For further information:
Louise Zayed
Senior Press Officer
Tel: +353 1 419 3428
louise.zayed@tv3.ie
Kevin Shore
Press Officer
Tel: +353 1 419 3387
kevin.shore@virginmedia.ie
publicity@tv3.ie
TV3 GROUP RELEASE
IMMEDIATE: Friday 19th September, 2014.
Ireland’s No 1 Breakfast Show ‘Ireland AM’ celebrates 15 years
The birthday celebrations kicked off this morning on TV3 with a host of Ireland AM regular contributors as well as special guests; male supermodel David Gandy and Irish band Picturehouse.
Minister for Communications Alex White was also present to mark the occasion.
Butlers Chocolates celebrated 15 years of ‘Ireland AM’ by making a once off Orange Crunch chocolate in all of their stores nationwide.
‘Ireland AM’ airs Monday to Friday from 7am – 10.00am on TV3.
Click here to view highlights of Ireland AM’s 15th anniversary show
TV3’s Ireland AM marked its 15th anniversary today, celebrating with a host of well-known faces who have contributed over the years to making Ireland AM the Number 1 breakfast show on Irish television.
The birthday celebrations kicked off this morning on TV3 with some Ireland AM contributors, side-splitting out-takes and an exciting array of surprises throughout the morning. Viewers were treated to a ‘behind the scenes’ exclusive, where presenters Mark Cagney, Sinead Desmond, Anna Daly, Aidan Cooney and Alan Hughes, along with the rest of the winning Ireland AM team, revealed how the whole show comes together each weekday morning.
This special celebration of Ireland AM took a nostalgic look back at all the best bits of the show throughout the years, with many familiar faces popping up and giving avid viewers a real blast from the past. One of the world’s most famous male models, David Gandy, was in studio with the Ireland AM team to join in on the celebrations and talk about his new underwear collection. Gandy became a household name after he featured in Dolce and Gabbana’s ad campaign for ‘Light Blue’ fragrance.
Mini Mark and Sinead also joined in on the birthday celebrations almost stealing the limelight from the adult versions of themselves. Alan Hughes, who has gallantly attempted to break a world record every day this week in the run up to the 15th anniversary, has tried once again to break a world record, this time with a group of Ireland AM regular contributors, for the ‘most high fives in relay in three minutes!’ Alan and the Ireland AM team not only succeeded in breaking the record but exceeded expectations, beating it by 102 ‘high fives’ and setting the benchmark at an astonishing 389!
To celebrate 15 years on air, Ireland AM revealed a once off limited orange crunch chocolate that Alan Hughes designed with Butlers Chocolates. This chocolate is available in Butlers all day for all Ireland AM fans. The fun filled anniversary show featured interviews with ‘superfans’ of Ireland AM who have been devotedly watching since the show first aired in 1999. Ireland AM celebrated their 15th birthday with a spectacular TV/Radio mash-up with popular radio shows, The Ian Dempsey Show , The Ray Darcy Show, Newstalk Breakfast, The Ray Foley Show and Dermot and Dave. Each popular radio presenter teased the nation with a clue about a mystery item and Diana O’Rourke from Dublin was the lucky winner of the Tour America prize worth €6,000 – a dream, family holiday trip to Orlando, Florida with special passes to the world’s biggest Legoland.
Minister for Communications, Alex White, was also on the show discussing the significance of 15 years delivering breakfast TV. Speaking to Mark and Sinead, he highlighted the importance of indigenous programming: “Television is a big beast and it has to be fed all the time with programming, good quality programming like the programme you’re doing here. Home produced programming is hugely important I think now for the audience. I think with the proliferation of new channels, opt-outs, all of the challenges that are there for a station like this. You’re right to concentrate on home-produced programmes and I think the schedule that you’ve announced recently for the autumn demonstrates that. ‘Red Rock’, the new series that you’ve got going into production I think around about now, I really look forward to that. A lot of the other things you’re doing I think show the commitment that you’re making to the Irish audience. The indigenous Irish audience and that’s critical.”
To top off the celebrations, Irish band ‘Picturehouse’ were playing their unique version of the Ireland AM theme tune live throughout the whole show.
Ireland AM has seen its viewership increase hugely over the last 15 years. At its launch in 1999, Ireland AM averaged 6,500 viewers and a 6.20% share compared to an average of 51,200 viewers and a 26.66% share in 2014, year to date. This easily makes Ireland AM the most watched breakfast show on Irish television.
Speaking at the celebrations today, Mark Cagney said: “It’s hard to believe that after 15 years, we’re still here, still going and still growing. In this business that’s astonishing, in fact it’s unique, so I’m very grateful and very proud to be a part of it.”
Sinead Desmond said: “I am so proud to be working with such an incredible bunch of people who have played a part in building the show up over the last 15 years to make it the number 1 breakfast show in Ireland. It’s an absolute honour to be here celebrating with everyone today”
Anna Daly said: “It’s just amazing how far we have come in the last 15 years and the fact that we are the top breakfast show in Ireland is a true reflection of all the hard work and dedication that the whole team put in every morning. I am so proud and privileged to be working with such a talented bunch!”
Alan Hughes said: “God, to think that we have been 15 years already. You know what they say, ‘time flies when you’re having fun!’ It certainly has been amazing working all these years on the show with some of the most talented people in the business. I feel very lucky to still be a part of it so many years later and I’m delighted to be here today to celebrate.”
Aidan Cooney said: “It’s such a huge achievement to reach 15 years and still be the top breakfast show in Ireland. Ireland AM is constantly growing and evolving – we’ve only recently launched a brand new set. We’re always trying to be bigger and better and it’s a great occasion today.”
Speaking about the momentous occasion and significant 15 years that ‘Ireland AM’ has been on air, TV3 Group Head of Daytime, Victoria Quinn, said: “’Ireland AM’ has been a staple of TV3’s schedule for the last 15 years and its continued success and growth over those years has proved to be unrivalled. We do our best to keep viewers engaged, informed and entertained when they wake up every weekday morning and we are so proud that the show has built up such a loyal fan base. The popularity of the show is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all the presenters, contributors and crew throughout the years and I look forward to many more exciting years ahead.”
Click here to view highlights of the ‘Ireland AM’ 15th anniversary show.
Keep up to date with Ireland AM on Facebook or follow the conversation on Twitter @IrelandAMTV3
Ireland AM airs Monday to Friday from 7am – 10.00am 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
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