RT 's biggest ever drama commission for young people, Louise Lives Large, launches on RT 2 and RT Player today (April 3rd).
Filmed on location in Kildare, this eight-part series is an international co-production with Canada's WildBrain and Belgium's Ketnet with funding partners Coimisi n na Me n and Screen Ireland. It tells the story of artistic 13-year-old Louise Edgar who has just got the all-clear after a year of cancer treatment.
The show sees Louise ask what now? . She has missed out on everything and feels she'll never catch up with her now worldly, intimating and moreover teenage peers. That's until she finds an unlikely new best friend in Jess, the school loner, who inspires her to write up the Live Large List' and leap headfirst back into life, one item at time. Whether she triumphs, fails or makes a complete and utter cringeshow' of herself doesn't really matter; Louise is finally and fully living large.
Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyubAy00irw
Louise Lives Large is a witty, dynamic and sometimes poignant drama aimed at 9 to 13-year-olds. The storylines are made real by its ensemble cast; an honours class of new talent, led by Beth Fallon as Louise, Aimee Kennedy as Jess and supported by Damian Williams, Luan N Cheallaigh, Katie Fitzpatrick, Harvey McGann, Rachel Lynch, Matthew Whelan and Noah Rafferty.
Created and written by Carol Walsh, Louise Lives Large is produced by Tailored Films' Julianne Forde and Mairt n de Barra, Storyhouse's Maarten Schmidt, V rit Films' Virginia Thompson and Robert de Lint, and co-produced by Xavier Rombaut of Polar Bear. The episodes are directed by Ruth Treacy and Laura Van Haecke.
Suzanne Kelly, Head of Children's & Young People's Content at RT said: The arrival of Louise Lives Large to our platform in 2024 marks a very significant milestone for RT Kids. Since I took up my role in 2019, it was always my ambition to invest and grow home-produced Irish drama for kids. The Irish drama sector is world renowned and working alongside the sector this past number of years to create impactful, thoughtful stories for our youngest viewers has been such an inspiring collaborative process. The launch of our first home grown drama series Louise Lives Large, produced by Tailored films in conjunction with V rit films, Ketnet, Wildbrain and funding partners Coimisi n na Me n and Screen Ireland is the culmination of a lot of hard work, but is only just the beginning of a new re-energised drama offering for Irish kids and I for one am so excited as to what it might deliver!
Creator and head writer Carol Walsh said: The goal of Louise Live Large is to bring teens and families together to enjoy a great story. It's also about the journey of countless teenagers who struggle with illness, bullying, and ostracism, in a way that reflects true-to-life experiences but doesn't shy away from the humour and courage they display. It's a series about survival, self-definition, and, above all, hope.
Producer Julianne Forde said: Who hasn't felt like they were on the outside at some stage? It's part of the school experience. We wanted to create a show based around this concept of feeling left behind and counteracting that with a protagonist who wanted to take control of her life. Show creator Carol Walsh personally experienced being out of school for a prolonged period due to illness. From this starting point we developed this series, which has an empowering message about resilience.
Watch episode 1 of Louise Lives Large on RT 2 and RT Player at 4pm today. The full series will be available to stream from Wednesday April 10th.
More from RTE
29/10/2025
RT PUBLISHES 2024 ANNUAL REPORT
RT REPORTS NET SURPLUS OF 5.5 MILLION IN 2024
A YEAR WITH MANY SPECIAL EVENTS UEFA EUROS 2024, THE OLYMPICS AND PARALYMP...
24/10/2025
FIRST PLACE AND 5,000 LYNDA McCARTHY FOR WITNESS'
SECOND PLACE AND 4,000 ANGELA FINN FOR A SPECTRUM OF SORROW'
THIRD PLACE AND 3,000 IAN FE...
24/10/2025
RT will provide extensive coverage of the results of the Presidential Election across television, radio and online on Saturday, 25 October 2025.
Throughout th...
24/10/2025
New Coaches, New Families and New Challenges Set for Ireland's Fittest Famil...
24/10/2025
Westlife, Imelda May and Ben Elton among the guests on this week's Late Late...
23/10/2025
RT is today publishing a statistical summary from the Register of External Activities for the second quarter of 2025.
The RT Register of External Activities ...
23/10/2025
Series three of the award winning, hit comedy entertainment series The 2 Johnnies Late Night Lock In is back on your screens, celebrating the very best of all t...
23/10/2025
Performances by Michael Flatley, Andy Irvine, Cuckoo's Nest, Foster and Allen and more
Friday 24 October, 8pm on RT One and RT Player
Fleadh Cheoil re...
22/10/2025
First Look Hidden Assets Series 3
Premieres on 9th November 9:30pm on RT One & RT Player
WATCH HERE Promo Link: Hidden Assets Series 3 | RT
The Crimin...
20/10/2025
RT 's Prime Time is set to host the final Presidential Election Debate this Tuesday night, October 21, providing an opportunity to hear directly from Irelan...
17/10/2025
Here is your host, Patrick Kielty!
After an incredible breakthrough year, Kingf...
16/10/2025
This Saturday October 18 Katja Mia will burst onto the radio airwaves for the first time as she joins 2FM. Katja will be standing in for Bl thnaid Treacy on Sat...
