Today's top TV and streaming picks: Casino Royale, Deep Cover and World's Biggest Crash Test
From that Small Island RTÉ One, 6.30pm
The coming of the English is the main subject of the second episode of a series exploring the history of the Irish people. It begins 1,000 years ago with an insight into the shape of Europe and Ireland's place within it before the Normans arrived.
Mammals RTÉ2, 8.30pm
Originally broadcast by the BBC last year, this six-part natural history programme is fronted by David Attenborough, which means it's well worth checking out again. He reveals how mammals have always adapted to their surroundings, beginning with those that thrive in the dark.
Pile Up: World's Biggest Crash Test Channel 4, 9pm
Feature-length documentary using remote-control technology and specialist cameras to simulate a multi-vehicle crash, the purpose being to figure out how cars and people react to such a terrifying situation.
Later... with Jools Holland BBC Two, 10pm & 10.45pm
We're being treated to a double bill, which begins with performances from Wet Leg, Sparks, Ludovico Einaudi, Sasha Keable, Annahstasia and Brooke Combe. Afterwards, Peggy Seeger, Sugababes, Wolf Alice, Kae Tempest, Obongjayar and George Houston take centre stage.
Casino Royale RTÉ One, 9.30pm
Daniel Craig's first outing as James Bond follows 007 during his efforts to bring down Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), a shady figure who funds international terrorism. Eva Green plays the love interest, while Judi Dench returns as Bond's boss M.
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28 Days Later BBC One, 10.30pm
Ahead of the third film in the franchise's release, here's a chance to see the original chiller. Cillian Murphy plays a London-based man who awakes from a coma to find a virus has turned most of the rest of the UK into terrifying zombie-like creatures.
American Thunder Prime Video, streaming now
Celebrating its 100th anniversary in June 2023, the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans — one of motorsports' most prestigious endurance races — introduced an unexpected competitor: stock car aficionados Nascar. As for what they brought to proceedings? A Chevrolet Camaro to compete against cutting-edge Ferrari and Porsche prototypes in this almost fabled, gruelling test of long-distance racing. Competing at Le Mans was the lifelong dream of Nascar chairman and CEO Jim France. As such, he brought in Hendrick Motorsports, the most successful team in Nascar history, to build and race the car (which, again, was a Camaro). On the plus side, he also enlisted the help of elite drivers Jenson Button, Jimmie Johnson and Mike Rockenfeller. Over the course of 18 months, this team transformed a car built for (at most) three-hour oval track races in the US into one capable of surviving the relentless 24-hour challenge.
Deep Cover Prime Video, streaming now
Not to be mistaken for the 1990s movie starring Fishburne and Goldblum, this film is about an improv teacher and her two students posing as criminals to slip into London's underworld. Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom, Nick Mohammed and Sean Bean have their work cut out for them to make this fly.
Return to the Wild Disney+, streaming now
Famed as 'the greatest living explorer', Sir Ranulph 'Ran' Fiennes joins his cousin, actor Joseph Fiennes (no sign of brother Ralph, unfortunately), on a breathtaking journey through British Columbia. As they navigate its rugged terrain, they reflect on Ran's legendary expeditions, his battle with Parkinson's, and the deepening bond forged through their shared adventure. Echo Valley AppleTV+, streaming now
Julianne Moore and Domhnall Gleeson are getting all the work of late. Both co-star in this thriller about a mother who will do anything to keep her drug-addled daughter 'safe' (including body disposal). Written by Brad Ingelsby (Mare of Easttown), this moody (if a tad predictable) number stars Sydney Sweeney alongside 'dad' Kyle MacLachlan and Fiona Shaw.
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Irish Examiner
38 minutes ago
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Suzanne Harrington: 'Terrorist-adjacent', hilarious, galvanising, inspirational Kneecap
At a moment where that Chinese curse — may you live in interesting times — is taking itself far too literally, we could all do with a fat slap of levity. I'm pinning my hopes on Kneecap's Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh when he shows up at Westminster magistrates court this Wednesday on terror charges. I'm hoping he'll ask for a translator, like he did while playing a version of himself in the Kneecap film. That life will imitate art, and he will not speak a single word of English during this nonsensical waste of Liam's time and taxpayers' cash. Because really... terror charges? A surreal idea, like something dreamed up by Flann O'Brien and Franz Kafka after sharing a pot of peyote tea. These charges do not include any actual terrorism — no bombing of schools and hospitals, vaporising ambulances, starving and murdering tens of thousands of civilians — but centre on the alleged handling of a banned flag indoors last November. Touching a rectangle of fabric. Briefly. Kneecap, who have asked supporters to gather outside the London court building on the day, describe this moment of British power-flexing theatrics as 'political policing', a 'carnival of distraction'. Goliath, as ever, punching down; Daithí readying his sling. Because if the British government wants a carnival, it could not have cast better players. Kneecap know all about performance, situationism, absurdism. They themselves are fearless theatre. Imagine then this life-imitating-art scenario, where Liam Óg speaks only Irish in court. Imagine how funny that would be, how utterly, brilliantly comedic, how richly satisfying. The spluttering, the outrage, the apoplexy. The hilarity. The glee. And yes, it's a lot to ask a 27-year-old facing the wrath of the British establishment doing their best to intimidate, to derail his career, but tá bualain ar an bhuach. (And yes, of course I had to google that. I can't speak Irish; unlike Peig Sayers, Kneecap are the first people who have ever inspired me to look up any Irish words. Don't hate me if it reads like a badly translated menu). Celtic fans unveil a banner that reads "Free Palestine" and "Kneecap Abu" during the Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Picture date: