RTÉ One has announced details of the 53 new series and documentaries that'll be gracing their autumn and winter schedules. Eye-catching shows include the two-part BBC co-production W.B. Yeats By Bob Geldof; Christy Moore: Journey in which the veteran singer "collaborates with award-winning film-maker Mark McLoughlin for a very personal musical journey through contemporary Irish history revealing a deeply human story of a changing country"; a one-off Paddy Moloney: Chieftain documentary, and The Works Presents..., a 10-parter where "leading lights from Ireland’s vibrant arts scene talk in-depth with presenter John Kelly about the defining moment in their career and their creative journey so far."
On the light entertainment front, The Ray D'Arcy Show takes-over from Brendan O'Connor on Saturday nights; the titular actor and comedian scours the RTÉ archives for bizarre tunes in Pat Shortt's Music For D'Telly, and despite rumours to the contrary The Voice Of Ireland returns for a fifth series.
Placido Domingo, Sr Stan and Hozier are among those discussing The Meaning Of Life With Gay Byrne; Michael Portillo narrates The Enemy Files, a history of 1916 from the British perspective; Stetsons & Stilettos examines Ireland's love affair with country music, and Inside The Paper captures the goings-on at three of the country's few remaining family-owned newspapers.
The two big drama offerings are Rebellion, a five-parter set over three weeks of Easter 1916 and starring Charlie Murphy, Brian Gleeson, Ruth Bradley, Barry Ward and Sarah Greene and Clean Break, a four-part drama from the makers of Love/Hate focusing on "Frank, a car dealer running out of fiscal rope whose attempt at staging a tiger raid on the local bank goes badly wrong."
Stay tuned to hotpress.com for more on what to expect in the coming months from the national broadcaster...