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RTE

Ray D'Arcy is finally taking charge of a primetime slot on RTÉ One, with his new Saturday night chat show kicking off this weekend.

The radio and TV personality says his newest gig will feature "extraordinary stories from extraordinary people, comedy, and the big names… if Ryan [Tubridy] doesn't get there first."

Ahead of the launch of The Ray D'Arcy Show at 9.45pm this Saturday, the host took a look back at his "best bits," sitting down in a tux (as you do) to get a blast from the past.

Of course, it wasn't long before a very unwanted old friend – we'll give you a clue, he has a beak – dropped by for a surprise visit.

Ray started his career with RTÉ in 1990, taking over from Ian Dempsey on The Den, which at the time featured aliens Zig and Zag, natives of the planet Zog.

Socky and Dustin followed later, though Ray finished up his slot in 1998, going on to present the teen entertainment show 2Phat.

Other notable RTÉ gigs included Blackboard Jungle, You're A Star and four separate years as host of The Rose Of Tralee.

Having spent over a decade at the helm of The Ray D'Arcy Show on Today FM, the Kildare native quit in a shock move last year, moving back to RTÉ for a Radio 1 afternoon show.

With another stage in Ray's career kicking off this weekend, we're excited to see what he brings to the Saturday night slot.

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RTÉ radio presenter Jonathan Clynch is reported to have told bosses that he identifies as ‘gender fluid’ and will be addressed as Jonathan Rachel.

The 44-year old has undergone a name change on social media and his decision has reportedly been widely praised. The Irish Daily Star revealed that his decision, a first for the national broadcaster, is a result of his sometimes identifying more as male but other times more as female.

He was scheduled to appear on The Marian Finucane Show this morning to discuss the move, but he cancelled his appearance following his decision making headlines.

"After today’s front page, Jonathan wants to speak about his decision on his own term," the host explained before adding:

“He was to come in and talk to us here today about the whole thing and to explain it and how his life and that will be changed for the better for him now, but he only found out yesterday that this would be in the papers today.”

For the last 16 years Jonathan Rachel has worked for RTÉ across several departments and in various roles.

RTÉ have issued an official statement on the news which confirmed their support of the decision:

"[We], both as an employer and broadcaster, value the uniqueness of individuals and encourage diversity and equality.

"We are 100 per cent supportive of Jonathan Rachel who is a valued member of staff and a highly respected journalist."

Since the decision became public knowledge, many message of support have come in for Jonathan Rachel.

 

 

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With a weekend of lashing rain forecast, it seems our hopes of an Indian summer have been dashed.

But bad weather and darker evenings aren't all bad, as it gives us every excuse to curl up in front of the telly with a cup of tea. Luckily for us couch addicts, there are some seriously great new homegrown shows hitting TV screens this autumn and winter.

Here are a few we can't wait to check out.

F**k Cancer, RTÉ2
Earlier this year, 2fm host Louise McSharry was given the all-clear from Hodgkin's Lymphoma, but the documentary takes us back in time to her diagnosis and subsequent treatment. This is an honest, emotional and truthful look at cancer, something that has affected the lives of so many of us. F**k Cancer is part of Reality Bites, RTÉ2's ongoing series of one-off documentaries. Watch it Thursday 17th September at 9.30pm.

 

Panti: The Queen of Ireland, RTÉ2
Work on this documentary started almost five years ago, long before Rory O'Neill's alter ego Panti Bliss became a household name worldwide.  Follow Ireland's most famous drag queen as she leads the campaign for LGBT rights in this country and around the world. Another Reality Bites documentary, though no air date has been confirmed just yet.

 

Vogue's Mean Girls, RTÉ2
​This three-part documentary series follows Irish model Vogue Williams as she meets women who are living their lives on the edge. Sex workers, MMA fighters, reformed gang members and criminals on death row… Mean Girls is not one for the faint-hearted.

 

Crumlin, RTÉ1
Have the tissues at the ready for this in-depth look at life in Our Lady's Childrens' Hospital in Crumlin, filmed on the wards over eight months. Doctors, nurses, patients and parents all feature in this emotional look at the world of paediatric medicine. The series started last night, Thursday September 10th. 

 

A Week To My Wedding, RTÉ1
​We love a good wedding reality show, and RTÉ has capitalised on the success of Say Yes To The Dress with their own romantic series. A Week To My Wedding follows six couples in, you've guessed it, the week leading up to their wedding day. We're already looking forward to the Bridezilla tantrums…

 

Saturday AM/Sunday AM, TV3
Ireland's most popular morning news and entertainment show just expanded to the weekends. Saturday AM and Sunday AM kicked off last month, presented by Laura Woods, Anna Daly, Ivan Yates, Tommy Martin and Simon Delaney… with a more lie-in friendly start time of 9am.

