RTÉ Unveils Autumn Schedule | The Irish Film & Television Network

Noel Curran, MDTV said: “All available resources have been channelled into home-produced programming. It has been made as cost-efficiently as possible with streamlined production models, at times utilising co-production funding, in order to ensure that viewers receive the quality, range and diversity of indigenous programming they expect of us and that is our promise to them as the Irish Public Service Broadcaster – their broadcaster of choice.”

RTÉ has many different strands of television and entertainment which they have addressed in launching this latest schedule. In their new factual series and documentaries, across Diversity, Arts and Religion, programmes will explore contemporary Irish life; from an examination of Ireland’s international position in the global economic slump, authored by David McWilliams, to a profile of one of Ireland’s most respected artists, Sean Scully; also included is a further instalment of David Coleman’s longitudinal study of Irish childhood in ‘21st Century Child’, to a brand new four-part series entitled ‘Does God Hate…’ presented by Marian Finucane.

Historical context is provided by a fascinating historical ’what if’ scenario in ‘If Lynch had Invaded’ and an alternative history of Ireland in the 20th century is authored and presented by Diarmaid Ferriter in a new three-part series.

In drama, the critically-acclaimed ‘Pure Mule’ returns for a ‘Last Weekend’ and a new series of the popular series ‘Raw’ is also in store. Ciaran Hinds and Aidan Quinn will appear on our screens in the feature film ‘The Eclipse’ whilst ‘The Clinic’ returns for another season. ‘Fair City’, now in its twentieth year, will continue to be broadcast 4 days-per-week, 52 weeks a year.

Lifestyle formats plug into and reflect a self-sufficiency theme, offering tips on living thriftily – with a new series ‘Living Lightly’; cooking tastily – with Rachel Allen, Trish Deseine and a new television face in Catherine Fulvio will appear on our screens in the coming months.

Entertainment programmes promise to lift spirits with topical debate, entertainment and chat from Ryan Tubridy in his first ‘Late Late Show’ season while some of Ireland’s top comedians are let loose on RTÉ Two and are amongst the talent in nine brand new and nine returning entertainment shows.

RTÉ News and Current Affairs continues to be at the forefront of events and with its coverage of the changing political, economic and social climate, launching its latest Current Affairs programme ‘The Frontline’ with Pat Kenny next month which will instigate lively debate on the most important news stories of the week between selected guests and a studio audience.

In addition, RTÉ Young People’s will continue to deliver creative and engaging indigenous programming for young people, in the ad-free environment of ‘Den Tots’ for pre-schoolers, and throughout ‘The Den’ for older age groups across the day.

RTÉ Sport, meanwhile, continues to deliver live sport and analysis while also delivering new documentaries on giants of the sporting world and key sporting moments.

Steve Carson, Director of Programming, RTÉ Television commented “RTÉ Television operates in one of the most competitive broadcasting environments in Europe with nearly nine in ten Irish homes now multi-channel. We compete for viewers against some of the world’s largest commercial broadcasters and the world’s best-funded public service broadcaster. At the heart of everything we do is the desire to create programmes that innovate and entertain, inform and initiate; that reflect the Ireland we live in and ensure that RTÉ continues to deliver for our viewers. We believe that this schedule achieves this aim.” The full line up includes:

