RTÉ2 have launched their new season schedule with over 30 new and returning series along with 18 new documentaries, with the emphasis this season on comedy.
Highlights this season include new factual entertainment series from Baz Ashmawy, Angela Scanlon, Vogue Williams, Maia Dunphy, Bressie and The McDonaghs alongside an Irish version of the popular international format, ‘First Dates’.
Speaking at the launch on the ‘Second Captains Live’ set, which was attended by stars of the new line-up, Channel Controller RTÉ2 Bill Malone said: “Being a strong, relevant, contemporary Irish voice in a sea of huge multinational media companies is what makes RTÉ2 unique. Irish programming has been central to the rejuvenation of RTÉ2 and today we’re announcing an increase in hard-hitting documentaries and factual programming as well as brand-new comedy, entertainment and an unrivalled sports line-up that will challenge and entertain our audience in the months ahead. It features a host of Irish talent that RTÉ2 has developed and nurtured as well as some fresh faces – and strong female voices, something I’m particularly proud of.”
Twenty new episodes of the ‘Reality Bites’ strand, which reflects real Irish life, will be delivered on Thursday nights, tackling topics from cancer to mothers on methadone, sulky racing, dangerous dog breeds and recreational drug use. The series also introduces some fresh faces to RTÉ2: Louise McSharry tells her deeply personal journey of battling cancer; Nine Stone Lighter follows Jules Coll through her life changing gastric-band surgery; and RTÉ 2fm Breakfast Republic’s Keith Walsh and other volunteers subject themselves to gruelling training and nutrition plans in pursuit of the perfect body in ‘The Gun Show’.
Maia Dunphy, Angela Scanlon and Vogue Williams each host a documentary series this season: Maia looks at matters close to her own heart, childbirth and the modern Irish emigrant experience, Angela explores celebrity life for some well-known Irish names including WWE’s Sheamus in ‘Close Encounters’, and Vogue meets women who defy traditional perceptions of the ‘fairer sex’ in three-part series ‘Mean Girls’.
Baz Ashmawy returns to RTÉ2 to explore his Muslim heritage in new documentary series, ‘The Lost Muslim’, while Bressie tackles a subject close to his heart as he seeks to demonstrate the link between physical exercise and positive mental health, training four people to compete in a gruelling half-Ironman challenge in ‘Bressie’s Iron Mind’.
Other new factual programming includes two-part series ‘The Guards’ which goes behind the scenes of frontline policing in Dublin’s city centre and new series ‘Young, Dumb and Deadly’ looks at high profile Irish crimes caused by reckless behaviour and committed by young people in Ireland and abroad. New series ‘Wasted’ explores life for Ireland’s twentysomethings scraping by on social welfare and navigating unpaid internships while ‘Nurses’, follows six recently graduated nurses. ‘Panti: The Queen of Ireland’ follows one of Ireland’s most famous drag queens and self-styled “accidental activist”.
‘The Republic of Telly’ spawns another show with 80’s pair ‘Bridget and Eamon’ getting their own series, while ‘The Rubberbandits’ Guide to 1916’ provides a crash course in Irish history. Brand new series ‘Après Match of the Day’ revisits the glory days of Irish sport and in ‘Eureka’, Neil Delamere puts himself in peril to demonstrate the ‘eureka moments’ of our time, while ‘Republic of Telly’, ‘Hardy Bucks’ and ‘The Fear’ return. RTÉ2 continues to deliver international drama with the return of popular series, ‘Vikings’, ‘Homeland’ and ‘CSI’ plus new series, ‘Deutschland 83’.
For younger viewers, Swipe TV begins its first full run as a cross-platform show as a new app is introduced to make content available to audiences wherever they are and allow them to interact with the show. There’s new talent too as new presenter Claire O’Reilly joins Simon Mulcahy. ‘Two Tube’ returns for more early-evening teenage culture with Blathnaid Treacy and Stephen Byrne and will explore themes around 1916 as the anniversary approaches. Brand new series ‘Insiders’ delves into the science at the heart of sport, entertainment and space, while ‘Around the Block’ catches up with the children who made the award-winning ‘On the Block’ documentaries, charting their own lives six years ago.
NewsFeed provides bite-size daily news fixes with Carla O’Brien each weeknight and new face Gill Stedman joins Nick Sheridan on ‘News2day’ as it continues to deliver Irish and International news for younger audiences.
Sports coverage on RTÉ2 this season includes the Republic of Ireland’s remaining Euro 2016 qualifiers, the RBS 6 Nations, the All-Ireland Football final and the World Boxing Championships from Qatar. RTÉ2 is also the home for free-to-air Wednesday night live Champions League action, live SSE Airtricity League and Ford FAI Cup plus weekly magazine show ‘Soccer Republic’. Sports comedy panel series ‘Second Captains Live’ also returns.
Glen Killane, Managing Director RTÉ Television, said: “The repositioning of RTÉ2 last year was about underlining our commitment to younger audiences and specifically 15-34 year olds. We’re offering a range of content made for them and about them with more comedy, more documentaries, more factual entertainment than any other channel. No other channel nurtures and develops talent like RTÉ2 does as is evidenced by the line-up today. We’ve come off the back of a phenomenal weekend for RTÉ television, which saw over 3 million* people tune in for the hurling final, the Dublin v Mayo football replay, Ireland’s Euro2016 qualifiers and The Late Late Show. The new season is off to a great start as RTÉ television continues to be the place where the nation gathers to witness major events, explore burning issues and be entertained."
