This season RTÉ Television will deliver over 110 new and returning home-produced series including 49 brand new home produced series/documentaries and 64 returning series/documentaries.
Speaking at the New Season launch today (Wednesday 10 August) at RTÉ Television Studios, RTÉ’s Managing Director of Television, Glen Killane said, “As Ireland’s Public Service Broadcaster our core purpose is to deliver high quality, popular public service programming of real relevance to our audience. We take our responsibility as Ireland’s National Broadcaster seriously and are keenly aware of the privileged position we have in serving the Irish public. We are therefore proud of the fact that last week we were able to announce that 48 of the top 50 television shows in the year to date were RTÉ programmes, demonstrating the real relevance RTÉ programming has in the lives of Irish people. In the teeth of the worst recession this country, or indeed the world, has probably ever encountered and in the face of ever growing competition, RTÉ television has managed to grow peak time audiences in virtually all key demographics.
There is no doubt that we are facing some very substantial challenges, particularly on the financial front. To meet these challenges we have instituted a range of cost cutting measures along with voluntary redundancy and early retirement packages. The next 12 months promise little in the way of respite from these issues as we continue the work of reducing our deficit. However through the determination of staff and our colleagues in the independent sector we have kept a clear focus on what is important to us, which is providing the Irish public with television programming for 21st century Ireland.
Today I am proud to introduce over 110 new and returning series for the new season. Despite the economic conditions, RTÉ is not only committed to providing the best quality television to our audience, we are also making a pledge to make our content more immersive and accessible than ever before through the use of digital technology. We aim to make our programmes available whenever and wherever our audience choose. Digital Technology will enable us to distribute RTÉ programming on multiple platforms. It will also provide the Irish public with greater choice, flexibility and value for money.
This Autumn sees a range of programming from in-house to independently produced, from Drama to Factual, Sport, Young Peoples, Arts, Religious, Entertainment, Acquired and News and Current Affairs – all of it programming which resonates for Irish audiences and which has real meaning and impact in their lives.”
This season RTÉ is delivering over 34 hours of new home-produced factual programming with 19 new documentaries and series.
. Behind the Walls a new two-part documentary from Mary Raftery which explores of the history of Irish psychiatric hospitals.
. Fianna Fail a major new two-part analysis of Fianna Fáil’s time in power.
. Arrivals the follow-up to RTÉ’s landmark documentary Departure Day.
. Hostile Environment a dramatic two-part series in which actor Liam Cunningham goes behind the scenes in the secretive world of the international private security industry.
. Genealogy Roadshow Derek Mooney presents a new four-part series which sees the show’s crack genealogical team help the public find extraordinary stories in their family history.
. Two for the Road the series follows six well-known public figures as they accompany six people with disabilities as they embark on a variety of highly challenging and exciting adventures across the globe.
. The Secret Millionaire three very different Irish millionaires turn their back on their day-to-day lives and go undercover in some of the most disadvantaged parts of Dublin, Cork and Dundalk
. The National Rehabilitation Hospital follows the daily life of this hospital. Although it has no surgical teams and it doesn’t offer ‘cures’, the NRH does transform peoples’ lives.
. Property Shock – Where To Now? Almost five years on from his landmark documentary Futureshock: Property Crash, Richard Curran looks back on the predictions made at that time and evaluates what happened subsequently.
. The Constant President follows Mary McAleese through the final year of her 14-year presidency and looks at her time in office during an era of unprecedented change in Ireland.
. Reabhlóid is a new four-part historical documentary series which takes the viewer through Easter Week 1916 and paints a picture of the Rising from very different standpoints.
. Pension Shock – The Future is Now George Lee looks at the nation’s pension crisis, explores some of its origins and speaks to some of the thousands of people whose pensions were decimated by recent financial events.
. RTÉ continues its commitment to the arts with the return of the weekly review and preview show The View and a new season of Arts programming will be announced later in the year.
Entertainment is, as always, at the heart of the schedule, on RTÉ One we have five brand new entertainment shows along with returning favourites The Late Late Show, Mrs Brown’s Boys and The Saturday Night Show.