RTÉ Factual

(New) Addicted To Money David McWilliams surveys the wreckage of the global economy.
(New) The Limits of Liberty Diarmaid Ferriter authors and presents an account of life in Ireland after independence
(New) If Lynch had Invaded How Jack Lynch dealt with the crisis of August 1969
(New) Killers Profiles the murder of Fareh Swaleh Noor by the Mulhall sisters and of Rachel O’Reilly by her husband Joe.
(New) Battle of the Sexes A two-part series exploring the relationship between modern Irish man and woman
(New) The Way We Worked A six-part series looking at changes experienced in work practices in Ireland
(New) Charlie Bird’s American Year behind the scenes with RTÉ Washington Correspondent Charlie Bird through an extraordinary year in American and Global Politics.
(New) The Sheriff & Me A series of intimate portrayals of people coping - or not - with serious debt.
(New) Ireland’s Mad Men looks at the pioneers of Ireland’s advertising industry.
(New) The Seahorseman Four part series which tells the story of the ancient seahorse, its fight for survival and an Irish man’s dream to save it.
(New) Wild Journeys Featuring Ireland’s most heroic wildlife travellers and the incredible journeys they undertake every single year.
(New) Growing Up Gay A frank and sensitive exploration of emotional crisis in young lives.
(New) The Boys of St Columb’s Follows the return of a remarkable group of boys who all attended St Columb’s College, overlooking Derry’s Bogside around the same time.
(New) The Presidency The interests, alliances and rules of the game among the 27 Heads of State who will elect the first President of the EU.
(New) Horses An observational series charting a year in an Irish stables.
RTÉ Arts
(New) John Connolly: Of Blood and Lost Things Traces 39-year-old Connolly’s journey from jobbing journalist with The Irish Times to publishing superstardom.
(New) A Time of War tells the story of the Northern conflict through the writings playwright, screenwriter and novelist Eugene McCabe.
(New) Gilbert O’Sullivan: documentary following O’Sullivan as he writes, records and tours across 2008 and 2009.
(New) Sean Scully: profile of one of Ireland’s favourite artists and his obsession with boxing
RTÉ Diversity
(New) The School: observational documentary series following the stories and dramas of a school over one academic year.
(New) CSÍ Fada: A series of documentary programmes featuring Irish historical crime stories
(New) Music Changes Lives: A documentary series exploring the power of music as an ‘intervention’ tool for positive change in some Dublin schools.
(New) Beyond the Berlin Wall: Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, this four-part series goes behind the shadows of the fallen walls of Eastern Europe
RTÉ Religious
(New) Does God Hate…? Marian Finucane chairs a series of lively studio discussions, in which she asks people from a variety of faiths: Does God Hate… Sex, Science, Women and Peace?
RTÉ Drama
Fair City celebrates its 20th anniversary this autumn and continues to go from strength to strength.
Pure Mule- The Last Weekend reunites many of the much-loved characters of the original series set in a community now in economic freefall.
(New)The Eclipse is a supernatural love story starring Aidan Quinn, Ciarán Hinds and Iben Hjejle. Directed and co-adapted by Conor McPherson.
The Clinic returns for a seventh series with new doctor Edel Swift (Victoria Smurfit) and a new love interest for Dan (Alison Doody).
RTÉ News and Current Affairs
(New) THE FRONTLINE A brand new weekly current affairs programme presented by Pat Kenny, in which he hosts debate on the major political, economic and social issues of the day between studio guests and an invited audience.
RTÉ Entertainment
The Late Late Show The longest running chat show in the world returns with its brand new host Ryan Tubridy.
(New) Val Falvey T.D. Ardal O’Hanlon stars as recently elected TD Val Falvey in this brand new six-part series written by Arthur Mathews (Father Ted) and Paul Woodfull (Stew).
All Ireland Talent Show returns on a mission to uncover the most engaging, exciting, impressive and entertaining talents this country has to offer, in bigger and better show and a new companion show, presented by Aidan Power.
(New) 10 O’Clock Show (Title TBC ) A brand new topical comedy show, which looks back on the events of the week.
