RTÉ has unveiled its summer schedule, which includes five new lifestyle, science and entertainment shows and a documentary on Charlie Chaplin’s love for Co Kerry, as well as the return of popular programmes such as ‘Saturday Night with Miriam,’ the ‘Rose of Tralee’ and ‘For One Night Only.’
A strong emphasis on sport is also included in the line-up with the broadcaster set to provide extensive coverage of GAA, soccer, the Olympics, golf, racing and athletics.
Among the new factual series set to be broadcast include ‘Cracking Crime,’ a new four-part series exploring investigations into some of Ireland’s most shocking murders; ‘Labour’s Way,’ which will delve into the history of the Labour Party; ‘Life & Debt’ will see four families facing financial decisions that could change their lives and ‘Ireland outside the Euro,’ which will see presenter George Lee look at the consequences for Ireland if the country were to leave the Euro.
New lifestyle and entertainment shows on the schedule include ‘Creedon's Cities,’ which will see John Creedon travelling to Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway to meet locals and find out more about their hometowns; ‘Martin & Paul's Surf'n'Turf,’ featuring chefs Martin Shanahan and Paul Flynn as they visit and cook in eight seaside locations in Ireland and ‘Truckers,’ a new six-part series following Irish truck drivers.
‘The Science Squad’ will be presented by Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, Kathriona Devereux and Jonathan McCrea and will "bring Irish viewers up to date with the latest developments in Irish scientific research across a wide range of sectors".
Other documentaries and factual programmes include journalist Ian O'Riordan’s will look at sporting performance enhancement in ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger’ and ‘Chaplin: The Waterville Picture,’ which tells the story of the screen icon's love for the Kerry town.
Returning series include ‘Saturday Night with Miriam,’ ‘From Here to Maternity,’ ‘The Big Money Game,’ ‘Craig Doyle Live,’ ‘Animal Clinic,’ and ‘For One Night Only.’
Other highlights include a special 50th birthday edition of ‘The Late Late Show’ on June 2 and John Bowman’s overview of the State broadcaster in ‘The History of RTÉ.’
Sports coverage will include this weekend’s Champions League Final; 31 live games from the 2012 All Ireland Football and Hurling Championships and all 31 UEFA Euro 2012 Championship games from Poland and Ukraine
Coverage from the European Athletics Championships in Helsinki and extensive coverage of the London 2012 Olympics will also feature
Glen Killane, managing director of RTÉ Television, said of the summer schedule: "RTÉ Television's core purpose is to provide the Irish public with the very best in home-grown and international television programming. We are delighted that we can bring Irish sports fans an unrivalled array of national and international sports action this summer, for free and in HD.
“There is so much to look forward to and the entertainment won't just be confined to the various sports arenas, with the return of firm favourites like the Rose of Tralee, Saturday Night with Miriam and For One Night Only. If we can get some decent weather and some good results in Poland, London and in Croke Park, it just might be the tonic we all need in these difficult times."
