What to watch on TV and streaming today: Mix Tape, Manhunter and Trainwreck: Balloon Boy
First love. For some it's a painful matter, but for others, it's an amazing roller-coaster ride of emotions that they never forget and hold close to their hearts forever.
Alison and Daniel, the main characters in this new four-part drama, fall firmly in the latter category. We first meet them in 1989 when they're teenagers, forming a bond over a shared passion for music. The pair eventually go their separate ways, and we then catch up with them in the modern day while they're living on the opposite sides of the world – Alison in Sydney, Australia, and Daniel in their native Sheffield in South Yorkshire.
However, the pair reconnect, once again due to a song they still love. And being back in touch makes them wonder what might have been had they never parted.
Teresa Palmer and Jim Sturgess play Alison and Daniel, with Bridgerton's Florence Hunt and newcomer Rory Walton-Smith as their younger selves. But the real interest for Irish viewers comes from the fact that despite being largely set in Sheffield, it was filmed in Dublin and Co Wicklow. Plus, the screenplay was adapted by bestselling Dublin-born author Jo Spain from Jane Sanderson's novel, and was made by Irish production company Subotica.
Sue Deeks, head of BBC programme acquisition, says of the tale: 'Accompanied by a cracking 1980s soundtrack, Mix Tape is an enjoyable blend of nostalgia, romance and heartbreak – it really is the perfect summer treat!'
The Great British Sewing Bee BBC One, 9pm
Judges Esme Young and Patrick Grant, and returning host Sara Pascoe, meet 12 more amateur sewers as the contest's 11th series gets under way. Their tasks involve making a tie-front blouse, turning old circle skirts into something new, and creating pleated dresses.
In the Footsteps of Killers Channel 4, 10pm
On a summer's night in 1986, lovers Brian Price and Susan Tetrault were murdered in their London flat. A suspect was acquitted of the crime, which remains unsolved. Now Emilia Fox and Professor David Wilson are taking another look at the case.
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1923 RTÉ One, 10.10pm
There's a rare trip to town in store for Jacob, Cara and the rest of the Duttons, where they hope to mix business with pleasure. However, there's trouble brewing back home due to the sheepherders.
Manhunter BBC Two, 11pm
The first film based on Thomas Harris's novel Red Dragon focuses on an ex-FBI agent who comes out of retirement to track down a killer targeting families. William Petersen stars, with Brian Cox as an early incarnation of Hannibal 'the Cannibal' Lecktor (as it's spelled here).
Trainwreck: Balloon Boy Netflix, streaming now
Remember Balloon Boy? Back in 2009, a man from Colorado rang the authorities claiming his homemade spaceship had blown away with his six-year-old son inside. If you don't know the story, you can probably guess the rest.
Apocalypse in the Tropics Netflix, streaming now
Where does governance end and doctrine begin? To put it another way, at what point do the lines blur between democratic rule and religious rule? This isn't an anatomy of what's devolving in North America right now, but rather what's already happened in South America. In her new documentary, Brazilian filmmaker Petra Costa returns with a penetrating look at how Christian evangelical movements have gained powerful influence over Brazil's political system. With remarkable access to both sitting president Lula and former president Bolsonaro — plus one of Brazil's most prominent televangelists — the film dives into the spiritual and strategic alliances shaping modern Brazil. What emerges is a tense portrait of a nation where apocalyptic beliefs mix with political ambition. Costa, known for her Oscar-nominated The Edge of Democracy, again captures a country in flux with raw honesty and clarity.
One Night In Idaho Prime Video, streaming now
In late 2022, a fatal stabbing attack involving four university students rocked a small Idaho town, drawing national attention. An explosion of social media sleuthing, a cross-country manhunt, a dramatic arrest, and a looming trial made this crime one of the most high-profile stories of the last decade.
Foundation AppleTV+, streaming now
Season 3 returns to Apple, with new episodes dropping every Friday through to September 12. Inspired by Isaac Asimov's celebrated books, the saga follows exiles fighting to restore civilisation as an empire collapses.
The Crossbow Cannibal Prime Video, streaming now
Keeping things super light on Prime Video this week, we also have a profile of Stephen Griffiths, who created his own deadly persona in the hope of following in the footsteps of his idol — serial killer Peter Sutcliffe. Fifteen years after Griffiths's arrest, this documentary revisits one of Britain's darkest criminal cases.
