Celebrity Jigs 'n' Reels

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Celebrity Jigs n' Reels is an Irish reality entertainment television show broadcast on RTÉ One. It is produced by Mind The Gap Films.

Contents

[edit] Format

The series started out with seven celebrities paired with professional Irish dancers. Each week they were given a contemporary Irish rock or pop song (as chosen by producers), to which the professional Irish dancer had to choreograph a traditional Irish dance. The dancers would then dance for the judges who would give feedback and subsequently award points. The dancers then faced a public vote, with the two couples who received the lowest number of votes having to face the judges again. When the judges revealed the number of points they were awarding, the couple with the lower score were eliminated.

[edit] Series One

George Hook does a spot of judging.
George Hook does a spot of judging.


Series One launched in March 2006 in the slot regularly occupied by You're A Star. With a mix of high profile celebrities such as former Eurovision winner Dana and Olympic Gold Medallist Michael Carruth as well as relative unknowns such as Emma O'Driscoll and Suzannae Walshe the show slowly climbed the ratings and achieved a reported 43% audience share.

[edit] Judges

Jean Butler, George Hook, Colin Dunne, Robert O'Byrne

[edit] Celebrities and dancers

  • Killian O'Sullivan and Nicola Byrne (winners)
  • Dana and Ronan McCormack (2nd place)
  • Paul Byrom and Susan Ginnety (3rd place)
  • Michael Carruth and Dearbhla Lennon (4th place)
  • Jen Kelly and Paula Goulding (5th place)
  • Emma O'Driscoll and Mick Donegan (6th place)
  • Suzanne Walshe and Scott Porter (7th place)


[edit] New Years Party

On December 31st 2006, Celebrity Jigs n'Reels returned to ring Ireland into the New Year live on RTÉ1. Seven brand new celebrities danced for one night only to raise money for charity and herald in 2007. The format differed from Series One as no celebrity represented a specific charity, instead all the money raised went to Focus Ireland & The Simon Community. Both of which look after the homeless. Hilda Faye (from Fair City) was crowned champion, beating model Celia Holman Lee and GAA All Star Oisin McConville.

The results show ran for an extended period of 50 minutes and included a live singing performance from Paul Byrom (second runner up from series one) as well as a four minute ensemble dance routine from the shows professional dancers. The results show also marked the return of 2006 winner Killian O'Sullivan, who danced with his former partner Nicola Byrne to the Scissor Sisters track "I Don't Feel Like Dancing". This marked the first time a song by a non Irish artist or band was featured in the show.

The New Years Party show stood out as it was the first live show to ring in the New Year on RTÉ in over five years. In previous years recorded shows were played "as live" on December 31st and usually involved a standard format of musical entertainment and chat with an invited audience.

[edit] Judges

Jean Butler, George Hook, Colin Dunne

Panellist Robert O'Byrne did not return for the New Years Special and panel consisted of three judges instead of four.


[edit] Series Two

Series two of Celebrity Jigs n'Reels is said to start on RTÉ during the summer and will feature former Miss World, Rosanna Davidson and Fair City star Gerard Byrne.

[edit] External links



Radio Telefís Éireann original programmes corporate logo
Comedy & Drama shows: The Blizzard of Odd | Bull Island | Hall's Pictorial Weekly | The Irish R.M. | The Panel | The Podge and Rodge Show | A Scare at Bedtime | Strumpet City
News & Current Affairs: Discovery | Nine O'Clock News | One O'Clock News | Prime Time | Questions and Answers | Reeling In The Years | 7 Days | Six One News
Chat shows: Kenny Live | The Late Late Show | The Live Mike | Tubridy Tonight
Soap operas: Bracken | Fair City | Glenroe | The Riordans | Tolka Row
Talent Contests: Celebrity Jigs 'n' Reels | Charity You're A Star | You're A Star
Irish language: Buntús Cainte | Trom agus Éadrom
Children's: Bosco | The Den | The Morbegs | Wanderly Wagon
Music: The Last Broadcast

See also: List of programmes broadcast by RTÉ