RTÉ One
RTÉ One announces over 50 new shows in new season launch
Hard-hitting documentaries, family entertainment and drama take centre stage
RTÉ One today unveiled the channel’s biggest line-up of new programming in recent years, announcing 53 brand new series and documentaries. The new season schedule will deliver new Sunday night drama, a new slate of documentaries for Monday nights, brand new lifestyle series for mid-week and new entertainment for weekends along with the best in news and current affairs.
On announcing his first schedule for the new season as Channel Controller for RTÉ One, Adrian Lynch said: “RTÉ One exists to deliver compelling and distinctive content and that’s what will be served up to the audience this new season with over 50 new series and documentaries on offer as well as fresh series of viewer favourites. From news, current affairs and investigative programming that the nation turns to, new world-class drama, factual programming telling Ireland’s contemporary stories and plenty of brand new entertainment there’s a lot to look forward to on RTÉ One this autumn and beyond”.
Drama is centre stage in the new schedule. RTÉ One continues its world-class run of acclaimed production with 11 hours of new Sunday-night drama. Clean Break, a new four-part series written by acclaimed playwright Billy Roche with a cast including Damien Molony and Kelly Thornton. And from the makers of Charlie comes Rebellion, a drama set over three weeks in Easter 1916 starring Charlie Murphy, Brian Gleeson, Ruth Bradley, Barry Ward and Sarah Greene.
RTÉ One will be bringing viewers a broad range of new factual programming including Recruits, which offers unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to the Irish Defence Forces. In Ireland’s Wealth Revolution David McWilliams looks at the country’s wealth gap, while Death of a Son tells the story of how Michael Dwyer was assassinated in Bolivia in 2009, The Boston Nanny follows the story of Cavan nanny Aisling Brady McCarthy and Hidden Impact: Rugby’s Concussion Crisis examines how this controversial problem can be tackled.
Filmed over eight months, Crumlin observes paediatric care from the point of view of the medical practitioners at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital; Garda Down Under gives a fascinating insight into the lives of the gardaí who are now on the beat in Western Australia and in Call Back, Joe Duffy looks back on Liveline’s most memorable stories.
There are new additions to the entertainment line-up with the debut of The Ray D’Arcy Show to light up Saturday nights and Mario Rosenstock comes to RTÉ One with a new studio show. The Voice of Ireland and Ireland’s Fittest Family make a welcome return and Ryan Tubridy is at the helm as The Late Late Show returns for a record breaking 56th season.
RTÉ One’s arts output has been refreshed with John Kelly presenting a brand new weekly series in which he interviews a different leading light in the arts from Glen Hansard to Jennifer Johnston. Other new arts programming includes the story of Irish design in Designing Ireland, Paddy Moloney: Chieftain and Druid Shakespeare following the Druid Theatre Company’s 40th anniversary celebrations. Brent Pope uncovers some incredible human stories behind ‘outsider’ art and Bob Geldof examines W.B. Yeats’ life and work in the context of the 1916 centenary commemorations.
New lifestyle series include You Should Really See a Doctor featuring Dr. Pixie McKenna and new RTÉ One face Dr. Phil Kieran meeting and treating people with a tendency to self diagnose on the internet; a new science series Everything You Need To Know… and One Week To My Wedding, a new series following six different couples in the week leading up to their wedding day. Rachel Allen and Donal Skehan are also back with brand-new cookery series.
RTÉ One’s current affairs slate will continue to be at the heart of the schedule offering in-depth analysis and debate. After a very successful launch earlier this year Claire Byrne Live returns to Monday nights, Prime Time will continue twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays with David McCullagh and Miriam O’Callaghan at the helm along with a number of major reports from the RTÉ Investigations Unit.
Along with Ray D’Arcy, Mario Rosenstock, Dr Pixie McKenna and Dr Phil Kieran, other new faces featuring in primetime slots on RTÉ One this season include Bob Geldof, Anna Geary, Alan Quinlan and Nathan Carter.
Glen Killane, RTÉ Television MD said: “The new season on RTÉ One marks the beginning of an exciting year for viewers. Major events like the 1916 Centenary Celebrations, the General Election, the Olympic Games and Euro 2016 will see RTÉ, and RTÉ One in particular, play a central role in Irish life”.
The RTÉ2 new season and a new slate of childrens’ content from RTÉjr will be shortly announced.
