Television What To Watch Santas little helper: Tubridy presents the Toy Show Todays highlights With Adam Hyland Pick Of The Day The Late Late Toy Show RT1, 9.35pm Now that the lumbering figure of Pat Kenny is gone, we can finally enjoy watching this staple of the Irish TV calendar that truly marks the run up to Christmas. Paddy Power is offering favourable odds on Ryan Tubridy either breaking a toy or swearing at a child, but the safest bet might be that he will return to the age-old tradition of donning a horribly twee novelty woolly jumper for the occasion. Whatever happens, its bound to be a more upbeat affair than in the previous few years. We Are Family BBC2, 9pm A new series examining the bonds that tie family members together and sometimes tear them apart begins with a look at the Minchews. The eight middle- aged siblings have three different fathers but just the one mother, and to say they have issues is an understatement. Some of them havent spoken to each other in years, but they have agreed to come together for a live reunion. Lets hope it doesnt end in tears. RT1 RT2 TV3 7.05 The Afternoon Show (R,T) 8.45 Casualty (R) 9.45 Judge Joe Brown 10.05 The Doctors (T) 10.55 Dr Phil 11.45 Shortland Street (T) 12.15 Doctors (T) 12.45 Telly Bingo 1.00 News And Weather (T) 1.25 Home And Away (T) 1.55 Neighbours (T) 2.20 EastEnders (T) 3.00 How Clean Is Your House? (T) 3.30 Fair City (R,T) Christy gives Tracey relationship advice. 4.00 The Afternoon Show (T) 5.45 Nuacht RT 6.00 The Angelus 6.01 News And Weather (T) 7.00 Nationwide (T) Regional round-ups. 7.30 Come West Along The Road With Ciaran Mac Mathuna, Tommy Flynn and Andy Roe. 8.00 EastEnders (T) Lucas tries to cover his tracks and fears the worst. 8.30 On The Street Where You Live (R) Exploring the history of major city streets in Ireland. 9.00 News And Weather (T) 9.35 The Late Late Toy Show (T) Ryan Tubridy presents a festive guide to the best Christmas toys for kids and adults. See highlights. 11.50 RT News And Marine Outlook 12.00 FILM: Beaches (1988) Drama, starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey. 2.10 Telly Bingo (R) 2.20 Shortland Street (R,T) 8.50 Mr Bean: The Animated Series 9.05 Den Tots 3.05 The Den: Dennis And Gnasher 3.15 Kazoo 3.30 Tracey McBean 3.45 The Sleepover 4.15 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 4.40 Ice 5.00 News 5.10 Sabrina The Teenage Witch (T) Supernatural comedy, starring Melissa Joan Hart. 5.35 Neighbours (R,T) Zeke is angry with Robin for flirting with Sunny and suspects he has a hidden agenda. 6.00 The Simpsons (T) Cartoon capers with the unmistakable family. 6.30 Home And Away (R,T) Miles tries to get Jai to open up about his downbeat mood. 7.00 The Caf Entertainment show. 7.30 Scrubs Comedy series set in a chaotic hospital, starring Zach Braff, Donald Faison and Sarah Chalke. 8.00 The All Ireland Talent Show (R) Grinne Seoige leads the search for a star, where head judge Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh hopes to discover a winner. 9.00 NCIS (T) Palmer comes under fire while investigating a murder at a building site on a Navy base. 9.55 By The People: The Election Of Barack Obama Record of the US Presidents journey to power, including behind- the-scenes footage of Obama, plus interviews with his wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha, senior campaign staff, volunteers, reporters, supporters and opponents. 12.00 The Republic Of Telly (R) 12.30 Colin And Grahams Excellent Adventures (R) 7.00 Ireland AM 10.00 The Jeremy Kyle Show (R) 11.00 The Morning Show With Sybil And Martin 11.50 Midday 12.50 Xpos (R) 1.20 The Oprah Winfrey Show (R) 2.10 The Ellen DeGeneres Show. 3.05 Emmerdale (R,T) Hour-long edition. 4.05 Coronation Street (R,T) Carla makes clear her contempt for Sally and Rosie. 4.30 Judge Judy. Double bill. Real-life court cases, presided over by Judge Sheindlin. 5.30 News@5.30 6.00 Xpos Daily entertainment news, with Karen Koster. 6.30 Friends (R) A joke entry on Rosss college website backfires on Chandler. 7.00 Emmerdale (T) Mark accuses Faye of sleeping with Jai. 7.30 Coronation Street (T) Michelle verbally attacks Tony during his first court appearance. 8.00 Deal Or No Deal Game show, hosted by illusionist Keith Barry. 8.30 Coronation Street (T) Kevin and Molly face being caught in bed together. 9.00 Deal Or No Deal Game show, hosted by illusionist Keith Barry. 