As the clock struck midnight and 2026 was born, so was an exciting range of new programmes on RTÉ to keep audiences entertained, informed, and intrigued to get you right through the winter months. This weekend saw distinctively Irish entertainment at its best as some of Ireland’s biggest shows returned to our screens and viewers tuned into RTÉ in huge numbers.
Saturday night (January 3) on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player saw the return of the inimitable Tommy Tiernan with a brand-new series of The Tommy Tiernan Show. An average audience of 304,000 tuned-in to RTÉ One (inc RTÉ One+1) to see Tommy meet human rights lawyer Caoilfhionn Gallagher, Happy Mondays singer Shaun Ryder, Linford Christie, and musical guest George Houston. 27% of those watching TV at the time were watching RTÉ One. A further 19,000 have watched back since Saturday while there were 21,943 streams on RTÉ Player.
Family favourite Dancing with the Stars kicked off its ninth season last night, Sunday 4 January, with a brand-new Head Judge in Oti Mabuse and drew an average of 550,000 viewers to RTÉ One (inc RTÉ One+1), representing a share of 45% on RTÉ One. There were 29,764 streams on RTÉ Player. This Sunday’s programme will see the first elimination from the new series.
Last night also saw the return of Room to Improve with Dermot Bannon once again taking on homes of every scale and condition, helping families looking to downsize, upsize, or find the right size for their next chapter. Episode 1 saw empty nesters Deirdre and Kieran Kelly in Clonsilla, west Dublin plan to downsize from their spacious existing home to their beloved first home and was watched by an average of 537,000 viewers on RTÉ One (inc RTÉ One+1) with a share of 49% on RTÉ One. There were 16,151 streams on RTÉ Player.
Meanwhile last night’s episode of Fair City was watched by an average of 390,000 on RTÉ One (inc RTÉ One+1) with a share on RTÉ One of 32%. There were 16,746 streams on RTÉ Player.
Date: Monday 5 January 2026
For more information:
Fergus McCormack, Communications Lead
TV Ratings Source: TAM Ireland Ltd / Nielsen TAM
RTÉ Player Source: Piano Analytics
