Derek Mooney is joined by family history experts Turtle Bunbury, Nicola Morris and John Grenham in a new series of 'The Genealogy Roadshow' (RTE 1, Sunday).

TV Highlights

Published: Wed 17 Aug 2011, 4:53 PM

'The Genealogy Roadshow' (RTE 1, Sunday, 6.30pm) - Do you believe you are related to someone famous? Is your family connected to a major historical event? Do you need to solve a family mystery? Derek Mooney helps to answer these questions in the company of Turtle Bunbury, Nicola Morris and John Grenham - the Roadshow's crack historical and genealogical team touring the country to help people verify their old family tales and hunches. Episode one comes from Adare Manor, Co Limerick, where a young lady has discovered her relative was aboard the fateful maiden voyage of the Titanic, as well as uncovering all the drama of the 1867 Fenian Rising and especially The Siege of Kilmallock. There is also the remarkable love story involving an Irish connection to the silent movie legend Charlie Chaplin, and the story of thousands of Irish girls who were sent from Famine era workhouses to be wives in the new 'colony' of Australia. ____________________________________________________________ 'The X-Factor' (ITV, Saturday, 7.30pm) - The multi award-winning entertainment show is back for an eighth series with a bang, as Gary Barlow, Kelly Rowland, Tulisa and Louis Walsh form a brand-new judging panel. The series will see the four judges hit the road and trawl the length and breadth of Britain in their quest to find the next singing superstar. And this year's contestants give the judges more action and entertainment than ever before as Gary is forced to take to the stage to eject rejects, Kelly mops up tears, Tulisa rows with an angry contestant and Louis finds an Irish singer he doesn't like. Presenter Dermot O'Leary returns to host proceedings, bringing viewers all the action from the wings during the audition rounds through to the tears, celebrations and excitement of the live shows until the winner of 'The X-Factor 2011' is crowned. _____________________________________________________________ 'The Man Who Crossed Hitler' (BBC 2, Sunday, 8pm) - Bringing a little-known story to life, Ian Hart and Ed Stoppard lead an all-star cast in a drama that tells the true story of a Jewish lawyer who challenged Hitler - and paid with his life. In the summer of 1931, with Germany on the brink of economic collapse and the city of Berlin turning into a paramilitary war zone, the audacious young prosecutor Hans Litten chooses to subpoena a star witness to a trial of Nazi thugs. In spite of the risk to his own safety, and against the advice of those who love him, Litten forces rising political star Adolf Hitler to make a rare appearance in the witness stand of Berlin's central criminal court. Litten aimed to expose the true character of Hitler and his politics to the German public and, in a humiliating and hostile cross-examination, Hitler was forced to account for his political beliefs, his apparent contempt for the law and his desire to destroy German democracy. Hitler survived the ordeal but it was a close encounter which he never forgave, and for which Hans Litten paid a heavy price. ____________________________________________________________ 'The Rose Of Tralee' (RTE 1, Monday & Tuesday, 8pm) - The 52nd International Rose of Tralee selection will be broadcast live from the festival dome with Dáithí O Sé presenting the hugely popular event for the second time, where he will interview 32 roses over the two nights. Last year, a peak of over one million viewers tuned in to see Clare Kambamettu, the 26-year-old assistant psychologist London Rose, originally from Athy, Co Kildare, crowned as the 2010 Rose of Tralee. ____________________________________________________________ Movie Of The Week: 'The Green Mile' (RTE 1, Sunday, 9.30pm) - Tom Hanks stars in this adaptation of Stephen King's novel, set in 1935, and concerning the inmates at the Cold Mountain Correctional Facility where they call Death Row 'The Green Mile' because of the dark green linoleum that tiles the floor. Paul Edgecomb is the head guard on the Green Mile when a new inmate is brought into his custody: John Coffey, convicted of the sadistic murder of two young girls. Despite his size and the fearsome crimes for which he's serving time, Coffey seems to be a kind and well-mannered person who behaves more like an innocent child than a hardened criminal. A wonderful film packed with stunning performances.