Seoige
Encyclopedia
Seoige was an Irish television
chat show. The show, hosted by sisters Gráinne
and Sile Seoige
, was broadcast live on weekdays at 16:30 on RTÉ One
, with a hiatus in the summer months. Episodes were repeated at 08:20 the following weekday morning on the same channel.
The programme was originally launched in 2006 as Seoige and O'Shea with Grainne Seoige
and Joe O'Shea
at the helm. It followed a similar format to ITV
's This Morning
programme. Moving between serious issues and lighter subjects, content included interviews, debates and musical performances. Viewers could call, text or e-mail the programme's studio to give their opinions on topics. The presenters chatted with four sets of guests, which consisted of interviewees, discussion groups and musical artists.
The show was rebranded Seoige in August 2008 after Joe O'Shea announced he was leaving RTÉ to pursue a career in radio broadcasting.
RTÉ
announced on 21 April 2009 that the show would be cancelled and that the last show would air on Friday the 24 April 2009. A new series will not be commissioned for the autumn of 2009.
The winner, Ellen McCarthy, from Waterford
was signed by publishers Poolbeg and her debut novel, Guarding Maggie was released on May 2, 2008. Following superb reaction to Guarding Maggie, Ellen's second novel, Guilt Ridden was released in January 2009.
and The Sunday Times
.
John Meagher asserted that Seoige and O'Shea had no chemistry between them: "Where was the on-screen chemistry, the "telly marriage" that both had talked up so much in the days leading up to the start date?"
Seoige and O'Shea were perceived by John Boland as being unsuited to the field of chat shows, his description of their presentation styles stating: "As they [Seoige and O'Shea] lurched awkwardly from trivial items to serious topics they were nervous and stilted - she as much as he - and nowhere did they convey the ease that would put the make viewer feel at home."
Pat Stacey of the Evening Herald
had asserted that Sile and Grainne had no chemistry between them.
Jade Goody
's agent Max Clifford
had criticised Sile and Grainne for their "aggressive" interview concerning Jade.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
chat show. The show, hosted by sisters Gráinne
Gráinne Seoige
Gráinne Seoige is an Irish television presenter, Gaeilgeoir, and "fashion icon",Gráinne Seoige is one of the few television presenters who has worked for all terrestrial channels in the Republic of Ireland at some point. She has worked as a news anchor on TG4, TV3 and Sky News Ireland...
and Sile Seoige
Síle Seoige
Síle Seoige is an Irish television presenter and Gaeilgeoir. She is fluent in both Irish and English, and has worked for Raidió Teilifís Éireann and the Irish language station TG4...
, was broadcast live on weekdays at 16:30 on RTÉ One
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
, with a hiatus in the summer months. Episodes were repeated at 08:20 the following weekday morning on the same channel.
The programme was originally launched in 2006 as Seoige and O'Shea with Grainne Seoige
Gráinne Seoige
Gráinne Seoige is an Irish television presenter, Gaeilgeoir, and "fashion icon",Gráinne Seoige is one of the few television presenters who has worked for all terrestrial channels in the Republic of Ireland at some point. She has worked as a news anchor on TG4, TV3 and Sky News Ireland...
and Joe O'Shea
Joe O'Shea
Joe O'Shea is an Irish broadcaster and journalist. He lives and works in Dublin and makes regular appearances on Irish TV & Radio.-Career:...
at the helm. It followed a similar format to ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
's This Morning
This Morning (TV series)
This Morning is a British daytime television programme broadcast on ITV. As of September 2011, its main presenters are Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, and Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, with various other presenters standing in for illness or contributing to sections of the programme.The...
programme. Moving between serious issues and lighter subjects, content included interviews, debates and musical performances. Viewers could call, text or e-mail the programme's studio to give their opinions on topics. The presenters chatted with four sets of guests, which consisted of interviewees, discussion groups and musical artists.
The show was rebranded Seoige in August 2008 after Joe O'Shea announced he was leaving RTÉ to pursue a career in radio broadcasting.
RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
announced on 21 April 2009 that the show would be cancelled and that the last show would air on Friday the 24 April 2009. A new series will not be commissioned for the autumn of 2009.
First series
The first series began on 9 October 2006 and ran until 20 April 2007. In the first series, Seoige and O'Shea ran a short story and photograph competition. The top 14 writers were published in a book entitled Do The Write Thing.The winner, Ellen McCarthy, from Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
was signed by publishers Poolbeg and her debut novel, Guarding Maggie was released on May 2, 2008. Following superb reaction to Guarding Maggie, Ellen's second novel, Guilt Ridden was released in January 2009.
Second series
The second series began on 1 October 2007 and ran until 18 April 2008. In the second series, the programme took on a new look and added a live studio audience. As part of the new-look series, there were also a number of new features. Relative Values looked at the family life of some of the nation's stars, Home Values showed exclusive peeks into the homes of some of Ireland's celebrities, and Money Matters offered solutions to money worries. There was also a regular travel slot and a weekly feature concerning psychics. There was a daily feature - Talking Point - where social issues were discussed. Following on from the success of the Do the Write Thing competition, Seoige and O'Shea began to host their own book club. On Wednesday, a well-known personality introduced his/her favourite book and was joined by a book club to review the week's chosen books. On Friday, there were musical performances and a preview spot where a panel of previewers inform viewers about the entertainment, music and sport events taking place around the country at the weekend.Third series
The third series began in October 2008 and saw Sile Seoige replace Joe O'Shea as co-presenter.Guests
Guests on the first two series' of the show include:- David Norris, senator
- Cecelia AhernCecelia AhernCecelia Ahern is an Irish novelist, since 2004. In addition to publishing several novels, she has also contributed a number of short stories to various anthologies, for which all her royalties go to charity.Ahern also created and produced the ABC comedy Samantha Who? starring Christina Applegate...
, author - Louis WalshLouis WalshLouis Walsh is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.-Band manager:...
, music manager - Mickey Joe HarteMickey Joe HarteMichael Joseph Harte or now simply known as Mickey Harte is a professional singer-songwriter from Lifford, County Donegal, Ireland. He was chosen to represent Ireland in the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest with "We've Got the World"...
, singer - BoscoBoscoBosco was an Irish children's television programme produced during the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was produced by the Lambert Puppet Theatre. Designed by Jan Mitchell, Bosco was voiced by Miriam Lambert initially; in later years Paula Lambert took over the character...
, children's television presenter - Gordon RamsayGordon RamsayGordon James Ramsay, OBE is a Scottish chef, television personality and restaurateur. He has been awarded 13 Michelin stars....
, chef - John WatersJohn Waters (columnist)John Waters is a columnist with The Irish Times and a former editor of Magill magazine. His career began in 1981 with the Irish political-music magazine Hot Press. He went on to write for the Sunday Tribune and later edited In Dublin magazine and Magill...
, journalist - Mary O'RourkeMary O'RourkeMary O'Rourke is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. She is a former Teachta Dála for the Longford–Westmeath and Westmeath constituencies. She served as Minister for Education , Minister for Health and Minister for Public Enterprise...
, TD - Mary HarneyMary HarneyMary Harney is a former Irish politician. She served as Tánaiste from 1997–2006, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment from 1997–2004, and as Minister for Health and Children from 2004 to 2011...
, TD - Eddie HobbsEddie Hobbs-Early career:Hobbs worked for Zurich Life 1979 to 1991 and left his position as Marketing Manager to set up a fee-based financial planning company TIPS. In March 1993 Hobbs published a landmark report "Endowment Mortgages The Hometruth" which collapsed sales of endowment homeloans in Ireland by...
, financial advisor - Katy FrenchKaty FrenchKaty Ellen French was an Irish socialite, model, writer, television personality and charity worker. According to the BBC, "in the space of less than two years, she had become one of Ireland's best-known models and socialites." She collapsed at a friend's house on 2 December 2007 and died on 6...
