Christmas 2009

About the House

Who Are You Kidding?

RTÉ Two, 10.40am

Presented by Brian Ormond

Who Are You Kidding? sees young people score adults on a range of high-energy improv challenges performed in front of a packed audience on the Helix stage in Dublin.

Test The Teachers

RTÉ Two, 10.40am

Test The Teachers is a game show where pupils turn the tables to put their teachers to the test. Sixth class students from national schools across the country devise questions, tasks and challenges to Test The Teachers from a rival school. They test them on everything from sporting abilities to musical prowess, general knowledge and pop trivia.

T.O.A.S.T. Christmas Special

RTÉ Two, 9.05am

On Christmas Day, T.O.A.S.T. has its Christmas special with celebrity guests trying to prove they can keep up with the kids.

John Huston - An American In Galway

RTÉ One, 7.00pm

He was one of Hollywood's greats-the director of motion picture classics like: The Maltese Falcon, Treasure of Sierra Madre & The African Queen.

John Huston travelled the globe making movies yet, for twenty years, he chose St. Cleran's in Loughrea, County Galway for his home.

His film of James Joyce's The Dead paid homage to his adopted country.

Huston's love of Ireland was a commitment that would outlast his five marriages and create lasting bonds for his children.

John Huston: An American in Galway is an affectionate portrait of Huston's Irish years seen through the eyes of locals who crossed his path: from Lord Hemphill who rode to the hounds with John, Hon. Garech Browne whose mother introduced John to the country, to the Youghal men on the quays who watched the making of Moby Dick, to Kate O'Toole, (a family friend) and Ingrid Craigie who both acted in The Dead-as well as Huston's two daughters who made their home at St. Cleran's: Allegra and Anjelica Huston.

Fair City

RTÉ One, 8.00pm

Tracey and Dean wake up together on Christmas morning and it feels like a dream come true for the thwarted lovers. Dean tells Tracey he has a present for her and runs home to get it.

Over at Dowling's, Shannon complains when Leo bars her from opening gifts until the whole family is gathered. Shannon gets the wrong idea that Tracey is Leo's girlfriend. Dean is none too pleased. Carol notes that Tracey is looking a lot happier and Tracey admits she is.

Christy and Carol are loved up for their first Christmas together, though Christy begrudges Bob as their only and improbable dinner guest. Bob arrives unnervingly early. Carol rallies around, introducing a game of Monopoly. Christy mentions that Renee texted him from France, which deflates Bob somewhat.

Leo is paid 300 Euro by a foreign source to deliver a mysterious package from Bulgaria into Bob's hands. Leo however hands it to Christy, who says he'll pass it on.

Shannon, who has been snooping in Dean's room, is now wearing an engagement ring. When it emerges that Troy is not coming home for Christmas after all, Shannon forces the Dowlings to start opening presents which engenders a lot of confusion.

Bob infuriates Christy when he tries to take over the cooking. Carol strives to keep the peace. Christy tells Carol he cant help being suspicious about the parcel that has been delivered for Bob. Carol dismisses Christy's speculations and insists Christy give the parcel to Bob. Christy is relieved when Bob opens it to reveal a luxury Christmas hamper from Bulgaria. Bob looks extremely nervous when Carol explains that Leo was paid 300 Euro to deliver this on Christmas Day.

Tracey is abashed when Leo thanks her for the key-ring designed for Dean, and also when she receives his present of earrings. Dean is knocked out by Kylie's gift to him: a framed, signed image of Ryan Giggs. Kylie is thrilled when Shannon hints she will be overjoyed by Dean's present to her.

Carol quizzes Bob when he warns her and Christy not to eat anything from the hamper. Bob admits his fears that the hamper could be related to the counterfeit money scandal in which he was caught up recently. Carol clarifies that the parcel may have come from Bulgarian gangsters that are out for Bob's blood.

Christy is furious that Bob has jeopardized their Christmas with this encroaching criminal link and threatens to fire Bob from McCoy's also. Carol advises Bob to get as much information from Leo as possible as to who placed the order to have the parcel delivered.

Christy despairs of ever having a quiet moment on Christmas day in which to eat his painstakingly prepared dinner.

Maeve Higgins' Yuletide fancy vittles

RTÉ Two, 10.40pm

It's Christmas time and the Higgins sisters are throwing a party! It's exciting news and there's a lot of work to be done - there's just one problem. Maeve hates parties. She is terrible at them so can't help being anxious and boring during the holiday season. At this neighbourhood party she tries her best and this time she wins!

Maeve's inner critic makes a comeback when she meets her boyfriend's parents for the first time at Christmas - almost but not quite ruining her chances of making a good impression. New Year's resolutions are discussed with trepidation, as is marriage.

Lilly makes an adorable gingerbread stable complete with a cute little Baby Jesus biscuit. Maeve ices Rudolf cakes while explaining what to do if a friend gets you a gift but you haven't gotten them anything.

