FAIR CITY WILL return to screens for four nights per week following previous concerns over the programme’s resources.
From 20 September, a new, extra episode will be aired on Friday every week after the crew returned to taping the soap opera this month, after working on RTÉ’s summer sports coverage.
The production of RTÉ’s flagship soap opera stopped temporarily in July and August so the crew could assist with coverage of the UEFA Euros 2024, the Olympics and the GAA All-Ireland Championships.
This decision sparked concerns among unions that the programme – which is celebrating 35 years on air this year – did not have enough resources for the taping of the show.
The station in April said that the crew would still be filming four episodes per week until July but only three would be aired per week so RTÉ had enough to continue showing the programme over the summer.
With the crew back taping the show, staff are still concerned that the programme will be outsourced at some point in the near future. The plans were included in the broadcaster’s new strategy in June that also detailed job cuts and salary caps.
The changes are part of a number of new measures the station is taking internally following the RTÉ payments scandal. Unions have said, however, that their workers will seek to block the “privatisation” of the soap opera.
Kevin Bakhurst, the station’s Director General, pushed back against the claims earlier this year. He reasoned that plans to outsource the production of The Late Late Show and Fair City would not be unlike how shows are currently produced externally.
Workers’ union Siptu argued that the station moving towards private ownership while “eroding conditions of employment”.
But Bakhurst said that every other drama television programme, except for Fair City, are outsourced to an independent production company and that RTÉ would still have editorial control once the bosses decide if the soap will be filmed elsewhere.
Fair City and The Late Late Show are to be moved off site, as the Montrose studios in Dublin are to undergo much-needed renovations. Third-party production companies will take over the taping of the shows but writing and editorial staff in RTÉ will remain.
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Can we have a Journal poll on who watches it
Watched it once by mistake, the accents nearly sent me over the edge. Total tripe imo..
@Jamie Hinch: What’s wrong with the accents?
Shows the level of despair rte has with their tv license payers that they insist s pushing this crap on us for another winter season thank god for the internet
@liam ward: Thanks B for other TV Stations, Netflix and Paramount +!!!
@Mick Hanna: And the firestick and free to air satellite.
I’d almost pay the licence for this awful bilge not to return!
If they made it just a little bit worse it would be entertaining.
@John Durcan:
Not possible
35 years of listening to an irritating Dublin accent and amateur actors..
By the way it’s a great show and thank you for great performances from all the cast
@Tommy: You definitely confused the easly offended with that one…….
@Tommy: You had me in the first half
Can we arrange for a few bike shelters to be “built” in Donnybrook rather than spend the money on this!
@Padraig O’Brien: Yeah their bikes must be expensive that require expensive shed to protect them from getting wet, even a single raindrop will make them shiver.
Easily the most badly written soap/drama ever. The writing is shambolic. And makes average actors even worse. It’s practically a comedy at this point.
@Ted Daly: I think you’re being very charitable calling them average actors!
They making this s h1 te since 1989 / boggles the mind.
And The Full Irish Hidden Camera Show is back as well, and I couldn’t be happier
@Fintan Pox: you’re having a laugh guvnor that is some right old tosh mate
@Basildon Joe: one of the funniest shows on TV, I do be in stitches watching it on Sunday evenings, Donncha is hilarious
@Fintan Pox: it’s a beadles about rip off. Now, Beadles about is proper TV, check it out mate its blinding. You will piss yourself laughing.
@Basildon Joe: oh yes, that was very good, I remember watching it on HTV
@Fintan Pox: proper naughty tv
@Basildon Joe: Jeremy Beedle was a poor man’s Mike Murphy
@Darth O’Leary: I don’t know that geezer
@Fintan Pox:
Easily amused then
Whoever is writing the scripts has a lot to answer for. Any episode I’ve seen has been so predictable it’s actually embarrassing!
@Caroline D: There is no script, they just waffle on until the time slot is full!
I Can honestly say, I didn’t miss it,
in fact, didn’t even know it was off screen.
A good portrayal of Dublin community spirit I find this program, if somewhat dated.
@Basildon Joe: Like your Yodaesque syntax.
@Brendan O’Brien: speak the Kings English boy that is not a word
@Basildon Joe: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Yodaesque
@Brendan O’Brien: Pedantic Pratt!
@Brian Hunt: he is something that rhymes with your surname alright ain’t he
@Brian Hunt: Are you referring to John Pratt, the 1970s Tottenham midfielder?
@Brendan O’Brien: Ah, yes John. Had a few pints with him once, terrible man for long words!
Bring back Glenroe.
Please note the way to stop/break a dog biting is to throw water into its face, to upset it’s bereathing
@Bella Conway:
Is that right ? I didn’t know that. More people should know that.
Fair City? Never heard of it? Oh wait a minute…..That must be on RTE TV?
.
Fairly sh!tty.
What an absolute load of tripe that show is. You can throw in coronation Street, EmerDale, eastenders, home and away. When my children were growing up they were never allowed watch this trash. This is the best RTE can come up with?. Autumn schedule… LateLate, Dermot Bannon. What a waste of taxpayers money and for those that choose to pay the TV licence fee.
@Dave Barrett:
Documentaries,historical programmes about the lives of interesting people past,and present,
The islands,and inhabitants around our coasts,and Nationwide are very popular,and draw viewers.
Too many rehashing of news programmes,and depressing items are the downside.
It’s truly amazing to get a fourth weekly episode of such a well choreographed and orchestrated all irish tv show,now I understand why the ad on rte1 says when you buy a tv license your getting more than just a tv license,not only do we get exposed to completely s**t tv,if you miss it you can catch up on it the following day again or on Rte player…….do do do do do……I’m loving it
About the world tidly winks champship
And in a move to repair relations and their image with the public, RTÉ has done this….
Better pay the tv license so
Cant believe it’s still running complete rubbish
Another reason not to pay the licence fee
can’t wait…such excitement should be taxed ….eamonn where are you
Just …why …god why…why…noooo
Not everything is for everyone e.g. Fair City and liberty for the racists in Cork.
Great to see some of that three quarter of a billion, yes billion being well spent .
@Caroline D. I’d say it’s AI generated from an input of assorted thrash soaps!
No one cares, just shut it sown
have your say