. The Voice Of Ireland The newest international mega-hit brings its unique twist on talent shows to Irish screens. The show puts the emphasis firmly on the quality of the participant’s vocal performance rather than their appearance.
. Meet The Gallaghers a new comedy series starring PJ Gallagher. Set in a contemporary Dublin suburb, PJ plays a host of characters alongside other comic actors and performers to find comedy and craic in the most mundane situations and episodes
. The Big Interview With Mike Murphy Mike Murphy has been tempted out of retirement for a landmark series this autumn. Over six programmes the legendary presenter will talk to a guest of his choice, each of whom has made a significant impact on Ireland today.
. Put ‘Em Under Pressure Presented by Grainne Seoige this new Sports quiz show will see well-known sports personalities such as Ruby Walsh and Pat Spillane battle against successful Irish sports stars to prove their sporting knowledge.
. The Only Viking In The Village sees comedian Neil Delamere go in search of his Viking ancestry.
. Who Knows Ireland Best? This is a new quiz show based on a specially-commissioned survey of the nation. Two teams battle it out – it’s teachers versus taxi drivers, nurses versus firemen – to see who knows Ireland best. Post Celtic Tiger we stop the clock and assess just who we are right now in an entertaining but informed way.
. SuperBloopers Everyone’s favourite fun lovin’ aliens, Zig and Zag, are back on your tellybox for an hour of irreverent, fun-filled, outrageous, embarrassing and, above all, hilarious clips! Chock-full of TV bloopers, home video shockers, celebrity guests and brand-new hidden-camera stunts, Zig & Zag’s Superbloopers is guaranteed to have the whole family laughing off the sofa!
On RTÉ Two this season not only will we be delivering the most comprehensive sports coverage in this country (including the much-anticipated Rugby World Cup) as well as the hottest acquisitions straight from the US and UK, but we will also be offering broad range of new home-produced lifestyle and entertainment shows for Irish audiences.
. Masterchef Ireland The first-ever series of MasterChef Ireland starts in September and sees some of the best amateur cooks in the country compete to impress judges Michelin-starred chef Dylan McGrath and top restaurateur Nick Munier as they battle to win the coveted title of Ireland’s first MasterChef and a prize of €25,000.
. Tuesday Night Social With Craig Doyle (Working Title) is a new live chat show. Craig will be joined by guests and regular contributors for a mix of comedy, topical affairs, entertainment news and sport.
. As part of a series of new documentaries examining modern Irish life, Grainne Seoige’s Modern Life which looks at a range of different aspects of modern Irish society with particular relevance to Irish women.
. The documentary strand will also include Brian And Pippa’s Big Fat Wedding which follows celebrity couple Brian Ormonde and Pippa O’Connor on the road to their big wedding day. Other documentaries Honestly Speaking…Baby Bodies which sees broadcaster Mairead Farrell investigate how Irish women really feel about their bodies after having a baby.
. And we catch up with Vogue, Cici and the rest of the girls from Fade Street to see what they are up-to now in a new series to be broadcast first on the RTÉ Player followed by RTÉ Two.
. Plus new series from the award winning Republic Of Telly, The Savage Eye, Don’t Tell The Bride, ICA Bootcamp, Baz’s Extreme Worlds and The Hardy Bucks
Drama fans will be well served with over 72 hours of drama between September and March featuring the best of Irish creative talent on and off-screen.
. LOVE/HATE Following the huge success of the first series last year, Love/Hate returns for an extended 6 part series of the Dublin based gang-land drama featuring Aiden Gillen, Robert Sheehan and Ruth Negga.
. RAW returns for its fourth instalment with a mix of familiar faces – Jojo (Charlene McKenna), Fiona (Aisling O’Sullivan), Geoff (Damon Gameau) and Shane (Keith McErlean) along with some new arrivals
. Fair City As it enters its 23rd season, Ireland’s most popular soap continues its four-times weekly exciting instalments.
