TV3 today announced their schedule for spring with some new shows on the way, even more sports coverage and the return of Red Rock, which has been off air since the summer.
The Virgin Media owned broadcaster also announced that they will soon be rebranding to Virgin Media Television.
Director of Programming, Bill Malone, said, "2017 was a year of records and firsts for TV3 Group as we delivered our best ever share of viewing. Now we aim to build on this great momentum with our most ambitious spring schedule.
"2018 promises to be a landmark year of big events and quality Irish content on TV3. They don’t come much bigger than rugby’s greatest championship, the NatWest 6 Nations and the world’s biggest entertainment format, Ireland’s Got Talent. It will also be a year which will see us distribute our content in new and exciting ways as part of Ireland’s No. 1 connected entertainment business, Virgin Media."
Have a look at what shows are on the way below:
Entertainment
Ireland’s Got Talent – Series
The world’s most successful TV show is finally here. Ireland’s Got Talent will become Ireland’s biggest ever talent search as they seek out the boldest, oldest, oddest, funniest, scariest and downright greatest undiscovered talent that is out there in the schools, clubs and workplaces throughout Ireland. A celebration of all that’s great and eclectic about our nation, the winner of Ireland’s Got Talent will receive a €50k cash prize plus their very own primetime Christmas Special on TV3.
Ireland’s Got Talent will officially launch on Saturday 3rd February.
Ireland’s Got Mór Talent – Series
Ireland’s Got Mór Talent is the official sister show to Ireland’s Got Talent. TV presenter Glenda Gilson and Snapchat sensation James Kavanagh will front the weekly show which will air directly after the main show on TV3.
The Restaurant – Series
The Restaurant returns to TV3 for a brand new series as six new celebrity chefs put their culinary egos on the line as they bid to impress our critics, including Marco Pierre White. This year, Irish celebrity chef Rachel Allen joins the show as our new food critic.
The Voice – Series
The Voice UK is back with a bang with a brand new coach Olly Murs, who joins Sir Tom Jones, Jennifer Hudson and will.i.am in the iconic red chairs.
Celebrity Big Brother – Series
Celebrity Big Brother is back for a brand new series. Celebrity Big Brother shows the housemates as they take part in a series of entertaining tasks and hidden experiments which will test their assumptions, challenge gender stereotypes and reveal fascinating truths about what it is to be a woman and man in the 21st century.
Dancing on Ice – Series
Hosted by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, 12 brand new celebrities compete to become this year’s champion of the ice. Skating legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean lead the judging panel alongside returning judge Jason Gardiner and new addition, dance supremo, Ashley Banjo. With a brand new look, a brand new studio and the help of some of the world’s greatest skating professionals, the return of Dancing On Ice promises to be the biggest skating spectacle on TV.
Love Island – Series
Love Island returns for a brand new series and sees its occupants live the celebrity lifestyle in a stunning villa on the beautiful island of Mallorca, while they get to know each other a little better. They are on the lookout for romance, but as always the road to love never runs smoothly as they must not only choose their partner wisely but also win the hearts of the public. It's up to the viewers to decide who they want to stay in the show to watch their relationship develop and which pair they want to crown the hottest couple on the island.
Survival of the Fittest – Series
From the makers of Love Island, Survival of the Fittest is set in the sizzling South African savannah. Wicklow’s own Laura Whitmore oversees the action as they pit a team of girls against a team of boys in the ultimate battle of the sexes.
Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Take Away - Series
Saturday Night Take Away is back! Ant and Dec present the series with stunts, surprises and shocks, but always entertaining.
The Graham Norton Show - Series
Graham Norton returns to our screens with a new series of The Graham Norton Show, focusing on people, trends, stories and aspects of celebrity culture that interest him the most.
Current Affairs
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is back for a brand new season with Matt Cooper and Ivan Yates. Due to the success of the show the programme is being extended from three nights a week to four. The programme features a nightly panel discussion covering topics that has the county talking – both Irish and international.
The Pat Kenny Show
Pat Kenny returns for a fourth series with a live studio audience to debate the big issues that matter to you. From housing to human interest Pat will hear your stories and issues and bring your big questions to those in power. With the studio audience at the heart of discussions, Pat brings his own unique take on the big questions facing Ireland in health, housing, the economy and more and will be looking for solutions.
Drama
Red Rock – Series
All new season of TV3’s critically acclaimed drama with new stories, new characters and whole host of new twists. Coming up in 2018, Keith Kiely gets sucked in deeper into the criminal world dragging his family down with him. If you thought Laser Byrne was bad wait until you see what's coming next - this is not going to end well. Meanwhile Patricia Hennessy finds herself embroiled with a powerful man with a very dark secret. The unearthing of a missing woman causes ripples that run right through the station causing secrets, lies and compromises leading to a thrilling climax to date.
Smalltown 2 – Series
Series two of the critically acclaimed Smalltown, starring Pat Shortt, explores the deep grief a spouse goes through on a daily basis after losing the love of their life. How their life changes and the coping mechanisms that kick in. Asking themselves the tough questions like, am I alone now forever? And the question that echoes from Season 1, where do I belong? Pat Shortt's character Tom is the focus of Season two. We will intimately and hilariously go on his journey as he makes some major changes in his life.
The Bailout
The Bailout is a new two-part drama that tells the story of Ireland’s government, led by Brian Cowen, as it desperately tried to avoid handing over governance of the economy to outsiders.
