RTÉ One | RTÉ2
RTÉ reveals huge line-up of brand new homegrown Entertainment, Drama and Factual Shows
#rtenewseason
RTÉ revealed a huge line-up of brand new homegrown entertainment, drama and factual programming across RTÉ One and RTÉ2, at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre today.
More than 65 new home-produced programmes ranging from major documentary series to brand new dramas, lifestyle and entertainment shows will air on RTÉ this season including family entertainment show Dancing with the Stars and drama Striking Out.
Channel controller for RTÉ One and RTÉ2, Adrian Lynch said: “2016 has already been a huge year for RTÉ television, as we celebrated and commemorated the centenary of 1916, followed by the General Election, the Euros and the Olympics. This new season will continue to deliver distinctly Irish programming – everything from high quality homegrown drama to groundbreaking documentaries alongside unparalleled news, current affairs and sports coverage. With 35 new factual programmes in this year’s line-up, RTÉ Television will cast an unflinching eye on a broad range of themes affecting Irish life.”
This year RTÉ Television is making its biggest investment in drama in more than six years with three exciting new series in production this autumn.
Acting managing director of RTÉ Television, Dermot Horan said: “We know that Irish people want to see their stories on screen and that’s why this year we are making our biggest investment in drama for more than six years with three new series in production in the coming months. Our role as the national broadcaster is to deliver programming that captivates and inspires the broader population and I believe this new line-up delivers on that promise.”
FACTUAL
This year RTÉ continues its proud tradition of delivering high quality factual programming that goes right to the heart of Irish society, defining who we are as a nation. Highlights across both channels include:
- Kenny, a landmark two-part documentary charting the rise, fall and rise again of Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
- Keeping Ireland Alive: The health service in a day, with 75 cameras following frontline staff over a 24-hour period to give viewers an unprecedented, groundbreaking insight into a service that affects all our lives.
- Rural Addiction, tackling the growing problem of addiction sweeping rural Ireland.
- Generation Jinxed – Generation F’D, a three part documentary revealing life for Ireland’s 25-35-year-olds, struggling to kickstart their adult lives.
RTÉ One will feature documentaries bringing in-depth coverage of a broad range of subjects. Highlights include authored documentaries from: Dr Eva Orsmond on prescription pill addiction in Ireland in Medication Nation with Dr Eva; John Connors on the history of the Travellers in John Connors: The Travellers; Ian Kehoe on How Ireland was Bought and Sold and hurling star Henry Shefflin on the psychology of success in Henry Shefflin: Winning.
RTÉ’s firm commitment to investigative journalism continues this season with more RTÉ Investigates programmes and reports from the unit that brought to light the mismanagement at leading Irish charity Console, and put the spotlight on standards in public office for politicians. In addition to its flagship programmes, RTÉ News and Current Affairs will deliver comprehensive coverage of Budget 2017 and extensive election coverage of the most hotly debated US presidential race in years.
Building on the strong performance of the Reality Bites strand last year, RTÉ2 continues to hold up a mirror to Generation Y with documentaries reflecting the issues that matter to them. Highlights include: Generation What? a two-part documentary delivering a definitive picture of what makes Millennials tick based on the results of a landmark RTÉ2 survey of 18-34-year-olds. Vogue Williams investigates the growth in body dysmorphia, drugs culture, online bullying and transgenderism in four-parter Vogue Williams – On the Edge and author Louise O’Neill tackles the issue of consent in Reality Bites: Asking for It.
DRAMA
Homegrown drama remains a key priority for RTÉ with three brand new shows in production this autumn. Acceptable Risk, a six-part thriller starring Elaine Cassidy and Resistance, a War of Independence drama from the makers of Rebellion, go into production in the coming months. New to RTÉ this season are:
- Striking Out, Neil Morrissey joins Amy Huberman and Rory Keenan in the cast of this four-part drama about love, family and friendship in the world of Ireland’s legal system.
- Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope, RTÉ2’s six-part darkly comic drama penned by TV newcomer Stefanie Preissner and starring up-and-coming talents Seána Kerslake and Nika McGuigan.
