Local Bingo caller Ann Smith is singing star of TV3’s ‘Bingo Nights’.

For further information:

Sharon McHugh
TV3 PRESS OFFICE
+3531 419 3430 / 087 922 4143
sharon.mchugh@tv3.ie
publicity@tv3.ie

Ciara Byrne
+353 1 419 3329 / 087 3199732
ciara.byrne@tv3.ie

TV3 GROUP RELEASE

IMMEDIATE: Monday 28thApril 2014

 

 

Local Bingo caller Ann Smith is singing star of TV3’s ‘Bingo Nights’.

 

Dublin woman Ann has been calling bingo numbers for over thirty years and is something of a legend to bingo lovers who attend The National Stadium on the South Circular Road in Dublin.

 

‘Bingo Nights’ airs Wednesday 30th April at 9pm on TV3.

 

Video link to view the full episode available on request

 

Interviews with Ann Smith available on request

 

Wednesday night sees the premiere of TV3’s brand new series Bingo Nights which follows avid Bingo lovers from all over Ireland. In episode 1 we meet one very colourful character - Ann Smith. Ann doesn’t just call bingo numbers, she sings them too.  

 

A bingo caller for over thirty years and an institution to The National Stadium Bingo in Dublin, Ann says her calling career “all started by accident”. Working for Tony McMahon, Ann started calling bingo numbers in Moore Street and in 1984 the business expanded and moved premises to The National Stadium Bingo on the South Circular Road, where it hosts bingo three nights a week.

 

Thirty years on Ann says: “We’re still here, doing the same thing with a lot of the same people. We still have an atmosphere which was never lost even though the premises is very big”. “You could not plan a night to run a certain way ‘cause that just doesn’t happen. It’s different every single night –but that makes it all the more fun!”

 

As the crowds prepare for the first game of the evening Ann gets the crowd revved up by treating them to a special song entitled “The Numbers on your Balls”.

 

Regulars Alice Beatty and Marie Lambe giggle as they introduce Ann’s moment on stage. Alice explains how Ann sometimes likes to mix it up by rapping as well as singing. “Some people like her singing it and some say ‘No’, but she just carries on. If she wants to sing the song, she’ll sing it!”

 

Marie Lambe adds: “She’s been singing it for quite a long time, but, now, she’s starting to rap it! Well, she thinks it’s a rap she’s doing but we leave her to it”.

 

Ann insists that her singing is all for the crowd. “It’s basically making it as enjoyable for ourselves as well as our ‘clients’ as I call them”.

 

Ann Smith is one of several characters introduced to us in this fun and heartwarming new series on TV3.

 

‘Bingo Nights’ airs Wednesday 30th April 2014 at 9pm on TV3.

 

Images have been sent to your picture desks.

 

ENDS

 

For further information
Ciara Byrne – Press Officer – 01 419 3329/087 319 9732

Jean O’Donovan – Press & Publicity Assistant – 01 419 3428

Sharon McHugh – Head of Press & Publicity – 087 922 4143

publicity@tv3.ie                        
www.tv3.ie

 

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