Preview

Monday

True Lives: Harvest Emergency (RTE 1, 8 p.m.) In the late summer of 1946, torrential rain, combined with a world grain shortage after the second World War, threatened to lead to Ireland's worst harvest since the Famine, causing the government to call for "responsible citizens" to organise a voluntary Land Army to save the crop. Liam Wylie's documentary uses archive footage and interviews to recall a unique period in Irish history. 98914707

Two Fat Ladies (BBC 2, 8.30 p.m.) Jennifer Paterson and Clarissa Dickson return for a new six-part series of opinionated cookery. Tonight they're invited to the Brazilian Embassy in London to prepare canapes for a cocktail party. 4788 Equinox: The Iceberg Cometh (Channel 4, 9 p.m.) Scientists based in Greenland believe that global warming could result in a dramatic increase in the number of icebergs floating around our oceans. 8405

Picture This: Beachy Head (BBC 2, 9.30 p.m.) One of the quintessential images of England has also achieved unwelcome fame as a favoured spot for suicides. Locals talk about Beachy Head's grim reputation, and how it affects their lives. 94788

Tuesday

Leargas (RTE 1, 7.30 p.m.) Caoimhe Nic Caba looks at the state of private rented accommodation in Ireland, and asks whether proper provision is being made for the growing number of people who wish to rent houses and apartments. 64694653

Streetwise (Network 2, 7.30 p.m.) The consumer programme returns for a new series with reports on petrol prices, private colleges, substandard phones and rail ticket prices. 64692295

UEFA Cup Football: Liverpool v Celtic (Net- work 2, 7.30 p.m.; BBC 1, 8 p.m.) RTE's sports department policy seems rather confused: two weeks ago they showed the Cup Winners' Cup tie between Chelsea v Slovan Bratislava but ignored this match, which has far more resonances for an Irish audience. Now they're showing the second leg, but not the Chelsea tie on Thursday. 98983837, 23241363

Network First: Out of the Shadows (ITV, 10.40 p.m.) First in a two-part documentary following the British Labour Party's Gordon Brown in the run-up to the election last May. Tonight's film follows Brown from October 1996 until the election, promising unprecedented access to Labour's triumphant campaign. 207818

Wednesday

Champions' League: Manchester United v Juventus (Network 2, ITV, 7.30 p.m.) Manchester United have to get some kind of a result tonight to have a chance of progressing. ITV have taken a leaf out of Sky's book, boosting their coverage with extra camera positions and snappier editing, which paid dividends in thir coverage of Newcastle v Barcelona. 82326623, 180197

The Nazis - a Warning from History (BBC 2, 9 p.m.) This fourth programme looks at the atrocities which took place in Poland, where 20 per cent of the population was exterminated under Nazi rule. 728623

The Rugby Club (BBC 2, 9.50 p.m.) New six-part series following the fortunes of Bath rugby club, the most feared side in the English game, as it sets out on its first fully professional season in 1996. Following in the tradition of behind-the-scenes series like The House, this promises to be both revealing and entertaining. 252791

A Lonesome Beauty (RTE 1, 10.25 p.m.) Special programme on Martin McDonagh's The Leenane Trilogy prior to its Dublin premiere. 48435178

Thursday

The Big Story (ITV, 7.30 p.m.) Next week the 19-year-old British au pair Louise Woodward goes on trial for child murder in the US. Tonight's programme questions whether she can expect a fair trial. 55

Lonely Planet (Channel 4, 8.30 p.m.) The series for independent travellers returns with six more programmes. Tonight, Ian Wright explores Ethiopia, visiting Africa's largest open-air market in Addis Ababa, and travelling to the deserted south of the country. 8111

Horizon: Fermat's Last Theorem (BBC 2, 9.25 p.m.) Another chance to see this acclaimed documentary, which won both a Bafta and a Prix Italia for its depiction of the lifelong quest of Andrew Wiles for a solution to the famous theorem. The theorem itself may be baffling to those of us of a non-mathematical bent, but the film's quirky humour and Wiles's dedication to his task, make it well worth seeing. 572579

Clive Anderson All Talk (BBC 1, 10.20 p.m.) First of a 12-part series of talk shows, with the barrister and wit giving a hard time to a range of guests, kicking off with Paul McCartney, who is releasing his first classical symphony, recorded with the LSO. 993734

Friday

Divided World (Network 2, 8 p.m.) The series returns with a look at the high levels of crime in South Africa, and examines the impact of Diana, Princess of Wales on the campaign to ban land mines. 35942951

Sideline View (Network 2, 8.30 p.m.) A look back at this year's All-Ireland Football final, going behind the scenes on the day of the big match and following the winners home (unless there's a draw, presumably). 35961086

Strange But True? (ITV, 8.30 p.m.) These tales of the supernatural are becoming more and more desperate. In tonight's programme, Michael Aspel reports on an area of Scotland known as the Falkirk Triangle, because of the number of UFO sightings reported there. 7845

Catherine Cookson's The Rag Nymph (ITV, 9 p.m.) Yet another Cookson adaptation - if you've seen them before, you'll know what to expect. The euphoniously-named Honeysuckle Weeks plays a young orphan sent to a convent school in the 19th century. 6067

Parkinson: the Interviews (BBC 1, 10.25 p.m.) Tonight's interview is from 1979, when Parky had a memorable encounter with acting and singing star Bette Midler. 486067

Films

Tuesday: Junior (RTE 1, 10.10 p.m.) Arnold Schwarzenegger and director Ivan Reitman, the team responsible for inflicting Twins and Kindergarten Cop on us, compound their offence with this remarkably unfunny "comedy" in which medical researcher Arnie becomes pregnant. Emma Thompson and Danny DeVito are also on the payroll, but don't have much to offer either. 48560214

Tuesday: Hustle (BBC 1, 11.50 p.m.) Robert Aldrich's compelling film noir stars Burt Reynolds as a cynical Los Angeles cop who falls for hooker Catherine Deneuve. Steve Shagan's bleak script paints a powerful picture of the disillusionment of the time (1975), and Aldrich does some of his best work in many years. 431176

Wednesday: Driving Miss Daisy (Channel 4, 9 p.m.) Bruce Beresford's soft-centred movie was a surprisingly big commercial success, winning Oscars for Best Picture and Best Actress. Old troupers Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman are the southern grande dame and chauffeur whose relationship spans several decades. 18707664

Friday: The Dresser (RTE 1, 11.45 p.m.) Hugely enjoyable adaptation of Ronald Harwood's backstage play, thanks to two terrific performances, from Albert Finney as the monstrous theatrical star and Tom Courtenay as his devoted dresser. 75868852