National Geographic dives into (apologies) the legacy of a legendary film with this Laurent Bouzereau documentary, tracing its journey from book to enduring pop culture phenomenon. If the tween in your life has been counting down the days, they'll probably already know that Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires is also now available (be warned, it's a musical).
Oppenheimer Netflix, streaming now
Finally, the wait is over. Anyone who failed to catch it in the cinema back in the heady summer of 2023 can now view it on whatever device they please. Speaking of German-related drama, Brick, an atmospheric number with Danny Boyle vibes, is also available.
Building The Band Netflix, streaming now
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Irish Independent
16 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
In Portrush for The Open? Here's where to eat, drink and have great craic
Where to eat Ramore Restaurant Complex — This is made up of six restaurants, all of which will offer live entertainment every night during The Open week. Amici — Located between Portrush and Portstewart, this Italian restaurant uses local ingredients and homemade dough. Shanty — Offering lunches, dinners and signature cocktails where the old boathouse used to be, Shanty has become a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. The Elephant Rock Hotel — The hotel's Eldon Bar and Restaurant boasts stunning sea views, bold interiors, fantastic cocktails and delicious food. It featured in the Irish Independent's Fab 50 in 2023. Where to drink The Harbour Bar — One of the oldest bars on the north coast with one of Northern Ireland's longest-serving barmen, Willie Gregg, you're guaranteed to receive a warm welcome from locals. Celebrities such as Jamie Dornan and Jimmy Nesbitt are known to pop in for a drink. The Quays Gastropub — As well as an extensive selection of beers, wines and cocktails, this pub on Eglinton Street provides a variety of classics as well as fresh, locally-sourced seafood and seasonal specials. Guests can eat in either the indoor dining area or there is a spacious covered outdoor atrium where visitors can enjoy the fresh sea air. Kiwi's Brew Bar — Located on Main Street where the town's famous cinema used to stand. The venue has much to offer including great food and drinks, live music, comedy nights and takes pride in its largest Irish whiskey collection on the north coast. The Station Bar — The station building, designed by architect and engineer Berkeley Deane Wise, was opened in 1893 and now houses a bar with regular live entertainment. Portrush Icons The White House — Founded in 1891, the department store remains an institution and is as loved locally as by the many people who visit the north coast each year. It boasts brands such as Barbour, Joules, White Stuff, Gant and has a toy shop as well. Kellys Complex — For over 50 years, Kellys has been a well-known fixture for entertainment. With The Barn, The Deerstalker, The Library Bar, Kon Tiki Boat Bar, Golflinks Hotel, The White Pheasant, Kellys Kitchen as well as its holiday homes, there is something for families, partygoers and foodies alike. ADVERTISEMENT T-Shirt City — This famous shop has been printing garments for over 50 years. Based on Main Street, Phyllis Niblock is now preparing to sell her business, but if you want to visit this emporium, be sure to grab a printed T-shirt. The Dolphin — A traditional fish and chip shop on Causeway Street, if you want to sample their famous takeaways, be prepared to queue. Curry's Fun Park — Still referred to as its former name, Barry's, by many, this small amusement park is packed full of fun for the family. Attractions include the waltzer, Aqua Valley water flume, dodgem cars, a rollercoaster and mini attractions for the wee ones. Phil's Family Amusements and Bingo Hall — One of the island's finest ticket and prize shops with easy-to-play machines and weekend bingo, it's not surprising people have kept returning to Phil's over the years. What's new? The Marcus — Last month, Hilton opened its first venue on the north coast in an old Victorian-era hotel on Main Street in a €13m renovation. The Marcus hosts 80 rooms and has restored original elements of the building, telling the story of the locality through interior features and artwork. Topblade Steakhouse — The third restaurant for its directors Aaron Taggart and John Crawford following their success in Portadown and Belfast, opening in the former KoKo location beside Curry's. Urban — Only a stone's throw from Portrush's sea front, Urban offers an impressive menu. Smash N Bird — Smashed burgers, ribs and wings, buttermilk chicken, thickshakes and buffalo fries are all on the agenda in a visit to this street food bar on Eglinton Street. Alan Simpson's five Top Things to do in Portmagic Portrush resident Alan Simpson runs the Portmagic Facebook page with almost 55,000 members. The popular media personality says 'Portmagic' is the feeling and sensation people get when they visit the town. The long-term promoter of the area gives us a rundown of his top five things to do: West Strand and East Strand beaches in Portrush: Alan adds: 'West is best and East is for the rest!' There are surf and paddle boards lessons with Portrush, Troggs or Alive surf schools. Curry's Fun Park: One of Northern Ireland's largest tourist attractions, the fun park has everything for little and big kids alike from the traditional ghost train to the euphoric Beast. A 99 at Morelli's: With outlets in Portrush and Portstewart, no visit to the area is complete without an ice-cream from the Italian family run parlour. Chat to the locals: They're a friendly bunch!
