A new four-part documentary charting the life and times of Charles Haughey will be broadcast on RTÉ television next month. Such is the pulling power still retained by the former taoiseach, the "biopic" looks set to be one of the highlights of RTÉ's summer schedule, announced yesterday.
According to a spokeswoman for the national broadcaster, the programme makers enjoyed considerable co-operation from the Haughey family, being granted "access to the inner circle" although unfortunately, they did not manage to interview Mr Haughey himself on camera.
The programme, which is produced by Steve Carson of Mint Productions, promises interviews with family, friends and foes "to paint a full colour picture of the most controversial and magnetic politician in recent Irish history". It will go to air over four successive weeks starting in June.
Meanwhile, fans of sweaty ballrooms, swinging microphones and swivelling hips will be glad to note that Spit on me Dickie, a documentary on showband star Dickie Rock, will be broadcast as part of RTÉ's True Lives series on the first or second Tuesday in June.
During the summer, True Lives will also focus on such things as private investigators in Limerick, faith healers in Brazil and the sleazy underbelly of the Costa del Sol.
There will be a six-part, fly-on-the-wall documentary, presented by Derek Davis, following six local people around Kinsale for the summer, which sounds similar to Shay Healy's successful Harbour Nights docu-soap set in Courtown, Co Wexford in 1999.
On Saturday nights, Miriam O'Callaghan gets the chance to leave the serious Prime Time studio and show off her lighter side as she hosts her new 10-part chat show as Ryan Tubridy takes a summer break.
For sports fans, RTÉ is devoting its usual slots to plenty of GAA coverage with around 40 hurling and football games being televised live between now and the All-Ireland finals in September.
Ireland's three soccer World Cup qualifiers against Israel (June 4th), Faroe Islands (June 8th) and France (September 7th) will be shown live.
"This summer we have extended and enhanced our schedule with over 300 hours of home-produced programming which appeals most to the Irish viewing public," said Noel Curran, managing director of RTÉ Television.