TV3 has unveiled its’ 2015 Christmas schedule as well as what’s in store for early 2016.
In a year that has witnessed unparalleled social change on our shores the ‘Queen of Ireland’ Panti will take to the screen to reflect on the moments that have defined 2015. Inm a year that said yes to marriage equality, she will address the nation to ponder on what challenges or possibilities lie ahead.
As well as ‘The Queen of Ireland’s Christmas Message’, TV3 also announces an array of programmes that will air over Christmas.
Storylines on the IFTA winning soap ‘Red Rock’ will include the death of one of its resident cast members and ‘Red Rock: The Story So Far’ gives viewers another chance to catch up on all the storylines from the show to date, featuring an array of guest contributors along with cast and crew talking about their favourite stand out moments.
Paul Kelly and Lilly Higgins join Anna Nolan as they reunite for ‘The Great Irish Bake Off Christmas Special’ where Pantomime stars George McMahon and Leanne Moore take on presenters Lucy Kennedy and Martin King.
Ivan Yates visits four Dublin pubs and reviews the year over a Christmas drink with high profile figures from the world of sport, politics, business and entertainment in
‘Ivan's Celebrity Pub Crawl’. Celebrities joining Ivan include; Stephen Ferris, Brian Kerr, Eamon Dunphy, Eleanor McEvoy, Francis Brennan, Katie Walsh, Lucinda Creighton and Pat Rabbitte.
‘Coming Home for Christmas’, presented by Andrea Hayes, captures families greeting long-lost loves ones in Dublin Airport this Christmas, and TV3 will also air ‘Brendan Grace - Live From Gleneagles’ – the acclaimed comedian’s latest stand-up comedy show.
A new, home produced fly-on-the-wall documentary, ‘Evicted at Christmas’, follows the lives of three Irish families battling eviction from their homes. Another home produced TV3 programme tells the story of those who have to cope without their loved ones this Christmas in ‘Leaving Ireland for Good’. On St. Stephen’s night, a reflective special, ‘A Tribute to Tony Fenton - All the Young Dudes’, documents a night of live music at Vicar Street in memory of the late Tony Fenton.
‘Ireland's Crazy Christmas Lights’ explores the extreme and often addictive world of Christmas light decorating.
‘Tommy Fleming: Voice of Hope - A 10 Year Celebration’ looks back at the biggest production he and his team had ever undertaken, when the Knock Basilica played host to a one-of-a-kind concert, ‘The Voice of Hope’, in 2004.
Also airing will be ‘Daniel O’Donnell: 40 Years of Music & Memories’, recollecting career highlights and sharing musical performances from past concerts spanning over 12 years.
TV3 stalwart show ‘Xposé’ will bring brings viewers its Celebrity Christmas Cracker, Showbiz Year in Review and Xposè Unwrapped festive specials. Martin King and Lucy Kennedy pick out their favourite interviews with some of Ireland’s biggest celebrities in ‘The Seven O’clock Show's Best Bits’.
Also airing over Christmas is the finale of ‘Downton Abbey’ as well as ‘The Abba Christmas Party’.
And on New Year’s Eve, TV3 will air a special programme ‘RWC: Top 10 Moments’ hosted by ‘Off The Ball’s’ Joe Molloy, as he looks back at this year’s Rugby World Cup 2015 and counts down the Top 10 most memorable moments.
Returning entertainment favourites including ‘The X Factor: The Winner’s Story’; ‘Catchphrase Christmas Special’ and ‘Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special’ make a special appearance this season on TV3.
TV3 will also bring a host of festive movies including ‘A Christmas Carol’, ‘Scrooged’, ‘Farewell Mr Kringle’, ‘Santa Clause The Movie’, ‘Willie Wonka And The Chocolate Factory’ and ‘The Wizard Of Oz’ as well as films such as ‘The Commitments’, ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’, ‘Hancock’, ‘Bewitched’, ‘Evelyn’, ‘Hitch’, ‘Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason’, ‘Men In Black 2’, ‘Casper’, ‘Stuart Little’ and ‘Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen’.
Shows coming up on TV3 in 2016
2016 will see a wealth of new shows and series air on TV3 with Irish content making up over 55% of the entire schedule.
BAFTA Award winning, one off fact-based drama ‘Murdered by my Boyfriend’ will air on TV3. Based on a true story, the one off programme stars Georgina Campbell as Ashley Jones, a 17-year-old victim of domestic abuse, suffered at the hands of her controlling boyfriend, Reece, portrayed by Royce Pierreson.
Conor Pope will use all of his expertise and experience to confront Ireland’s rogue tradespeople, suppliers and service providers who are misleading, mistreating and defrauding their customers in a brand new series entitled ‘Conor Pope’s Dodgy Dealers’.
Popular acquisitions like ‘Celebrity Big Brother’; ‘The Undateables’, and ‘The National Television Awards’ are also set to return to the channel.
‘Doctor in the House’ returns with a brand new series which aims to change Ireland’s unhealthy habits. TV3 will also be airing
‘Big Bang in PyonGyang’, fronted by Matt Cooper, which looks at the now infamous basketball game between the North Korean basketball team and a NBA team of former All-Stars put together by Dennis Rodman himself. We also see the return of
‘Adoption Stories’ which looks at how so many Irish families have been affected by adoption, as well as culinary show
‘The Restaurant’ in February.
For more information, go to tv3.ie.