16/10/2025
This October, RT is delighted to support Wexford Festival Opera, Babor International Arts Festival for Children, Open House Dublin and 36 other arts and cultu...
15/10/2025
Series coming in 2026 stars Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Justine Mitchell and Jason O'Mara released today
RT today released first look images of new comedy-drama ...
14/10/2025
Imelda May explores her relationship with the Irish language through songs and sean-n s singing
Friday 17 October, 8.30pm on RT One and RT Player
Watch tr...
13/10/2025
Season 2 brings murder and West of Ireland humour - and rain - to our screens, with M ir ad Tyers joining the cast
Watch trailer here.
A small-town obituary w...
13/10/2025
The Katie Hannon Interview Live airs tonight & Wednesday night at 7pm
As part of RT 's comprehensive election campaign coverage, journalist Katie Hannon w...
10/10/2025
Today with David McCullagh to begin at 9am
Oliver Callan to move to 11am
Kieran Cuddihy to present Liveline
Louise Duffy moves to mid-afternoon
Katie Hannon...
10/10/2025
Tipperary, Cork and Dublin Championships to feature in first three weeks
Three weeks of top-class club hurling begins RT 's 2025 Club Championship coverage...
09/10/2025
After over 11 years on RT Radio 1, The Ray D'Arcy Show is set to come to an end this week Ray presented his show for the final time yesterday.
During it...
09/10/2025
RT today announced that Gavin Maloney has been reappointed as Associate Princip...
08/10/2025
Gr inne McAleer has been appointed as Acquistions Editor, RT following an internal competition.
As Acquistions Editor, Gr inne will report to and support the ...
08/10/2025
Brand New Podcast Series tells the extraordinary story of a couple jailed in Ire...
07/10/2025
RT SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2025...
03/10/2025
From today 2FM presenters Demi Isaac and Mikey O' Reilly will be unleashed on the airwaves five days a week. The dynamic duo will stand in for Doireann Garr...
03/10/2025
Heart-warming series features families from Dublin, Wicklow, Kilkenny and Clare
The series that rebuilds people's lives by rebuilding their homes returns t...
03/10/2025
RT will provide comprehensive coverage and analysis of Budget 2026 across online, radio and television on Tuesday 7 October with extensive reporting and reacti...
02/10/2025
At a time when world events can feel dark and overwhelming, The Lyric Feature on...
02/10/2025
Priscilla Presley and John C. Reilly join The Late Late Show Country Music Special to celebrate 10 years
Priscilla Presley | John C. Reilly | Daniel O'Donn...
02/10/2025
Key Presidential Debates to help voters decide
First Debate this Sunday 5 October on RT One & RT Player
Over the course of the 2025 Presidential election ...
01/10/2025
RT has today revealed a new Head Judge and presenter line-up for the ninth series of the hit show Dancing with the Stars.
The new Head Judge on the dancefloor...
26/09/2025
After four suspense-filled weeks, 24 fascinating players and 12 nail-biting episodes, The Traitors Ireland came to a dramatic conclusion this week and audiences...
26/09/2025
Former First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon will join Patrick for a wide-r...
25/09/2025
RT 's This is Art!' creative kids art competition launches with nature ...
24/09/2025
Seisi n returns to RT One and RT Player from Friday 26 September at 8pm with f...
24/09/2025
Broadcasters Mary Wilson and ine Lawlor will sign off on Morning Ireland on RT Radio 1 for the final time this morning. Today marks Mary Wilson's official...
24/09/2025
RT Investigates reveals factories supplying clothing to major Irish retailers h...
22/09/2025
It's back! To mark the return of the 14th season of the TODAY Show, Ireland's most successful and longest-running afternoon show, RT releases new prese...
22/09/2025
New RT Investigates documentary reveals cotton produced by forced labour camps ...
22/09/2025
Special programmes across RT television, radio and online, plus special initiatives
#ISL #IDSL #IWDP25
RT is proud to once again support Irish Sign Langua...
19/09/2025
RT SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2025: SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED
WINNERS TO BE ANNOUNCED AS PART OF AN RT RADIO 1 ARENA SPECIAL ON FRIDAY 24TH OCTOBER
LIVE FROM THE PA...
18/09/2025
Individual phones could be tracked back to specific residential addresses
Sm...
17/09/2025
Auditions will be held in Dublin, Cork and Galway
The County Parade returns f...
12/09/2025
The Late Late Show is back with a bang after the summer break, and Patrick Kielt...
12/09/2025
The World Athletics Championships, Ireland v France in the Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-final, the Irish Champions Festival, and two Sports Direct Men...
12/09/2025
The Records Show starts Sunday at 6.30pm on RT One and RT Player.
Katie Hanno...
11/09/2025
Tonight on Prime Time
RT One and RT Player at 9:35pm
Tonight RT Prime Time...
11/09/2025
RT Statement: 2026 Eurovision Song Contest
At the General Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in July, a number of EBU members raised concerns ...
10/09/2025
RT brings three days of live radio, live entertainment, live news, live weather, personal appearances, and more
Join RT Radio 1: Morning Ireland, The Oliver ...
RT 's biggest ever drama commission for young people, Louise Lives Large, launches on RT 2 and RT Player today (April 3rd). 
