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Matt Cooper and Ciara Doherty will host the new season of The Tonight Show Brian McEvoy/Virgin Media Television

Drama by Derry Girls' creator and doc filmed during Jack Charlton's final year all in Virgin Media's new schedule

Virgin Media Television announced it’s autumn schedule today.

A DRAMA WRITTEN by Derry Girls’ creator Lisa McGee, starring Emmet J Scanlon and Paul Mescal, is among the shows announced by Virgin Media Television for its autumn schedule today. 

Filmed in Ireland, The Deceived focuses on college student Ophelia who falls in love with her married Irish lecturer. When their affair is interrupted by a tragic death, Ophelia finds herself trapped in a world where she can no longer trust her own mind. 

Virgin Media Television has described the show as a “compelling, sinister narrative of lust, manipulation and betrayal”. 

The show will launch on 7 September at 9pm, with two episodes airing back-to-back on Virgin Media One. Virgin TV customers will be able to binge watch the series on Demand. 

Also announced by Virgin Media today is Finding Jack Charlton, a documentary filmed during the last 18 months of the late football legend’s life. 

This co-production between Virgin Media Television and the BBC will detail Charlton’s previously undocumented life with dementia, “offering an intimate and compelling insight into Jack and the challenge faced by thousands of families universally”. 

The documentary will feature key characters from throughout Charlton’s career, with contributions from his family, his wife Pat and son John, for the first time. 

Paul Mescal as Sean in The Deceived 1 Paul Mescal as Sean in The Deceived Brian McEvoy / Virgin Media Television Brian McEvoy / Virgin Media Television / Virgin Media Television

Covid-19

Another new documentary due to air is Big Year in Big School, which will launch on Sunday 13 September.

It will offer an “intimate window into the ups, downs, tears, tantrums and triumphs that unfold” as a class of four and five-year-olds begin their first year in school. 

“A year like no other, as Covid-19 arrived to our shores, they series charts the trials and tribulations of homeschooling and the impact it had on our kids,” Virgin Media Television said. 

In an upcoming Virgin Media News documentary – Life Under Lockdown: Covid-19 in Ireland – reporter Zara King will explore the impact of coronavirus on life in Ireland. 

Big School (5) A still from the upcoming documentary Big Year In Big School Virgin Media Television Virgin Media Television

The schedule also features a range of other documentaries. 

Following on from the success of the critically acclaimed series The Guards: Inside the K, a new fly-on-the-wall series Inside Ireland’s Women’s Prison will bring viewers up close and personal with the women in the Dóchas Centre. 

“This gritty and gripping series gives an unprecedented take on life and women behind bars and just what drove them to cross the line to a life of crime,” the broadcaster said. 

Separately, Vicky Phelan: The Big Interview will air on Virgin Media One this Monday at 9pm as presenter Ciara Doherty sits down with the Cervical Check campaigner in an emotional interview. 

During the interview, Vicky makes a plea to change the law around the right to die, based on her own terminal cancer diagnosis and what she believes she may face in the future. 

Familiar content 

Ireland’s much-loved armchair commentators will be back soon, as a new season of Googlebox Ireland starts on Wednesday 9 September. 

Familiar faces from previous seasons will be joined by new households as they share their critiques of the week’s biggest and best shows on television. 

cabra-girls-goggleboxvirgin-media-television-pic-brian-mcevoy Googlebox Ireland's 'Cabra Girls' Brian McEvoy / Virgin Media Television Brian McEvoy / Virgin Media Television / Virgin Media Television

Meanwhile, Virgin Media One will continue to have up to eight hours of live Irish content each weekday.

Ireland AM returns to its normal broadcast hours of 7am to 11am from Monday 31 August with brand new presenter Tommy Bowe, the former Ulster and Ireland rugby star. 

Elaine, The Six O’Clock Show and The Tonight Show with Matt Cooper and newly announced host Ciara Doherty will also continue to air throughout the autumn.

Sports

The schedule also features a range of sports programming, including the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League. September will see the return of the UEFA National League.

Virgin Media Television plans to air the Euro 2020 playoff semi-finals and finals. 

For rugby fans, the broadcaster will air the conclusion of this season’s Guinness Six Nationals, including Ireland’s games against Italy and France on 24 and 31 October. 

Former Irish international football manager and Virgin Media Sports analyst Brian Kerr will discuss his life and career in Brian Kerr’s Football Stories; from his sport obsessed childhood to the highs and lows of managing the Republic of Ireland team. 

VMTV Brian Kerr 1 Brian Kerr of Virgin Media Television Sports Brian McEvoy / Virgin Media Television Brian McEvoy / Virgin Media Television / Virgin Media Television

Speaking of the autumn season, Virgin Media Television’s director of content Bill Malone said: “Virgin Media Television will continue with our audience-first approach with a new schedule of high quality Irish programming with the best of drama, entertainment, news, current affairs and sport. 

“This viewer-focused strategy will also see us revamp the Virgin Media Player and launch a new series of podcasts covering sport, business, TV and parenting over the coming weeks.” 

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8 Comments
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    Mute Teddy
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:52 PM

    Well for to everyone on our island who stuck to the rules of lockdown – allowing us to come out the far side quicker that anticipated!

    175
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    Mute Pat Kelly
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    Jun 5th 2020, 3:09 PM

    @Teddy: pitty the government didn’t stick to there own rules No quarantine, No testing on people coming in the country & the care homes lies…

    54
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    Mute Ricky Spanish
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    Jun 5th 2020, 6:16 PM

    @Pat Kelly: for God sake give it a rest. They’ve done a pretty good job overall.