It's all about confectionery for the girls this Christmas - they are thrilled not to present a turkey in this Yuletide feast - largely because Maeve stopped eating meat a year ago. She still eats fish because fish can't scream. The show ends with a rural neighbourhood party in Cobh, featuring a Grandad and a surprise present for Maeve.

PJ Gallagher Back in the Saddle

RTÉ Two, 9.30pm

PJ Gallagher is on a mission. An experienced biker, he has always loved riding motorbikes but now he's decided to take it one step further. He's going to compete in this year's Irish Clubman Track Race against thirty experienced riders in Mondello Park and he's aiming for a top 10 finish.

PJ Gallagher Back in the Saddle is a one-hour special which follows PJ as he attempts to achieve this goal. Like Mondello Park it will be a long and difficult road fret with danger as he tries to bring himself up to competitive standard. Both he and his bike will need a complete overhaul; a strict diet will be enforced to lose any spare tyres, plus a rigid fitness regime to get himself in shape. With the help of his trainer, Mark "Big Man" Kelly, PJ is hoping to achieve a podium finish in his first race season.

Stand up comic and star of Naked Camera, PJ's big love is motorbikes and he has many friends in Ireland's large biking community. He has the touch of the biker madness required to ride fast but has he got enough to race shoulder to shoulder with experienced riders on a confined track.

Bike racing in Ireland is hugely popular and has a very dedicated, close knit community. Over 100,000 people attend the North West 200 every year, making it the biggest sporting occasion in the country. Participants and hardcore fans live for their biking, sleep in their vans during race events and care little for the trappings of modern life, everything they earn goes into their bikes. These are the people PJ will introduce us to as he navigates through their world, searching for the reason why people live like this and compete in such a dangerous sport.

Join PJ for this entertaining white knuckle ride through the crazy world of Irish motorbike riding.

Podge & Rodge's late night lock in

RTÉ One, 11.00pm

Podge & Rodge celebrate their first Christmas in their new pub with a very special Stephen's night lock-in. Joining the boys for some yule-tide refreshments are comedian Johnny Vegas, soap star Jennie McAlpine aka Fizz from Corrie and switch board supremo Joe Duffy. And wonderwoman Katherine Lynch will be dropping in for some festive frolics with the boys.

Winning Streak

RTÉ One, 8.35pm

Join Kathryn and Marty to see if one lucky contestant can scoop the €500,000 jackpot on Winning Streak.

On The Block

RTÉ Two, 11.00am

On The Block is a year-long film project, where children from different communities around Ireland make documentaries about their lives.

Film clubs were set up in four communities and each club got a full kit of filming equipment. These are Adamstown Co. Dublin, Tory Island Co. Galway, Dromahane Co.Cork and Dublin city's Buckingham Street. So, armed and ready these children make a television programme about whatever's important to them and our young filmsters kicked off the shooting schedule on Halloween 2007. The results can be seen this Christmas in On The Block.

Tommy and Hector's craic house

RTÉ One, 12.05pm

Ireland's greatest bromance is brought to our screens this Christmas! Childhood friends Tommy Tiernan and Hector Ó h'Eochagáin join forces for a one off comedy talk show.

The show will be an hour of comedy, chat, music and entertainment. Recorded in front of a live audience at the Radisson Hotel in Galway it will feature interviews, performances and craic from two of Ireland's best loved entertainers.

Songs From The Garden

RTÉ One, 12.05pm

12.05-13.05 Songs From The Garden - Craig Doyle presents a celebration of the history, landscape and faith of his adopted home town, Enniskerry, in Co. Wicklow, in a year that has seen the joint 150th anniversary of the villages three churches. Top musicians, Shaun Davey, Rita Connolly and Liam O'Flynn are joined by the Church of Ireland and Catholic Archbishops of Dublin, Dr John Neill and Dr Diarmuid Martin, and local choirs in an inspirational programme first shown in July.

Stephen Gately: A Picture of You

RTÉ One, 8.30pm

Boyzone singer Stephen Gately died suddenly and unexpectedly in October 2009. Only 33, he had been part of the biggest boy band Ireland has known. In a new RTÉ documentary, Stephen Gately: A Picture of You, those who knew Stephen talk openly about the loss of their friend.

It is the story of a young man's determination to follow a dream -from Sheriff Street in Dublin to international pop stardom. It's a tale of triumph against the odds.

Pat Shortt, inside the crystal ball

RTÉ One, 8.30pm

Award winning comedian and actor Pat Shortt appears in the second of two pilot television programmes this year when Pat Shortt, Inside The Crystal Ball is aired over the Christmas season. This 'mockumentary' follows the fortunes of community radio presenter Christy Ball, and his long-suffering wife, Maura.

Filmed in Limerick and Tipperary in November and December, the show is a behind-the-scenes look at Newtown Community Radio featuring the offbeat musings and philosophies of its founder and chief presenter. Starring Pat Shortt as Christy Ball and Sue Collins as his wife and producer, Inside The Crystal Ball will also air the sometimes unorthodox views of Christy's legion of phone-in fans as they respond to radio items such as 'The Ball Hop', 'The Crystal Ball' and 'Breaking Ball.'