–ENDS-
Images from today’s launch will sent to pictures desks by Andres Poveda (086 834 3242)
Programme images are available to download from the RTÉ presspack: http://presspack.rte.ie/category/tv-news-releases/
For further information:
Sharon Brady, Senior Communications Manager TV & Digital, 087 6858975 sharon.brady@rte.ie,
Anne-Louise Foley, Senior Press Officer, RTÉ Television, 085 1288911 annelouisefoley@rte.ie
RTÉ One New Season Line-up
For more information go to rteonenewseason.rte.ie
>Drama
*NEW Clean Break This exciting new four-part drama from the makers of Love/Hate and written by acclaimed playwright Billy Roche, stars Adam Fergus as Frank, a car dealer running out of fiscal rope whose attempt at staging a tiger raid on the local bank goes badly wrong.
*NEW Rebellion Charting the violent birth of modern Ireland, Rebellion is a five-part serial drama set over three weeks of Easter 1916. Starring Charlie Murphy, Brian Gleeson, Ruth Bradley, Barry Ward and Sarah Greene.
Fair City Catastrophe is on the horizon with one of the Carrigstown residents left fighting for their life as the drama continues on Ireland’s longest running soap opera, Fair City. Audiences can also look forward to the return of some familiar faces this year.
>Factual
*NEW Recruits (2×60) For the first time cameras follow new recruits in the Irish Defence Forces as they face a gruelling 17 weeks of training that will push them to their absolute limits.
*NEW Ireland’s Wealth Revolution (1×60) Economist David McWilliams looks at the growing gap between rich and poor in post-recession Ireland, examining how the increasing concentration of wealth is reversing social mobility and limiting access to opportunity.
*NEW Hidden Impact: Rugby’s Concussion Crisis (1×60) The shadow of concussion is lingering over rugby as concerns grow about the long term effects of ‘bangs’ to the head. We talk to players, coaches, medical experts and parents, among others, in search of answers as to how rugby will tackle this controversial problem.
*NEW Death of a Son – The Killing of Michael Dwyer (1×60) The mother of Michael Dwyer, shot dead by a secret police unit in Bolivia in 2009 then accused of being tied to a terrorist group, has fought tirelessly to find out what happened to her son. We follow her as she travels across the world looking for answers.
*NEW Murder in Melbourne (1×60) A landmark documentary looking at the experiences of Irish emigrants in Australia and focusing on a number of tragic murders of Irish people living down under.
*NEW The Irish in Silicon Valley and The Irish in Dubai (2×52) George Lee takes a look at the Irish emigrants flying high in Silicon Valley, California, and Dubai. The ambitious Irish are heading there trying to make it big, but what’s the reality behind the Californian and Dubai Dream.
*NEW Call Back (6×26) Joe Duffy returns to some of the standout stories that have gotten the country talking on Liveline, following up for the sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes heart-warming outcomes.
*NEW The Boston Nanny (1×60)The story of Cavan nanny Aisling Brady McCarthy who pleaded not guilty but spent two years in a US prison awaiting trial after she was accused of murdering baby Rehma Sabir, with detectives and doctors claiming she’d shaken the baby to death.
*NEW The Invisible Man (1×54)The story of political prisoner Dónal Donnelly who escaped from Crumlin Road Jail in 1960 and was promptly dubbed The Invisible Man having successfully evaded capture until he was finally granted a royal pardon 26 years later.
*NEW Inside the Paper (6×30) Local newspapers have been at the heart of their communities for centuries but they face an uphill battle in the digital age. We go behind the scenes at three of the few remaining family-owned regional newspapers in the country to see what makes them tick.
*NEW Garda Down Under (6×30) Irish Gardaí on the beat in Western Australia, the largest police district in the world. From the urban sophistication of Perth across the Great Sandy Desert to Kununurra in the far north, we follow them as they adapt to work – and life – down under.
*NEW Stetsons and Stilettos (6×30) From Ballymena to Ballydehob, country music is packing the halls again. Stetsons and Stilettos looks at country music in Ireland from the perspective of performers including Nathan Carter and the fans who love it.
*NEW Everything you want to know about… (6 x 24) Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, Kathriona Devereux and Jonathan McCrea leave no stone unturned in their quest to reveal the science behind everything from where your fears and phobias come from to robotics.
*NEW Inside Shannon (6×30) Shannon Airport is fighting back after declining passenger numbers with a new boss making major changes. With unprecedented access, this series, filmed over a year, will give viewers a unique insight into life inside the airport.
