TV3 launches New Season line-up with new shows and BIG name signings

TV3 unveiled its New Season schedule at the National Concert Hall in Dublin on Wednesday.

In its most ambitious schedule yet, the Independent Broadcaster made several major announcements across News, Current Affairs, Entertainment, Documentary, Drama and Sport.

Leading the announcements, TV3 confirmed its biggest investment in Entertainment to date with ‘Ireland’s Got Talent’, the world’s most successful TV show format.

Pop maestro Louis Walsh, comedian Jason Byrne, West End star Denise Van Outen and outspoken American TV personality Michelle Visage were confirmed as the show’s four judges. Meanwhile, TV3’s own Lucy Kennedy will host the show.

Talent seekers: The line-up for Ireland’s Got Talent was revealed today | BRIAN MCEVOY

Also new this autumn, Al Porter will play cupid to Irish couples looking for romance in the world’s most-loved dating show, ‘Blind Date’.

From love to heartbreak, Maia Dunphy will host new show ‘Heartbreak Hotel’. This uplifting and challenging format will see heartbroken singletons gather for a weekend retreat to face the true issues and reasons why they have been so unlucky in love.

Other major entertainment programming includes ‘Living with Lucy’ which will return for a second series. Lucy heads off to the homes of a variety of new well-known faces including GAA legend Davy Fitzgerald, Kerry politician Michael Healy-Rae and former Eastenders actress, Daniella Westbrook.

One of TV3’s most popular shows ‘Gogglebox Ireland’ will also return for its third season, with two new families joining the cast.

Interior experts: Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and design specialist Neville Knott will front new series ‘Showhouse Showdown’ | BRIAN MCEVOY

Tapping into our national obsession with all things property, an all-new interior design show comes to TV3. Hosted by interiors icon Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and design specialist Neville Knott, ‘Showhouse Showdown’ sets two professional interior designers the challenge of creating interiors for two identical properties in a new development.

Also, Marco Pierre White finds out which celebrity sizzles in the kitchen and which famous face flops in a brand new series ‘The Restaurant’.

Alongside new Irish entertainment, TV3 continues to be the exclusive broadcaster for some of the biggest UK shows including ‘The X-Factor’, ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’, ‘The Voice’ and ‘Britain’s Got Talent’.

This year will see TV3 step up its commitment to News and Current Affairs output with the the launch ‘3News Ireland Hub’ on Monday, September 4th. TV3’s flagship 3News at 5.30 will be broadcast live every day from this new News centre as well as 3News at 12.30 and TV3’s other bulletins on be3 at 7pm and 10pm.

New duo: Matt Cooper and Ivan Yates are the new hosts of The Tonight Show | BRIAN MCEVOY

TV3’s new current affairs programme ‘The Tonight Show’ will launch in September with presenters Matt Cooper and Ivan Yates.

Broadcasting live every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night at 11pm, Matt and Ivan will deconstruct the news and offer insight and their own very different perspectives on the stories Ireland is talking about.

Pat Kenny will return to debate the big issues that matter to you in ‘The Pat Kenny Show’. With the live 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.

Meanwhile, TV3 will have more original and commissioned Irish drama than ever before.

New season: TV3 announced new shows – and the return of programme favourites | BRIAN MCEVOY

All-new, six-part series ‘Darklands’ is a crime drama set amidst a gang-war in Dublin’s inner-city and tells the story of Damien Dunne, a 16-year-old boy in his final year of school who dreams of becoming a professional MMA fighter.

Following a successful first series, ‘Smalltown’ will return to TV3 starring Pat Shortt and TV3’s drama ‘Red Rock’ returns in the New Year with 23 episodes across 2018.

From the makers of ‘The Guarantee’, ‘The Bailout’ is a two-part drama series 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.

Further supporting Irish drama, TV3 backed feature films include ‘Cardboard Gangsters’, ‘A Date for Mad Mary’ and ‘My Name is Emily’.

TV3’s daily home-grown shows, ‘Ireland AM’, ‘Elaine’, ‘The Six O’Clock Show’, ‘Xpose’, ‘Saturday AM’ and ‘Sunday AM’ will continue to be the backbone of TV3’s schedule, delivering relevant news, views and entertainment to viewers throughout the day.