What’s on? 20 top telly tips for Friday June 12

It’s a busy one on the box as Artemis Fowl lands on Disney+, Nathan Carter starts a new series, Sex in Lockdown: Keep Shagging and Carry On is pretty self-explanatory, and Poppy Montgomery pops up in new procedural Reef Break . . .
Pick of the Day
Artemis Fowl, Disney+
This is a big one for Disney+ as the film adaptation of Eoin Colfer’s much-loved Artemis Fowl  books lands on the streaming service.
Directed by Kenneth Branagh, the adaptation stars Ferdia Shaw, Lara McDonnell, Josh Gad, Tamara Smart, Nonzo Anozie, with Colin Farrell (below) and Judi Dench.
Conor McPherson and Hamish McColl wrote the screenplay, so there’s plenty of Irish involvement here.

The story follows the journey of 12-year-old genius Artemis Fowl, a descendant of a long line of criminal masterminds, as he desperately tries to save his father who has been kidnapped.
In order to pay his ransom, Artemis must infiltrate an ancient, underground civilization – the amazingly advanced world of fairies – and bring the kidnapper the Aculos, the fairies’ most powerful and coveted magical device.
To locate the elusive object, cunning Artemis concocts a dangerous plan. One so dangerous that he ultimately finds himself in a perilous war of wits with the all-powerful fairies.

Don’t Miss
The Best of The Late Late Show, 9.35pm, RTÉ One
Ryan Tubridy recalls choice moments from this season’s run of Ireland’s longest-running entertainment show, featuring a mix of celebrity guests, music, in-depth interviews and discussions of interest.

New or Returning Shows
The Other One, 9.00pm, BBC One
In this new sitcom Ellie White and Lauren Socha star as Cathy and Cat, who cannot find their dad’s will and, at their joint birthday party, their mothers war over which family their dead dad loved most.
Siobhan Finneran and Rebecca Front also feature – which is a pretty good sign.

Reef Break, 9.00pm, Alibi
Poppy Montgomery was previously Samantha Spade on Without a Trace and Carrie Wells on the daft Unforgettable. In this one, she pops up as Cat Chambers, a former professional surfer and criminal.
Now a retired grifter, she returns to the fictional US territory of Reef Island to testify against the man who tried to kill her five years earlier.
A local businessman then hires Chambers to help rescue his daughter, who is being held for a ransom of $6 million.

Sex in Lockdown: Keep Shagging and and Carry On, 10.00pm, Channel 4
A mix of faces from across the nation join Anna Richardson as she gets to grips with all things love, sex and romance, delving into the ways sex in Britain has altered with Covid-19.
She also reveals the results of a specially-commissioned survey to find out exactly what the Great British Public have been getting up to during lockdown.

Keepin ‘er Country, 8.00pm, BBCOne
Ireland’s leading country star Nathan Carter invites viewers into his new home for a performance of some of his most popular songs, as well as a duet with brother Jake Carter.
Jason Manford’s Muddle Class, 10.45pm, BBC One
Comedian Jason Manford returns with a stand-up show about how it feels to grow up working class only to find that over the years part of you has become middle class.
The Armstrong Lie, 9.00pm, Sky Documentaries
Documentary following cycling champion Lance Armstrong’s fall from grace.
Film-maker Alex Gibney was initially commissioned to follow the cyclist as he prepared to make a professional comeback by competing in the Tour de France, only to find himself documenting an unprecedented scandal as Armstrong was exposed as having used performance-enhancing drugs.

New to Download
The Woods, Netflix
Adapted from the Harlan Coben novel, this Polish production concerns a Warsaw prosecutor whose hopes rise when a body is found and linked to his sister’s disappearance 25 years earlier.

F is for Family: Season 4, Netflix
While Frank deals with an unwelcome visit from his father, Sue discovers the wonders of Lamaze, and Bill makes a name for himself in the hockey rink.

Dating Around: Season 2, Netflix
Six new singles look for love – or something like it – in a series of back-to-back, real-life first dates in New Orleans. But who will each choose for a second date?
Da 5 Bloods, Netflix
From Academy Award Winner Spike Lee comes a New Joint: the story of four African-American Vets — Paul (Delroy Lindo), Otis (Clarke Peters), Eddie (Norm Lewis), and Melvin (Isiah Whitlock, Jr.) — who return to Vietnam.
Searching for the remains of their fallen Squad Leader and the promise of buried treasure, they battle forces of Man and Nature, while confronted by the lasting ravages of The Vietnam War.

Daytime Film Choices
They Died with Their Boots On, 3.55pm, TCM
Yet another classic Western, this time starring Errol Flynn, Anthony Quinn and Olivia de Havilland.
The story of General Custer, examining his formative years at military academy and his service in the American Civil War, before exploring his last stand at the battle of the Little Big Horn against Sioux leader Crazy Horse.
Hampstead, 6.55pm, Film4

This wrinkly romcom is a teatime treat starring Brendan Gleeson, Diane Keaton and James Norton.
An American widow finds unexpected love with a man living wild on Hampstead Heath when they take on the developers who want to destroy his home.
Prime Time Movie Picks
Watermelon, 11.00pm, Virgin Media One
It’s starting a bit late for inclusion here – but this is a prime time movie.
This comedy drama is based on Marian Keyes’ novel, starring Anna Friel, Jamie Draven, Brenda Fricker, Ciaran McMenamin, Sean McGinley and Elaine Cassidy.
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.
Backdraft, 9.00pm, Sky Witness

Enjoyable action drama, starring Kurt Russell, William Baldwin, Robert De Niro, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Donald Sutherland.
The two sons of a fireman who died in the line of duty follow him into the profession.
But a feud develops between them because the elder brother is convinced his sibling is not up to the job – until a mission to identity of a serial arsonist gives him the chance of redemption.
Charlie’s Angels, 9.00pm, W
Fun action adventure, based on the TV series, starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu and Bill Murray.
Three private investigators are recruited to rescue a computer genius from the clutches of a rival. They discover there is more at stake than they thought, as the captive genius has created a dangerous piece of software that must not fall into the wrong hands.

Late Late Flick Picks
The Big Sick, 12.05am, RTÉ One
Excellent indie romantic comedy, starring Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter and Ray Romano.
A struggling stand-up comedian proves a hit with a student heckler, but their affair ends just before a mystery illness puts the object of his affections in a coma.
Finding himself absorbed with Emily’s care and bonding with her sparring parents, Kumail also has to struggle with his own Muslim relatives and their expectations.

Tormented, 12.20am, BBC Two
Satirical horror, with Tuppence Middleton, Alex Pettyfer and Calvin Dean. Well worth a look.
A teenage victim of bullying commits suicide, but the classmates who made his life a misery are later tormented by a series of disturbing events that lead them to believe he has returned from the dead to seek revenge for their cruelty.
On the Road, 1.10am, Film4

Drama based on Jack Kerouac’s celebrated, semi-autobiographical novel, with Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Amy Adams and Viggo Mortensen.
A writer recovering from his father’s death has his life changed for ever by his encounter with a free-spirited young couple, joining them on a journey of self-discovery across America.
Click here for full TV listings

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