Outside the studio, the programme will highlight the many campaigns that Christy and Maura instigate to improve their community and show a more reflective Christy fishing or working on his beloved poetry. Reminiscent of Pat Shortt's hilarious 'mockumentary' Maurice Hickey Rockin' de Vote, Inside The Crystal Ball is produced by Gable End Media and written by Killinaskully's writing team of Pat Shortt and Mike Finn.

On The Block

RTÉ Two, 11.00am

On The Block is a year-long film project, where children from different communities around Ireland make documentaries about their lives.

Film clubs were set up in four communities and each club got a full kit of filming equipment. These are Adamstown Co. Dublin, Tory Island Co. Galway, Dromahane Co.Cork and Dublin city's Buckingham Street. So, armed and ready these children make a television programme about whatever's important to them and our young filmsters kicked off the shooting schedule on Halloween 2007. The results can be seen this Christmas in On The Block.

Tommy and Hector's craic house

RTÉ One, 12.05pm

Ireland's greatest bromance is brought to our screens this Christmas! Childhood friends Tommy Tiernan and Hector Ó h'Eochagáin join forces for a one off comedy talk show.

The show will be an hour of comedy, chat, music and entertainment. Recorded in front of a live audience at the Radisson Hotel in Galway it will feature interviews, performances and craic from two of Ireland's best loved entertainers.

Songs From The Garden

RTÉ One, 12.05pm

12.05-13.05 Songs From The Garden - Craig Doyle presents a celebration of the history, landscape and faith of his adopted home town, Enniskerry, in Co. Wicklow, in a year that has seen the joint 150th anniversary of the villages three churches. Top musicians, Shaun Davey, Rita Connolly and Liam O'Flynn are joined by the Church of Ireland and Catholic Archbishops of Dublin, Dr John Neill and Dr Diarmuid Martin, and local choirs in an inspirational programme first shown in July.

Stephen Gately: A Picture of You

RTÉ One, 8.30pm

Boyzone singer Stephen Gately died suddenly and unexpectedly in October 2009. Only 33, he had been part of the biggest boy band Ireland has known. In a new RTÉ documentary, Stephen Gately: A Picture of You, those who knew Stephen talk openly about the loss of their friend.

It is the story of a young man's determination to follow a dream -from Sheriff Street in Dublin to international pop stardom. It's a tale of triumph against the odds.

Pat Shortt, inside the crystal ball

RTÉ One, 8.30pm

Award winning comedian and actor Pat Shortt appears in the second of two pilot television programmes this year when Pat Shortt, Inside The Crystal Ball is aired over the Christmas season. This 'mockumentary' follows the fortunes of community radio presenter Christy Ball, and his long-suffering wife, Maura.

Filmed in Limerick and Tipperary in November and December, the show is a behind-the-scenes look at Newtown Community Radio featuring the offbeat musings and philosophies of its founder and chief presenter. Starring Pat Shortt as Christy Ball and Sue Collins as his wife and producer, Inside The Crystal Ball will also air the sometimes unorthodox views of Christy's legion of phone-in fans as they respond to radio items such as 'The Ball Hop', 'The Crystal Ball' and 'Breaking Ball.'

Outside the studio, the programme will highlight the many campaigns that Christy and Maura instigate to improve their community and show a more reflective Christy fishing or working on his beloved poetry. Reminiscent of Pat Shortt's hilarious 'mockumentary' Maurice Hickey Rockin' de Vote, Inside The Crystal Ball is produced by Gable End Media and written by Killinaskully's writing team of Pat Shortt and Mike Finn.

Altan with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra

RTÉ One, 11.05pm

Altan with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra is an hour long music special featuring one of Ireland's foremost traditional music groups joined for the first time ever by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.

In a studio setting the band and orchestra perform a programme of traditional songs and airs. The marriage of traditional tunes with classical arrangements was a challenge, and makes for an exciting and exhilarating viewing experience.

Altan features the talents of Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh on vocals and fiddle, Ciaran Tourish on fiddle and whistle, Dermot Byrne on accordion, Mark Kelly on guitar, and Ciaran Curran playing bouzuki. The music was arranged by Fiachra Trench who also conducted the band and orchestra.

Summer of 69

RTÉ One, 6.25pm

National Geographic is one of the most respected magazines in the world and in September 1969 it ran a cover story on Ireland.

Jim Sugar, the photographer who illustrated the story, was on only his second assignment, he was just 22-years-old. He spent nearly three months in Ireland travelling the length and breath of the country in a blue Austen sedan, and in that time he shot some 300 rolls of film, each one containing 36 exposures. That's some 10,800 individual photographs.

The two dozen or so images used in the magazine are startling and capture a lost Ireland; there are women wearing traditional shawls on Inishmaan, there's a cattle mart on the streets of Sligo town and an almost unrecognisable O'Connell Street.

But for nearly four decades, thousands of unpublished photographs from this trip have been stored in Sugar's attic. They are still there in the yellow boxes that came from the Kodak lab.

