What's on the box this week?

'Ryan Confidential' (RTE 1, Thursday, 10.15pm) - The new series of 'Ryan Confidential' kicks off with an interview with Bill Cullen, one of this country's most successful entrepreneurs, a best-selling author and, most recently, the straight-talking businessman who fronts the hit series, 'The Apprentice'. Bill grew up in the poverty of Ireland in the 1940s. He lived with his parents and 13 siblings in a run-down tenement block in Dublin's inner city. His mother sold fruit and his father was a dock labourer. He tells Ryan about his remarkable journey from rags to riches. He explains why he was expelled from secondary school, and why he was compelled to use a false address to obtain his first job. He also talks candidly about his long-term romance with his glamorous partner, Jackie Lavin, and reveals why they have never got married. Finally, he offers his own remedy for Ireland's current economic malaise. ______________________________________________________________ 'Can You Train Your Brain?' (BBC 1, Wednesday, 9pm) - In this one-off special, the team from 'Bang Goes The Theory' digs deep into our most important tool - our brains. The team discovers mind-controlled taxis, explores the brain's incredible adaptability and investigates the multi-million pound brain-training industry. Brain training games are big business, and in one of the most pioneering trials of its kind, 'Bang Goes The Theory' unveils the results of the biggest-ever scientific investigation into whether brain training games really work. With results taken from more than 13,000 volunteers who trained their brains three times a week for six weeks, the study findings make for fascinating viewing. Plus, with the collaboration of scientists from leading scientific institutes, the Medical Research Council and the Alzheimer's Society, the scientific trial will be published in one of the top-tier scientific papers later this month. _____________________________________________________________ 'Martin's Mad About Fish' (RTE 1, Thursday, 8.30pm) - Renowned Irish chef Martin Shanahan is mad about fish. As owner of the award-winning restaurant Fishy Fishy in Kinsale, he believes that many Irish people are still afraid of cooking and eating fish. In this brand new six-part series, Shanahan is determined to "take the fear out of fish" and show that anyone can cook simple, tasty seafood at home. His recipes are simple and influenced by his time working both as chef and fishmonger. In episode one, he takes to the streets to find out if the people of Kinsale can identify the most popular species of fish. He demonstrates on the street how to pan fry plaice to an enthusiastic crowd. And for anyone who has ever wondered how to fillet a fish, Shanahan explains a simple way of taking out all the bones so you'll never have to worry about them again. He also cooks the classic dish, fish and chips, for some hungry tourists who have been on a historical walk of the seaside town, and meets up with some of the women of the Irish Countrywomen's Association to show them just how important using a good, solid pan is when it comes to cooking fish. ____________________________________________________________ 'The Autistic Me: One Year On' (BBC 3, Thursday, 9pm) - Following on from last year's acclaimed documentary 'The Autistic Me', this new film catches up with Oliver, Alex and Thomas a year after director Matt Rudge first met them. For the lives of these young men on the autistic spectrum, the last 12 months has seen some dramatic changes and upheavals in all of their lives, as they continue their journey into adulthood. Oliver (25), has high functioning autism and had been searching for a job. A year on, he has moved out of home but is still desperate for work. Attending a course specifically designed to help people with autism find employment, he's been undergoing mock interviews and has undertaken work experience at a supermarket. But with an encyclopaedic knowledge of British history, is stacking shelves really all he can get? Tom (16) has autistic spectrum disorder. His frustration with a lack of independence was at boiling point and his parents thought it best he spend some time away from the family in a residential care unit. Alex (25) has Asperger's Syndrome. Alex was using the internet to find a girlfriend and had been on a first date with Kirsty (20), another girl with autism. ____________________________________________________________ Movie Of The Week: 'How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days' (RTE 1, Wednesday, 9.35pm) - Starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey, this story centres on Andie Anderson, the how-to girl for Composure Magazine who agrees to write a first-hand account of all the things women do to drive away men. She has to find a guy, make him fall in love with her, then get dumped - all in 10 days. But little does she know that her target, ad agency hottie Benjamin Barry, has just made a high-stakes bet with his boss that he can make any girl fall in love with him in 10 days.