Saturday May 24, 2025. PA Photo. That's why the establishment wants to squash Kneecap, cancel them, restrict their movement — because they inspire. They galvanise. Like those enormous peaceful marches for Palestine that regularly bring central London to a halt but are never reported by the BBC or other major British media (turnout for the last one on May 17 was 500,000-600,000) — Kneecap, along with a handful of other vocal critics, are doing what the British government is not: loudly calling out atrocities. They're being labelled as terrorist-adjacent for their trouble, as they provide a focus for people appalled at the genocide, appalled at the complicity of the US and Britain. Along with the marches, along with other musicians such as Fontaines and Macklemore, they are providing an unofficial form of anger management. It must be infuriating therefore for those keen to shut them up to see how the more Kneecap hold their nerve, hold their principles ('If it comes down to awards or breaking America by sacrificing what you believe in, then America can go fuck itself') the bigger they get. Cancelled from a Scottish festival that caved to 'safety concerns', they sold out an alternative venue in seconds. Glastonbury refused to cancel them. And in September, they play their biggest venue to date — Wembley Arena. The cancelling is not going well. I'm off to google the Irish for 'fight the power'. Read More Film Reviews: How to Train Your Dragon makes superb use of Northern Irish scenery
Sunday World
an hour ago
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I Kissed A Boy's Irish star opens up on how the BBC show was the experience of a lifetime
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TV show I Kissed A Boy 'I have three piercings, including a septum, the three you can see. I got the septum first which was a bit wild. My mum didn't talk to me for a few days after, but no others for now.' Hugh hails from the southside of Cork and now lives in London, where he has become friends with another Irish lad who starred on I Kissed A Boy, Rory Jennings from Galway. 'It's nice because Rory moved to London recently and we live really close to each other. We bonded after the show; we would have had a great laugh on the show. But we're great friends now even though we didn't meet in the Maserati [Italian villa],' explains Hugh. 'It's just platonic with us. We have so much in common, being Irish, being in London and having gone through this experience 'When I moved to London I was kind of showing him the ropes around here.' Host Dannii Minogue Hugh delved into the Cork gay scene when he was younger, but all the gay bars there, including Chambers, have now sadly shut their doors for good. 'Chambers was my home away from home,' he confirms. 'I used to go there seven days a week. If I wasn't on a night out, I'd drive in on a Sunday just to see what queens were around — they were some of my closet friends. 'There's a lot of grassroots scene now, where a lot of people are taking it into their own hands rather than rely on a big corporation to run nights and create queer spaces. I did the same myself back in Cork and I do the same in London. I run club nights, creating a queer space 'Chambers was great. I really kind of found my confidence through queer nightlife and made a lot of friends and learned a lot about myself through that, so I can provide a space for other people to do that.' Hugh now works in recruitment in London as his day job, as well a being a club promoter at night in the English capital. 'I had got everything out of Cork that I could have, so I wanted to move on,' he points out. 'Home will be always home — a quick Ryanair flight back and I'm home. 'I love London, it's kind of the perfect place for me right now. There's so much opportunity here, both in terms of work sense, social sense, meeting people from all walks of life.' TV show I Kissed A Boy Hugh was attracted to Jack S on the show. 'Jack is hilarious,' he raves. 'That was the first thing that stood out to me. He was bubbling with personality and he is very confident in himself; he knows who he is. He is up for a laugh and also quite flirtatious, so definitely a personality that drew me in. 'Especially being a new boy in there, somebody you can kind of bounce off. 'Jack S loves his jewellery and has a great sense of style, and clothing and hairstyle. He could be a model if he wanted.' Hugh says he didn't really see anything in any of the other lads. 'I guess when I first went in, a lot of people were kind of good-looking in their own right. But, to be honest, throughout the show I didn't focus on anyone else, I wasn't really attracted to anyone else like that,' he reveals. 'I kind of just because friends with a lot of other people, it was mainly just Jack S that I focused on.' Hugh Brien from Cork, who is currently appearing on reality TV show I Kissed A Boy News in 90 Seconds - 15th June 2025 'I truly don't mind masculine or feminine, there's such a stigma around, especially [among] gay men, a section of our community, which can be very problematic. 'But honestly for me it's much more about the personality — we cry, we can laugh, we can challenge each other. 'There's a few more episodes to come, you have to stay tuned, a lot more to develop and come.' Hugh says his longest relationship was for three years back in Cork, and he knew little about the show before taking part. 'I didn't actually know that much about the show when I was approached by one of the casting producers. But I did some research before and saw what the show was about, that it wasn't making up drama, it was just real queer people getting on and having relationships,' he explains. 'It was just amazing representations. It was something I could have definitely benefited with when I was young, and also I was single at the time, so I said 'why not?'.' Two of his London flatmates flew over for an episode screening this weekend. 'It's such an amazing experience, that goes for the boys themselves, the crew, also the fact that we could explore queer relationships — no distractions — was great,' he beams. 'Overall it was amazing experience to be part of. 'Dannii was a huge part of our experience there and, getting to the last few episodes, she was around a lot. She knows everything about us and really does care. I couldn't think of anyone else to fit that kind of host role for the show.'
The Irish Sun
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