Now 40 years on, Jim Sugar has returned to Ireland to find out what happened to the people and the places he photographed. and to see how Ireland has changed since The Summer of '69.

Since 1969 Jim Sugar has travelled the world, he's had numerous other National Geographic cover stories, but he never returned to Ireland. So four decades on what will the National Geographic photographer make of the changes that have swept the country? And what can his photographs tell us about who we were and who we've become.

The Late Late Show

RTÉ One, 9.30pm

Ryan Tubridy wraps up the year with some of the biggest Irish names in the world of sport and entertainment along with an in-depth interview with President Mary McAleese. 3 of our most successful sport stars of 2009 Brian O'Driscoll, Katie Taylor and Ruby Walsh join Ryan to talk about their phenomenal achievements this year. While music supremo Louis Walsh will be reminiscing on his difficult year. And Chris de Burgh and soprano Celine Byrne will be performing on the show.

On The Block

RTÉ Two, 11.00am

On The Block is a year-long film project, where children from different communities around Ireland make documentaries about their lives.

Film clubs were set up in four communities and each club got a full kit of filming equipment. These are Adamstown Co. Dublin, Tory Island Co. Galway, Dromahane Co.Cork and Dublin city's Buckingham Street. So, armed and ready these children make a television programme about whatever's important to them and our young filmsters kicked off the shooting schedule on Halloween 2007. The results can be seen this Christmas in On The Block.

Ballybrando

RTÉ One, 10.35pm

Divine Rapture, a black comedy about miracles, starring cinema legend Marlon Brando, Johnny Depp, Debra Winger and John Hurt began filming on July 10th 1995. The movie crashed just 10 days later, dashing the hopes of an entire village and breaking the heart of its ambitious young producer, Barry Navidi. Ballybrando is the story of that monumental movie collapse. It is also the little known story of Marlon Brando's brief, but heartfelt Irish adventure, where he described himself as feeling more at home here than anywhere else in the world.

The film features interviews with the film's producer Barry Navidi, director Thom Eberhardt and some stars from the film including John Hurt, Angeline Ball and Elaine Symons, who got her first break acting on the film as a 15-year-old local Cork girl.

Ballycotton locals are central to the story, particularly Pat Swanwick, who was Marlon's cook for the duration of his stay. They formed a close friendship and Marlon opened up to her with the problems and tragedy he had endured throughout his lifetime.

Local publican Sean McGrath remembers the festival like atmosphere of the village and local potter Stephen Pearce spotted an opportunity to immortalise the film's collapse with trademark Irish black humour by erecting a headstone in the village's main street which read, Divine Rapture born 10th July 1996, died 23rd July 1996, RIP.

The Restaurant 2 star cook off

RTÉ One, 6.30pm

This year, for the first time, the spotlight lands on the dozen or so 2 star chefs who have left the critics table at The Restaurant with the lowest star rating.

In 2003, RTÉ presenter Mary Kennedy received 2 stars from the critics at The Restaurant while in 2005 actor Simon Delaney walked away from the critics table with his 2 stars. Tonight, both of these chefs have the chance to change all that and redeem their culinary reputation.

They will have to come up with a new 3 course menu and the judges will vote for their favourite meals and the best of 3 courses wins the cook off.

CRITICS
Joining regular critics Paolo Tullio and Tom Doorley at this year's cook off is Michelin Starred-chef Paul Rankin. As well as appearing on a number of recent TV shows such as Ready, Steady Cook, Food Poker and Step up to the Plate, Paul Rankin runs a successful restaurant business, the Rankin Group, in his native Belfast - which includes his restaurant Cayenne and numerous Café Paul Rankin's.
While Paul has been a guest critic at the The Restaurant many times, this is his first time judging a cook off.

Simon Delaney
Simon is in it to win it, as he says himself. 'You don't want to finish second in a two horse race. You don't want to make a bags of it, You don't want a bad review. I'm back today to try and see if I have come up from a 2 star.'

Simon Delaney's menu

STARTER
Smoked Irish Salmon with Blinis with Lemon and Caper Crème Fraiche

MAIN COURSE
Braised Lamb Shank with Potato and Wild Mushroom Cake

DESSERT
Banana and Caramel Cheesecake with Warm Chocolate Sauce

MARY KENNEDY
Mary admits that things didn't go very well the last time she appeared on The Restaurant.

MARY KENNEDY's MENU STARTER
Tasting of Prawns

MAIN COURSE
Roast Brill with a light Basil Crust and Sun-dried Tomato Sauce with Baby Leeks, Asparagus and Spinach

DESSERT
Trio of Autumn Berries

The Great Noughties Quiz

RTÉ One, 9.30pm

Will Leahy presents a quiz looking back at the decade that was the noughties. With two teams, captained by Simon Delaney and Pat Spillane, Aoibhinn O'Sullibheann, Lorraine Keane, Tom Dunne and Shane Byrne battle it out for intellectual supremacy.

The Great Noughties Quiz promises a feast of nostalgia from the world of pop culture, politics, news and sport.