 

Bridget and Eamon, RTÉ2
​Ireland's favourite Eighties mammy and daddy have landed their own series, starring Jennifer Maguire and Bernard O'Shea. We have high hopes for this series… expect to see lots of shoulder pads, indoor smoking and wooden spoon waving.

 

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She made a name for herself as one-fifth of mega-selling The Saturdays – and became a celeb couple stable when she married her rugby player beau, Ben, 30, three years ago.

But despite being based across the water for the best part of decade, Una Foden admits that she still pines for her native Tipperary.

"I love coming home to my family and all that," she reveals. "It's always going to be 'home home' to me.”

As for setting up a more permanent base in Ireland, the singer hints: “You never know… maybe if I can convince Ben to play for Munster!”

Of course, Una has been taking some well-deserved down-time since giving birth to her second child, a son they named Tadhg, back in February.

But in conversation with SHEmazing! she reveals that she’s nearly ready to get back to the grindstone.

Indeed, the 33-year-old musician has just signed up for another series of The Voice Of Ireland. And after mentoring last season's winner, Patrick Donoghue, she understandably can't wait to return.

"I've just signed my contract actually," she tells us at the launch of RTÉ's autumn schedule in Dublin's Smock Alley Theatre.

So will Rachel Stevens, Kian Egan and Bressie all be back in the famous red chairs this year too? “I can't say anything, but I'd love it to be the same three again,” she explains.

With the family-of-four just recently moving into a swish new abode in Northampton, Una will be commuting on a regular basis between there and Dublin once filming kicks off in October.

Now juggling the demands of her toddler daughter, Aoife Belle, as well as baby Tadhg, Una is nevertheless looking as slim as ever in a grey and black floral minidress by Victoria Beckham. In fact, you'd never guess that Una has given birth just six months ago.

"I stayed fit and healthy during my pregnancy," she reveals. "So I had about a stone to lose after. But I didn't put any pressure on myself.

"Even on The Voice, I worked with the stylist during my pregnancy and I just wore clothes a size bigger so I'd be comfortable."

She mightn't put the pressure on in terms of body image, but when it comes to mentoring her acts on The Voice, Ms Foden definitely pushes herself as hard as she can. "I'll be competitive from the word 'go,'" she laughs.

The singer and her fellow coach Kian Egan were notorious for their bickering on the last series of the hit show, and although the pair are pals off air, Una says the arguments were never fake.

"They were very much genuine on the night!" she explains. "But we do get on really."

 

Back in the studio writing today

A photo posted by Una Foden (@unafoden) on

As for Una's own singing career, while The Saturdays are still on extended hiatus we could finally get to hear some solo work in 2016: "I've been taking time out but I have written a lot and I do hope to start next year," she reports.

Two kids, a solo career, a TV talent show AND a plan to bring Ben and the Munster team together? Sounds like the next 12 months will be very busy for Una.

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This is seriously exciting!

The Voice of Ireland is back for its fifth season this year, and already the show is getting ready to find new talent.

So, if the thought of getting up on stage and singing in front of Bressie and a cheering crowd makes you all tingly, then this is your chance!

RTE will be hosting auditions this coming autumn and you can apply online by sending in an MP3 or a YouTube clip of yourself singing.

And if you win? You will get a record deal with Universal Ireland just like last year’s winner, Patrick James.

Good luck to everyone applying and who knows – we may even be watching you on TV in the not-so-distant future! 

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We’re not sure about you, but the weather has never exactly been ‘must watch’ television in our houses.

 

In Mexico however, things have changed. Yanet Garcia has caused a stir online in recent times after she’s taken to delivering the weather forecast in an array of skin tight dresses.

Not content with providing the ‘hot’ weather on the Televisa Monterry newscasts, she also has her own YouTube page.

The Mexican beauty has gathered nearly 200,000 Instagram follwers and her Twitter account has also seen a spike in activity in recent times. She’s very good at her job.

 

A photo posted by Yanet Garcia (@iamyanetgarcia) on

So good in fact, that there are rumours the star may be making a huge international move with networks vying for her attention.

We do wonder if this might have been adding fuel to the fire for the recent unrest between our own dear Evelyn and Jean? Could RTÉ be one of the major international networks just dying to add Yanet to their team? Only time will tell.

In the meantime, the internet is content with watching, and re-watching, Yanet’s helpful YouTube videos. One which has gathered over 1 million views in just 6 days.

