RTE Christmas Highlights

RTÉ Television today (Tuesday 30 November) unveiled a cracking Christmas schedule with a feast of festive programming for viewers to enjoy over the Christmas and New Year season. Lots of brand new home-produced factual, entertainment, lifestyle, drama and sports programming will be delivered, as well as special seasonal versions of viewer favourites and the best Irish and international movies.

Some of Ireland’s top television and comedy talent has been invited to provide a lift and plenty of laughs this Christmas. It's Christmas time in Castletown for The Hardy Bucks and Eddie, Buzz and Frenchtoast have all been working hard(ish!) to get money together for their best Christmas ever, only for the The Viper to interfere with their plans. The Republic of Telly comes over all festive with a celebrity-packed version of The Wizard of Oz, as Dermot Whelan’s Dorothy searches over the rainbow for a way back to Limerick city, while in Wagons’ Den the girls are bitching up Christmas with a seasonal take-down on the world of Celebrity Gossip, Star-licious Scandal and Showbiz News with honorary wagon Brendan Courtney. Up Close and Personal offers three evening’s entertainment with some of Ireland’s most popular and original comic talent, the Mistress of Mirth - Deirdre O’Kane, the Master of Mayhem - Jason Byrne and the Don Of Deadpan – Jimeoin. There’s more laughs in store as Des Bishop bring us his internationally acclaimed stand-up show, Desfunctional live from the Roisin Dubh in Galway, while the hardworking detectives have a visit from the FBI in a seasonal edition of Pat Shortt’s Mattie.

Other new Entertainment programmes to be unwrapped over the Christmas season include a seasonal edition of The Saturday Night Show on the 18th December with special guests and special performances by Crystal Swing as well as, Glen Hansard and Damien Dempsey, while Ryan Tubridy presents a festive Christmas Eve edition of The Late Late Show. On New Year’s Eve, Marty Whelan and Kathryn Thomas are joined by a host of celebrities as they try their luck for their chosen charities in a Celebrity Winning Streak, while The Twenty Year Streak casts a nostalgic eye over the past 20 years of the show. There’s more nostalgia in store in Unwrapped! The Late Late Toy Show, which gives a unique insight into the history and production of the greatest toy show on television with contributions from former child participants and presenters. The All Ireland Talent Show will ring in the New Year live on RTÉ One with special surprise performances.

RTÉ Television will also deliver a range of documentaries and factual programming specifically commissioned for the Christmas season. Gerry, takes a look back at the eventful life and career of legendary broadcaster Gerry Ryan whose sudden death earlier this year shocked the nation. Maeve Binchy – At Home in the World is the enthralling story of how the Dalkey native became one of the world’s bestselling authors, while In and Out in Half an Hour looks at the people and stories of Dublin’s Civil Marriage Registry Office. Jimmy Magee: A Different Class focuses on “the memory man” as he revisits the landscape of his youth, his sporting highlights and his working life over the course of the year that was, while Now That’s What YOU Called News 2010 provides a countdown of Ireland’s most popular web searches and the ever-popular O’Gorman provides a seasonal edition of his show

The Christmas schedule also includes a wealth of Irish language documentaries. We’re bringing home the Christmas in Ó Bhéal go Béal um Nollag which looks at the magic, mystery and memories of Christmas in Ireland - like it used to be, while in Béile na Féile i Washington le Cathal Armstrong the Dublin born top-chef who works with Michelle Obama shares his passion for good food, letting the cameras behind the scenes at his top rated Restaurant Eve and sharing secrets for the perfect turkey dinner. Nollaig na Maggies sees four of Ireland’s best female singers, ‘T with the Maggies’ return to their beloved Donegal for the festive season as they perform an intimate concert in the spectacular setting of Glenveigh Castle. Other musical highlights include The Horslips- the Road to the O2 which features interviews, performances and archive of the Irish folk-rock band.

For lovers of food and lifestyle programming, the brand new Home for Christmas, is sure to appeal: Three of Ireland’s top chefs cook the perfect Christmas dinner in real time live from Farmleigh house, featuring live interaction with the audience at home. The Restaurant 5 Star Cook-Off sees Amanda Brunker and Fintan O’Toole go head-to-head, while Daithi O Se and Ray D’Arcy try and regain some culinary kudos in The Restaurant 3 Star Cook-Off. In the At Your Service Christmas Challenge Francis and John Brennan work their magic on Cappagh Hospital where Francis spent a lot of his childhood.

