The RTÉ Rose of Tralee International Festival is back on screens tonight and Tuesday, and host Dáithí Ó Sé has promised laughter, tears, and a few surprises as viewers meet the 33 hopefuls.
After the festival's three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, 33 Roses from Ireland, Britain, the US, Canada, Australia and the Middle East are in the Kingdom for the live shows at Munster Technological University's Kerry Sports Academy.
Looking ahead to the shows, Ó Sé said: "We have been chatting to the Roses over the past few weeks, and they have made us laugh and even cry - because there is some really serious stuff inside there as well as some really heartfelt items. There is some crazy stuff inside there.
"It is a mixed bag. Like, it's six hours of television, so it is a cross-section of everything. And we have a few surprises ourselves - and a few icy moments."
Paying tribute to this year's 33 entrants, Ó Sé added: "You kind of get to know them over the course of the two weeks and just seeing them going on TV...
"You have been hanging out with them for two weeks and then all of a sudden they are there and they shine on stage, and that makes me really happy."
The RTÉ Rose of Tralee International Festival airs live on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player from 8pm to 9pm and 9:35pm to 11:35pm tonight and Tuesday.
