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 yesterday (August 22nd).
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.