Adapted by celebrated author Edna O'Brien, from her novel of the same name, Irish drama this festive season includes the feature-length Wild Decembers, an interlocking story of land and love starring Owen McDonnell (Single Handed), Matt Ryan (Collision) and Lara Belmont (Henry VIII). The drama continues in Fair City with seven episodes of Ireland’s most popular soap, including an hour-long Christmas Day helping as Seamus McAleer arrives back in Carrigstown causing chaos and strife among the residents. Carol and Louie embark upon an illicit affair as The Bishop family reunite, while Keith sends shockwaves when he chooses the love of his life. Fights and tears ensue.

Irish drama will also be showcased in an Irish Movie Season over the festive period with premieres including the Oscar-winning The Secret of Kells, Zonad, Wide Open Spaces and Occi. The best international blockbusters will be also be premiered on RTÉ Television this Christmas including Mamma Mia, There Will Be Blood, Hancock, PS I Love You, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, alongside family favourites Ratatouille, Shrek the Third, Wall-E and Enchanted.

News programmes over the festive season start on Wednesday 22nd December as Nationwide visits Lithuania to take a look at the country some 80,000 Lithuanians living in Ireland have left behind, while Anne Cassin presents the Capital D Christmas Special on Thursday 23rd of December. Anthony Murnane presents the hour-long News Review of the Year on the 30th of December, while later that night political correspondent David McCullagh reveals the secrets of government from 1980 in Behind Closed Doors. Yvonne Redmond and Aidan Kelly provide a look back at the past year for younger viewers with news2day Review of the Year.

Younger viewers will also be well catered for by RTÉ Young People's as they deliver plenty of lively, entertaining and popular programmes this Christmas season. The award winning On The Block returns with a brand new documentary as the girls from Buckingham Street film club travel to Tory Island to meet their counterparts. TRTÉ’s hit series Who Are You Kidding? is a back for two new programmes this Christmas as presenter Brian Ormond introduces teenagers who are nominated by children to entertain a live 700-strong audience and face the assessment of four young, opinionated judges. Aidan Power presents the climax of Super Crew on Christmas Eve as the dancers take to the stage alongside JEDWARD for the first time. Reuben and The Big Big Bazaar team are back for two new programmes with a brand new twist and a series of Christmas Shorts on RTÉjr and TRTÉ. Test The Teachers, the game show where pupils turn the tables to put their teachers to the test also returns for a brand new series. Other favourites such as hubble, elev8, The Rumour Room and RED will ensure that this season on RTÉjr and TRTÉ is a memorable one for young people.

In an action-packed year for Irish sport, RTÉ Television will deliver eight brand new programmes and documentaries this Christmas celebrating Irish sporting achievements and stars. Galvinised is a specially commissioned fly-on-the-wall documentary reflecting a year in the life of Kerry GAA star Paul Galvin, while The Fields of Athenry tells the story of the highly popular song which has become a sporting anthem. Celebrating the sporting year, The RTÉ Sports Awards 2010 on Wednesday 22 December will crown the Sports Personality of the Year and Team of the Year. The Sports Review 2010 series of programmes will look back on our sporting highs from the last year including the brilliant medal winning performance of the Irish Men’s boxing team at the European Championships in Moscow in From Russia with Glove, while Chasing Sam and Tipping Point review the GAA Championship season. Joanne Cantwell looks back at twelve months of Irish sporting excellence in Stories of Our Success and The World Cup’s Most Dramatic Moments delivers memorable moments from the tournament in South Africa. In addition, quality sports action and analysis on offer over the Christmas season includes coverage of all four days racing from the Christmas Festival at Leopardstown, live action from the Magners League as the Irish provinces of Ulster and Leinster clash, and highlights of top-flight action in Premier Soccer Saturday as well as the Heineken Cup.

Highlights from this year’s Christmas religious programmes include Christmas Carols from the Fair City presented by Mary Kennedy and featuring T with the Maggies, Kildare-born international opera star Celine Byrne, the Discovery Gospel choir and Irish broadcasting legend Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh and members of the Fair City cast; Midnight Eucharist this year is a beautiful candle-lit service from Dublin’s famous, and now beautifully restored, Pepper Canister Church. Christmas religious programming will also include A Christmas Day Service, Mass for Christmas Day, live coverage of the Pope’s Christmas message Urbi et Orbi and the Archbishops’ Christmas Message. Religious services will also be broadcast on St Stephen’s Day and the first Sunday of the New Year.