RTÉ Television has launched Today, the new daytime weekday show which will be broadcast from Cork from Monday November 5 and will be presented by Dáithí Ó Sé, Maura Derrane, Norah Casey and Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh.
Speaking at the show's launch in Cork's English Market, RTÉ Television's Managing Director, Glen Killane, said: "This is a good day for RTÉ Television and a good day for Cork. It's the first time we will be producing daytime television from Cork and this is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase the huge range of talent we have here and across the entire country.
"RTÉ has always had a strong commitment to Cork and this announcement is a further show of our support for Cork and the regions and our confidence in the expertise and abilities of the production team in RTÉ Cork.
"There's a real track record of broadcasting excellence here – the Cork team have a huge range of experience gleaned here and in the UK and many programmes produced in Cork have been sold all around the world, so we know that programmes produced in Cork have set the standards in Lifestyle programming."
Covering entertainment, food, relationships, health, money and much more, Ó Sé and Derrane will host the show from Monday to Thursday.
Casey and Ní Chofaigh will present Friday's show, which will "kickstart the weekend with an all-female, feelgood show focussing on entertainment, beauty, fashion, movie reviews and celebrity gossip".
Among the contributors to the show in the kitchen will be Kevin Dundon, Paul Flynn, Catherine Fulvio, Lilly Higgins and Martin Shanahan, with lifestyle expert Franc, consumer expert Conor Pope, fashion experts Brendan Courtney, Sonya Lennon, Annemarie O'Connor and Christofer Kaprelian, travel expert Fionn Davenport, Dr Chris Luke and wellbeing coaches Julie McCall and Brenda Roche also part of the Today team.
Colm Crowley, Series Editor, Today, said: "We're looking forward to the opportunity to showcase the skills of the RTÉ Cork team and to introduce a unique perspective to the national conversation.
"Today will be about moving the focus out of Dublin and getting a different point of view. The Today team want to get Ireland talking every afternoon and we will feature guests from all over Ireland – launching new names, new personalities and new voices with a range of panellists and commentators from around the country. These new faces will be complemented by the experienced mix of popular lifestyle contributors we have unveiled today.
"We know that we have a winning combination in Dáithí, Maura, Norah and Bláthnaid and we're sure that Irish viewers will find much to enjoy in Today's daily mix of chat, lifestyle and fun."
Photo: Gerard McCarthy