. Hardy Bucks Back on RTÉ Two for a second series, Hardy Bucks deploy their homespun wisdom and unique solutions to ride out this recession. Eddie is thinking about emigrating, Buzz wants wheels and a woman, and The Viper is branching out into the entertainment business.
. StoryLand The hugely popular online drama series competition returns for its fourth season this year. StoryLand is RTÉ Drama’s competition for online drama series as voted by the public. The competition is unique among broadcasters and aims to foster and develop creative talent and new audiences.
Speaking at the launch Steve Carson, Director of Programmes said:
“We believe the new season has real range and depth, for audiences of all ages. Alongside high quality drama, big entertainment shows and ambitious documentaries, we’ll be building on the success of initiatives like Operation Transformation and Dirty Old Towns with a major new campaign running across Television, Radio and Online. Local Heroes aims to mobilise one community to take the future into their own hands, boosting the local economy and providing practical help, advice and inspiration for the whole country. It’s an example of how RTÉ can make a difference by bringing people together.”
. Local Heroes – A Town Fights Back is a six-part series in which entrepreneur and business mentor Feargal Quinn and a team of experts work with the citizens and businesses of one Irish town to discover the untapped power which can be harnessed when a community pulls together to revitalise its own economy.
RTÉ Lifestyle programming will also features a range of new and returning series covering everything from food, fashion and home to foreign travel, weddings, crafts and more. Including five brand new shows:
. Francis Brennan’s Grand Tour Hotelier extraordinaire Francis Brennan is becoming a tour guide for this new television series Francis Brennan’s Grand Tour! A seasoned traveller himself, Francis will have to draw on all his experiences as he takes a group of 16 holidaymakers on a 12 night escorted holiday by coach across Europe.
. Franc’s DIY Brides For this new six-part series wedding planner extraordinaire Peter Kelly a.k.a. Franc takes on the role of mentor. With a host of ingenious ideas and many tricks of the trade up his sleeve, he teaches six bridal couples on very tight budgets, how to “do it themselves” so that they can each produce their own unique wedding without breaking the bank.
. Craft Master is a six-part series in which 15 passionate amateur apprentices from all walks of life will be competing for a place in the final show and the chance to exhibit at Ireland’s Craft Fair.
. Room To Improve Architect Dermot Bannon is back and this year the series has been extended to an hour-long programme to capture the scale of the work involved in the rebuilds.
Our younger viewers have many treats in store this season as RTÉjr, TRTÉ and Two Tube deliver a diverse selection of indigenous and acquired programming, brought to you by RTÉ’s award-winning Young Peoples department including:
. Three new Irish animations, I’m A Monster, The Mad Cows and My Dad’s A Duck and a major animation co-production with Cbeebies and S4C called The Abadas.
. OMG – Jedward’s Dream Factory Whatever your dream is, John and Edward can make it come true for you on in this new show.
. Sing! TRTÉ’s new 10-part series SING! is a music game show that tests how well teenagers really know their favourite singers and songs. Presented by Brian Ormond, each show features two teams – comprising of team captains Royseven’s Paul Walsh and Emma O’Driscoll.
. The Importance Of Being Whatever is an exciting new adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s classic The Importance of Being Earnest..
. Ultimate Street Challenge This Autumn, ten 16-year-old boys and girls battle to become Ultimate Street Challenge Champion. Coached and mentored by experts Karl Henry and Bernard Dunne, the teens will live, train and compete together. They’ll face challenges that test their strength, endurance, agility and attitude.
. D8 (Working Title) D8 is a series of interactive observational documentaries focussing on the lives of young teenagers living in the Dublin 8 area and the challenges and choices they face.
This Autumn for the first time – RTÉ will be making the Rugby World Cup and the All-Ireland Finals – in high definition, along with crucial Euro qualifiers and key acquired programming on Ireland’s new free to air digital platform – Saorview.
To view our comprehensive brochure outlining our full listing of programming along with preview promos for all our programming go to www.rte.ie/tv/newseason
Contact Details:For more information please contact: Tara O’Brien, RTÉ Television Press Office, 086 354 4481; Karen Fitzpatrick, RTÉ Television Press Office, 086 814 9290