You may think there's nothing on the telly right now, but RTE are certainly pulling out all the stops to top the ratings in the coming season. The national broadcaster launched it's new line up for 2013-14 this morning, and it's certainly jam packed, if we do say so ourselves.

Among the big highlights of the upcoming season are Love/Hate's return, a Carrigstown 'catastrophe' to ring in 25 seasons of Fair City, and the network TV premiere of The Guard and What Richard Did. There's a bit of a promotion for Big Money Game host Sinead Kennedy, who steps into Geri Maye's shoes alongside Marty Whelan on Winning Streak, while Des Bishop heads to China and Hector Ó hEochagáin crosses into Northern Ireland for the very first time. We wonder what they'll make of him across the border...


Other familiar faces getting a boost include Damo and Ivor, and Katherine Lynch. The Republic of Telly sketch 'partners' are back on RTÉ Two with a brand new comedy/drama, while Lynch returns to our screens with a new sitcom, The Centre, which follows six weeks in the life of St Bartholomew’s Community Centre. Oh, and speaking of Republic of Telly,  Kevin McGahern is confirmed to fill Dermot Whelan's shoes.

Brendan O'Connor and Ryan Tubridy both return to their usual slots, while Bláthnaid Ni Chofaigh is back with The Moment of Truth and Gay Byrne’s The Meaning of Life makes the grade once again. There's good news in terms of overseas imports too. Revenge, Homeland and Mad Men will all be back, while brand new acquired dramas include the Irish-based series Vikings,and Stephen King’s Under The Dome. We hear it's a cracker, so well done on that one gang.

There's no mention of Raw returning, but there are two brand new drama series to look forward to. Amber tells the story of a family’s desperate search to find their teenage daughter, and atmospheric thriller Quirke starring Gabriel Byrne as chief pathologist-turned-detective in 1950s Dublin. Speaking of new series, Doctor on Call will see Dr Johnny Walker use the latest cutting edge technology to diagnose and treat communities around Ireland, and Áine Lawlor will re-trace the steps of her journey to overcome breast cancer. On a lighter note, Mairead Farrell is looking to find Ireland’s Fittest Family and the all-new Design Doctors will give practical tips and inspiring ideas to help us make the most of our homes.


Maia Dunphy takes a look at What Women Want, and the Reality Bites series returns with eight new one-off documentaries: Nightshift documents a night in the life of those who are only starting their day’s work as we lie tucked up in bed, Angela Scanlon explores our red hair in Oi Ginger! and Vogue MacFadden presents Vogue Does Home and Away (no, we don't know either, but we'll give her the benefit of the doubt). There's also a string of new one-off Format Farms such as Away With A Stranger and My Best Shot, a new studio dating game show.

In terms of factual programming, we can expect the likes of Sundance-Award winner The Summit, which tells the tale of the deadliest day in modern mountain climbing history, My Lockout, which gives a unique insight into the most famous labour dispute in Irish history and, Surrogacy, which will take us beyond the constitutional debate, and delve into the real life experiences of Ireland's surrogates and those who need them.

For those with an interest in the Arts, there's plenty on offer too: The Play Next Door is billed as "a major three-part series which challenges three well-known writers to deliver a television play under unusual circumstances", while other documentaries include profiles on Myrtle Allen, Pauline Bewick and John Boorman. Plus, The Works and The Bord Gais Energy Book Awards return for another year.

“In a highly competitive and dynamic media landscape, RTÉ Television is taking a more targeted and focused approach to ensure that each channel delivers a more distinctive, yet complementary, service to better serve the range of people that make up the diverse Irish audience", Glen Killane, Managing Director of RTÉ Television, said at the launch. "To refresh and reinvigorate our primary channels, we have recently appointed George Dixon as Channel Controller for RTÉ One and Bill Malone as Channel Controller for RTÉ Two. Informed by better research into our audiences, the aim is to create a clear identity for each of the channels and to provide distinctly different, yet complementary content to ensure that the best possible service is offered to the Irish public."

Well, have they done enough to make you tune in? Will you be happy to pay the Broadcasting Charge for all of the above? Let us know below.