John Inverdale presents to see who has what it takes to make it through to next Saturday’s showpiece match at Twickenham.
Dr Seuss’ The Lorax (Ch4, 3.45pm)
(2012) Twelve-year-old Ted Wiggins (voiced by Zac Efron) lives in the carefully controlled utopia of Thneed-ville. Town mayor Aloysius (Rob Riggle) provides the residents with all they need – everything except for real plants, which are manufactured in a factory. Ted pines for the girl next door, Audrey (Taylor Swift), who tells him, “What I want to see more than anything is a real-life tree growing in my backyard.” So the smitten lad seeks out a hermit called the Once-ler (Ed Helms). The Once-ler recounts how he inadvertently devastated the lush landscape for generations to come and “summoned the legendary and slightly annoying guardian of the forest” known as The Lorax (Danny DeVito). Aware of the perils that lay ahead, Ted resolves to bring green back to Thneed-ville and win Audrey’s heart.
Great Canal Journeys (C4, 8pm)
Part of this gentle documentary series’ joy is the warm and often funny relationship between its two presenters, husband-and-wife actors Timothy West and Prunella Scales. In the first of a new three-part series, the couple go in search of the lost route between London and the sea, which has not been fully open for more than 200 years. Now requiring four different boats to traverse, they leave the Thames at Teddington before visiting Guildford and the Sussex countryside on their way to the coast.
The Great Irish Bake Off (TV3, 9pm)
The bake off is back and with a new judge! So get ready for more floppy flans, burnt tarts and gorgeous buns, as 12 contestants compete once more to be crowned best amateur baker!
Joining host Anna Nolan and judge Paul Kelly from The Merrion Hotel will be a new face - food writer, blogger and Irish Times columnist Lilly Higgins.
The series begins with Dessert Week and our bakers aiming to impress the judges in the famous ‘Bake Off’ tent with their Signature and Technical bakes.
The Signature Bake has a ‘Memorable Moment, Place or Time’ theme and is a first opportunity for the bakers to show the judges what they can do.
From Darkness (BBC1, 9pm)
The crime drama starring Anne-Marie Duff reaches its shocking conclusion tonight as Claire’s (Duff) confession leaves both her and John (Johnny Harris) devastated, while an attempt to bring the prime suspect to justice ends in disaster. Claire’s intention to use Lucy’s (Lyndsey Marshal) obsession against her has dangerous repercussions, and John jeopardises his career to keep Lucy from killing again but, after the secret behind the deaths comes to light, another tragedy seems unavoidable.
Britain’s Ultimate Pilots: Inside the RAF (BBC2, 9pm)
The penultimate episode of the documentary series following the Red Arrows, the RAF’s aerobatics display team, throughout a summer display season. The Red Arrows play their part in marking the end of an era as they appear in a succession of airshows, including one with the mighty Vulcan bomber. Meanwhile, the Chinook pilots submit themselves to gruelling underwater training exercises ahead of a planned aerial display in Blackpool – but will unusually high winds scupper their plans?
Homeland (Ch4, 9pm)
“I really thought I left all of this behind,” Carrie tells boyfriend Jonas in the latest episode of the US drama’s fifth season. However, starting a new life was never going to be that easy for the former CIA operative, and when Jonas asks what her plan is, Carrie reveals she is going to make an enemies list of all those who could be suspected threats. But before Carrie can uncover who is after her, she may have to defend herself against someone who was previously very close to her. Secret assassin Quinn has learned his next target and is stalking his prey. Is it Carrie? While it appears Mathison will have her hands full with her former almost lover, he may not be her only enemy, as Berlin Station Chief Allison Carr tells her team to keep an eye on the former agency member.
Better off Abroad – The Irish in Dubai (RTE One, 9.30pm)
In the first of a new two-part series on the Irish abroad which will feature Silicon Valley next week, George Lee travels to Dubai to meet the Irish lured to Dubai’s golden shores and see what a city in the middle of the desert has to offer them.
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (RTE Two, 9.30pm)
(2004) Nat Coombs presents live coverage of the second game of the 2015 International Series as the Jacksonville Jaguars host fellow AFC Conference side Buffalo Bills at Wembley Stadium. It will be the third successive year the Jaguars have played in London. They were beaten by the San Francisco 49ers in 2013 and lost to the Dallas Cowboys in 2014. Can the improving Jags enjoy that winning Wembley feeling at the third time of asking? The Bills, four-time Super Bowl runners-up in the early 1990s, will be making their first appearance in the UK. Studio analysis comes from Mike Carlson and two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora.
False Trail (BBC4, 10.00pm)
(2011) In the 1996 Swedish thriller Jagarna, Stockholm-based police officer Erik Backstrom (Rolf Lassgard) learnt about the death of his abusive father and returned to his hometown to be reunited with his estranged younger brother, Leif (Lennart Jahkel). In grief, the siblings rebuilt bridges until Erik investigated a case of reindeer poaching and discovered evidence linking his brother to the gang of hunters. In this belated sequel, once again directed by Kjell Sundvall, Erik returns to his hometown to investigate the murder of a girl and falls foul of local hunter Torsten (Peter Stormare), who has more reasons than most to avoid the cops.
The Meaning of Life, with Gay Byrne (RTE One, 10.30pm)
The Meaning of Life with Gay Byrne tonight talks to Sr Stanislaus Kennedy about her life-long commitment to the poor and her role as advocate for the homeless as well as her criticisms of anoverly clerical church of today.
Wake Wood (BBC1, 12.00am)
(2010) Veterinarian Patrick Daly (Aiden Gillen) and his pharmacist wife, Louise (Eva Birthistle), are distraught after their daughter Alice (Ella Connolly) is mauled to death by a dangerous dog. Consumed by grief and desperate to escape painful memories of the past, the couple heads to the sleepy Irish village of Wake Wood where Patrick takes over the local practice and Louise works in the village chemist store. As the Patrick and Louise gain the trust of the villagers, they learn of an ancient tradition to bring back the recently deceased for three days so that loved ones can say a proper farewell. The ritual dates back hundreds of years and if Patrick and Louise deviate from the rules, they must pay a horrifying price.
Trishna (BBC2, 12.00am)
(2011) Writer-director Michael Winterbottom transplants Thomas Hardy’s classic Tess Of The D’Urbervilles from rural Wessex to colourful Rajasthan. Trishna (Freida Pinto) lives with her family, eking out a meagre living to provide for the people she loves. By chance, she meets charismatic British businessman Jay Singh (Riz Ahmed). There is a spark of attraction, which is ignited when cruel fate threatens Trishna’s livelihood and she seeks employment in Jay’s hotel as a maid. To keep up appearances, Trishna and Kay conduct their illicit liaisons behind closed doors, behaving as boss and servant in front of the other staff. The subterfuge takes its toll on the relationship and Trishna is torn between her dreams in a rapidly developing work and her responsibilities to her traditionalist father.
