1. Vogue
Vogue Williams returns with three new documentaries exploring the lives of Instagrammers, trial by social media and whether monogamy has a future.
2. Philly McMahon – The Hardest Hit
GAA star Philly McMahon explores the underbelly of illicit drug use in Ireland and makes the case for decriminalisation in Ireland, while sharing his personal experiences about how drug addiction has impacted on his family.
3. Orla Tinsley
A documentary following Irish campaigner and journalist Orla Tinsley as she awaits a life-saving double lung transplant in the US.
4. Stephen Byrne – Leaving Again (Working Title)
Broadcaster Stephen Byrne destroyed his Leaving Cert results before finding out how he did. Now he’s doing the unthinkable and sitting his exams all over again.
RTÉ’s other offerings in the genre of factual TV include Whistleblower (An in-depth look at the disclosures tribunal), Brendan Grace – Funny Man (A portrait celebrating the life and career of one of Ireland’s most popular comedians), and Growing Old (Ireland’s Top Researchers and scientists reveal the mysteries of the human life span).
Ireland’s Rich List will return for another series, and Daniel and Majella’s B&B Road Trip heads to the USA this time around. Brendan Courtney’s documentary This Crowded House continues to look at how the property crisis is affecting Irish families.
5. Taken Down
The creative team behind Love/Hate are joined by best-selling novelist Jo Spain worked together on this new crime series which centres on an investigation into the death of a young Nigerian migrant found near a Direct Provision centre.
6. Resistance
Set during the War of Independence and four years after the events of Rebellion, Resistance follows the characters as they fight for their lives and their future, while exploring how the events of the War of Independence changed the lives of many individuals, families and society.
7. Death and Nightingales
The new Jamie Dornan series that everybody’s talking about.
8. Finding Joy
Written by and starring Amy Huberman, Finding Joy follows an Irish woman as she is thrust into the limelight while trying to get over a breakup. Laura Whitmore, Aisling Bea and Jennifer Rainsford also star in this series.
9. Women on the Verge
A highly anticipated new comedy about three friends whose lives are going in the completely wrong directions. Written by Sharon Horgan and Lorna Martin, starring Sharon herself, Kerry Condon, Eileen Walsh and Nina Sosanya.
10. Killing Eve
Sandra Oh stars as an MI5 officer on the hunt for a talented psychopathic assassin played by Jodie Comer.
Mother’s Day tells the stories of two mothers on either side of the Irish Sea whose lives were gravely impacted by the Warrington Bombing. Doing Money follows the true story of a young woman named Ana who was kidnapped from the streets of London and sold into sex slavery in Ireland.
On top of those new dramas, there’s a number of comedies returning to our screens including The Young Offenders, Bridget and Eamon, The Tommy Tiernan Show and Mrs Brown’s Boys. Vikings, Homeland, Grey’s Anatomy and Blue Bloods will also be coming back to our screens this autumn and winter.
11. Sea Swimming
A look at how swimming in the sea has been helping eight Irish people overcome grief, manage mental and physical health issues and given them a chance to hit the reset button.
12. Our Mental Health
Documentary following young Irish people as they open up about their mental health struggles to help cast light on our understanding of depression and anxiety.
13. One Day
This new documentary strand goes behind the scenes for 24 hours in three more areas of Irish life, including beauty, tourism and cleaning.
14. Let It Linger
A documentary celebrating the life and legacy of the late Dolores O’Riordan.
15. The Irish Revolution
Three-part documentary narrated by Cillian Murphy, telling the story of the Irish revolution from its origins through to the Civil War.
Some other notable lifestyle series RTÉ have announced include Life Before Independence, a documentary about the everyday life of ordinary citizens living during that period of Irish history, Brendan O’Carroll’s Britain, which explores the historically turbulent bonds between Britain and Ireland as well as The John Pauls, which looks at the stories of some of the one in ten men named after the Pope’s 1979 visit to Ireland.
Dr. Eva’s Great Escape will see Dr. Eva Orsmond as she travels to Portugal to transform a run down hotel into a destination weight loss hotel in the sun. We Need to Talk About Mam features Brendan Courtney as he embarks on a journey to discover the realities of growing old in a country that shows so little sympathy and support to the rapidly ageing population.
16. Katie
A new documentary directed by Ross Whitaker, which follows champion boxer Katie Taylor as she attempts to rebuild her career after a year of turmoil threatened to derail her entire career.
Other sports specials include coverage of the Guinness Series, the Women’s 6 Nations, The UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifiers, the UEFA Champions League, the FAI Cup Finals, the World Rowing Championships and Christmas Racing from Leopardstown.
17. Podge & Rodge
They’re back in Ballydung Manor, with Doireann Garrihy as a co-host.
18. Mini Moguls
Five teenagers apply for the opportunity of a lifetime – a chance to meet the famed, mysterious and dashing YouTuber Max Mogul. As they compete for a chance to become rich and famous themselves, it becomes clear that all is not as it seems.
19. Marty and Bernard’s Road Trip
Marty Morrissey and Bernard O’Shea take to the roads of Ireland to discover everything from extreme male grooming to surviving in the wilderness Bear Grylls style.
20. Brendan O’Connor’s Time Out
Brendan O’Connor gets up close and personal with people in the public eye, discussing the big moments that have turned out to define their lives and have made them the person they are today.