Viewers can also look forward to great Irish-based drama produced by the BBC in association with RTÉ including EastEnders spin-off drama Redwater starring Jessie Wallace, Shane Richie, Fionnula Flanagan and Maria Doyle Kennedy; and My Mother and Other Strangers starring Hattie Morahan, Owen McDonnell and Aaron Staton; as well as The Fall, starring Jamie Dornan and Gillian Anderson, produced by Artists Studio in association with RTÉ.
ENTERTAINMENT & COMEDY
The hugely popular family-entertainment series Dancing with the Stars debuts in January putting 11 celebrities through their paces, joining a stellar line-up of new home-produced shows and returning favourites including:
- The Tommy Tiernan Show, a six-part chatshow with a difference – Tommy has no idea who he’ll be interviewing before they appear on stage.
- The Nathan Carter Show, four-part music-entertainment show hosted by Ireland’s favourite country star.
- First Dates, the massively popular dating show returns with a supersized 12 episode series.
- Daniel and Majella’s B&B Road Trip, the much-loved duo hit the road again with 12 new B&B owners serving up unforgettable experiences.
RTÉ2’s commitment to developing new talent continues to bear fruit with Bridget & Eamon recently becoming the first RTÉ comedy to be sold to a UK broadcaster, UKTV Gold. Bridget & Eamon will also return for a second season. Fellow Republic of Telly breakout stars The Rubberbandits return to RTÉ2 for more anarchic comedy with The Rubberbandits’ Guides. Comedian Des Bishop will throw a wry eye over the issues that have exasperated the country for years in Des Bishop: This is Ireland. And the nation’s favourite Dublin matriarch Mrs Brown will be back with more Christmas specials.
ARTS & FEATURES
Highlights of this year’s arts programming include RTÉ One’s Painting the Nation, an eight-part search for very best amateur painter in Ireland presented by Pauline McLynn; and A Grand Design: The National Gallery Reborn, a documentary on the largest conservation and restoration project in the history of the state. RTÉ viewers continue to watch lifestyle programming in huge numbers with Room to Improve and Operation Transformation big ratings winners last year. This year new lifestyle shows include: Then Comes Marriage? putting couples through relationship bootcamp; following the Irish diaspora abroad with #Missing You, Making it Down Under and Tastes Like Home; and emotionally charged observational documentary The Pet Surgeons. Five well-known faces will battle the bulge on the first ever Celebrity Operation Transformation.
SPORT
Following on from comprehensive coverage of the Euros and the Olympics, RTÉ Sport will continue to deliver the very best action from our national teams, national games and major events in the coming season. Highlights include: the Paralympics, the climax of the All-lreland GAA and Hurling Championships, World Cup Qualifiers, Autumn Rugby Internationals, 6 Nations, Champions League and horse racing with the Leopardstown Christmas Festival the feature event of the coming months.
TRTÉ
Younger viewers can look forward to even more exciting programming on RTÉ2 this year including brand new animation and Bernard Dunne’s Mythical Heroes with the former world champion boxer bringing Irish mythology to life at sites across Ireland. Ghostly goings on translate into fun for the whole family in the feature-length film, Spooky Stakeout – The Movie, produced for RTÉ by Tailored Films. Five new animated shorts commissioned under the RTÉ Animated Shorts Scheme, aimed at supporting the development of new and emerging Irish animation talent, will screen over the season.
For more information contact:
Sharon Brady, Senior Communications Manager TV & Digital, RTÉ, M: 087 6858975; E: sharon.brady@rte.ie
Tara O’Brien, Communications Manager, RTÉ Television, T: 01-2082287; M: 087-9862902; E: tara.obrien@rte.ie
Rayna Connery, Senior Press Officer, RTÉ Television, T: 01-2083169; M: 087-9862902; E: rayna.connery@rte.ie
Photography: Shots will be supplied to photo desks on RTÉ’s behalf by Andres Poveda, (086) 8343242, info@apphoto.ie
Note to Editors:
RTÉ One Season 16/17
DRAMA
*NEW Striking Out Four-part drama about love, family and friendship set in the world of Ireland’s legal system starring Amy Huberman, Rory Keenan and Neil Morrissey.
