Downton star Saturday Night Show guest

Maria Doyle Kennedy, Shay Healy and Edwina Currie will be guests on this week's Saturday Night Show.

Actress and singer Doyle Kennedy will chat about life on Downton Abbey, her brand new role filming opposite Juliette Binoche and Larry Mullen, and she will also perform a special acoustic track from her new album.

Shay Healy stops by to talk about life with Parkinson's disease and how he is as busy as ever.

Former British MP Edwina Currie will discuss politics, love and the Jimmy Savile scandal.

Plus, host Brendan O'Connor meets the presenters of the new Today show - Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh, Norah Casey, Maura Derrane and Dáithí Ó Sé - who will reveal what viewers can expect from the new series.

The Saturday Night Show airs on RTÉ One at 9:45pm.

23.37 | 0 komentar | Read More

RTÉ Two turns 34 today

RTÉ Two is celebrating its 34th birthday today, Friday November 2, and you can watch a video of the opening night broadcast.

On this day in 1978 Ireland was given its second TV channel, then called RTÉ 2.

RTÉ's TV50 website says: "RTÉ's second television channel, now RTÉ Two, went on air in 1978, providing viewers in 'single-channel land' with more choice. It also recognised the demand for youth-oriented programming from Irish audiences.

"The first faces seen on RTÉ Two were the continuity announcing team of Bernadette Ní Ghallchóir, who hosted the 1971 Eurovision, Raymond Maxwell and Róisín Harkin.

"The station was launched with a live show from the Opera House in Cork, with singer Val Doonican topping the bill. There were messages on the night from President Hillery and Taoiseach Jack Lynch."

You can see a video of the opening night broadcast on the RTÉ Two Facebook page here.

For more on RTÉ's TV50 celebrations, click here.

23.37 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rachael English secures two-book deal

RTÉ presenter Rachael English has signed a two-book deal with Orion Publishing Group.

The Morning Ireland broadcaster signed a deal with Orion Publishing Group, the value of which the company refused to disclose, to publish two books over the next two years.

The first novel, Going Back, is to be published next year, and the second is set to be released in the summer of 2014.

English told The Irish Times: "Writing Going Back was a brilliant experience and I'm still pinching myself that it's going to be published by Orion.

"In fact, in telling people my news, I've had to start by saying, 'I swear I'm not making this up.'"

Going Back follows the story of Elizabeth Kelly and her friends, a group of your economic migrants from Dublin, as they escape for a summer in Boston in 1988.

Twenty years later, the next generation is forced to follow in the footsteps of their parents and seek out work in the American city, as opportunities dry up in Ireland.

Orion Fiction's senior editor Eleanor Dyden said the group was "delighted" to land the book deal with English, saying: "We knew immediately that we had to snap it up."

23.37 | 0 komentar | Read More

School choirs compete for Grand Final place

Five choirs from Northern Ireland will feature in Sunday's Regional Final of the All Island School Choir of the Year Competition on RTÉ One television at the earlier time of 3:10pm.

The winners will go forward to compete in the Grand Final, live on RTÉ One television, from the Titanic Centre, Belfast on Sunday November 11 at 6:30pm.

The five Northern choirs in Sunday's programme are: Methodist College, Belfast; Victoria College, Belfast; Ballyclare High School; Saint Michael's College, Lurgan and Saint Mary's College, Derry.

The All Island School Choir of the Year Competition is organised by CoOperation Ireland in association with RTÉ. The series is presented by Anne Cassin.

The choirs who have already qualified for the Grand Final are: Loreto Secondary School, Fermoy; Wesley College, Ballinteer and Sacred Heart Mercy Secondary School, Tullamore.

23.37 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jamie Foxx in talks for Spider-Man sequel

Jamie Foxx is in talks to star as villain Electro in The Amazing Spider-Man sequel.

Electro, aka Max Dillon, is able to control electricity after being struck by lightning, according to E! Online.

He was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and appeared in Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man issue 9 back in 1964.

The evil character has never appeared in a Spider-Man film before.

The movie is scheduled for release on May 2, 2014, and the first film's director Marc Webb is to return to helm the project.

23.37 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sherlock star to play Beatles manager

Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch has signed up to play Brian Epstein in a new biopic about The Beatles' manager.

The film is being co-produced by Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks and directed by Paul McGuigan, who was behind the camera for several episodes of TV drama Sherlock.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the biopic will tell the story of "the man who threw the biggest party of the 1960s but ultimately forgot to invite himself".

Epstein was found dead at his Belgravia home at the age of 32 following an overdose of sleeping pills.

Another Brian Epstein project, dubbed The Fifth Beatle, is also in the works, adapted from Vivek J Tiwary's graphic novel.

23.37 | 0 komentar | Read More

EastEnders set for Christmas killing

It is reported that EastEnders fans are set for a "grisly" Christmas as one of the soap's characters is to be killed off.

Warning: spoiler alert!

The Sun says Derek Branning (Jamie Foreman) will meet his demise in an explosive storyline.

The paper says the stars of the show were seen filming the character's funeral this week.

A source told the paper: "Derek has been a huge force in the Square since he joined and has had some fantastic storylines but his exit will be his best storyline yet.

"It's being kept tightly under wraps because bosses want to surprise fans on Christmas Day."

23.37 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jamie Bell, Evan Rachel Wood marry

Jamie Bell and Evan Rachel Wood have tied the knot.

According to Wood's representative, the actors walked down the aisle in an intimate ceremony in an undisclosed location in California.

Speaking to People her spokesperson said: "The bride wore a custom dress by Carolina Herrera. It was a small ceremony with close family and friends."

The 25-year-old bride took to her Twitter page on Wednesday writing: "Words cannot describe the happiness I am feeling. Overwhelming."

The busy acting couple have several films due out for release next year.

Evan will appear in The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman, It Is What It Is and 18 Wheel Butterfly.

Meanwhile, Jamie has signed up for Filth, Snowpiercer and Nymphomaniac.

Bell and Wood first began dating in 2005 after meeting on the set of the video to Green Day song Wake Me Up When September Ends.

23.37 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bond girl Seymour is Doyle's guest

Former Bond girl and Doctor Quinn, Medicine Woman star Jane Seymour will be among the guests on The Craig Doyle Show on RTÉ Two tonight, Thursday November 1.

Also joining Doyle tonight will be Fun Lovin' Criminals frontman and broadcaster Huey Morgan.

Olympic medal winner Cian O'Connor and Irish stuntwoman Eimear O'Grady complete the line-up.

The Craig Doyle Show is on RTÉ Two tonight, Thursday November 1, at 10:35pm.

23.37 | 0 komentar | Read More

New baby shocker for Coronation Street fans

It is reported that one of the Coronation Street characters will discover she is pregnant in a storyline that will shake up Weatherfield.

Warning: spoiler alert!

The Mirror says that Maria Connor (Samia Ghadie) will find out she is expecting after a "night of passion" - and gay friend Marcus Dent (Charlie Condou) is the father.

A source told the paper: "Both Marcus and Maria have struggled with their emotions for months.

"But deep down there are fires burning inside the two of them - and finally they end up in bed together.

"The shock of the year will be when Maria finds out she's pregnant."

23.37 | 0 komentar | Read More