What to watch, play and listen to: Ardal O’Hanlon searches for the first Irishman and an LGBTQ comedy

Reviews and previews by Nadine O’Regan, Jennifer Gannon and Jenny Murphy Byrne

TV PICKS OF THE WEEK

Ardal O’Hanlon: Tomb Raider, Thursday, 10.15pm, RTÉ One

Ardal O’Hanlon is keeping himself busy, what with regular guest appearances on television, a new book about to be published and now this: a special which sees the comedian embark on a fact-finding mission, via a 1930s archaeologist quest, to find the origins of the earliest Irish men and women on the island of Ireland. As part of his investigation, O’Hanlon receives insight from experts including Professor Diarmaid Ferriter, Dr Mairéad Carew and Dr Lara Cassidy. NO’R

Big Boys, Thursday, 10pm, Channel 4

This new comedy is narrated by comedian Jack Rooke and based on his award-winning live Edinburgh Fringe shows. In the first episode, we’re introduced to the shy, closeted teen Jack, who is leaving home for a journalism degree at Brent University. The series stars Jon Pointing, Katy Wix, Camille Coduri and Derry Girls’ boy Dylan Llewellyn. NO’R

STREAMING PICKS OF THE WEEK

The G Word with Adam Conover, Netflix

Based on the book The Fifth Risk: Undoing Democracy by bestselling author Michael Lewis (Moneyball, The Big Short) this hybrid comedy-documentary series shows the surprising ways the US government impacts on the lives of everyday Americans. NO’R

Night Sky, Prime Video

A sci-fi drama starring Sissy Spacek and JK Simmons, this eight-episode series sees Spacek and Simmons playing a married couple whose seemingly everyday rural life conceals a secret: they are galactic travellers, who can use a magical device in their backyard to escape their earthbound reality. NO’R

Prehistoric Planet, Apple TV+, from Monday

Narrated by David Attenborough, this new five-episode natural history event series will transport viewers 66 million years into the past to discover the world that existed then, complete with dinosaurs roaming the land. Set to an original score by Hans Zimmer, this is a tasty proposition for natural history buffs. NO’R

Stranger Things, Netflix, from Friday

The first season of Stranger Things was the stuff of genius, but the next couple? Well, not so much. But there’s still a watchable cast to be reckoned with in the sci-fi drama – and this time around, in season four, the action in Hawkins, Indiana, picks up when the gang are dealing with being separated from each other. However a new threat soon emerges to bring them back together. NO’R

PODCAST PICKS OF THE WEEK

Friends Will Be Friends with Cat & Edith, available on BBC Sounds

DJ Edith Bowman has been firm friends with fellow presenter Cat Deeley for over 20 years, with their relationship surviving everything from working together, tabloid ‘ladette’ hell, moving to different countries and starting families. Strong friendships evolve and adapt over the years and this cosy podcast presented by the pair is an acknowledgement of these unique partnerships that are often overlooked. Friends Will Be Friends is a warm-hearted celebration of the importance of platonic love with the two interviewing a celebrity and their best pal, chatting about their history, the challenges they’ve faced and what they admire about each other. From actress Vicky McClure and her hairdresser bestie Louis Byrne to Sophie Ellis-Bextor and her Mam Janet Ellis and the feisty, intense pairing of actress Minnie Driver and writer Emma Forrest, it’s a lively and breezy listen about the bonds we form and just how life changing they can be. JG

Housewives & Me, available on podcast networks

The Real Housewives franchise is unavoidable. It has dominated reality TV and the pop culture conversation for the past decade. The Housewives have insidiously infiltrated people’s lives even if they don’t watch the show. Thankfully, there is Housewives & Me, a fun, informative and incisive podcast that explains the appeal of this endless conveyor belt of screaming, rich women. Each week, DJ, writer and Housewives aficionado Conor Behan guides listeners through the world of the franchise with a special guest discussing the latest gossip, the big issues exposed through the various series from racism to drug addiction and what the show means to them personally. JG

GAME PICK OF THE WEEK

Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Switch

You know you’re onto a winner when the name of the game alone elicits a chuckle – Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is a fun, playful, top-down adventure game where you play as a trouble-making turnip who battles beasts, solves puzzles and, of course, avoids paying taxes. With a similar look and gameplay style to the old Zelda games, Turnip Boy combines a dark sense of humour with fun gameplay and a surprisingly involving plot to create one of the most distinctive experiences of the year. Its story can be completed in about three hours, so it’s the perfect choice to while away a lazy afternoon. JMB

Reviews and previews by Nadine O’Regan, Jennifer Gannon and Jenny Murphy Byrne