, model - The Wolfe Tones, Irish band
- Keith DuffyKeith DuffyKeith Peter Thomas Francis John Duffy is an Irish singer-songwriter, actor, drummer, dancer and television presenter. He began his career as part of Boyzone in the 1990s. In the 2000s, he achieved critical acclaim for his acting roles, particularly in soap operas such as Coronation Street and Fair...
, television personality - Joe DuffyJoe DuffyJoseph "Joe" Duffy is an Irish broadcaster employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann . A Jacob's Award winner, he is the current presenter of Liveline, which is broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1, Monday - Fridays between 13:45 and 15:00.Duffy has a history as a student activist; he was President of the Union of...
, radio personality - Brian Ormond, presenter
- Aidan PowerAidan PowerAidan Power is an Irish television presenter. He appears from time to time on Raidió Teilifís Éireann .-Career:Power was educated at St. Mac Dara's community college and then Ballyfermot Senior College where he obtained a postgraduate diploma in broadcasting and journalism in 1998...
, presenter - David Mitchell, actor
- Gerry RyanGerry RyanGerard "Gerry" Ryan was an Irish presenter of radio and television employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann...
, radio personality - Ryan TubridyRyan TubridyRyan Tubridy , affectionately known as "Tubs", is an Irish broadcaster and writer, a presenter of live shows on radio and television in Ireland. He has been described as "one of Ireland's most gifted broadcasters"...
, presenter - Derek DavisDerek DavisDerek Orlando Davis is an Irish broadcaster. On television, he has co-hosted Live at 3, presented Out of the Blue and won Celebrity Bainisteoir.-Early life:...
, television personality - Pat ShorttPat ShorttPat Shortt is an actor, comedian and entertainer. In 2007, he starred in the film Garage, directed by Lenny Abrahamson for which he won the Best Actor award at the 2008 IFTAs...
, comedian - Eamonn Dunphy, broadcaster
- Terry Prone, director
- Mary McEvoyMary McEvoyMary McEvoy is an Irish actress. She is recognised by television viewers for having played the role of Biddy Byrne in Glenroe from 1983-2000...
, actress
Reception
Although Seoige and O'Shea claimed that the programme had proven successful, television ratings show that it has failed to enter the top 20. It launched with 100,000 viewers on 9 October 2006. http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/judge-judy-tops-as-jurys-out-on-grainnes-show-67824.html In April 2008, it pulled in an average viewership of 20-21 percent of the available audience. October 2008 attracted average viewing figures of 112,000 for each episode. In January 2009, the show pulled in an average viewership of 127,000. Critics believed that the show's time slot and topics are responsible for its low viewing figures.Criticism
The show's format had been criticised in editorials in both the Irish IndependentIrish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
and The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times (UK)
The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper, distributed in the United Kingdom. The Sunday Times is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International, which is in turn owned by News Corporation. Times Newspapers also owns The Times, but the two papers were founded...
.
John Meagher asserted that Seoige and O'Shea had no chemistry between them: "Where was the on-screen chemistry, the "telly marriage" that both had talked up so much in the days leading up to the start date?"
Seoige and O'Shea were perceived by John Boland as being unsuited to the field of chat shows, his description of their presentation styles stating: "As they [Seoige and O'Shea] lurched awkwardly from trivial items to serious topics they were nervous and stilted - she as much as he - and nowhere did they convey the ease that would put the make viewer feel at home."
Pat Stacey of the Evening Herald
Evening Herald
The Evening Herald is a mid-market tabloid evening newspaper published in Dublin, Ireland by Independent News & Media. It is published Monday-Saturday, and has three editions — City Edition, City Final Edition and National Edition...
had asserted that Sile and Grainne had no chemistry between them.
Jade Goody
Jade Goody
Jade Cerisa Lorraine Goody was an English celebrity. She came into the public spotlight while appearing on the third series of the Channel 4 reality TV programme Big Brother in 2002, an appearance which led to her own television programmes and the launch of her own products after her eviction from...
's agent Max Clifford
Max Clifford
Maxwell Frank Clifford is an English publicist, considered the highest-profile and best-known publicist in the United Kingdom...
had criticised Sile and Grainne for their "aggressive" interview concerning Jade.