Fans from all over the world are taking to Twitter to tell Yanet just how much they enjoy her forcasts. Some have even compared her to Ariana Grande and Kim Kardashian.

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Met Eireann's Evelyn Cusack has seemingly taken a pop at her colleague Jean Byrne's distinct dress choices.

Jean, who has been both celebrated and ridiculed for her fearless approach to onscreen fashion, likes to wear leather, lace, bright colours, unusual necklines and quirky accessories while presenting the weather forecast to the nation.

Evelyn on the other hand prefers a more conservative approach, usually donning smart skirts and jackets, or blouses with tailored trousers. 

And it seems the latter takes a dim view of more 'out there' attire.

"It's hard to take a woman seriously when you're hearing her leather skirt squeaking and her earrings dangling," she said in an interview with Woman's Way.

She continued: "I'm a bit like Angela Merkel, nobody comments on her clothes, she just has 40 different jackets in different colours.

Evelyn then added: "I don't think women should be sexy at work, that's my opinion."

But while Ms Cusack, 50, may look to German politicians when it comes to choosing her workplace wardrobe, Ms Byrne favours Irish designers such as Joanne Hynes and Claire O'Connor.

She told Irish Country magazine earlier this year: "The camera makes you look bigger anyway, it puts on at least 10lbs and jackets make you look even bigger."

Jean explained that she therefore decided to experiment more with her onscreen style, saying: "It became a little bit more relaxed at one point and then I just decided, 'Okay, I'm a bit tired of the old jackets, I'll wear one or two of my own things'." 

She added: "I don't go out of my way to find new designers but I do go out of my way in my spare time to source things and put them together."

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A ratings battle is ahead for TV3 and RTÉ, but who will come out on top?

Rumours of a new RTÉ entertainment show have been widely circulated this week, and though nothing has been confirmed by the national broadcaster as yet, it sounds like TV3's Xposé could have a hard time ahead.

The new show, named Bounce, has reportedly been commissioned by RTÉ for next season and will feature Nadia Forde and Madeline Mulqueen at the helm along with Voice of Ireland host Eoghan McDermott.

Bounce will also apparently feature red carpet coverage from London and even LA with the help of former RTÉ TWO Elev8 presenter Diana Bunici, and model Roz Lipsett.

Diana recently relocated to London

The show is set to air at least twice a week and it's thought the pilot episode could be filmed as soon as next month.

As currently the only live Irish entertainment show airing in the 6pm – 7pm time slot, Xposé has long been one of TV3's most successful outputs, but it's remains to be seen how it will fare with another Irish competitor offering a similar show.

TV3 was already forced to revamp its entire evening schedule when UTV Ireland launched at the beginning of this year, taking with it Coronation Street and Emmerdale as well as exclusive rights to The Graham Norton Show.

Despite the hype, Xposé presenter Lisa Cannon says the team are "not worried at all" about Bounce's effect on ratings.

"It’s always been on the cards that it was going to happen," she told Evoke.ie. "Xposé is well established and has been at the forefront of entertainment for the guts of a decade, so I certainly don’t think that will change."

This is not the first time RTÉ have launched a live show in direct competition with one of TV3's offerings. Back in 2013, Morning Edition was launched during the same time slot as TV3's long-running show Ireland AM, but it was cancelled late last year.

So does Bounce stand a chance? We'll have to wait and see…

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Anything can happen on live radio, as this latest interview most definitely proves.

Rockers U2 kicked off their iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE World Tour in Vancouver, Canada last night, and the Irish fans were there in their droves.

The Edge may have made headlines for toppling off the stage during last night's rendition of I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, but it seems he wasn't the only one who may have been a little unsteady on his feet.

 

"Didn't see the edge, I'm ok!! #U2ieTour

A photo posted by U2 Official (@u2) on

RTÉ presenter Eoghan McDermott spoke on Rick O'Shea's 2FM show today live from Vancouver, where he attended last night's gig and met Bono and co afterwards.

Speaking about the gig at Vancouver's Rogers Arena, the presenter admitted that the venue was full of concert-goers smoking weed, so much so that he felt "stoned" himself.

"There is medicinal marijuana on every street in every corner in every nook and cranny in Vancouver so I think I’m passively stoned… The stadium is one big hot box," he explained. 

Of course, Eoghan was quick to add that he hadn't smoked any weed himself, saying, "I’m not down with this sort of thing, no to drugs."

Chatting about his plans for the night ahead, Eoghan said he was going to "eat some chocolate and fall asleep." As you do.

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It was almost as invigorating as the show itself: tuning in to see what The Voice Of Ireland judges Una Foden and Rachel Stevens were wearing.

