Celebrity Jigs 'n' Reels
Encyclopedia
Celebrity Jigs n' Reels is an Irish
reality entertainment
television show broadcast on RTÉ One
. It is produced by Mind The Gap Films
.
rs. 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. They 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.
. With a mix of high profile celebrities such as the singer Dana
and Olympic gold medallist Michael Carruth
, as well as relative unknowns, such as Emma O'Driscoll
and Suzanne Walshe, the show slowly climbed the ratings and achieved a reported 43 per cent audience share.
. Seven brand new celebrities danced for one night only to raise money for charity and bring in 2007. The format differed from series one in that no celebrity represented a specific charity; instead all the money raised went to Focus Ireland
and The Simon Community, both of which look after the homeless. Hilda Faye (from Fair City
) was crowned champion, beating former Big Brother
star Ray Shah, model Celia Holman Lee, GAA All Star Oisín McConville
, and ex Pogues bassist Cait O'Riordan.
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 Dancin'
". This marked the first time a song by a non-Irish artist or band was featured in the show.
The New Year's Party show stood out as it was the first live show to ring in the New Year on RTÉ in more than five years. In previous years recorded shows were played "as live" on 31 December and usually involved a standard format of musical entertainment and chat with an invited audience.
, George Hook
, Colin Dunne
Panellist Robert O'Byrne did not return for the New Year's Special.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
reality entertainment
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
television show broadcast on RTÉ One
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
. It is produced by Mind The Gap Films
Mind The Gap Films
Mind The Gap Films is an independent TV production company based in Ireland. Most of their work has been for Radio Telefís Éireann or the Public Broadcasting Service...
.
Format
The series started out with seven celebrities paired with professional Irish danceIrish dance
Irish dancing or Irish dance is a group of traditional dance forms originating in Ireland which can broadly be divided into social dance and performance dances. Irish social dances can be divided further into céilí and set dancing...
rs. 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. They 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.
Series one
Series one launched in March 2006, in the slot regularly occupied by You're a StarYou're A Star
You're a Star was a singing contest in Ireland,similar to th X Factor in the United Kingdom and American Idol in the USA created by Screentime ShinAwiL and Radio Telefís Éireann. It was shown weekly on RTÉ One over the winter months of each year...
. With a mix of high profile celebrities such as the singer Dana
Dana Rosemary Scallon
Dana Rosemary Scallon , known in her singing career simply as Dana, is an Irish singer and former Member of the European Parliament ....
and Olympic gold medallist Michael Carruth
Michael Carruth
Michael Carruth is a southpaw Irish Olympic boxer from Dublin who won the welterweight gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Carruth has just finished a stint as expert boxing analyst for RTEs Olympic coverage...
, as well as relative unknowns, such as Emma O'Driscoll
Emma O'Driscoll
Emma Louise O'Driscoll is a former Irish pop star, turned children's television presenter and reality television personality. She rose to fame in the 2001–2002 RTÉ One television series Popstars, in which she was selected as a member of the band Six...
and Suzanne Walshe, the show slowly climbed the ratings and achieved a reported 43 per cent audience share.
Celebrities and dancers
- Killian O'Sullivan and Nicola Byrne (winners)
- DanaDana Rosemary ScallonDana Rosemary Scallon , known in her singing career simply as Dana, is an Irish singer and former Member of the European Parliament ....
and Ronan McCormack (2nd place) - Paul Byrom and Susan Ginnety (3rd place)
- Michael CarruthMichael CarruthMichael Carruth is a southpaw Irish Olympic boxer from Dublin who won the welterweight gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Carruth has just finished a stint as expert boxing analyst for RTEs Olympic coverage...
and Dearbhla Lennon (4th place) - Jen Kelly and Paula Goulding (5th place)
- Emma O'DriscollEmma O'DriscollEmma Louise O'Driscoll is a former Irish pop star, turned children's television presenter and reality television personality. She rose to fame in the 2001–2002 RTÉ One television series Popstars, in which she was selected as a member of the band Six...
and Mick Donegan (6th place) - Suzanne Walshe and Scott Porter (7th place)
New Year's Party
On 31 December 2006, Celebrity Jigs n'Reels returned to ring Ireland into the New Year live on RTÉ OneRTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
. Seven brand new celebrities danced for one night only to raise money for charity and bring in 2007. The format differed from series one in that no celebrity represented a specific charity; instead all the money raised went to Focus Ireland
Focus Ireland
Focus Ireland is a nonprofit organization based in Dublin, Republic of Ireland that provides services for homeless people.Focus Ireland was founded by Sister Stanislaus Kennedy and Rachel Collier in 1985. Its stated mission is "to advance the right of people-out-of-home to live in a place they call...
and The Simon Community, both of which look after the homeless. Hilda Faye (from Fair City
Fair City
Fair City is an award-winning Irish television soap opera on RTÉ One. Produced by Radio Telefís Éireann, it was first broadcast on Monday, September 18, 1989...
) was crowned champion, beating former Big Brother
Big Brother (UK)
Big Brother UK is the British version of the Dutch Big Brother television format, which takes its name from the character in George Orwell's 1948 novel Nineteen Eighty-Four...
star Ray Shah, model Celia Holman Lee, GAA All Star Oisín McConville
Oisín McConville
Oisín McConville is an Irish Gaelic footballer who played for Armagh in the 1990s and 2000s. He has won an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medal, seven Ulster Championships and a National League title with the county...
, and ex Pogues bassist Cait O'Riordan.
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
Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters are an American band "spawned by the scuzzy, gay nightlife scene of New York" who took their name from a sexual position between two women also known as tribadism...
track "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'
I Don't Feel like Dancin'
"I Don't Feel Like Dancin" is the first single from the second album by the American pop band Scissor Sisters, Ta-Dah. It was written with Elton John, who provides piano for the song, and was the band's first top ten single in Australia and Canada. The song was written by Elton John, Scott Hoffman...
". This marked the first time a song by a non-Irish artist or band was featured in the show.
The New Year's Party show stood out as it was the first live show to ring in the New Year on RTÉ in more than five years. In previous years recorded shows were played "as live" on 31 December and usually involved a standard format of musical entertainment and chat with an invited audience.
Judges
Jean ButlerJean Butler
Jean Butler , is an Irish American Irish dancer, choreographer, and occasional actress. She is best known for originating the principal female role in the Irish dance company Riverdance.-Personal life and education:...
, George Hook
George Hook
George Hook is an Irish broadcaster, journalist and rugby union pundit. He had a career as a rugby union coach and businessman, before becoming a rugby pundit with Raidió Teilifís Éireann...
, Colin Dunne
Colin Dunne
Colin Dunne is an English performer of Irish dance.-Training:Dunne trained at the Marion Turley Academy of Irish Dance in Coventry. In 1978 at the age of nine, Dunne swept the "Grand Slam" of Irish dance competition by winning the World Championships, All Ireland and All England titles...
Panellist Robert O'Byrne did not return for the New Year's Special.