(New) Byrne Ultimatum A brand new six part panel show presented by Jason Byrne.
(New) Maeve Higgins ’ Fancy Vittles Set in a country kitchen Maeve helps her sister Lilly, a brilliant cook, to prepare minor feasts for various people.
(New) The Savage Eye A satirical and often surreal examination of subjects close to the hearts of the Irish people with Dave McSavage.
(New) Sarah & Steve: from the makers of Dan & Becs, this new comedy focuses on a couple from Tallaght and their struggling relationship.
(New) Podge & Rodge’s Stickit Inn Every Tuesday night Podge & Rodge host a quiz with a difference from their new hangout The Stickit Inn.
(New) Karl Spain Wants To Rock! Karl Spain searches for Ireland’s greatest hard-rock tribute band
(New) PJ’s Big Ride PJ Gallagher competes in this year’s Irish Clubman’s Track Race in Mondello Park.
RTÉ MUSIC
(New) All Island School Choir The pick of the country’s second level school choirs will star in this five programme series presented by Anne Cassin.
RTÉ Lifestyle
(New) Feargal Quinn’s Retail Therapy Feargal works with six Irish retail businesses, providing them with advice on how to survive the economic downturn.
(New) Living lightly follows three Irish families as they strive to revolutionise the cost and quality of their lives. Presented by Ella McSweeney with consumer expert Conor Pope.
(New) Baz’s Culture Clash Baz Ashmawy takes an at times humorous, and at times dark journey into six very different worlds.
(New) Health of the Nation Dr Mark Hamilton and new presenter Dr Nina Byrnes travel the country meeting the public to discuss and diagnosing medical conditions.
(New)Colin & Graham's Excellent Adventures Sportsman Colin Carroll and journalist Graham Little unearth the world’s most bizarre and challenging sports.
(New) Victoria and Shane’s Garden follows rock wife Victoria Mary Clarke as she tries to get husband Shane McGowan to live The Good Life.
(New) My Showhouse Neville Knott helps homeowners revamp their own properties.
(New ) Stone Cold Sober Four part series following six regular guys as they give up alcohol for six months.
(New) Catherine’s Italian Kitchen Catherine Fulivo brings us the spirit of Southern Italy in this brand new cookery series.
(New) Rachel Allen: Home Cooking Family food gets the Rachel Allen treatment in her new 13- part series.
(New) Trish’s French Country Kitchen: Trish Dessine brings us more of the food and drink that distinguishes the Provencal region.
RTÉ Young Peoples
(NEW ) Test the Teachers Pupils set questions, tasks and challenges for teachers from another school.
(NEW ) The Shrinks A group of children, aged 9-13, who give adults advice on how to solve their lifestyle problems.
(NEW ) Band from School takes bands and musicians back to re-visit the schools they attended as children.
(NEW ) The Guitar 16 of Ireland’s most electric young guitarists compete to win Fender’s extraordinary Rory Gallagher Tribute Stratocasterguitar.
(NEW ) Garth and Bev magical animated series.
(NEW ) HAPPY VALEY is an animated pre-school series based on traditional and contemporary nursery rhymes and songs.
(NEW) The Variety Show is an animated parody of modern day talent shows.
(NEW ) ROY is a living cartoon boy, marooned in the real world.
RTÉ Sport
(NEW ) One Weekend in September Behind-the-scenes on all Ireland day in Croke Park.
(New) Liam Mulvihill Documentary profiling the former Director General of the GAA.
(New) Vincent O’Brien: documentary explores the life and times of Vincent O’Brien from horse racing experts and his family and friends.
(New) Ireland’s Grand Slam Journey Documentary looking back at Ireland’s Grand Slam victory.
Acquisitions
(New) FLASH FORWARD Concept drama starring Joseph Fiennes, Courtney Vance and Jack Davenport.
(New) THE GOOD WIFE Julianna Margulies stars as a wife and mother forced to return to the workforce and a defense attorney career after her husband’s (Chris Noth) very public sex and political corruption scandal.

(New) NURSE JACKIE quirky comedy/drama starring Edie Falco (The Sopranos) as a strong-willed New York City nurse.

Movies Premieres include Rocky Balboa, The Devil Wears Prada, Poseidon, Last Holiday, Fun with Dick & Jane, The Holiday, Happy Feet, Harry potter and the Order of the Phoenix, The Incredibles, Night At the Museum and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

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