Drama dominates RTÉ’s autumn schedule
Veteran broadcaster Pat Kenny returns with The Late, Late Show, now in its world-beating 42nd season, as does You’re A Star, the popular talent search, and Derek Mooney’s Winning Streak.
Topping the new drama list is The Clinic, a new character-led medical series set in Dublin. Starring David Wilmott, Aisling O’Sullivan, Lorraine Pilkington and Geraldine Plunkett, it comprises eight one-hour episodes.
Docu-drama Holy Cross is based on the events in Belfast where Catholic and Protestant adults clashed over the route the children should take to the convent school.
Bachelors Walk returns for a third series, with the hugely popular soap Fair City continuing four times weekly. A re-mastered version of James Plunkett’s Strumpet City, the story of the 1913 Dublin lockout which was first broadcast in 1980, will be shown over eight weeks.
New entertainment shows are also coming to our screens. Delegation is a family game show presented by Tom Ó Brannagáin with prizes of luxury exotic holidays. Rose of Tralee host Ryan Tubridy fronts his first TV series with All Kinds of Everything, a knowledge quiz for Irish pop fans. Both shows were made by Adare Productions for RTÉ.
Fame Game On The Run sees the return of Caroline Morahan in a new format based on the original show. The action now takes place entirely on location, as three members of the public attempt to track down their idols.
Fashion programme Off The Rails, with Pamela Flood and Caroline Morahan, is also set for a return run.
The Auld Ones is a new 13-episode animated series about the shenanigans of Bernie and Mary as told at their local bus stop.
Among the top movies coming to the small screen are Gladiator, What Women Want, Mission Impossible, Castaway, Chocolat and Shaft.
Irish-interest feature films include Ordinary Decent Criminal, My Left Foot, The Butcher Boy and The Boxer. Neil Jordan’s Michael Collins and About Adam, directed by Gerard Stembridge, will also be shown by RTÉ.