Next Of Kin – Series
Next of Kin, is a brand new contemporary thriller starring Primetime Emmy Award winner and Golden Globe nominee Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife) and renowned actor Jack Davenport (Pirates of the Caribbean. The contemporary drama follows whip-smart doctor Mona Harcourt (Panjabi) who lives in London with political lobbyist husband Guy (Davenport). When a bomb goes off in London on the same day that Mona’s brother, Kareem, is abducted and murdered in Pakistan, Mona’s charmed life is shaken to its core.
Sport
NatWest Six Nations
The greatest Rugby championship in the world comes to TV3 for the next four years. Last year Ireland denied England the Grand Slam and this year Joe Schmidt’s team will have realistic ambitions to win the Championship and perhaps even a Grand Slam of their own. All 15 matches of Six Nations 2018 will be live and exclusive on TV3 from the 3rd February as Ireland take on France.
Clubhouse
Clubhouse, TV3‘s rugby and entertainment show will be back on our screens with a brand new line up of Mario Rosenstock and Donnacha O’Callaghan. With unique content and fresh perspectives on all the action on and off the pitch, it will cover all bases for rugby fans, passionate and casual.
UEFA Champions League
The knock-out stages of the UEFA Champions League kick-off this February live on TV3 with five Premier League sides in the Last 16. Tommy Martin will be joined by TV3’s team of experts; Graeme Souness, Neil Lennon, Kevin Kilbane and Brian Kerr for the pick of Tuesday night’s games.
Horse Racing
Another 50 days of some of the biggest racing meetings is coming up on TV3 this year. All the action live from The Cheltenham Festival, The Aintree Grand National Festival, all the Classics, Royal Ascot and much more.
Factual
Heartbreak Hotel - 1x60
Maia Dunphy hosts this brand new Irish format where heartbroken singletons gather at a weekend retreat, revealing all on screen in an effort to explore the reasons why everything went so wrong, what they can do differently and confront the demons of their past including the exes. This uplifting and breakthrough format will renew and excite as candidates unload their past baggage in the hope of moving forward to new love and a new life, but not before they face the challenges of our expert team, who make them face the true issues and the reasons why they have been unlucky in love.
David McWilliams Back to the Future- 1x60
David McWilliams is back with a major new documentary called ‘Back to the Future’ asking are we heading to another property bubble and has anything changed to prevent us repeating the economic mistakes of the past.
Gerry Adams – Series
Two-part series with Vincent Browne on the life and times of Gerry Adams.
Paramedics – Series
Factual series Paramedics returns for a third series as it follows the workers of Ireland’s national ambulance service as they carry out vital and often life-saving work around the country.
Doctor in the House – Series
Doctor in the House returns to TV3 for a fourth series this spring. Each week a team of doctors and medical professionals assess a different household and identify risks and problem areas that are having a serious, and in some cases, detrimental effect on their health. They will follow that household everywhere – at home, at work, at school, at the pub. Wherever they go, a doctor – white coat and clipboard in hand – is looking over their shoulder taking notes and evaluating their lifestyle. After which, the doctors deliver their eye-opening predicted prognosis.
True Lives
Mammy Guilt: True Lives
Glamorous mammy Karen Koster lifts the lid on the very unglamorous side of her life balancing babies, work and guilt. Karen Koster authors a documentary about the scales of guilt she, and many other women (and men) experience as a working mother.
Baby Hater: True Lives
33-year-old comedian Joanne McNally 'doesn't want kids EVER...but society continuously tells her that it’s wrong and she’s sick of being labelled a ‘baby hater’. Joanne is sure she won’t change her mind but in this documentary she will meet the’ baby opposed’ and the ‘baby obsessed’ to once and for all decide if motherhood is for her.
My War on Drugs: True Lives
Former heroin addict, Anne Buckley, is on a mission to decriminalise drugs. Anne Buckley spent 17 years addicted to heroin and methadone. Now, five years clean, and a journalism graduate, Anne tells her own compelling story of addiction and recovery. She argues that addiction is a health issue and not a criminal one. Going back to the streets where her drug habit began, Anne meets the shopkeepers she used to rob from and the Gardai whose job it was to arrest her. Anne explores the relationship between inequality and drugs and lobbies politicians and officials to change the law.
Ireland’s Youngest Grandparents: True Lives
In this two-part documentary, we follow young grandparents across Ireland to discover whether it is a nightmare to see your child follow in your footsteps and become a young parent or a blessing to have a new baby in the family while you still have the youth and energy to enjoy it.
Irish Feature Films
A Date for Mad Mary
This critically acclaimed Irish gem received rave reviews from moviegoers and film critics alike and will receive its world TV premiere on TV3 this spring. Mad Mary tells the story of a young woman who has been recently released from a short spell in prison, only to face an even tougher task, finding a plus one to a friend’s wedding. It’s a tough and tender story about friendship, first love, and letting go of the glory days.
My Name Is Emily
This spring TV3 will broadcast the world TV premiere of the critically acclaimed My Name Is Emily, written and directed by Simon Fitzmaurice who passed away in October after an ongoing battle with Motor Neurone disease. Evanna Lynch stars as Emily, who runs away from her foster home and, with the help of her new friend Arden, sets out on a road trip to break her father out of a psychiatric institution. This is a story of madness, love and sadness, where Evanna Lynch delivers a master-class.