A behemoth of brand new and returning drama series will be lighting up our screens for the forthcoming season on RTÉ.

RTÉ has unleashed its new season plans, and there are a number of exciting drama and entertainment series to look forward to, including season two of the thrilling series from earlier this year, 'Smother'.

'Smother' season two will once again see us return to the windswept County Clare where we will pick up with the Ahern family following the fallout from season one. Set eight months later, there's a surprising new arrival for the family to deal with. Dervla Kirwan, Gemma-Leah Devereux, Niamh Walsh, and Seána Kerslake will all return.     

There are some serious 'Love/Hate' vibes coming off of the next series. New Irish crime drama 'Kin' will follow a Dublin family embroiled in a gangland war. Clare Dunne, Aidan Gillen, Ciarán Hinds, Sam Keeley and Emmett Scanlan star in the eight-part series, which has already been acquired by a number of international outlets.       

Sally Rooney's follow-up to 'Normal People', 'Conversations with Friends', has apparently wrapped filming on location, and the new drama series will air on RTÉ in 2022.

Other new drama series include Limerick-based series 'Hidden Assets'; the mystery/thriller 'Harry Wilds', starring Jane Seymour; comedy/drama series 'The Dry' with Ciarán Hinds and Roisin Gallagher; and 'Three Families' about the compelling stories of real lives impacted by Northern Ireland’s formerly restrictive abortion laws.     

Non-Irish content arriving on RTÉ includes the new reboot of 'Gossip Girl', with all episodes available via the RTÉ Player; 'Bloodlands' with James Nesbitt; 'Yellowstone' season four; 'Unforgotten' season four; and all seven seasons of 'Pretty Little Liars' arriving on the RTÉ Player.

'Fair City' will also continue to air on RTÉ every Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings.

As far as entertainment shows go, RTÉ's new season will see the return of fan favourites such as 'The Late Late Show' and of course 'The Tommy Tiernan Show', which will also be getting a Christmas special this year. 'The Style Counsellors', 'DIY SOS', 'Today with Maura and Dáithí', and 'Soundtrack To My Life' with Bressie will all return for new seasons.

New entertainment formats include 'Angela Scanlon's Ask Me Anything', which will air on Saturday nights and will see the host chat with guests who have agreed to be asked about absolutely anything.

Another Saturday night series will see talented Irish people attempt to win themselves a €25,000 cash prize for their singing quality. 'Last Singer Standing', hosted by Nicky Byrne, will be a karaoke-inspired game show featuring superstars Nadine Coyle, Joey Fatone (from NSYNC) and Samantha Mumba as panellists on the series.

'Glow Up Ireland' will be presented by 'Love Island' alum Maura Higgins as amateur make-up artists compete against each other to be crowned Ireland’s best; while 'Hell Week – The Professionals' sees 18 of Ireland’s fittest from the world of sport and entertainment take on the gruelling physical and mental challenge; 'Callan Kicks The Years' and 'The 2 Johnnies' return; and Sinéad Quinlan from 'The Den' will also have her own RTÉ Player series, 'Seriously, Sinéad?'.

In terms of sport's coverage, RTÉ and its new season will have the largest selection of free-to-air sport available to audiences. Highlights include Six Nations, GAA club championships, Champions League, men’s and women’s World Cup qualifiers, Autumn Internationals, FAI Cup, SSE Airtricity league, and Horse Racing.