Ring in the festive cheer with a great line-up of comedy shows this merry season on RTÉ
Brand new The Young Offenders dropping on RTÉ Player
Joe Duffy celebrates 50 years from Grafton Street on RTÉ Radio 1
Amy Huberman and Kaleigh Trappe join Storybud
Gavin and Stacey: The Finale on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player
In the first of a week full of Christmas announcements, RTÉ is bringing laughter to living rooms across Ireland this festive season with a sparkling line-up of comedy and entertainment live and on demand. From brand-new series featuring Ireland’s top talent to beloved classics that guarantee giggles for the whole family, RTÉ promises a merry season of cheer. Starting tomorrow, fans can stream the brand-new season of The Young Offenders exclusively on RTÉ Player. The Christmas schedule will also include a highly anticipated one off brand-new special of Gavin and Stacey, ensuring plenty of laughs.
The season will showcase a slate of original Irish programming, including Callan Kicks the Year, The 2 Johnnies Late Night Lock In, Full Irish Hidden Camera Show, and the NYE Late Late Show Special, alongside exciting new content for Ireland’s youngest viewers with the likes of Kabin Crew’s Christmas Speical and Storybud.
The Young Offenders
Dropping exclusively on RTÉ Player on December 3, the highly anticipated new season of The Young Offenders promises plenty of laughs and heartwarming moments as audiences catch up with Conor, Jock, and the gang. As time has passed, the friends must navigate shifting relationships and face the consequences of landing on the wrong side of the law once again, all delivered with the show’s signature mix of humour and heart. Viewers can look forward to a special festive treat as The Young Offenders Xmas airs on RTÉ One over the Christmas period, bringing the beloved characters to television for a festive adventure packed with charm and comedy.
Good Boy
Good Boy is a new RTÉ Player original sitcom about one man’s struggle in making a career in comedy while wrestling with the emotional and frequently hysterical journey of trying to get an ADHD diagnosis. Told from the perspective of Good Boy (Tony Cantwell) – a lost, thirty-something working in a job he hates while he’s trying everything under the sun to get his comedy career going. He tries jumping on every single Instagram, TikTok and Facebook trend in search of the elusive viral hit with no luck.
Callan Kicks the Year
The annual tradition returns with a satirical look back on Irish and international events of the year, but in a brand new two-part festive mini-series. From a Trump load of elections to portals, bike sheds, spies and Swifties, Callan Kicks the Year dips through all the maddest moments in Ireland and abroad on RTÉ One this Christmas.
Late Late Show New Year’s Eve Special
New Year’s Eve celebrations start right here! Join your Late Late host Patrick Kielty as he kicks off the New Year’s celebrations from a star-studded studio filled with plenty of surprises and music performances you won’t want to miss.
With something for everyone, Patrick will be celebrating the year that’s gone by with Olympians Charlene Maudsley, Mona McSharry and Paralympian Orla Comerford, music from the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, The Undertones and Picture This; and Patrick will be marking musical anniversaries with James Blunt and throwing it forward to 2025 with rising stars Clinton Liberty, Alisha Weir and Justine Stafford to name a few.
The Dry
The Dry stars Roisin Gallagher as Shiv Sheridan who returns to Dublin after years of partying in London, sober and full of good intentions – but being back with her family makes staying on ‘the dry’ much harder than she expected. As Shiv tries to navigate this new phase of her life, so must her family…and they all have issues they don’t want to face. Series 1 and 2 are available on RTÉ Player.
Joe Duffy Live from Grafton Street
This year, it will be 50 years since RTÉ Radio 1 first broadcast live on the morning of Christmas Eve from Grafton Street. And over the years, there have been some wonderful stories. This year, Eurovision legend Johnny Logan will perform. Listeners can also expect plenty more Irish artists and some laughs along the way. Of course, Brendan O’Carroll will be on hand with co-compere duties.