*NEW Redwater When Kat (Jessie Wallace) and Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) arrive in search of Kat’s long-lost son, Kat’s quest for the truth uncovers secrets that the village of Redwater would rather were left buried at sea.
*NEW My Mother and Other Strangers Set in Northern Ireland, My Mother and Other Strangers follows the fortunes of the Coyne family and their neighbours as they struggle to maintain a normal life after a huge US Air Force airfield, populated by 4,000 service men and women, lands in the middle of their rural parish in 1943.
Fair City High drama in Carrigstown this autumn as the residents prepare for a double wedding. While Kerri-Ann and Decco excitedly plan for their big day, Carol and Robbie struggle to deal with the demons from her past. Viewers can also look forward to the return of some familiar faces this autumn and Fair City’s 4,000th episode.
Returning series: The Fall starring Jamie Dornan and Gillian Anderson, Home and Away, Neighbours, EastEnders
FACTUAL
*NEW Kenny As he reaches the twilight of his long political career, this major new two-part documentary examines the enigma that is Enda Kenny, charting the remarkable rise, fall, and rise again, of Fine Gael’s first leader to win successive terms as Taoiseach.
*NEW Keeping Ireland Alive: the health service in a day One Day. 75 cameras throughout the country. The health service as you’ve never seen it before. For one day we push beyond the headlines to tell the human stories at the heart of this often controversial but most vital service.
*NEW How Ireland was Bought and Sold Ian Kehoe investigates how a handful of international megafunds have bought billions of euro in Irish debt, giving them control of thousands of businesses, homes and massive amounts of development land.
*NEW Medication Nation with Dr. Eva With more and more Irish people turning to prescription pills and over the counter medicines to cope with a variety of ailments, Dr Eva Orsmond investigates the growing problem of addiction to legal drugs and whether our use is turning to misuse.
*NEW We Need to Talk About Dad Brendan Courtney discovers the truth about how we, as a nation, treat our elderly and the inequalities in the system as he and his family explore care options for his father.
*NEW Body Shopping Dr. Ciara Kelly takes a look at the growing demand for cosmetic surgery and finds out who’s buying, who’s selling and what are the risks, as nine Irish men and women prepare to go under the knife.
*NEW Scáil An Daonlathais Fifty-five years after the establishment of RTÉ and in the wake of historic elections on both sides of the Atlantic, this documentary presented by Harry McGee asks whether television has purified or perverted the way our politicians perform their public duties.
*NEW Henry Shefflin: Winning Kilkenny hurling legend Henry Shefflin gets to the heart of what it takes to be a winner, discussing the winner’s mindset with high achievers and looking at the neuroscience of success across sport, business and politics.
*NEW Autism and Me One-off documentary giving a rare insight into Autism, a condition often misunderstood, through the personal testimonies and experiences of Irish children, teenagers and young adults on the spectrum.
*NEW Who Will Be President? As US voters go to the polls following one of the most controversial campaigns in recent years, RTÉ’s Washington Correspondent Caitriona Perry presents a special documentary profile of the two presidential candidates – who are they and what they stand for, including interviews with key supporters.
*NEW Trinity With unprecedented access, this four-part documentary series brings viewers deep inside an academic world never before explored on Irish television, offering a fascinating glimpse of a great Irish institution at work. Supported by the BAI’s Sound & Vision Fund.
*NEW Mo Big Fat Dirty Féile As the curtain comes down on the festival season, we look back at the evolution of the Irish music festival and how it reflects Irish society.
*NEW Hacked Keelin Shanley looks at the risks society faces from cyber-criminals as we live more and more of our lives online.
*NEW John Connors: The Travellers Actor, activist and Traveller, John Connors reveals the history of his own people, as recorded and archived by a team of Irish Travellers in conjunction with the National Folklore Collection in UCD.
*NEW Good Vibrations A portrait of the life and work of 40-year-old Orla O’Sullivan who, although deaf and visually impaired, teaches music to deaf and hearing students.
