Down through the years, RTÉ has hit upon some seriously good ideas for original television.

Sure, we might be looking back on them with rose-tinted glasses, but nobody can honestly say that Bull Island or Don't Feed The Gondolas wasn't some of the funniest television our national broadcaster ever produced.

So, with that in mind, we've come up with a small list of TV shows that Montrose should definitely consider bringing back with a fresh coat of paint.

 

8. NIGHTHAWKS

If you're under the age of 30, this won't mean anything to you. Nighthawks was a comedy / current affairs sketch show that ran from 1988 to 1992 and featured Shay Healy talking to everyone from John Giles and Eamonn Dunphy (half-jarred) to former Justice Minister Sean Doherty basically collapsing a government with an interview he gave on the show. The interviews themselves were set inside a pub, usually with a few cans of Harp and Carling and an overflowing ash-tray - because people could smoke indoors back then.

 

7. MAILBAG

Mailbag could absolutely be brought back and revitalised for the modern era. Instead this time around, it's famous Irish actors like Domhnall Gleeson and Aiden Gillen reading out the hashtags for The Late Late Show and Ray D'Arcy. "DEAR ARTHUR I CALLED FOR FOUR TIMES TO WIN THAT CAR AND RYAN TUBRIDY NEVER ANSWERED THIS IS A LOAD OF BOLLIX #latelate #watercharges"

 

6. THE END

If you were lucky enough to have a TV in your bedroom as a child or teenager, you'll remember staying up late to watch The End. It featured Sean Moncrieff in a grotty little studio somewhere in Montrose that ran in between episodes of Bottom and The Rise And Fall Of Reginald Perrin. It was absolutely bonkers, nearly surrealist and somehow brilliant at the same time. The show also featured a phone message service, in which people could leave a voicemail - saying ANYTHING - and it would actually be broadcast. As well as this, you can thank The End for Aprés Match as comedian Barry Murphy perfected some of his characters on the show.

 

5. NO DISCO

Usually on way too late at night and featuring bands you've never heard or but pretended to, No Disco was probably the coolest TV show RTÉ ever made. Uaneen Fitzsimons, Leagues O'Toole and Donal Dineen brought you deep into Ireland's underground music scene and brought forth the likes of The Frames, David Kitt and David Gray, as well as bringing to light Ireland's huge rave scene in the late '90s. 

 

4. KNOW YOUR SPORT

You could argue that Know Your Sport has come back, to a certain degree, with Second Captains. However, it's one of those programmes that could very easily be brought back with celebrity guests. Get them slightly tipsy, get George Hamilton back and the infamous buzzers and you're good to go.

  

3. BULL ISLAND

Frank Twomey, formerly of Bosco, was joined with Michael Sheridan, Alan Shortt and a few others to basically rip the ever-loving piss out of Irish politicians and RTÉ itself. Again, granted, Republic of Telly is doing something along those lines, as is The Mario Rosenstock Show, but haven't really gone after the political landscape as well as Bull Island did.

 

2. DON'T FEED THE GONDOLAS

Originally hosted by Sean Moncrieff and, later on, Dara O'Briain, Don't Feed The Gondolas was Ireland's attempt at taking on Have I Got News For You. Joined by team captains Brendan O'Connor and Ed Byrne, a different politician who was stupid enough to put himself there was summarily ripped apart for the amusement of just about everyone. Also, shout-out to Monica FiLOOOLY in a little village in the Wesht of Ireland called Ahascraaaw.

 

 

1. THE LYRICS BOARD

Irish people you'd recognise - not celebrities, come on - sit at a piano and try to come up with songs and guess a song title. So simple, yet so effective. Aonghus McNally's wide variety of sequin jackets and ties made the show, as did the banter between the pianos. Amazingly, The Lyrics Board went on to become a huge success, internationally. There's even a version of The Lyrics Board in VIETNAM.