TV Highlights
'Rugby World Cup' (RTE 2, throughout September and October) - Rugby World Cup 2011 kicked off in New Zealand on 9th September and will feature the top 20 teams in the world competing across 48 tournament matches. The final will be played on 23rd October 2011 at Auckland's iconic Eden Park Stadium. It is expected the tournament will be broadcast to four billion fans worldwide. RTE will broadcast all the top games, with 13 key matches live and free-to-air, including all of Ireland's pool matches, the final, the bronze final, both semi-finals, all four quarter-finals and the opening match. In addition to the live games, RTE will broadcast free-to-air highlights coverage of every game in the tournament shown exclusively in primetime (6pm-9pm) on RTE Two each match day. _____________________________________________________________ 'Planet Dinosaur: Lost World' (BBC 1, Wednesday, 8.30pm) - From the deadliest killers to the biggest and strangest beasts, 'Planet Dinosaur' brings to life a new and terrifying world of dinosaurs. More types of dinosaurs have been discovered in the last two decades than in the 200 years before, and this series uses the latest CGI and cutting-edge research to reveal the deadly secrets of these 'new' giants. For the first time on television, the very latest dinosaur discoveries have been brought together and brought to life in this ground-breaking series. Featuring a cast of new dinosaurs never seen before, the next generation of children aren't going to be talking about Tyrannosaurus rex - they are about to meet far bigger, badder, more vicious characters that roamed the earth 95 million years ago. ____________________________________________________________ 'Room To Improve' (RTE 1, Wednesday, 8pm) - With mortgage approvals thin on the ground, Dermot Bannon's architectural designs and challenges have never been more difficult but exciting, giving plenty of reason to extend this successful six-part series to an hour in length. With renovations in Blackrock and Dundrum, refurbishments in Dalkey and Longford, rebuilds in Wicklow and restorations in Cork, the pressure is really on and delivering on budget is more crucial for Dermot than ever. The series begins in Cork City with an ambitious couple trying to completely restore a 1920s cottage, while also completing a third-level degree as well as running two busy phone shops. _____________________________________________________________ 'Champions League Live' (RTE 2, Wednesday, 7.30pm) - Bill O'Herlihy is joined by John Giles, Eamon Dunphy, Liam Brady and Ray Houghton for live Champions League coverage as Manchester United take on Portuguese side Benfica in the group stage. The match kicks off at 7.45pm from the Stadium of Light with commentary by Peter Collins and Ronnie Whelan. The programme will also feature highlights of Manchester City v Napoli while Con Murphy will keep viewers up to date with the additional group matches around Europe. _____________________________________________________________ 'Downton Abbey' (ITV, Sunday, 9pm) - Series two of 'Downton Abbey' opens in November 1916 and the family and servants are busy working to get the house ready for a fundraising concert to equip the village hospital to take more casualties from the front. New housemaid Ethel's boasting does not make her popular with the others, especially O'Brien, who plays a cruel trick on her in front of the family. Feeling left out of the war effort, Robert is delighted when he receives a letter suggesting he is to be given the colonelcy of the local volunteers and is excited about the prospect of finally being able to fight for his country. However, after attending a regimental dinner, his appointment is not all it first seemed. Isobel informs Robert and Cora that Matthew is back from the front on leave and plans to visit Downton in time for the concert. On hearing the news of his visit, Edith wastes no time in telling Mary that Matthew is not coming alone. Sybil, shocked at the death of so many young men at the front, decides to become an auxiliary nurse and enrols for training in York. _____________________________________________________________ Movie Of The Week: 'Heartburn' (RTE 1, Sunday, 2.40am) - Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson are directed by Mike Nichols in this hugely successful film where successful food critic Rachel Samstat begins to fall for the charming columnist Mark Forman, despite being warned that he is not capable of fidelity. But after a whirlwind courtship, they marry, and Rachel gives up her career to dedicate herself to making their marriage work. Mark is thrilled when Rachel announces that she is pregnant but becomes anxious about his new, responsible role and begins cheating on her. Two great actors made better by a winning Nora Ephron script.