*NEW Peter McVerry – A View from the Basement Documentary telling the story of Jesuit priest Peter McVerry’s 40-year fight against the devastation of addiction and homelessness and hearing from survivors who have made it through to tell their own stories.
*NEW The Connectors Ireland’s digital champion, Oscar winner Lord David Puttnam, presents this four-part series looking at the opportunities and challenges presented by science and contemporary technology to all aspects of Irish society.
*NEW Atlantic New documentary film, narrated by Brendan Gleeson, following the changing fortunes of small fishing villages in Ireland, Norway and Newfoundland, with oil majors driving deeper into fragile seas and super trawlers pushing fish stocks to the brink.
*NEW Beyond Redemption? – A Would You Believe? Special After over twenty years giving voice to the often voiceless victims of sexual abuse, Mick Peelo asks what should be done with the sexual offenders in our midst. Are they beyond redemption?
*NEW Strange Occurrences in a Small Irish Village Feature length documentary from the makers of One Million Dubliners about the apparitions that led to the creation of the popular Marian Shrine at Knock and a reflection on the position of the Catholic Church in modern Ireland.
Returning: Better Off Abroad, Liveline: Call Back, Crimecall, Living the Wildlife, What in the World, Scannal, The Geansaí, Building Ireland, Would You Believe? and The Meaning of Life, with Gay Byrne.
ENTERTAINMENT
*NEW Dancing with the Stars A host of well-known celebrities put their twinkle toes to the test, under the guidance of their professional dance partners, as Dancing with the Stars comes to Irish television for the first time.
*NEW Daniel and Majella’s B&B Road Trip Daniel and Majella O’Donnell are on the road again as they travel around Ireland with 12 new B&B owners serving up unforgettable experiences.
*NEW The Nathan Carter Show Filmed in front of a live audience, The Nathan Carter Show is a mix of song, chat and entertainment as Ireland’s favourite country star welcomes legendary musicians and unmissable new acts with plenty of surprises along the way.
*NEW Know The Score Jacqui Hurley hosts this brand new sports quiz pitching two teams of A-list sporting legends against each other in a battle to find the ultimate sports ‘know all’.
*NEW The Tommy Tiernan Show Tommy Tiernan returns with a full series of his improvised chatshow. The Tommy Tiernan Show is a chatshow with one VERY BIG difference – neither the host nor the audience know the identity of the guests until they walk out on stage.
*NEW Dara and Ed’s Asian Adventure Comedians Dara Ó Briain and Ed Byrne embark on the expedition of a lifetime crossing 3,500 miles from the bright lights of Malaysia to the jungles of Burma, exploring Asia’s rich history and its links with Europe.
*NEW Pat Shortt’s Entertainment from D’Telly Comedian Pat Shortt is once again let loose in RTE’s Archive with a mission to unearth his own selection of the most popular, rarely seen and occasionally bizarre entertainment clips from over 60 years of programme making.
Returning Series: The Late Late Show, The Ray D’Arcy Show, Brendan O’Connor’s Cutting Edge, Today with Maura and Dáithí, Ireland’s Fittest Family, Electric Picnic, The People of the Year Awards, Winning Streak, Up For The Match, Mrs Brown’s Boys, Stetsons and Stilettos
LIFESTYLE
*NEW Find Me a Home Six-part observational documentary series following the trials and tribulations of those trying to buy, rent or sell a home in the current property market.
*NEW Celebrity Operation Transformation Five celebrities take on the Operation Transformation challenge, inspiring viewers with their own health and fitness journeys.
*NEW The Pet Surgeons Brand new series telling the emotionally charged stories of worried pet owners, sick animals and the dedicated vets who will go to any length to make them better.
*NEW Making it Down Under Following the lives of Irish people doing extraordinary jobs in Australia from a Mayo-born flying doctor to a Cork trucker driving the world’s longest cattle truck.
*NEW Toughest Place to Be Ordinary Irish workers leave the daily grind at home, travelling abroad to experience what it’s like to do their job in some of the toughest conditions on the planet.