On The Block

RTÉ Two, 11.00am

On The Block is a year-long film project, where children from different communities around Ireland make documentaries about their lives.

Film clubs were set up in four communities and each club got a full kit of filming equipment. These are Adamstown Co. Dublin, Tory Island Co. Galway, Dromahane Co.Cork and Dublin city's Buckingham Street. So, armed and ready these children make a television programme about whatever's important to them and our young filmsters kicked off the shooting schedule on Halloween 2007. The results can be seen this Christmas in On The Block.

Ballybrando

RTÉ One, 10.35pm

Divine Rapture, a black comedy about miracles, starring cinema legend Marlon Brando, Johnny Depp, Debra Winger and John Hurt began filming on July 10th 1995. The movie crashed just 10 days later, dashing the hopes of an entire village and breaking the heart of its ambitious young producer, Barry Navidi. Ballybrando is the story of that monumental movie collapse. It is also the little known story of Marlon Brando's brief, but heartfelt Irish adventure, where he described himself as feeling more at home here than anywhere else in the world.

The film features interviews with the film's producer Barry Navidi, director Thom Eberhardt and some stars from the film including John Hurt, Angeline Ball and Elaine Symons, who got her first break acting on the film as a 15-year-old local Cork girl.

Ballycotton locals are central to the story, particularly Pat Swanwick, who was Marlon's cook for the duration of his stay. They formed a close friendship and Marlon opened up to her with the problems and tragedy he had endured throughout his lifetime.

Local publican Sean McGrath remembers the festival like atmosphere of the village and local potter Stephen Pearce spotted an opportunity to immortalise the film's collapse with trademark Irish black humour by erecting a headstone in the village's main street which read, Divine Rapture born 10th July 1996, died 23rd July 1996, RIP.

The Restaurant 2 star cook off

RTÉ One, 6.30pm

This year, for the first time, the spotlight lands on the dozen or so 2 star chefs who have left the critics table at The Restaurant with the lowest star rating.

In 2003, RTÉ presenter Mary Kennedy received 2 stars from the critics at The Restaurant while in 2005 actor Simon Delaney walked away from the critics table with his 2 stars. Tonight, both of these chefs have the chance to change all that and redeem their culinary reputation.

They will have to come up with a new 3 course menu and the judges will vote for their favourite meals and the best of 3 courses wins the cook off.

CRITICS
Joining regular critics Paolo Tullio and Tom Doorley at this year's cook off is Michelin Starred-chef Paul Rankin. As well as appearing on a number of recent TV shows such as Ready, Steady Cook, Food Poker and Step up to the Plate, Paul Rankin runs a successful restaurant business, the Rankin Group, in his native Belfast - which includes his restaurant Cayenne and numerous Café Paul Rankin's.
While Paul has been a guest critic at the The Restaurant many times, this is his first time judging a cook off.

Simon Delaney
Simon is in it to win it, as he says himself. 'You don't want to finish second in a two horse race. You don't want to make a bags of it, You don't want a bad review. I'm back today to try and see if I have come up from a 2 star.'

Simon Delaney's menu

STARTER
Smoked Irish Salmon with Blinis with Lemon and Caper Crème Fraiche

MAIN COURSE
Braised Lamb Shank with Potato and Wild Mushroom Cake

DESSERT
Banana and Caramel Cheesecake with Warm Chocolate Sauce

MARY KENNEDY
Mary admits that things didn't go very well the last time she appeared on The Restaurant.

MARY KENNEDY's MENU STARTER
Tasting of Prawns

MAIN COURSE
Roast Brill with a light Basil Crust and Sun-dried Tomato Sauce with Baby Leeks, Asparagus and Spinach

DESSERT
Trio of Autumn Berries

The Great Noughties Quiz

RTÉ One, 9.30pm

Will Leahy presents a quiz looking back at the decade that was the noughties. With two teams, captained by Simon Delaney and Pat Spillane, Aoibhinn O'Sullibheann, Lorraine Keane, Tom Dunne and Shane Byrne battle it out for intellectual supremacy.

The Great Noughties Quiz promises a feast of nostalgia from the world of pop culture, politics, news and sport.

The love of money - Back From The Brink

RTÉ Two, 7.00pm

THE LOVE OF MONEY

A widely acclaimed three part series which explores the cause and effect of the global economic meltdown. The series includes analysis and testimony from some of the key decision makers over the last two decades, including Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King, US Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner, insiders from the Lehman Brothers and former Chairman of the Federal Reserve of the USA Alan Greenspan

Episode 3 - Back from the Brink?

This tells the story of how close the world came to the brink of a total economic collapse last autumn. For the first time the key players tell how they battled to prevent a new great depression - and looks at what this has cost the world. Even today, few realise how close we all came to a truly catastrophic collapse of the very foundation of the modern world.

