DailyEdge.ie rounds up the TV shows that you’ll be tweeting and talking about this weekend.
Saturday
Watermelon (Virgin Media One, 9.00pm)
Listen, do you even celebrate Christmas if you don’t watch this small-screen Marian Keyes adaptation? A Dublin woman living in London is left holding the baby when her doting boyfriend discovers the child he thought was his is actually someone else’s. Leaving the Smoke behind, she returns to Ireland, hoping to bring up her baby in peace – but her disapproving parents and both former partners continue to make her life increasingly difficult. Starring Anna Friel, Jamie Draven, Brenda Fricker, Ciaran McMenamin, Sean McGinley and Elaine Cassidy.
Die Hard 2 (RTÉ Two, 9.35pm)
Avoid the annual debate by sticking on the sequel and telling everyone to STFU. Tough cop John McClane arrives at an airport to pick up his wife, but finds himself plunged into a bloody life-or-death struggle. He must battle terrorists who have seized control of the terminal as part of a campaign to secure the release of a convicted drug baron. Action thriller sequel, starring Bruce Willis, Bonnie Bedelia, William Sadler, Franco Nero and William Atherton.
Watership Down (BBC One, 7.00pm)
This animated adaptation has an absolute whopper cast, if you can make it through all the inevitable grimness. A colonoy of rabbits fleeing the destruction of their warren embark on a dangerous journey in search of a new home, facing predators, adversaries and all manner of lethal threats. The voice cast is headed by James McAvoy as the rabbits’ leader Hazel, and Nicholas Hoult as his younger brother Fiver, who is plagued by strange visions. Peter Capaldi voices helpful seagull Kehaar and Rosamund Pike is the mysterious, otherworldly Black Rabbit of Inlé. Other roles are voiced by John Boyega, Olivia Colman, Daniel Kaluuya, Ben Kingsley, Tom Wilkinson and Gemma Arterton. (Part two airs on Sunday).
Sunday
The Holiday (RTÉ One, 9.30pm)
Two single women living on opposite sides of the Atlantic agree to exchange houses over the Christmas holidays. In their new surroundings, both women unexpectedly encounter prospective partners, but as the house swap draws to a close, difficult decisions have to be made about their blossoming relationships. Romantic comedy, starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jack Black, Jude Law and Eli Wallach.
A Date For Mad Mary (Virgin Media One, 9.00pm)
A woman returns home after being released from a young offenders’ institute, just in time for her best friend’s wedding. However, she finds she has not been allotted a plus one, since everyone assumes she will never get a date. She resolves to prove her friends wrong, and learns a few things about herself in the process. Romantic comedy, starring Seána Kerslake and Charleigh Bailey.
Up (BBC One, 3.25pm)
An old man attaches thousands of balloons to his house so he can fly it to South America, and fulfil his late wife’s dream of exploring the jungle. However, once airborne, he finds he has an unwanted stowaway in the shape of an excitable boy scout. Pixar animated adventure, with the voices of Ed Asner, Jordan Nagai and Christopher Plummer.
Or flick over for …
Saturday
- Pitch Perfect 2 (Channel 4, 9.00pm) Before the a capella franchise went to shite.
- The Guard (RTÉ One, 10.40pm) Comedy thriller, with Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle and Mark Strong.
Sunday
- Niall Horan with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra (RTÉ One, 4.40pm) The One Direction star performs a selection of songs from his debut solo album Flicker, joined by 45 members of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra conducted by Gavin Murphy.
- Ireland’s Craziest Christmas Lights 2 (Virgin Media One, 5.00pm) Come marvel at the electricity bills of others.
- Far From The Madding Crowd (BBC Two, 10.00pm) Period drama based on Thomas Hardy’s novel, starring Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts, Tom Sturridge and Michael Sheen.
