TV3 to launch reality quiz on The Box

TV3 is set to launch a major reality quiz show in October — with contestants living in a large floating glass block.

Called The Box and presented by Keith Duffy, the production, costing more than €1 million, will run every night for three weeks. The winner will go on to collect a cash prize.

Now in pre-production, the quiz show will be located in Dublin, where the illuminated block will be home to the contestants. Two players go head-to- head throughout the day, and one will be ejected, and replaced every night.

The show is part of the channel’s autumn season of programming, which channel chiefs yesterday describ- ed as “the most exciting line-up” since 2000.

Director of programming Matthew Salway said between 30 and 40 new and returning series will be shown between now and after Christmas.

It was important, he said, to remember nearly one-third of TV3’s output was produced in this country. “We do what we do very successfully and without the help of the licence fee.”

Mr Salway focused on two of what he regards to be TV3’s strengths — its extensive line up of soaps and its reality entertainment programmes. He also took the opportunity to draw attention to the channel’s live sports coverage.

As announced recently, TV3 will have live coverage of three of the away legs for the Euro 2008 Irish qualifiers. The first soccer international is against Cyprus in October — the first live Irish soccer qualifying action since 1999.

TV3 will also broadcast live the quarter finals, semi finals and final of the UEFA Cup, as well as matches from the preceding rounds.

The channel is also to transmit 10 live matches from the Rugby World Cup — the opening match, the four Irish qualifiers, two quarter finals (including any Irish match), two semi finals and the final.

In the drama department, TV3 has acquired Jericho — a dramatic, stylish and scary new drama, where a nuclear bomb has destroyed most of America and a small Kansas town must get to grips with a new reality.

Bones follows the work of a forensic anthropologist, while Wanted is a gritty urban drama — a cousin to Golden Globe winner The Shield.

Robbie Coltrane, Helen Mirren and David Jason are back in Cracker, Prime Suspect and A Touch of Frost.

The popular soap, Hollyoaks, will be aired from October. It’s also a return for Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Heartbeat and its successful spin-off, The Royal.