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    Mute Joe Johnson
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:58 PM

    Great need a new pair of slippers. Old ones worn out walking around the house.

    67
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    Mute John Baylon
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    Jun 5th 2020, 3:30 PM

    @Joe Johnson: Hope your new slippers will ease the need for health care workers to continue their wearing of ppe when this is over

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    Mute Oliver Walker
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:46 PM

    The ‘Open the country’ brigade will be happy with that. Quick turnaround though…

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    Mute Peter Hughes
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:52 PM

    @Oliver Walker: You obviously don’t work or in a job that is not affected by this….put yourself in someones shoes that has mortgages to pay and needs to put food on the table, you people are so selfish its unreal…its all me me me.

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    Mute Oliver Walker
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:58 PM

    @Peter Hughes: No Peter, I was temporarily laid off in March, thanks.

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    Mute Joe
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:59 PM

    @Oliver Walker: great news and completely sensible!

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    Mute Oliver Walker
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    Jun 5th 2020, 3:10 PM

    @Peter Hughes: Where did I mention that Peter?

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    Mute Declan Leonard
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    Jun 5th 2020, 3:15 PM

    @Peter Hughes: try seeing the sarcasm in his 1st message

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    Mute Jake Kelly
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    Jun 5th 2020, 3:00 PM

    If they didn’t reopen shops people would be mad, if they reopened shops people would be mad. Not praising the government or anything but no matter what choices they made today they’d be angering someone who probably can’t see the complexity of the issues from a financial well-being standpoint. Health and safety standards are going to be changed to accommodate things but the longer things remained shut the greater the chance of economic decimation grew day by day. As it is things still won’t be normal and the effects will be felt for a long time

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    Mute Sharp Elsi Mate
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:46 PM

    Shops that sell pints of porter and have the added convenicene of sitting down and drinking it there also? Too far….

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    Mute Luke Redmond
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:50 PM

    The march was the catalyst for this imo
    Public opinion had swung against them

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    Mute Sharp Elsi Mate
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    Jun 5th 2020, 3:09 PM

    @Luke Redmond: #PaddysLifesMatter

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    Mute John fitzpatrick
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    Jun 5th 2020, 4:11 PM

    @Luke Redmond: the majority of people were against the march and still are. It’s still breaking the mass gathering rule and still a liability.

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    Mute Luke Redmond
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    Jun 5th 2020, 4:53 PM

    @John fitzpatrick: I totally agree
    Maybe I wasn’t clear
    The march shouldn’t have happened and the fact it did turned public opinion against restrictions as it undermined them

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    Mute Darryl Canning
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:57 PM

    When can I get a haircut?

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    Mute Marie Louise Ryan
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:56 PM

    Scroll to comments section, is Penny’s opening

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    Mute Logan Shepherd
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:59 PM

    @Marie Louise Ryan: As long as they are not in a shopping center then they can open. Fingers crossed for you ..

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    Mute Trish O'Leary-Dunne
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    Jun 5th 2020, 3:11 PM

    @Marie Louise Ryan: Pennys said they aren’t ready to open on Monday sadly.

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    Mute Nell foran
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    Jun 5th 2020, 3:32 PM

    This acceleration is madness it doesn’t give time to check if the numbers go up.

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    Mute Symbolism
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    Jun 5th 2020, 3:06 PM

    Is all browsing banned or just leisurely browsing ?

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    Mute whatistheseason
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    Jun 5th 2020, 4:15 PM

    Black pints matter – open the pubs!

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    Mute Modern Irish Dad
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:54 PM

    That’s good I like my local

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    Mute Martin Smith
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    Jun 5th 2020, 3:32 PM

    Leo be happy that he can return home now after having to relocate to farmleigh so that he could meet his mates for a few cans in the park

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    Mute John fitzpatrick
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    Jun 5th 2020, 4:12 PM

    @Martin Smith: Yawn!!

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    Mute Chewns
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:54 PM

    Barbers opening?

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    Mute Anthony Whelan
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    Jun 5th 2020, 3:06 PM

    @Chewns: July 20

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    Mute Noel O'Neill
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    Jun 5th 2020, 3:18 PM

    Public transport is driving people to use their own cars, different drivers are been selected as to how many people they let on, also all very well for these places to open and I’m not against it but to the HSE who should be working in tandem with the phases and getting people their appointments for different health reasons should be opening as well

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    Mute Fionn Darland
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    Jun 5th 2020, 2:56 PM

    Great news!

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    Mute james r
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    Jun 5th 2020, 4:39 PM

    The funniest thing is how people reacting. Yesterday they were crying that they’re so scared as virus is spreading and they were ringing garda when their neighbours went to the beach and today they’re so happy that they can go sunbathing or to shops with thousands others. Where is logic in it? Are they really so stupid that yesterday they believed we’ll all die and today there is no danger anymore just because government told them? Stupidness is everywhere

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    Mute Daniel Roche
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    Jun 5th 2020, 5:13 PM

    @james r: are you still telling lies, would you ever grow up.

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    Mute mar
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    Jun 5th 2020, 6:03 PM

    @james r: Completely agree. This whole situation really has been an eye-opener.

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    Mute Dermot O'Reilly
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    Jun 5th 2020, 7:11 PM

    All churches remain closed

    Thanks to unelected dictator Varadakar

    4
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