RTÉ Investigates: Ireland's Wild Waste
Monday, RTÉ One, 9.35pm
So, you're on a tour of the Wild Atlantic Way, looking at all the lovely scenery: mountains, cliffs, beaches, sofas, tyres, bicycles, bin-bags, washing-machines, nappies… Let's face it, Ireland would be a beautiful country to visit if it weren't for all the waste illegally dumped around our most scenic spots. This documentary looks at Ireland's broken waste industry to find out why we can't seem to manage the rubbish we create, so tourists end up looking at it - or swimming in it. No one can seem to agree on the most effective ways to dispose of our waste, so nothing ends up getting done, and meanwhile the garbage piles up, blighting our beauty spots and impacting on our quality of life. Will this RTÉ investigation root out the problem and start a new era of pride in our environment? Answers on a plastic bag, please.
Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and The Notorious BIG
Monday, Netflix
Who killed rappers Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls? This 20-year-old mystery gets taken out of cold storage in a new drama, which follows police efforts to uncover the truth behind the deadly East Coast-West Coast hip-hop feud of the mid-1990s. If you're looking for a banging hip-hop soundtrack and some serious street action, you may be disappointed. If you're looking for a po-faced police procedural with lots of stating the bleeding obvious, you're in for a treat of sorts. The trailer is not too encouraging – everyone just seems to enjoy saying "Biggie Smalls" in a big, important voice, and one cop turns to his wife and declares: "This is legendary, and I want to be the cop who was able to help solve it!" It's meant to be in the vein of the American Crime Story series about the trial of OJ Simpson and the murder of Gianni Versace, but as the cop says to his buddy just before they go into that derelict building: "I have a bad feeling about this."
Daniel and Majella's B&B Road Trip
Tuesday, RTÉ One, 8.30pm
And lo! King Daniel and Queen Majella of Ireland did complete their journey around their kingdom, bestowing blessings on their loyal subjects, learning the quaint rituals and rites of ordinary Irish mortals, and accepting the humble hospitality of the peasants with a benevolent smile. Yes, it's the final episode of Daniel and Majella's B&B Road Trip, and it's time for Ireland's first couple to pack up their trunks and return to their palace at Kincasslagh, Co Donegal, from where they will continue to rule the land. But first, there's a big surprise in store for them when they go glamping in the Burren in Co Clare. What it is, I don't know – but it might have something to do with their new neighbours: a pair of saddleback pigs named Betsy and Bianca. Will Dan and Maj get in their sedan and take another road trip in the near future? We have the spare room ready.
No Country for Women
Tuesday, RTÉ One, 9.35pm
The recent referendum on the Eighth Amendment removed one more shackle from Irish women, but this two-part documentary demonstrates that we have a long way to go before Ireland can truly be a country where women can feel they belong and are valued.
This landmark programme looks at the lives of Irish women since getting the vote 100 years ago, and it will make The Handmaid's Tale look like Sex and the City. Despite the promise of equality made following independence, the past century has seen women relegated to secondary roles in Irish life, enduring unbelievable discrimination and denied basic rights. For the past century, government, church and the law have interfered in women's lives, dictating their destinies, and this programme details the continued injustices visited upon women in the home, at work and in Irish life.
Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing
Wednesday, BBC Two, 10pm
Aside from being two of the funniest men in showbusiness, Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer have been mates for decades. Both have also suffered serious heartproblems, so what better way to help Bob recover than by taking up one of Paul's best-loved pastimes? In this new series they will give celeb anglers like Robson Green and Chris Tarrant a run for their money as they tour the country to fish in some of the most picturesque landscapes the UK has to offer. In each edition they will dissect life, death and comedy. As Whitehouse is the expert, he will be in charge of most of the fishing while Bob takes care of the accommodation and cooking heart-healthy food. The first stop is Norfolk, and while fishing for tench, Bob tries to impress Paul with his childhood fishing rod — and fails.
Unsung Heroines: Danielle de Niese on the Lost World of Female Composers
Friday, BBC4, 8pm
The soprano explores the lives and works of five female composers, from the middle ages to the late 20th century, who were famous in their lifetimes but whose work was then forgotten. Traditionally, western classical music is seen as a procession of male geniuses, but the truth is that women have always composed. Hildegard of Bingen, Francesca Caccini, Clara Schumann, Florence Price and Elizabeth Maconchy all battled to fulfil their ambitions and overcome the obstacles that society placed in their way, but then disappeared into obscurity and only some have found recognition again. Contributors include pianist Lucy Parham.
Marvel's Luke Cage
Friday, Netflix, Friday
The most badass dude in the Marvel universe is back for a second series, and his world has completely changed. In the first series, Luke tried hard to hide his true nature, keeping a low profile in Harlem. But soon he was forced to sacrifice his anonymity to save his city from a deadly foe. Now that his secret is out, Luke is a hero and a celebrity, which has its upside, but also comes with a downside – everybody wants a piece of his bulletproof ass. It's not long before he faces another deadly threat and some even deadlier dilemmas. Mike Colter returns as Cage, while Finn Jones makes a guest appearance as Danny Rand/Iron Fist. – Additional reporting: PA/BBC
