RTÉ’s first weekend of viewing for 2023 provided whopper entertainment and feel good vibes to boost the January blues. From a gorgeous cover of Sinéad O’Connor’s Mandinka in celebration of Nollaig na mBan on The Late Late Show, to a rare sit down with sporting icon Roy Keane on The Tommy Tiernan Show, viewers tuned in across Friday and Saturday night.
Dancing with the Stars made history on Sunday night when Queen of Ireland, Panti Bliss took to the floor which was followed by a brand new season of Room to Improve with architect maestro, Dermot Bannon. It was family entertainment at its best with something for everyone.
The Late Late Show made it’s January return and featured Irish Rugby Seven’s Olympian and TV presenter Greg O’Shea, crime journalist Nicola Tallant and cystic fibrosis advocate Julian Benson and had an average audience of 429,300 (including RTÉ+1), a 40% share and a further 19,300 streams on the RTÉ Player. (*Live+VOSDAL)
The Tommy Tiernan Show, returning to RTÉ One for its 7th series, featured interviews with Roy Keane, holistic sex educator Jenny Keane and a performance from Soda Blonde. It had 422,700 viewers (including RTÉ+1), a 37% share, with a further 68,300 streams on the RTÉ Player.
Dancing with the Stars returned on Sunday evening with all contestants taking to the floor. Irish Eurovision star Brooke Scullion topped the leader board with the highest score reached for a first dance in the show’s history, along with history making performance from the show’s first drag queen Panti Bliss and her dancing partner Denys, as well as Doireann Garrihy’s debut as the new co-presenter. The show had an average of 525,000 viewers (including RTÉ+1), and a 42% share, plus 17,200 streams on the RTÉ Player.
On Sunday evening, a dramatic offering of Fair City, during which Orla’s wedding day brought an unexpected surprise from Paul. The show
had an audience of 395,000 (including RTÉ+1) and a 28% share.
Room to Improve returning on Sunday evening for series 14 saw Dermot Bannon travel to Tullamore. Dermot and Quantity Surveyor, Claire helped a young couple in Tullamore renovate an old dwelling with special significance. Room to Improve drew in an average of 442,000 viewers (including RTÉ+1), and 34% share.