The story is told by the people who took the decisions: Gordon Brown, Brazil's President Lula, finance ministers including the United States' Tim Geithner, Alistair Darling, Germany's Peer Steinbruck, France's Christine Lagarde, and Brian Lenihan from Ireland. Central bankers including Mervyn King and, for the first time, the behind-the-scenes officials tell the ups and downs of a month in which they held the
fate of the world in their hands. How close did the world come to collapse? This is what Downing Street adviser Baroness Shriti Vadera says: "It does make my blood run cold to think of how close the whole global system was to collapse."

Things that went boom in the bust

RTÉ Two, 8.00pm

Marty Whelan invites you to fix yourself a hot port, sink into a big armchair and brace yourself for some good news.

Never one to dwell on the negative, gentleman broadcaster Marty Whelan has prepared a treat for us; an hour of wistful factual entertainment, haphazardly counting down the things that are doing better now than they ever were during the Good Times.

As well as hearing from those whose businesses are thriving, there'll anecdotal evidence from relevant experts, entertainment personalities and no less than two sitting senators

Winning Streak Celebrity Special

RTÉ Two, 9.15pm

Join presenters Marty Whelan and Kathryn Thomas for a special celebrity edition of the Winning Streak gameshow.

Instead of five scratch card winners five celebrities from the worlds of music, comedy, sport and entertainment will be taking part in aid of their favourite charity.

The celebrities aiming to win big for their chosen cause are singer and musician Sharon Corr, comedian Jon Kenny, singer Daniel O' Donnell, Fair City actress Clelia Murphy and Kilkenny hurling legend Henry Shefflin.

Tune in to see who will get to spin the wheel and make some of their chosen charities' dreams come true in 2010.

The celebrities' chosen charities are:

Sharon Corr - 50% Simon Community (national) and 50% Dundalk Simon Community

Daniel O'Donnell - 50% The Romanian Challenge Appeal; 50% The Hydro Pool Building Fund, Dungloe.

Jon Kenny - 50% St Vincent de Paul and 50% Cystic Fibrosis Ireland

Clelia Murphy - St Francis' Hospice Raheny (Hospice Care Ireland)

Henry Shefflin - The O'Neill Centre, Kilkenny (a health facility for Cerebral Palsy Ireland)

The All Ireland Talent Show

RTÉ Two, 6.30pm

The All Ireland Talent Show - Show 1 New Year's Eve: 6.30pm-7.30pm - RTÉ One

The All Ireland Talent Show launches its first live studio heat on New Year's Eve - the first 5 acts, representing their 5 regions and 5 judges will go into battle to try and secure the first coveted semi final place in this year's competition. With reigning champ, Daithi O Se, convinced that the West will do the double this year, every judge is itching to showcase their talented acts and take the title for themselves and their region this year. Everyone is most certainly in it to win it.

The All Ireland Talent Show Results - Show 2 New Year's Eve - 11.35pm- 00.15am RTÉ One

The second instalment of tonight's All Ireland Talent Show will reveal the first act of the series (who performed earlier) to secure that all important place in the semi finals and in doing so take one step closer to winning the grand prize of €50,000. Before we reveal who has won that coveted spot there are some New Year's Eve 'treats' in store, as some of our judges take to the stage themselves, accompanied by their finalists from series one with a few 'surprising' party pieces. Which judge will step up and take centre stage, who will be joining them and what special performance do they have up their sleeves?

We'll countdown to midnight with a one off, spectacular performance, featuring all six of last year's finalists, including the Mulkerrin Brothers. Plus presenter Grainne Seoige will be joined by other special guests for the evening that's in it.

The Greatest Irish Sports Person Ever!

RTÉ Two, 10.15pm

The Greatest Irish Sports Person Ever! will count down the Top 10 Irish Sports People, as voted by the Irish public, and will feature interviews with many of the nominated sportspeople along with their families, friends and coaches as well as a prestigious line up of sports commentators and journalists.

As a small nation, Ireland has produced an impressive line of great Olympians, footballers, hurlers, athletes, boxers, trainers and riders but who in our pantheon of sporting greats reigns supreme? And how do the greats of today cut it with the greats of the past?

Presented by Aidan Power the programme will also feature classic archive images and the most memorable moments of their careers.

Tommy and Hector's craic house

RTÉ One, 12.05pm

Ireland's greatest bromance is brought to our screens this Christmas! Childhood friends Tommy Tiernan and Hector Ó h'Eochagáin join forces for a one off comedy talk show.

The show will be an hour of comedy, chat, music and entertainment. Recorded in front of a live audience at the Radisson Hotel in Galway it will feature interviews, performances and craic from two of Ireland's best loved entertainers.

Maeve Higgins' Yuletide fancy vittles

RTÉ Two, 10.40pm

It's Christmas time and the Higgins sisters are throwing a party! It's exciting news and there's a lot of work to be done - there's just one problem. Maeve hates parties. She is terrible at them so can't help being anxious and boring during the holiday season. At this neighbourhood party she tries her best and this time she wins!

Maeve's inner critic makes a comeback when she meets her boyfriend's parents for the first time at Christmas - almost but not quite ruining her chances of making a good impression. New Year's resolutions are discussed with trepidation, as is marriage.

