RT New Season Launch

RT New Season Launch

RT Revealing Lifes Dramas in Slate of First Rate Comedy, Drama, Documentary, Lifestyle and Sports Programming for New Season

RT announces a brand new slate of first rate home-produced comedy, drama, documentary and lifestyle programming as it launches its autumn and new year schedule today.

Some of Ireland's best known faces joined RT Director-General Dee Forbes in Montrose today to celebrate the launch of the new schedule.

Speaking at the launch, Dee Forbes said: "This new season of programmes on RT One, RT 2 and RT Player is a strong demonstration of RT s commitment to Irish public life and our island s unique and merging cultures. Today, we have launched a collection of new home-produced drama, comedy, arts, entertainment, documentary and lifestyle programming that showcases an ever-broadening range of perspectives, with new voices, new faces and new themes. From the violent birth of our nation, captured in both drama and documentary, to the modern day heroes of the Rotunda Hospital - and sprinkled through with high-octane entertainment and sport - this new season explores all sides of Irish life, past and present. This blend of in-house and commissioned programming is a statement of intent; as the back-bone of the industry, RT has to, wants to and needs to invest in Ireland s audio-visual creative industry. RT wants to do more, and the new season sees us take decisive steps in this direction."

RT 's Director of Content Jim Jennings said: "There is something for everyone in this year's new RT programming. Taking centre stage is an impressive range of new world class dramas and comedies, including Finding Joy and Taken Down. This season also boasts compelling new factual documentaries and series, which capture the real life drama of our viewers. We serve entertainment to family audiences like no other Irish broadcaster, with returning hits Dancing with the Stars and a turbo-charged Ireland's Fittest Families, not to mention everyone's favourite, The Late Late Toy Show. RT promises to be with the nation for the big events, whether it's the Pope's visit, the commemoration of the War of Independence or on the field at Croke Park on All-Ireland final day."

RT 's Director of Audience, Channels and Marketing Adrian Lynch said: "Our audience is at the heart of what we do in RT across all our platforms. In this new slate, featuring approximately 60 new series across multiple genres, our ambition is to serve our audience's appetite for compelling content across RT One, RT 2 and the RT Player. It is a real statement about the quality and ambition of the Irish creative industries. We know that Irish audiences respond to home-grown content and RT is uniquely placed to serve that appetite."

Revealing Life's Dramas

RT is serving the Irish audience's desire to see their stories on the screen with home-produced drama and innovative partnerships on productions with an Irish connection. Home productions include:

Taken Down A detective investigates the violent death of a young Nigerian immigrant found abandoned close to a Direct Provision Centre. From the team behind Love/Hate including writer Stuart Carolan plus best-selling novelist Jo Spain and starring Aissa Maiga, Lynn Rafferty, Orla Fitzgerald and Brian Gleeson.

Resistance Continuing the story of Ireland's violent birth. The War of Independence rages on and everyone is fighting for their lives, and for the future. Starring Brian Gleeson, Simone Kirby and Natasha O'Keeffe.

Fair City Ireland s most watched soap continues with Kerri-Ann caught off guard as her lies are exposed, and a familiar face returns with the intention of seeking revenge. This season, Fair City gets a HD makeover and the Carrigstown residents move to a brand new set.

Recognising the increasingly collaborative nature of 21st century television production, RT is partnering with international broadcasters to deliver high quality productions on a global scale including:

Death and Nightingales The story of one young woman's struggle to control her own destiny in Northern Ireland in the 1880s. A BBC production in association with RT and starring Ann Skelly, Matthew Rhys and Jamie Dornan.

Mother's Day The story of two mothers on either side of the Irish Sea for whom the Warrington Bombing had a profound, life-changing impact. Starring Vicky McClure, Anna Maxwell Martin, Daniel Mays and David Wilmot. A BBC production in association with RT .

Doing Money The true story of Ana, snatched from the streets of London and put into sex slavery in Ireland. Stars Karen Hassan (The Fall) and Alex Secareanu (God's Own Country). A BBC production in association with RT .

In addition, RT will broadcast the best of international drama with highlights including European see it firsts' of the second series of Mr Mercedes starring Brendan Gleeson and hit new series Killing Eve starring Sandra Oh, Jodie Comer, Fiona Shaw and Owen McDonnell; as well as the sixth season of the ever popular local production Vikings.

World Class Irish Comedy

RT is wholly committed to supporting the indigenous television industry, fostering and developing talent with new and returning comedy series.

Finding Joy Written by and starring Amy Huberman as Joy, a woman who finds herself thrust into the limelight as she tries to get over a break-up. Also starring Aisling Bea, Laura Whitmore and Jennifer Rainsford.

Women on the Verge Darkly comic tale about three friends whose lives are going in the wrong direction. Written by Sharon Horgan and Lorna Martin and starring Horgan, Kerry Condon, Eileen Walsh and Nina Sosanya. Co-produced by UKTV and RT .

Podge and Rodge Ballydung Manor is flinging open its doors again for celebrity roasting and scorching music acts. New co-host Doireann Gar

LINK:	https://www.rte.ie/about/en/press-office/press-releases/2018/0816/9854...
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