It's been a good year for TV overall in Ireland, and while we've had no Nidge and Fran or the likes in 2015, there has been plenty more to keep us entertained. So IFTA has decided to bring a new category to their awards ceremony, which has been divided up into two parts this year, as sponsors Gala have asked the public to choose their favourite TV show of the year.
The finalists were shortlisted by a special jury of some well-known faces, who selected their favourite shows of the year from a long list down to the top ten. Among the jury was editor of the RTE Guide Michael Doherty, Amanda Brunker, Brent Pope, and former Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh.
So who made the final cut?
Well The Late Late Toy Show naturally enough, along with talent shows The Voice of Ireland, X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent. New Irish soap Red Rock is deservedly on the list as well asMrs Brown's Boys. Sport also features heavily with FIFA World Cup Coverage, Ireland’s epic year at the RBS Six Nations and the GAA coverage in The Sunday Game Live. Oh and Room to Improve, the show we all can't seem to get enough of.
Grand list and all but there's a lot left out, no? Moone Boy, Charlie, Fair City?! We demand a recount for Fair City!
While it did have a Christmas Special, Mrs Brown's Boys didn't even have a new series this year, and if last year's Toy Show gets to be in it, why doesn't Love/Hate? We have a lot of questions.
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Michael Doherty of the RTE Guide says “The shortlist reflects the diversity of our most popular programmes - sporting heroes, talent hopefuls, toy stories, and everyone’s favourite man in a frock’’
While Amanda Brunker says of the shortlist: “Slightly mad and ridiculously passionate people make for great TV viewing. And this shortlist definitely includes both of them. Quality television moves people. Whether it entertains, shocks, thrills or makes us cry, we all want to feel emotionally invested and that's the secret to an excellent prime time show.”
You can head on over here and cast your vote.
The IFTA Gala Television Awards Ceremony will take place at the Double Tree Ballroom on Thursday 22nd October 2015, and broadcast on TV3 at 9pm on Sunday 25th October.
What was your favourite TV show of the year? Did it make the shortlist?
