The Panel (Ireland)

infobox television
show_name = The Panel


caption =
format = Chatshow, comedy
runtime = 45 minutes per episode
creator =
starring = Colin Murphy
Ed Byrne
Dara Ó Briain
Neil Delamere
Andrew Maxwell

country = IRL
network = Network Two (2003-2004)
RTÉ Two (2004-2008)
RTÉ One (2008-present)
first_aired = September 15, 2003
last_aired = present
num_episodes = 73, as of 30 January 2008
imdb_id = 0383131

"The Panel" is a weekly comedy chat show produced by Happy Endings Productions for Radio Telefís Éireann.

Until 2006 it was hosted by Dara Ó Briain, although as of Autumn 2007 there is no longer a single regular host, but is presented by one of Ó Briain, Neil Delamere, or Colin Murphy. The show used to be recorded in The Helix but has since moved to the Draoicht Theatre in Blanchardstown in 2005. The show, which has run from September 2003 to the present day, has five panellists who change from week to week. They discuss current events, interspersed with celebrity interviews (3 per show originally, and then reduced to 2). It is one of RTÉ's most popular shows, and its sudden apparent cancellation in December 2005 annoyed many of the programme's fans but it returned with a largely unchanged format in October 2006. The format was derived from an Australian show of the same name. Until early 2008 the programme aired on RTÉ Two, usually on a Monday night.

The show was performed live in the Olympia Theatre, Dublin from 11-13 September 2007 as part of the Bulmers Comedy Festival. These shows, following the format of the television show but a longer running time and stronger language, were chaired by Colin Murphy and were not recorded for television.

The show has been recommissioned for another series, beginning on October 30th 2008. The show will move to RTÉ One with a new presenter who has yet to be announced. [ [http://www.rte.ie/tv/thepanel/] ]

Panellists

Regular

*Colin Murphy (presenter). Since Ó Briain ceased to be a regular, Murphy is the only panelist who appears in (almost) every episode.
*Neil Delamere (presenter)
*Ed Byrne
*Andrew Maxwell

Occasional

* Dara Ó Briain. The shows former regular presenter, he has only appeared on one show of the 2007-2008 season, although he hosted the episode on which he appeared.
*Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin
*Karl Spain
*Fiona Looney
*Anna Nolan
*Mairead Farrell (Irish radio presenter)
*Pauline McLynn
*Gráinne Seoige
*Síle Seoige
*Aoife Ní Thuairisg
*Geri Maye
*Brendan Courtney
*George Hook
*Kathryn Thomas
*David Corbet
*Jimmy Carr
*Edith Bowman
*Tommy Tiernan
*Jenny Huston
*Dermot Whelan
*Pamela Flood

ummer 2008

The Panel went on tour for its second turn, involving 8 stops at towns around Ireland.

External links

*imdb title|0383131|The Panel
* [http://www.rte.ie/tv/thepanel/ "The Panel" on RTÉ's website]