On Tuesday night it was revealed that three presenters from the long- running show, Aisling O’Loughlin, Lisa Cannon, and Peter O’Riordan would be leaving immediately.
Glenda Gilson, Karen Koster, Ruth O’Neill, and Cassie Stokes will remain as presenters.
“A change is always good. It’s just the initial shock and I don’t think I’m quite over it yet,” Glenda told the
yesterday.“Lisa, I’m thrilled for her, she’s going on to live TV, this could be the making of Lisa. She’s full of personality, she’s full of life, and she’s going to get into different subjects. She’s on Weekend AM.”
Xpose is also contracting from a one-hour slot to a half-hour segment. “I’m glad about going back to the half an hour, it’ll be faster paced,” said Glenda.
Celebrity Masterchef, which will air in the autumn, was also a talking point at yesterday’s launch.
Contestants include executive director of Amnesty International Colm O’Gorman and Met Éireann’s Evelyn Cusack.
The judges include Dublin-born chef Robin Gill, with four London restaurants to his name and Daniel Clifford, a chef with two Michelin stars.
Colm said the whole experience has been amazing so far. “It is, quite frankly, an amazing experience. I cook a lot. I spend a fair part of my week, particularly when I’m driving, fantasising about what I’m going to cook at the weekend,” he said
Judge Robin said he was initially sceptical about the contestants’ ability to cook, but his scepticism has since been erased.
“I was a bit apprehensive of the celebrity one. I was thinking are these guys in to raise their profiles more or are they going to come in and cook.
“What has been remarkable to see is the moment they put on the apron, they’re in; they’re new people and they’re here to cook and that’s it,” he said.
The hotly anticipated Celebrity Masterchef comes to TV3 in January 17' with some familiar faces #TV3Autumn16 #CMCTV3 pic.twitter.com/TH8ZXsQj0Y
— Virgin Media Television (@VirginMedia_TV) August 31, 2016
Fellow judge Daniel, is also impressed with the culinary talent, as well as the food scene in Ireland.
“We’ve eaten out a lot. The food has dramatically changed. I was here about six or seven years ago and there are some amazing restaurants and, to be honest, the contestants are much better than we thought they were going to be,” he said.
In terms of prime time, Pat Kenny and Colette Fitzpatrick will host a current affairs show on Wednesday nights and Vincent Browne will return next Monday at the earlier time of 10.30pm.
Lucy Kennedy will also host Living with Lucy, where she moves in with people such as Kerry Katona.
Entertainment is what we do at TV3! #XFactor #GoggleboxIRL #LivingWithLucy all come to TV3 this Sept #TV3Autumn16 pic.twitter.com/dyRpGNrMP3
— Virgin Media Television (@VirginMedia_TV) August 31, 2016
TV3 autumn schedule highlights
- Pat Kenny and Colette Fitzpatrick will front a new current affairs show on Wednesday nights.
- Comedians Deirdre O’Kane and Rory Cowan will narrate Gogglebox Ireland.
- Lucy Kennedy will host Living with Lucy, where she will live with people such as Kerry Katona and Al Porter.
- Chefs Robin Gill and Daniel Clifford will be the judges on Celebrity Masterchef.
- Tonight with Vincent Browne has an earlier start time of 10.30pm from next Monday.
- TV3’s hit drama, Red Rock, will now air on Monday nights at 9.30pm. It returns on September 12.
- Donal MacIntyre will bring a team of specialists together to investigate some of Ireland’s longest-running missing persons cases.
- David McWilliams will host a business show, Agenda, on Sunday afternoons.