*NEW Crumlin (4×52) Filmed over eight months with unprecedented access, this observational documentary is a sensitive but searingly honest portrayal of the challenges faced by the medical teams in four departments at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin.
*NEW Our New School (2×52) This two-part documentary follows the teachers, parents and pupils of Hansfield Educate Together as they face the challenge of starting Dublin’s first Educate Together secondary school from scratch.
*NEW These Walls Can Talk (1×52) A stark and provocative portrait of the Irish Deaf Community told through their experience of St Joseph’s School for Deaf Boys in Cabra, a controversial Christian Brothers-run school where, for some, the opportunity of an education came at a terrible price.
*NEW Lár Na Páirce New Irish language three-part series taking a fresh look at the GAA including the changing role of women in the organisation and Gaelic football in the remotest parts of Ireland.
*NEW The Genius of George Boole (1×60) Jeremy Irons narrates this fascinating documentary celebrating the immense contribution of mathematician George Boole, UCC’s first ever professor of mathematics, to the digital age.
*NEW Children of the Revolution In Children of the Revolution Joe Duffy uncovers the tragic stories of the 40 children killed during the Easter Rising.
*NEW The Enemy Files A challenging and controversial documentary presented by Michael Portillo that will offer a valuable counterview of the events of 1916.
*NEW 1916 (3 x 60) Narrated by Liam Neeson, this landmark documentary examines the Easter Rising and the subsequent events that led to the creation of an independent Irish state and, indirectly, the breakup of the British Empire.
*NEW Ireland’s Rising (4 x 26) Four household names will travel back to their homesteads to discover what particular connection their county has with the events of 1916 and find out what the people of their county are planning to commemorate it.
*NEW The Walk of Life – A Would You Believe? Special (1×60) As walking the Camino de Santiago becomes increasingly popular, we following a group Irish people battling cancer and cancer survivors as they make the pilgrimage.
*NEW Mary McAleese and the Man Who Saved Europe (1×60) Former president Mary McAleese follows in the footsteps of St Columbanus, who crossed Europe during the Dark Ages keeping the flame of Christian civilisation alive.
The Meaning of Life with Gay Byrne (6×30) Placido Domingo, Hozier and Sr Stan are among those sitting down this year with Gay Byrne for his series exploring the meaning of life with major figures from all walks of public life.
Returning: Crimecall, Ear to the Ground, What in the World?, Scannal, The Bee, Joe Duffy’s Spirit Level, Eco Eye.
>Entertainment
*NEW The Ray D’Arcy Show With an emphasis on fun Saturday night entertainment, The Ray D’Arcy Show will be a lively mix of chat, comedy and music, Irish and international celebrity guests alongside guests from all walks of Irish life making unmissable TV that gets people talking.
*NEW The Mario Rosenstock Show (6×60) He hit you like a Wrecking Ball and now Mario is back with a new series of hilarious comedy sketches poking fun at some of Ireland’s biggest celebrities. With a live studio audience and special guests, this is guaranteed to get you laughing.
*NEW Pat Shortt’s Music for D’Telly (8×30) The multi-talented Pat Shortt raids the RTÉ music archives to unearth the most popular, rarely seen and occasionally wacky music and music-related items from over 60 years of programme making.
*NEW Four Heads A smart and entertaining quiz show pilot exploring how well we really know our friends and family, coming from RTÉ Television’s Format Farm.
Ireland’s Fittest Family Munster rugby legend Alan Quinlan and Cork camogie champion Anna Geary join coaches Davy Fitz and Jason Sherlock as family teams are put through their paces on tougher than ever courses.
The Late Late Show Ryan Tubridy returns for a new series, featuring celebrity guests, music, in-depth interviews and discussions on the stories that have the nation talking.
The Voice of Ireland A ratings smash last year, The Voice of Ireland returns for a fifth series. Four mentors, 90 seconds to impress, who will blow the coaches away this year?
Also Returning: Winning Streak, Mrs Brown’s Boys, People of the Year, Up for the Match, RTÉ Sports Awards, Irish Pictorial Weekly
>Arts
*NEW The Works Presents…(10 x 26) Leading lights from Ireland’s vibrant arts scene talk in-depth with presenter John Kelly about the defining moment in their career and their creative journey so far.
*NEW Designing Ireland (4×52) Marking the Year of Irish Design, Sandra O’Connell and Angela Brady meet the home grown designers making their mark on the world stage and celebrate the best of Ireland’s contemporary craft, design and architecture.