*NEW #MissingYou Six-part series about the lengths the Irish diaspora must go to as they maintain and nurture relationships with their loved ones no matter where they are in the world.
*NEW Neven’s Food Trails: The Basque Country and La Rioja Neven Maguire travels across northern Spain exploring the culinary delights of one of the world’s most exciting food destinations.
*NEW Tastes Like Home Catherine Fulvio travels to Irish emigrants around the world, cooking their favourite family dishes to give them a much needed taste of home.
Returning series: Room to Improve, You Should Really See a Doctor, Home of the Year, At Your Service, Operation Transformation, The Local Eye, The Taste of Success, Lords & Ladles, Getaways, Ear to the Ground, The Zoo, The Ploughing Live, 10 Things to Know About…
ARTS
*NEW Painting the Nation Pauline McLynn hosts this competition to uncover, showcase and encourage the very best amateur artists across the country.
*NEW Johnny Murphy Documentary celebrating the life of one of Ireland’s most loved actors, the late Johnny Murphy, as he prepares to leave the stage for the last time while touring with Beckett’s Waiting for Godot.
*NEW The Stranger An English artist dies alone on the remote Irish island he called home for eight years, leaving behind volumes of secret diaries. His few neighbours knew little of him. Who exactly was The Stranger?
*NEW A Grand Design: The National Gallery Reborn Follow the largest conservation and renovation project in the history of the state as curators, conservationists and gallery staff work toward reopening the National Gallery of Ireland in spring next year.
*NEW Vermeer A major new documentary about Johannes Vermeer, commissioned by RTÉ in partnership with Arté and PBS, to mark one of the largest ever exhibitions of the Dutch painter’s work.
Returning series: The Works Presents, Bórd Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards 2016
SPORT
All Ireland Senior Hurling and Football Championship Finals
RTÉ2 NEW SEASON 16/17
***NEW Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope Six-part darkly comic drama detailing the unravelling of a deep friendship between two young women as their hopes and dreams begin to radically diverge. Stars Seána Kerslake, Nika McGuigan and Amy Huberman.
***NEW Des Bishop: This is Ireland In this four-part series, comedian Des Bishop casts a wry eye over some of the key issues exasperating Ireland for years, finding humour in the chaos.
***NEW Vogue Williams – On the Edge Vogue Williams investigates the issues affecting the lives of her generation – the rise in body dysmorphia; drugs culture; transgenderism and the impact of online bullying, catfishing and scamming.
***NEW Kevin McGahern’s America Brand new series featuring Kevin McGahern exploring various aspects of life in America including gun rights, intimacy in the digital age and whether you really can choose your family.
***NEW Then Comes Marriage? Couples on the verge of marriage or thinking about taking the plunge prepare for their future life together by taking part in the ultimate relationship skills crash course.
***NEW Generation What? The results of Generation What? a landmark survey of Ireland’s 18-34-year-olds is revealed in this two-part documentary presented by Eoghan McDermott.
***NEW Generation Jinxed – Generation F’D… Three part documentary revealing life for for Ireland’s 25-to-35-year-olds, struggling to kickstart their adult lives with prospects looking bleak.
***NEW Rural Addiction Drug addiction is no longer ‘a Dublin problem’, it’s a national crisis. Rural Addiction is a two-part documentary series that casts a unique light on the rampant malaise and harrowing impact of addiction in rural Ireland today.
***NEW The Rubberbandits’ Guides Four-part half-hour comedy series presented by comedians, part-time pop stars, and viral sensations The Rubberbandits. In each episode they take one subject – sex, money, the internet and reality – and bring us their own absolutely unique take on it – like proper TV, except filled with jokes!
***NEW The Search Brand new quiz played on the street with people randomly invited to use their smart phones to find the answers they need to win prizes. Host Niamh Geaney takes the quiz to streets across Ireland.
***TMI – Strike Stephen Byrne hosts this hidden camera prank show that takes the information people post on line to play the perfect practical joke on unsuspecting members of the public.