But as the RTE talent show wraps up for another season, we’re still left with heaps of seriously stylish memories, not to mention plenty of fashion-inspiration for the forthcoming season.

Stylist-to-the-stars Ingrid Hoey has been at the helm of the striking looks sported by both Una and Rachel – keeping fans of the show updated on her Twitter and Instagram accounts as the series progressed.  

Ingrid Hoey master-minded The Voice looks

Speaking exclusively to SHEmazing! Ingrid says that, thankfully, over the course of the six live Voice airings when anything can happen, there were no last-minute style disasters. And she says that far from being divas, the celebrity judges were incredibly easy to work with. “They both really enjoy fashion and dressing up,” she explains. “So each week we just had lots of fun deciding the looks and it was a total pleasure to work with both of them.”

It’s tough to pick a single stand-out piece, but when pushed Ingrid reveals: “Rachel's favourite look for me was the Umit Kutluk dress she wore in the semi finals – it just had a gorgeous finish to it and fitted perfectly.

“My favourite look for Una was the Simone Rocha dress from Havana boutique in Donnybrook,” she adds. “It was totally different for her.”

So until next year – or least until Cheryl returns to the X Factor judging panel in the autumn – here we round-up the attire that demanded attention during The Voice Of Ireland…

 

Una looked divine in this beautiful Simone Rocha floral jacquard dress from her SS15 collection. Sourced from Havana boutique in Donnybrook, you can also get it on mytheresa.com for a cool €1,750. We’re particularly coveting the draped hemline and nipped-in waist. Una wore it with jewellery from Chupi and River Island shoes.

Una weaing Simone Rocha from Havana boutique

Rachel mixed things up three weeks ago with a Joanne Hynes corset teamed with Pinko trousers, sourced from Harvey Nicks in Dundrum. The shoes were Buffalo, while the jewellery is from Loulerie

Rachel proves that it's not all about dresses

Una saved the best until last in her sweeping Umit Kutluk dress in black, teamed with strappy Buffalo sandals – a steal at €128 from Arnotts – and jewellery sourced from Knightsbridge

Una on yesterday's final show, wearing Umit Kutluk

Two weeks ago, Ms Stevens was wearing this piece from the current collection at Self-Portrait, available in BT2s. Again, she completed the look with Buffalo shoes and Loulerie jewellery. 

This collared dress from Self-Portrait was spot-on

Una also opted for Umit Kutluk two weeks ago, this time donning a red and black knee-length lace dress with a mesh hem. She kept her accessories simple, but opted for gold Louboutin sandals, which are priced at €525.

Una also opted for Umit Kutluk two weeks ago

For yesterday’s final, Rachel wore a full-length dress from H&M – which has unfortunately now sold out. Her earrings are from Loulerie.  

This H&M dress has now sold out

And let’s not forget about Kathryn: the presenter certainly held her own among the popstars in a series of stunning outfits, also master-minded by Ingrid. Her pink dress is from Ted Baker, Karen Millen is responsible for the black and red number, while the white gown comes from Pinko.

Kathryn Thomas certainly held her own

 

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Zig and Zag are coming back!

In order to celebrate the second birthday of RTÉjr, the popular 90’s duo will be back on Irish TV screens – though we reckon they might have to tone down the seedy jokes for their new audience.

The famous aliens will feature in  a new animation series on the commercial-free radio, online and television service for under-sevens, starting in 2016 with 26 episodes.

Viewers can expect to be taken on a fun-filled adventure as Zig and Zag explore and experience Earth from their new home in the 'burbs after touching down from Planet Zog.

Sheila de Courcy, RTÉ's Cross-Divisional Head of Children's Content said:  “With lots of exciting new animation coming to RTÉjr, it’s a particular delight to see Zig & Zag’s new animated series finally going into production! RTÉjr viewers’ parents grew up with the original alien brothers and I know that Double Z, Flickerpix and Jam Media are going to replicate the fun and mayhem for children today in what’s shaping up to be a super series for 2016.”

Zig and Zag made their debut in 1987 so we can be expecting some very excited adults as well as children. For now, we're just going to watch this on repeat…

A modern Irish classic.

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In a very stylish throwback to the ‘90s, Miriam O’Callaghan hosted Prime Time wearing a choker on Tuesday night and Ireland is having a very hard time dealing with it…

Speaking about her love of the choker and confirming that she, in fact, hasn't started working at Urban Outfitters, Miriam told The Independent: “The reaction has been hilarious. I love choker and always did so I am delighted they are all back in fashion … I got a hugely positive reaction to it so happy days. I will wear another one tonight.”

That’s all well and good Miriam, but any chance you can bring back hair swirls too? Pretty please? 

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