Lilly makes an adorable gingerbread stable complete with a cute little Baby Jesus biscuit. Maeve ices Rudolf cakes while explaining what to do if a friend gets you a gift but you haven't gotten them anything.

It's all about confectionery for the girls this Christmas - they are thrilled not to present a turkey in this Yuletide feast - largely because Maeve stopped eating meat a year ago. She still eats fish because fish can't scream. The show ends with a rural neighbourhood party in Cobh, featuring a Grandad and a surprise present for Maeve.

Tommy and Hector's craic house

RTÉ One, 12.05pm

Ireland's greatest bromance is brought to our screens this Christmas! Childhood friends Tommy Tiernan and Hector Ó h'Eochagáin join forces for a one off comedy talk show.

The show will be an hour of comedy, chat, music and entertainment. Recorded in front of a live audience at the Radisson Hotel in Galway it will feature interviews, performances and craic from two of Ireland's best loved entertainers.

Maeve Higgins' Yuletide fancy vittles

RTÉ Two, 10.40pm

It's Christmas time and the Higgins sisters are throwing a party! It's exciting news and there's a lot of work to be done - there's just one problem. Maeve hates parties. She is terrible at them so can't help being anxious and boring during the holiday season. At this neighbourhood party she tries her best and this time she wins!

Maeve's inner critic makes a comeback when she meets her boyfriend's parents for the first time at Christmas - almost but not quite ruining her chances of making a good impression. New Year's resolutions are discussed with trepidation, as is marriage.

Lilly makes an adorable gingerbread stable complete with a cute little Baby Jesus biscuit. Maeve ices Rudolf cakes while explaining what to do if a friend gets you a gift but you haven't gotten them anything.

It's all about confectionery for the girls this Christmas - they are thrilled not to present a turkey in this Yuletide feast - largely because Maeve stopped eating meat a year ago. She still eats fish because fish can't scream. The show ends with a rural neighbourhood party in Cobh, featuring a Grandad and a surprise present for Maeve.

Winning Streak

RTÉ One, 8.35pm

Join Kathryn and Marty to see if one lucky contestant can scoop the €500,000 jackpot on Winning Streak.

All Ireland Talent Show Backstage

RTÉ Two, 7.30pm

Aidan Power and Dustin take us behind the scenes with The All Ireland Talent Show Backstage. Each week they capture all the live action and gossip from backstage at Ardmore Studios, featuring post-show analysis with the five judges, interviews with celebrity fans and special guests.

Offering an exclusive look at the contestants' day, expect rehearsals and rivalries, dressing rooms and dramas and some all-important last minute fine tuning. Contestants give their reactions to the performances and judges' comments in the final nerve wracking moments before the Results Show.

Joe Duffy's Spirit Level

RTÉ Two, 5.00pm

In 2009, Spirit Level was one of RTÉ's best kept secrets: tucked away in a monthly slot on Sunday mornings, Joe Duffy's magazine show added a new dimension to the station's religious output with its vibrant mix of topical discussion, interviews, features and music. From an exclusive interview with Desmond Tutu to Brian Keenan's take on forgiveness; from a profile of "Eco-nuns", farming in Wicklow, to an interview with a gangster-turned-preacher, now running missions in schools, it showed the energy and diversity in contemporary Irish religious life.

Joe's reward in 2010 is a higher-profile, weekly slot, beginning on 3rd January, at 1700. Only now, the show will also be playing to the Liveline presenter's strengths - going live and introducing audience interaction to the mix. It's too early to say what the ingredients will be in the first show, but expect intelligence, without reverence; inspirational stories about the most pressing and most surprising issues and stories from Ireland's spiritual and ethical landscape

The All Ireland Talent Show

RTÉ Two, 6.30pm

The All Ireland Talent Show and Results - Live Show 2

This week it's the second round of the Live Studio Heats on The All Ireland Talent Show. Five acts, representing their five regions and five judges will go into battle to try and secure the second coveted semi final place in this year's competition.

With reigning champ, Daithi O Se, convinced that the West will do the double this year, every judge is itching to showcase their talented acts and take the title for themselves and their region this year. Everyone is most certainly in it to win it.

This week the five acts competing are:

Tom and Eoghan Costello - The West
Cathal Flaherty - The South
Karen Morrison - The North
Re-Seisiun - The East
Romey Farrelly - Dublin

*Tune in at 8:30pm on RTÉ One to see which act has won a place in the Semi Final*

No Frontiers

RTÉ One, 7.30pm

Kathryn Thomas and the No Frontiers team are back on Sunday nights at 7.30pm on RTÉ One with a suitcase full of great affordable holiday ideas and the best independent travel from around the globe.

This year's series truly has something for everyone, whatever your taste or budget. Kathryn travels on the real road to Damascus as she discovers Syria's ancient capital and the sensational ruined city of Palmyra. She also finds out what Darwin has to offer those heading to Australia on a working holiday visa, takes an epic rail journey across North America from the Brooklyn Bridge to the Golden Gate and comes home to Ireland to have a world-class surf experience on the beaches of Sligo.