9.30 Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! Ant and Dec present an update as the celebrity campers reach the end of their second week in the Australian jungle, knowing there are just seven days to go before one of them is crowned the successor to Joe Swash. 11.00 Americas Got Talent Ten acts compete for a place in the final, but only five will go through. 12.00 Americas Got Talent. 12.30 Play TV. 6pm 7pm 8pm 9pm 10pm 11pm :60second interview Marian Keyes Irish author Marian Keyes, 46, is considered one of the founders of chick-lit. Her debut novel, Watermelon, was published in 1995 and shes sold more than 20million books worldwide. Her latest novel, The Brightest Star In The Sky, is out now Interview by Andrew Williams I always get oddballs at signings. They wait right until the end because the last person gets to collar you for hours Whats your new book about? Its set in some flats in Dublin and has a huge cast. There are Polish builders, a celebrity gardener, a woman who works in the music business. Im very proud of the book, its very optimistic but be assured its good, and dark too. Did you meet any Polish builders? I did, I went out with a load of them one night. When I started writing the book Ireland was still riddled with Poles, it was before the world had come to its economic end. I went out on the tear with them and, God almighty, those boys know how to enjoy themselves. I was outclassed. Are you annoyed when reviewers say theyre surprised theyve enjoyed your books? My book covers work against me. They look quite fluffy so who can blame people for making assumptions? Im just grateful a lot of people read my books and reviewers take me seriously. Crime writers get it too. Ian Rankin is a genius, hes so good at writing about society, but hes still dismissed as just a crime writer. How many manuscripts did you send off before you got a book deal? None. I was very unlucky until I was 30 then all my luck came in one go. I sent five short stories to a publisher in Ireland and said Id started a novel, which I hadnt, but I thought it would make me seem like a proper writer. They said theyd like to see the novel. I gave it a go, wrote four chapters in a week, sent them off and that became my first novel. Do you have any weird writing habits? I used to write in bed until I ruined my back. I slipped a disc and now I have to write at a desk. It feels more like doing a proper days work, which obviously doesnt appeal to me. Your last book was called This Charming Man are you a Morrissey fan? I love him, he says the unsayable, like that recent song about fat Americans. Id be too scared I was born I was going to be alcoholic, that was my destiny, whereas people I partied with in my twenties now just have two pints on a Saturday night and outgrew it. Youre a regular guest on Strictly Come Dancing. Whats the appeal? Theres an old- fashioned innocence to it. Its uplifting to watch people learn how to do something as beautiful as dancing. Is Alesha Dixon a rubbish judge? I adore her, shes a beautiful human being, but Arlene was a wonderful judge. Aleshas growing into it. I was worried shed be giving everyone tens but shes not throwing scores away. What are your money-saving tips for the recession? Cultivate your friendships. Friends are free and the best thing in the world. Thats where you get your happiness. You can have such a good laugh with people who know you well, you dont need to go to Mauritius. to meet him. If he doesnt like you youd soon know about it. Id worry hed think I was a terrible eejit. Have you ever been punched in the face at a book signing? No, poor old Leona Lewis, that was horrific. Im no great fan of Westlife, despite being Irish, but thats no excuse to punch anyone. I always get oddballs at signings. They wait right until the end because the last person gets to collar you for hours. Ive never been punched but Ive been bored for a very long time. Some want you to go home with them and meet their mother. You had a drink problem are binge-drinking kids on a path to misery? Theres a difference between teenage experimentation and the condition of alcoholism. I dont want to make light of it but teenagers have always made a show of themselves. Alcoholism and binge drinking are two different things. From the day 24 metrolife Friday, November 27, 2009 index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html28.html29.html30.html31.html32.html33.html34.html35.html