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
'I'm Ireland's emoji expert, and one you've never used is about to blow up'
The 'tears of joy' emoji remains the most popular in the world but the red heart is a close second, an Irish expert has revealed. Keith Broni, who is the editor in chief of which is the world's number one emoji resource, said the icons are no longer considered 'frivolous' and are a 'cornerstone of digital communication.' The Dubliner also stressed the use of symbols is constantly changing and believes there's an unused one that will surge in popularity in years to come. When asked why they are so popular Mr Broni, who spoke to the Irish Mirror for World Emoji Day today, said: 'Texts are dry without any kind of semantic markers. We don't write text messages as if they're prose where there are cues …we write text messages as if they are verbal speech. 'And when we speak face to face or even over the phone there are what we call paralinguistic cues. So my vocal inflection, my hand gestures, my facial expressions, my body posture, all of these are very, very important elements in communication and text messaging and social media posts can completely lack these, and emojis allow for us to add semantic cues into this space.' He continued: 'That's not to say that emojis are a one to one analogues with the exact facial expressions that they happen to depict. They're intentionally bombastic, cartoonish, playful, comic book-esque, but they serve a very similar function. 'They allow us to create a sense of emotional context and also create a sense of rapport when we're communicating with people, again, either via WhatsApp groups or social media platforms.' Mr Broni said the most popular emojis are the ones which are overtly positive and said even negative versions are mostly used in a jokey way. He also said there's a shift - older people are sticking with the 'tears of joy' emoji to convey laughter while those in Gen Z have begun using the 'skull' to express that 'they're dead or they're dying laughing'. But an even newer trend that's popular with those on the cusp of Gen Z and Gen Alpha is using the Wilted flower with the broken heart. He said this is used by people when they want to show they're sad but in a "performative way'. Keith Broni, the editor in chief of emojipedia, is an emoji expert (Image: EMOJIPEDIA / SWNS) Mr Broni declared emoji uses were constantly being repurposed and even the most banal can surge in popularity - replacing ones which have been used for years. The emoji expert explained: 'I guarantee there is an emoji sitting there that has gone, largely unused and unloved for the last decade, that is going to have its moment in the next few years. People look at the emoji keyboard every day. It's a freely accessible feature that is usable anywhere. When asked how an emoji can become popular, he added: 'Sometimes it can be an in-joke amongst a group of friends in a WhatsApp group. And if that then resonates with that group, it can kind of spread to other WhatsApp groups, to other social media platforms, and then it can scale up and potentially be the new version of how the skull emoji encapsulated the emergence in slang terms of I'm dying, laughing and I'm dead, which then began to eat into the use of the crying, laughing face.' Mr Broni also said emojis use cannot be stripped from transcripts during court cases because the text alone doesn't convey the entire meaning and said this proves their use isn't frivolous When asked about the misconceptions surrounding emojis, he said: 'The one that they're frivolous, that they don't hold real communicative weight. This is one that has really and truly been put to bed over the last decade as they begin to appear more and more in court cases. 'You cannot strip emojis from a transcript of a text message communication, and expect the text itself to contain all the information about the tone and intention of every single text message. The emojis being used are very valid communicative symbols in this context. And this kind of growing literature around emoji in legal cases is quite fascinating.' Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish hopeful set to star in Netflix's Love Is Blind UK as air date announced
Netflix has announced the launch date for season two of Netflix's popular dating show Love is Blind UK – and it appears an Irish contestant will be on the show. Hosted by husband and wife duo Matt and Emma Willis, the first four episodes of the second season will land on the streaming platform on 13 August, with the following four launching on 20 August. The final two episodes will be released on 27 August. The show will feature UK and Ireland-based singles who will "choose someone to marry without ever meeting them". Netflix shared a teaser from the show and eagle eye fans were quick to hear an Irish accent in one of the pods. However, a spokesman for Netflix didn't give details on the Irish contestant when asked by us. But speaking about the series, the streaming giant said of the series: "Over several weeks, the newly engaged couples will move in together, plan their wedding and find out if their physical connection matches their strong emotional bond developed in the Pods. "When their wedding day arrives, will real-world realities and external factors push them apart, or will they marry the person they fell blindly in love with?" Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