Kathryn is joined by some favourite faces this year as well as a surprise or two. Outdoors enthusiast, Diarmuid Gavin, explores Iceland's wild landscape and legendary geysers on horseback. Stylish Sonya Lennon hikes through Italy's Cinque Terre, five unspoilt medieval villages perched on cliffs above the Italian Riviera. Tracy Piggott swaps the parade ring for the sea on a Club Med sailing holiday in Turkey.

Clodagh McKenna leaves her cookbooks behind, takes a leisurely break on France's most scenic canal and visits the fairytale cité of Carcassonne. Ice Presenter Sinead Kennedy finds action behind quaint scenery when she goes rally driving and gorge walking in North Wales. We've also selected three of the very best package holidays available and sent Fiona Looney, Sallie McArdle and Michelle Doherty to review them.

No Frontiers also has two new features. Travel writer and broadcaster Fionn Davenport brings you the "Inside Track" on your favourite European cities. Most of us know what the key attractions of the major cities are. Based on his vast travel experience, Fionn will give insider tips on how to get the most of a city break by going beyond the tourist trail.
In "Breakaways", newcomer Jenny Buckley will show you how to take advantage of the amazing cheap flights on offer and have a relaxing holiday in some of Europe's loveliest regions.

Kathryn Thomas and her sister Linda kick off the series with an island-hopping holiday in Greece. Some of you might recognise the island of Skopelos from the hit film Mamma Mia, the perfect place for these two Dancing Queens to have some girly fun! Fionn Davenport provides some real surprises with his take on our own capital of Dublin in the first "Inside Track." Later in the show, Sallie McArdle makes a memorable trip to the Atacama Desert Salt Flats in Northern Chile and experiences one of the most stunning sunsets on earth.

Viewers can visit the No Frontiers website at www.rte.ie/nofrontiers for more information about all of the destinations featured in this and previous year's series.

Programme 1 (Greece, Dublin, Chile)

Kathryn Thomas and her sister Linda have some girly fun on an island-hopping holiday in Greece. Lonely Planet writer Fionn Davenport gives the Inside Track on getting the most out of a city break in Dublin. Sallie McArdle makes a memorable trip to the Atacama Desert Salt Flats in Northern Chile.

FlashForward

RTÉ Two, 9.00pm

FlashForward is our exciting new high concept US drama. Based on Robert J. Sawyer's sci-fi novel of the same name. The plot centres around an eerie, chaotic vision of the future after a mysterious event makes everyone on Earth lose consciousness. Later, as people start waking up, the world starts changing because people know their future. Starring Joseph Fiennes and John Cho as Mark Benford and Demetri Noh, two FBI agents assigned to investigating the unknown cause of the two minute blackout. Irish actor Brian F O'Byrne has a major role in the series playing Mark's friend and AA mentor Aaron Stark.

The School

RTÉ Two, 9.35pm

The School is a new land mark documentary series for RTÉ Television following the students and teachers of St Peters College Dunboyne over one academic year. Award winning company Scratch Films began filming the series in September 2008 after months of careful negotiations with County Meath VEC. Never before has an Irish school given such unlimited access to film makers, allowing camera crews to document every aspect of school life.

Principal Eamon Gaffney was initially reluctant to open the doors of the school he built up from nothing fifteen years ago. But he felt his staff had nothing to hide, quite the opposite in fact, here was a great school, producing great kids, ready to make a great contribution to Irish society. He knew it was important for parents to see the commitment his staff gave to all of the students, to highlight the role they play in shaping well rounded individuals. And even though sometimes they are tough, they are always fair.

Over the next ten months, series directors Liam McGrath and Paula Rouse, accompanied by producer Tony Deegan, began documenting every aspect of school life at St. Peters. But in order to capture the vitality of the school they needed to take a unique approach; so they set up diary rooms inviting students and teachers to speak their minds to un-manned cameras. They trained the students to use the equipment, encouraging them to record school life through their own eyes. And all the while the students filmed themselves, the series directors filmed the students. And together, they have created an insightful, touching series, capturing a year in the life of The School.

The three part series is spread across the three school terms; Episode One begins in September and follows the students until December. Episode Two picks up in January until March and Episode Three records school life from April until June 2009.

A number of students re-appear across the series, giving viewers the opportunity to follow the ups and downs of their school year. Band members like Adam and Donal, who just seem hell bent on stretching every rule in the book for their last year of school life. Or fifth year Conor, whose months of rehearsals are jeopardised by illness on the eve of the school musical; or the pressure felt by sixth year students including Claire and Niamh, who are about to confront one life changing exam.

Other stories include students coping with dyslexia and behavioural problems, a school break-in, parent teacher meetings and a constant stream of students who refuse to follow a strict uniform code.

But the series also reveals another side of school life, the men and women who share the responsibility of teaching these young students. From dedicated young teachers like Ms Caroline Toole, to veterans like Mr Robert Gannon, a teacher with thirty years of service, to deputy principal Ms Maureen Murray and the important work of school councillors like Jimmy O'Connell.