RTÉ has unveiled its New Year schedule with new and returning entertainment shows, gripping documentaries, live music, and wide-ranging live sports coverage across video, audio and online to help everyone through the long winter season.
There's an all-new Irish line-up on Saturday nights, which becomes the new destination for Ireland's Fittest Family followed by a new season of The Young Offenders.
The Tommy Tiernan Show returns with a new series, where guests from all walks of life open up about their personal life and career experiences.
Speaking about the 2025 schedule, Director of Video at RTÉ, Steve Carson, said: "Our new year schedule is all about great quality Irish programming, for everyone. The weekends are filled with fantastic entertainment, and we've lots of live sport, new Irish music and important documentaries, each one reflecting a unique aspect of life in Ireland.
"Every programme is crafted by dedicated production teams, and we're thrilled to work with and support the Irish creative sector as we focus on entertaining and informing all our audiences".
Patrick Kielty rang in the new year for the nation with a star-studded guest line up and will continue that trend with The Late Late Show every Friday night starting with the celebration of Tradfest. Viewers can expect a fantastic blend of traditional tunes and songs by a hand-picked group of Ireland's finest musicians including Sean Keane, Aoife Scott and Mike Hanrahan.
Dancing with the Stars returns on Sunday nights for its eighth season. This year, dancer Karen Byrne has set aside her glitterball and replaces it with a judging paddle as she takes her seat as the fourth judge.
Dermot Bannon is back on Sunday nights for a new season of Room to Improve. Four families from across Ireland have chosen Dermot as the architect for their new feature build with everyone challenged to keep within budget as he tries to turn each house into a dream home.
Architect Hugh Wallace then takes up the design baton with Great House Revival, as he follows homeowners across Ireland as they attempt to restore and transform their derelict heritage properties into comfortable homes fit for modern day living.
Following its highly successful first season, Cheap European Homes returns with an extended format of hour-long episodes. This time Ireland's favourite bargain house hunter Maggie Molloy, travels to France, Spain, Portugal and Italy in search of dream properties that won't break the bank.
There's also quality Irish programming throughout the week with gripping documentaries including former solicitor Michael Lynn and a two-part series that charts the rise of Gerard Hutch, known as The Monk.
The First Dates restaurant reopens to catch up with teenage romantics, flirty thirties and seductive seniors; this year the series features people of all ages from student freshers to fresh-faced septuagenarians.
The New Year will also feature a jam-packed new and live sports schedule as Champions League returns earlier than usual with the new season commencing on Wednesday nights in early January.
There's a host of new Irish language programming on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player. Fóram, RTÉ's new weekly current affairs, presented by journalist Caoimhe Ní Laighin, will discuss the political stories of the week, as well as stories from around the country.
Returning to RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player is Other Voices, the much-loved winter music festival that has welcomed some of the world's most eclectic music-makers and captured on film scores of unique, one-off live performances.
On radio, 2FM Rising has launched its artists for 2025, while Bridget's Way, presented by Doireann Ní Ghlacáin, celebrates both the ancient act of pilgrimage and the women of Ireland as it follows the newly established 'Saint Bridget's Way’ 9-day pilgrimage airs on RTÉ Radio 1.
RTÉ Documentary on One presents a new podcast series Where is Jón? outlining the bizarre and unexplained disappearance of poker player Jón Jónsson.
