Media News
New RTÉ dramas in the pipeline
Thursday 1 May 2008
'Raw', to be broadcast on RTÉ Two later this year, is a six-part series about the friendships, rivalries and passions among the staff of a Dublin restaurant.
The cast includes Charlene McKenna ('Pure Mule', 'Single-Handed'), Shelley Conn ('Mistresses'), Keith McErlean ('Bachelors Walk'), and Damon Gameua ('Razzle Dazzle').
The series is to be directed by Kieron J Walsh ('When Brendan Met Trudy') and David Caffrey ('Monarch of the Glen').
The series will be shot in Ardmore Studios and is being produced by Octagon Films ('The Tudors') and Ecosse Films ('Becoming Jane', 'Mistresses', 'He Kills Coppers').
Aside from 'Raw', the two acclaimed series 'The Clinic' and 'Single-Handed' are to start filming in May.
'The Clinic', winner of Best Drama at the TV Now Awards earlier this year, finished on a cliff-hanger at the end of series five, with the heavily pregnant Cathy (Aisling O'Sullivan) knocked down by a patient.
New cast members, including Dr Grace (Tanya Moodie, 'Prime Suspect 6') and receptionist Ruairi McGowan (Aidan Turner, 'The Tudors'), will feature in series six in the autumn.
In the third 'Single-Handed', Owen McDonnell returns as Garda Sergeant Jack Driscoll, and will find himself involved in an undercover operation. The first two series of 'Single-Handed' were major successes with Irish viewers, with each episode attracting an average of 500,000 viewers.
'Little White Lies', a feature-length drama written by Stuart Carolan ('Navan Man') and Barry Murphy ('Après Match'), will be broadcast over the summer.
Produced by Element Films, 'Little White Lies' follows Barry (Andrew Scott), an actor whose life and career are in the doldrums since he was dumped by his girlfriend. Elaine Cassidy ('Disco Pigs', 'A Room with a View') is among the cast.
Several new series are also set to be commissioned later this year.
Commenting, Jane Gogan, RTÉ's Commissioning Editor of Drama said: "These productions consolidate our continuing commitment to the Irish public to provide a broad range of high-quality, home-produced drama."
She continued: "Irish audiences have thoroughly engaged with 'The Clinic' and 'Single-Handed' and we're delighted to be returning these series to our screens for the public to enjoy."
She added: "New dramas 'Little White Lies' and 'Raw' will bring emerging as well as experienced acting, producing and writing talent to the screen to deliver engaging, entertaining and uniquely Irish drama. Catering for a diversity of audiences and tastes, we will also be commissioning more drama in the coming months."
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