*NEW A Stroke of Fortune (1×52) High stakes and high art come together as an Irish woman sets out to establish whether a disputed collection of paintings is actually by Roderic O’Connor and potentially worth millions.
*NEW Druid Shakespeare (1×52) We follow the famous Druid Theatre Company as they mark their 40th year with an audacious project staging Shakespeare’s History Plays, casting Irish women as English kings and men as bawdy widows, performing for Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall among others.
*NEW Paddy Moloney: Chieftain (1×52) With specially recorded performances and collaborations, an intimate portrait of one of Ireland’s most loved musicians, The Chieftain’s Paddy Moloney.
*NEW Brent Pope’s Outsiders (1×52) Rugby pundit Brent Pope embraces his passion for art with this innovative documentary featuring untrained artists invited to take part in the biggest exhibition of “outsider” art in the history of the state.
*NEW Christy Moore: Journey (2×52) Legendary musician Christy Moore collaborates with award-winning film-maker Mark McLoughlin for a very personal musical journey through contemporary Irish history revealing a deeply human story of a changing country.
*NEW W.B. Yeats by Bob Geldof (2×52) Musician and political activist Bob Geldof examines the life and work of WB Yeats in the context of the 1916 centenary celebrations. A co-production with BBC, written by Geldof in collaboration with historian and Yeats scholar Roy Foster.
Also: Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards 2015
>Lifestyle
*NEW A Week to My Wedding (6×30) Brand new series following six couples in the final throes of preparing for their big day; capturing all the energy, excitement and last minute nerves as they get ready to take the plunge.
*NEW You Should Really See a Doctor (6×30) Dr Pixie McKenna and Dr Phil Kieran travel the country bringing medical help to the nation’s doorsteps, advising the invisibly sick, the obviously so and the people who mistakenly think they are at death’s door.
*NEW Rachel Allen: Coastal Cooking (13 x 24) Rachel Allen takes to the road on the west and south coast, foraging and sourcing the best local ingredients in temperamental weather to whip up some tasty delights away from the comfort of her kitchen.
*NEW Cook, Eat, Burn! (6 x 24) Donal Skehan returns with a new series delivering delicious recipes while also looking at the calories generated, the activity needed to burn them off and alternative ingredients for healthier options.
*NEW Farmer in Charge From RTÉ Television’s Format Farm, an initiative to support the production and broadcast of original TV formats here and abroad, comes Farmer in Charge which sees an experienced rural farmer takes a ‘no nonsense’ approach to a failing urban business.
Home of the Year The successful series returns with 21 of the country’s best houses competing for the title of Home of the Year. Judges are Hugh Wallace, Declan O’Donnell and Deirdre Whelan.
Operation Transformation Getting the nation healthy for its ninth season, Operation Transformation will challenge five new leaders to lose weight, get fit and transform their lives. Are you ready to make the change?
Today Bigger and better than ever, the Today show returns with an extra half hour of the country’s lifestyle experts, leading chefs, latest entertainment news and viewer giveaways presided over by Dáithí Ó Sé and Maura Derrane.
Taste of Success (8×30) A prize worth €100,000 is up for grabs as Ireland’s foodies compete to have their new food innovation grace the shelves of 140 Lidl supermarkets nationwide. Presenter is Dáithí Ó Sé and mentors are Catherine Fulvio, Domini Kemp, JP McMahon and Martin Shanahan.
Also returning Room to Improve, Neven Maguire Home Chef, Rory O’Connell: How to Cook Well, The Shelbourne, Getaways, At Your Service.
>News and Current Affairs
Prime Time Prime Time returns with Miriam O’Callaghan and David McCullagh presenting live debates, big interviews, and in-depth reports on national and international current affairs.
Claire Byrne Live Presenter Claire Byrne is joined by guests and a live studio audience every Monday night for discussion, analysis, authored reports and whatever has the country talking
The Week In Politics Aine Lawlor presents a panel discussion and analysis of the key political stories of the week.
Nationwide The ever-popular RTÉ One’s Nationwide sees presenters Mary Kennedy and Anne Cassin bring Irish viewers an eclectic mix of human interest stories from around the country.
RTÉ Investigations Unit
From the team that uncovered the failings behind the Áras Attracta Care Home, Portlaoise Hospital and Ireland’s Crèches, the RTÉ Investigations Unit will reveal a number of major new investigations this season
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