From high-brow dramas to binge-quality shows, 2018 had something for everyone.
Reality Check
The strength of home-grown broadcaster content was reinforced in 2018. At the start of 2018 Dancing with the Stars arrived back on RTE One for a second series, followed closely by Ireland’s Got Talent on Virgin Media One-both of which were immediate hits with viewers. The Irish incarnations of First Dates on RTE 2 and Gogglebox on Virigin Media One also proved very popular as Irish participants made these international franchises their own! As the summer arrived so did the participants of Love Island on 3e (now Virgin Media Two). In 2018, the show took on a life of its own on social media and was consistently number 1 on the TAM Social TV Top 10 list. At the end of the 2018 Im A Celeb Get Me Out of Here on Virgin Media One had its strongest performance in years, with the launch programme on November 18th coming in 5th on Virgin Media One’s list of top programmes for 2018.
Home Grown Hits
RTE focused heavily on new commissions in 2018 and had huge success with Taken Down. The slick production and strong performances and plot (showing the human side of a world unfamiliar to many) made it a big November hit for RTE One. On the lighter side Finding Joy and Women on the Verge – were also warmly greeted by audiences. However, it was the return of an old favourite-Room To Improve-that ended up in 6th place in the top programmes list for the year with people tuning in in their thousands to see what changes Dermot Bannon would make to Daniel and Majella’s home!
Derry Girls on Channel 4 was Channel 4’s largest comedy launch in five years. This tale of four schoolgirls, set in 1990’s Northern Ireland, strike such a chord with Irish viewers.
In October, Virgin Media One had a big bit on their hands via Blood. The six-part psychological thriller focused around a woman who returns to her rural Irish home following her mother’s seemingly accidental death.
Sporting Hits
Virgin Media welcomed the 6Nations for the first time in early 2018 with great success-the England V Ireland game on St Patrick’s Day was the second most viewed programme this year. On RTE 2 both the Hurling and Football All Ireland finals had huge viewership, with the pulsating Galway V Limerick Hurling clash coming in 7th in the top programmes list for the year. Over on Sky Sports, Monday Night Football and Renault Super Sunday continued to draw large audiences. Tg4 coverage of the National leagues continued and their coverage of the NFL Division finals on April 1st was their most viewed programme of the year. At the end of the year, the pulsating Guinness Pro 14 Clash between Munster and Leinster on December 29th was the top performing programme on Eir sport in 2018
International hits
Sky Atlantic had a career-best performance by Benedict Cumberbatch in Patrick Melrose-a remarkable study of addiction that aired throughout May. Also on Sky Atlantic was Succession, a show about how easily even the best people are corrupted and undone by access to personal wealth. Over on Sky One, A discovery of Witches was the third most watched programme of the year on the station. The show delivered what audiences wanted- love, danger and a little bit of lust! The Great British Bake Off was, once again a huge hit for Channel 4. Irish viewers tuned in in large numbers to watch the amateur bakers complete the crazy baking challenges. It was the most viewed programme on Channel 4 in Ireland last year.
