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The Seven Ages of Noël Browne, a new documentary based on a 1997 interview with the late politician, who served as Minister for Health from 1948 to 1951
The Seven Ages of Noël Browne RTÉ One, 9.35pm
In 1985, the artist Robert Ballagh unveiled his cruciform painting of Noël Browne, which depicted the politician as a selfless martyr to the political left. Not very subtle, but was he right? History buffs can decide for themselves by watching this new documentary based on a previously unseen 1997 four-hour interview.
Born in Waterford in 1915 and raised in Derry and England, Browne was one of the youngest government ministers ever in this country, appointed Minister for Health during his first Dáil term in 1948. His passion for change was motivated by his hard upbringing, during which he lost both his parents and most of his siblings to TB.
To his great credit, Noël Browne waged an ultimately successful war on TB, and also had ambitious plans to introduce a Mother and Child Scheme, which would provide free healthcare to all mothers, and to children under 16. Members of the clerical hierarchy, who already loathed Browne as a “Trinity Catholic”, were outraged.
The plan failed, the coalition government collapsed, and Noël Browne resigned in disgust from Clann na Poblachta, a pattern that would be repeated throughout his turbulent political career.
A hero to many, he was prone to holding grudges, and he ended his days railing against the very popular President Mary Robinson, whose job, he felt, should have been his.
Wolf
Wolf BBC1, 9pm New crime drama set in Wales and starring Ukweli Roach as Jack Caffrey, a police detective haunted by the murder of his young brother in the 1990s who becomes convinced that a furtive neighbour is the man responsible.
Women’s World Cup Live RTÉ2, 10am Clare MacNamara and guests present coverage of the Republic of Ireland’s Group B tie with Nigeria in Brisbane. Kick-off is at 11am.
Earth BBC2, 9pm Chris Packham explains how our planet turned from a barren rock to a vibrant, fertile world, helped by a giant asteroid crash that triggered tectonic-plate movement, creating fungi, soil and giant swamp forests. And as plants sucked up carbon dioxide, temperatures plummeted.
Cinderella Man
Cinderella Man TG4, 9.30pm Ron Howard’s moving biopic stars Russell Crowe as James Braddock, a washed-up boxer who’s forced to return to the ring during the Great Depression, and stuns the world by earning a shot at the title. 4/5 stars
On the Basis of Sex BBC2, 11.15pm Late in her life, Ruth Bader Ginsburg became the bane of Donald Trump’s life on the US Supreme Court bench, and this watchable biopic tells the story of how she beat the odds to get there. With Felicity Jones, Kathy Bates. 3/5 stars
Elizabeth Banks and Zach Galifianakis in The Beanie Bubble. Picture: Apple TV+
The Beanie Bubble Apple TV+, streaming now
If you were a child in the mid-to-late 1990s, or indeed ever opened an off-season Happy Meal more recently, you will be all too aware of Ty Warner’s (Zach Galifianakis) Beanie Baby phenomenon. It was an “intentionally understuffed” range of animals with a ‘Ty, Inc’ tag. As with all stories of subterfuge, the person at the centre of everything is someone with latent sociopathic tendencies who believes nothing would exist without them. A visual treat — from Robbie’s (Elizabeth Banks) sumptuous ruched garb of choice to Sarah Snook’s delicious Stepford vibes — this movie has all the hard candy one expects from a film showcasing ’90s excess.
For context, the noted founder of the Beanie empire became a billionaire in three years. Anyone around in the ’90s knows that highs don’t last. The avid practice of hoarding certain Beanie Babies (with a view to making a bomb off them at a later date) tanked — much like this depicted business partnership, marriage, and more.
How to Become A Cult Leader
How to Become a Cult Leader Netflix, streaming now Much like in How to Become a Tyrant, Peter Dinklage’s honeyed timbre dryly outlines how the most renowned cult leaders came to be. From Charles Manson to Marshall Applewhite and Jim Jones, Dinklage will help you find the leadership style most likely to brainwash your flock of choice. Which, let’s be honest, is usually American.
Good Omens
Good Omens Prime Video, streaming now The melded minds of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman have brought us season 2. Now exiled from heaven and hell, Michael Sheen’s angel Aziraphale and David Tennant’s demon Crowley must team up again after the strange, impromptu arrival of Jon Hamm, playing a very bemused Angel Gabriel.
Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case
Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case Netflix, streaming now When 21-year-old British Airways flight attendant Lucie left her life in London to move to Tokyo for a gap year of sorts, her friends and family never imagined that just three weeks later, she would vanish. Their journey against the clock takes them through Tokyo’s dark underbelly towards one of Japan’s most reprehensible predators.
D.P. S2 on Netflix
D.P. Netflix, streaming now Fans will welcome another series about the Deserter Pursuit (D.P.) unit, as Jun-ho and Ho-yeol continue to rage against the continuous injustices.
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