Storybud
Storybud is back with a brand new series featuring some legendary messers reading us tall tales mixed with animation to truly entertain our youngest viewers. Newcomers Amy Huberman, Kayleigh Trappe, Demi Isaac Oviawe and Carl Mullan join Storybud veterans Jason Byrne and Tara Lynne O’Neill to regale us with ‘totally true’ tales about some of our most loved celebrities, sports-stars and Presidents … well … just one President: Michael D Higgins. Series four of Storybud has something for everyone and is available on RTÉ Jnr and RTÉ Player on your big and small screens. And that’s the Storybud.
Kabin Crew’s Christmas Special
Celebrate Christmas with Cork City’s young rap collective the Kabin Crew. 2024 was an amazing year for the Kabin Crew, their hit song The Spark went viral and amassed over 2 BILLION plays on social media. Now to cap off an amazing year they have made their very own Christmas Special. As well as featuring brand new songs and a special Christmas music video, Kabin Crew’s Christmas Special will give viewers a chance to get to know the members of the crew more. See where all the magic happens in the Kabin Studio in Knocknaheeny on the Northside of Cork City and find out what the Kabin Crew members are getting up to at Christmas time!
Full Irish Hidden Camera Show Best Bits
It’s the best of the Full Irish Hidden Camera Show. Doireann, Donncha and Carl take us back to some of their favourite pranks from the series. Everything was recorded on hidden cameras. But how did people react when they realised they’d been set up? It’s fun for all the family on the best of the Full Irish Hidden Camera Show!
The 2 Johnnies Late Night Lock In – Best Bits
Johnny B and Johnny Smacks look back on some of the best parts from series two of The 2 Johnnies Late Night Lock In which featured chats, music, comedy and craic from guests including Lyra, Pat Shortt, Dáithí O Sé, Anna Geary, Garron Noone, Gearóid Farrelly and Enya Martin.
Mrs Brown’s Boy
Across the Christmas period, Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas Specials will be available to view on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player. Comedy starring Brendan O’Carroll as loud-mouthed Irish matriarch Agnes Brown, whose favourite pastime is meddling in the lives of her six children.
Gavin and Stacey
Brand new Gavin and Stacey: The Finale will be available on RTÉ this Christmas. The series follows the heartwarming and hilarious story of a long-distance romance between Gavin, from Essex, and Stacey, from Wales, as they navigate love, family, and quirky friends. Packed with witty humour and memorable characters, including the unforgettable Smithy and Nessa, the series has become a cult classic. The Finale is set five years since we left Nessa down on one knee declaring her love. And a lot has happened since then. All episodes of Gavin and Stacey are also available to stream on RTÉ Player, including the Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special.
Father Ted
Father Ted follows the hilarious misadventures of three priests—Father Ted Crilly, the bumbling Father Dougal, and the irritable Father Jack—living together on the fictional Craggy Island. Fans can relive all the series’ laughs as well as seasonal shenanigans in “A Christmassy Ted” on RTÉ Player. It’s a perfect addition to your festive viewing lineup.
Parks and Recreation
American satirical mocumentary following the absurd antics of Leslie Knope and her team of public officials as they pursue projects to make their city a better place. The boxset of Parks and Recreation is available to binge on RTÉ Player including all of the series Christmas episodes.
Frasier
Award winning US sitcom Frasier is available on RTÉ Player. Dr. Frasier Crane moves back to his hometown of Seattle, where he lives with his father, and works as a radio psychiatrist. Join Frasier as he navigates life in Seattle alongside his eccentric family and friends. Don’t miss the chance to revisit this classic series or discover it for the first time on RTÉ Player.
The Office UK
Set in the mundane world of a paper company, The Office hilariously captures the awkwardness, egos, and everyday absurdities of office life, with a cast of unforgettable characters. Now available to stream on RTÉ Player, viewers can enjoy the complete series along with its Christmas specials.
This Christmas, RTÉ is delivering a sleigh-load of laughter with its line-up of festive comedy and entertainment. Viewers can look forward to a merry mix of festive specials featuring premieres, classic boxsets and off the cuff entertainment, the ultimate tonic for a season of cheer and chuckles.
For more information contact:
Sharon Sorohan, RTÉ Communications, sharon.sorohan@rte.ie.
Maureen Catterson, RTÉ Communications Manager, maureen.catterson@rte.ie