RT waltzes into 2026 and entertains the nation as Dancing With The Stars and Room To Improve are huge hit

As the clock struck midnight and 2026 was born, so was an exciting range of new programmes on RT to keep audiences entertained, informed, and intrigued to get you right through the winter months. This weekend saw distinctively Irish entertainment at its best as some of Ireland's biggest shows returned to our screens and viewers tuned into RT in huge numbers.

Saturday night (January 3) on RT One and RT Player saw the return of the inimitable Tommy Tiernan with a brand-new series of The Tommy Tiernan Show. An average audience of 304,000 tuned-in to RT One (inc RT One 1) to see Tommy meet human rights lawyer Caoilfhionn Gallagher, Happy Mondays singer Shaun Ryder, Linford Christie, and musical guest George Houston. 27% of those watching TV at the time were watching RT One. A further 19,000 have watched back since Saturday while there were 21,943 streams on RT Player.

Family favourite Dancing with the Stars kicked off its ninth season last night, Sunday 4 January, with a brand-new Head Judge in Oti Mabuse and drew an average of 550,000 viewers to RT One (inc RT One 1), representing a share of 45% on RT One. There were 29,764 streams on RT Player. This Sunday's programme will see the first elimination from the new series.

Last night also saw the return of Room to Improve with Dermot Bannon once again taking on homes of every scale and condition, helping families looking to downsize, upsize, or find the right size for their next chapter. Episode 1 saw empty nesters Deirdre and Kieran Kelly in Clonsilla, west Dublin plan to downsize from their spacious existing home to their beloved first home and was watched by an average of 537,000 viewers on RT One (inc RT One 1) with a share of 49% on RT One. There were 16,151 streams on RT Player.

Meanwhile last night's episode of Fair City was watched by an average of 390,000 on RT One (inc RT One 1) with a share on RT One of 32%. There were 16,746 streams on RT Player.

Date: Monday 5 January 2026

For more information:

Fergus McCormack, Communications Lead

TV Ratings Source: TAM Ireland Ltd / Nielsen TAM

RT Player Source: Piano Analytics

LINK:	https://about.rte.ie/2026/01/05/rte-waltzes-into-2026-and-entertains-t...
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