The cast from that granddaddy of Irish soaps, Glenroe, took time out from a hectic schedule to relax over mulled wine and mince pies on Wednesday morning. Within minutes there was organised seasonal mayhem as series producer Tommy McArdle coaxed Maureen Toal to wear a red Santa bonnet, while Mick Lally, tired after a long run in Martin McDonogh's A Skull In Connemara, and Mary McEvoy posed for the cameras.
RTE's director of drama, David Blake-Knox plucked Eunice McMenamin's ticket as winner of the Christmas turkey raffle and the director general, Bob Collins, also popped along to join the fun. The real guest of honour, though, was Wesley Burrowes, who originally devised the series and wrote many, many episodes. Wesley swore that the hour-long episode he has written for this Christmas will be his last, before admitting that he says that every year. This time, however, he has just signed a contract for another series which he will co-write with Maeve Binchy. The six-parter will be set in Ireland and Spain and centres on the activities of a travel agency. With that writing team it will undoubtedly be a big hit.
Later, the gathering moved to Studio 4 to await the arrival of Boyzone, who were there to announce the details of the RTE Christmas schedule. The Boyz themselves will be on the box on Christmas Day in a big show with guests Brian Kennedy, The Carter Twins and that great Yuletide survivor, Dustin the Turkey.