By Pa And Sheena McGinley
Copyright independent
Pick of the day
Cheap Irish Homes
RTÉ One, 7pm
The experts step in to help a couple looking for a fixer-upper within an hour of Galway city. They plan to live on-site in a caravan while renovating what will become their forever home.
Buildings Beo
TG4, 9.30pm
Across six episodes, Carrie Crowley visits some of the country’s most inspiring construction projects. She begins at a lodge house in need of repair.
RTÉ One, 10.15pm
Dirty tricks and sabotage look set to ruin the Vibrant Villages competition – unless Harry can find out who is behind the mischief.
BBC Four, 12.05am
Cate Blanchett is at the peak of her powers in writer-director Todd Field’s psychological drama about a conductor whose world falls apart after she is accused of inappropriate behaviour.
Black Rabbit
Netflix, streaming now
Regular readers (I thank you) will know I’m not usually one to preview something almost a week in advance, but every so often, an autumnal nugget is unearthed. Consider this Jude Law and Jason Bateman vehicle your shiny 2025 nugget as the nights draw in. Be warned, however, Law isn’t British, and Bateman isn’t portraying his usual variation of Michael Bluth. Created by Zach Baylin and Kate Susman, this series follows Jake (Law), a nightlife mogul, and Vince (Bateman), his wildly unpredictable (yet totally textbook) brother. One is getting on grand, building the Black Rabbit VIP lounge brand, until the other decides to bring a butt-load of debt to its door, threatening the business and unearthing buried sibling tensions. Set in New York’s high-stakes scene – with the expected level of seedy underbelly activity – the series explores blind ambition, family loyalty and the inevitable fallout from an unplanned event that certainly wasn’t budgeted for.
Next Gen Chef
Netflix, streaming now
From the creators of Top Chef, 21 rising culinary stars under 30 face (VERY) intense challenges at the Culinary Institute of America to earn the title of next-gen top chef.
Matchroom: Greatest Showmen
Netflix, streaming now
Ever wondered how infantilisation runs deep in a parent-child dynamic? Enter Barry and Eddie Hearn. This brash, bold documentary series tracks their chaotic push to grow a sports empire, fueled by Monster Munch and sporting stars like Luke Littler, Conor Benn, Katie Taylor, Anthony Joshua and Ronnie O’Sullivan.
The Morning Show
AppleTV+, streaming now
They’re back with season four…
Rebel Royals: Unlikely Love Story
Netflix, streaming now
No, it’s not Meghan and Harry – there are other royals (with Netflix deals) who have married Californians and therefore rebelled – intentionally or otherwise – against their family construct. Here, Emmy-nominated director Rebecca Chaiklin (Tiger King) and Emmy-winning producer Chris Smith (Fyre) spotlight Princess Martha Louise’s relationship with “shaman” Durek Verrett as they plan their Norwegian wedding.
Beauty and The Bester
Netflix, streaming now
This gripping little number explores Thabo Bester’s prison escape and his alleged crimes alongside Dr Nandipha Magudumana, making it one of South Africa’s most unnerving criminal sagas.
Call My Agent Berlin
Disney+, streaming now
The Germans have decided to bring their own brand of schadenfreude to the already globally renowned French comedic stalwart. Following founder Richard Stern’s death, the agency (of course) faces collapse. Expect the trademark flurry of famous faces and just a sliver of French farce.
The Girlfriend
Prime Video, streaming now
Adapted from Michelle Frances’s novel, this glossy bingeable offering centres on Laura (Robin Wright), whose privileged existence unravels when her son Daniel (Laurie Davidson) introduces Cherry (Olivia Cooke) to their familial mix. Laura’s growing distrust of Cherry raises questions: is she inherently bad, or is she just another female?
The Wrong Paris
Netflix, streaming now
When Dawn (played by the Miranda Cosgrove) joins a dating show thinking it’s in Paris, France, she’s distraught to realise it’s actually in Paris, Texas. Despite the glorious production values, she plots a way to get eliminated – until her “unexpected” feelings for the bachelor (Pierson Fode) complicate her plans. I blame the horseback entrance and the dry ice.