REALITY BITES
***NEW Reality Bites: Miss Nigeria Ireland Former Mr World Kamal Ibrahim looks at the Miss Nigeria-Ireland pageant, a Rose of Tralee for Ireland’s Nigerian community and one of the most celebrated events in their calendar.
***NEW Reality Bites: Paying for Sex Looking at prostitution from all sides, from people who want make it a crime in Ireland to pay for sex to those who want sex work decriminalised completely.
***NEW Reality Bites: Carrick-on-Stag We join brides & grooms-to-be as they embark on one last raucous weekend before they get married to get the real story of what goes down on these rites of passage.
***NEW Reality Bites: Asking For It Author Louise O’Neill tackles rape culture, exploring entrenched attitudes toward casual sex, slut shaming and the rise in sexual assault and rape in Irish society today.
***NEW Reality Bites: Fallout Boy When Colm Flynn’s family fostered a little boy with disabilities from Belarus, they fell in love with him but attempts to adopt him failed. In this documentary Colm goes on a very personal journey to discover why his almost-little-brother Banni was taken back and what happened to him.
***NEW Reality Bites: Only Gay in the Village A heartfelt, intimate portrait of what it’s like to be lesbian, gay or bisexual in rural Ireland post-marriage referendum. The reality is both shockingly sad and uplifting.
***NEW Reality Bites: John Connors’ America: Race Matters No stranger to discrimination, John Connors travels to America to look at why young black men are nine times more likely than other Americans to be killed by police.
Returning: First Dates, Don’t Tell the Bride, Bridget & Eamon, Republic of Telly
SPORT
Martin O’Neill’s Republic of Ireland side will be live on RTÉ2 as qualification for World Cup 2018 in Russia gets underway. Ireland will take on Wales, Serbia, Austria, Georgia and Moldova in Group D beginning with the trip to Belgrade to take on Serbia on September 5.
The UEFA Champions League Live returns with the group stages starting on RTÉ2 on Wednesday 14 September.
In November the Guinness Series Live see the Irish rugby team take on New Zealand, Australia and Canada in the Aviva Stadium with all three games live on RTÉ2.
Paralympics 2016 September sees the sporting action in Rio continue into the autumn with the Paralympic Games. RTÉ2 will have the Opening Ceremony live plus a highlights programme each evening as well as live coverage of Ireland’s biggest medal hopes including Jason Smyth and Michael McKillop.
AMERICAN DRAMA
***NEW The Catch A private detective on the hunt for the fiancé whose fraud may ruin her career. American mystery series from Shonda Rhimes and starring Big Love’s Mireille Enos and Six Feet Under’s Peter Krause.
Returning series: Vikings, Grey’s Anatomy, How to Get Away with Murder, Homeland, Elementary, Criminal Minds, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, Person of Interest, Chicago PD, The Americans and Devious Maids.
NEWS
NewsFeed Presented by Nick Sheridan NewsFeed features a mix of national and international news in bite size bulletins coming up to the hour at 7pm and 8pm.
News2day RTÉ’s television news service designed specifically for children broadcast, featuring Irish and international news of interest to a young audience. This year 21-year-old Tommy Meskill from Co. Clare joins Gill Stedman as the newest addition to the news2day team.
TRTÉ
***NEW Bernard Dunne’s Mythical Heroes Former world champion boxer Bernard Dunne brings Irish mythology to life in this thrilling six-part drama-documentary for children.
***NEW Spooky Stakeout – The Movie Four young ghost-hunting schoolfriends are hired to solve the vexing mystery of an ancient castle in rural Ireland. Feature-length family adventure movie produced for RTÉ by Tailored Films.
***NEW RTÉ Animated Shorts Scheme ’16 Five new animated shorts from Irish companies commissioned under this new scheme including: The Last Wrangler (Whackala Ltd); Urban Tails – Madra Rua (Pink Kong Studios); The Totally Normal Everyday Adventures of Slaps & Sandbags (Treehouse Republic); Don’t Forget the Bread (Wiggleywoo Productions); and Dunky’s Farm (Studio Pow Wow).
Returning: Swipe TV.