The RTÉ Player team share their top picks to watch on RTÉ Player this week.
What’s Trending?
Last Sunday saw Amanda Byram and Nicky Byrne return once again to present the new series of Dancing with the Stars where 11 celebrities were paired up with their professional dancing partners to they step out of their comfort zones and onto the dancefloor, each hoping to claim the much-coveted glitter ball trophy at the end of the series and it did not disappoint! In case you missed it, watch the full episode or each individual dance on RTÉ Player now! If that’s not enough for dancing fans out there, catch Can’t Stop Dancing, the preview show for Dancing with the Stars hosted by Bláthnaid Treacy as she goes behind the scenes to capture all the glitz, glamour and gossip back stage and get the low down from the judges, the professional dancers and the stars. Dancing With the Stars and Can’t Stop Dancing will be available to watch live and on demand on RTÉ Player. Between the live broadcast on Sundays and Can’t Stop Dancing on Thursdays, you can get your dancing fix on RTÉ Player as each 10 minute exclusive extra will play host to step-by-step dance routines with the professional dancers and a closer look at the celebrities with quizzes like ‘Mr & Mrs’ and in depth Q&As. http://www.rte.ie/player/ie/
What’s New?
Love was in the air this week as the First Dates Ireland restaurant opened its doors for a third series of romance, outrageous flirting and good craic. With the First Dates restaurant of romance fully booked, the Moon of Love is shining bright with the staff, who play Cupid, on hand with wise words and Dutch courage for a new batch of hopeful singletons. This week, Jackie was first to arrive and immediately turned heads with a dress you won’t forget in a hurry but did she find her date Joey just as alluring? Best friends, Leigh and Niamh from Athenry show up for a double date. Did Leigh hit it off with Offaly guy Samuel – whose celebrity crush is Leo Varadkar – or did Niamh fare better with her date, theatre director Isabelle? Fashion blogger Lawson turned up at the First Dates restaurant dressed to impress, but did his efforts go to waste? Meanwhile, find out if salesman Ben had what it takes to seal the deal with party girl Amy. In case you missed the first episode, go to RTÉ Player to see a whole new set of daters put their hearts on the line as they search for ‘the one’. Go to RTÉ Player after each episode airs on RTÉ2 to discover some popular daters and famous faces such as Eoghan McDermott and Dermot Bannon sharing their insights on dating and follow a day in the life of our favourite maitre d’ in Mateo’s Day Off available exclusively on RTÉ Player.
What Not to Miss?
Fans had to say farewell to Summer Bay as one of our favourite Aussie soaps took a break for the festive season. Luckily enough it was only a temporary halt in proceedings and we now say G’day to the folk in Home and Away with big storylines on the horizon including rumours of the ever popular Kat being involved in a car crash. Get your Home and Away fix here on RTÉ Player!
Pick of the Week
Hit series Striking Out also returned to our screens and left us wanting more as Tara is left reeling when a shed containing evidence in Vincent’s inquiry has gone up in flames, she’s been evicted from her office, Ray has been arrested on trumped up charges, and it’s clear that Meg has betrayed her trust. Tara enlists Eric’s help to find out who is behind it all, but she has to play her cards close to her chest while she figures out who is friend and who is foe. Tara’s legal case of the week sees her fight for a young woman, Promise Obode, who has been denied refugee status and is in love with an Irish man who wants to marry her while George Cusack (played by Maria Doyle Kennedy), a criminal solicitor who represents Ray arrives on the scene and ends up sharing an office space with Tara. Catch up with the first episode of the second series now on RTÉ Player while the entire series box set from Striking Out series one is also available to watch now.