The Panel (Irish TV Series) - History

History

The show ran from September 2003. Until 2006 it was hosted by Dara Ó Briain, who had come to popular attention in Ireland through his regular appearances in Don't Feed the Gondolas, another topical comedy show in the same Monday night slot on RTÉ Two. The show is recorded in different locations around Dublin, including the O'Reilly Theatre, Belvedere College, the Helix Theatre, DCU and the Draíocht Theatre, Blanchardstown. It is one of RTÉ's most popular shows, and its sudden apparent cancellation in December 2005 annoyed many fans but it returned with a largely unchanged format in October 2006.

The 2007 general election saw a special run of shows previewing the election, presented by Colin Murphy. The show was performed live to full houses 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. When the show returned for the 2007-2008 season there was no longer a single regular host, but was presented by Neil Delamere, or Colin Murphy. Ó Briain returned to present one episode during this series, which marks the last time, as of 2010, that he has appeared on the show, having moved to work in the United Kingdom. The company he co-founded, Happy Endings Productions, continues to produce the show, and he retains an advisory relationship with the show.

Until early 2008 the programme aired on RTÉ Two, usually on a Monday night. In September 2008, it was announced that The Panel was to move to RTÉ One, the broadcaster's flagship television channel. A fourteen episode run was to begin airing on the channel on 30 October 2008 at 22.15 with a new presenter. Several prominent Irish broadcasters were screen-tested, but a combination of unfortunate factors meant that the seventh series returned with rotating guest hosts, rather than any one person in a permanent position. Shortly before the airdate, RTÉ changed its schedules and the series began on 6 November at 22.15 with its original timescale of 45 minutes. Ray D'Arcy was the guest presenter for the week and was followed by a string of others including Gráinne Seoige, Dáithí Ó Sé, Marty Whelan, Charlie Bird, Phill Jupitus and Pauline McLynn. Its producer, Seamus Cassidy, told The Irish Times that ""a reasonably big name, a very big name actually" would take over as permanent anchor in January 2009. On 23 November 2008, the Sunday Tribune reported that comedian Ardal O'Hanlon was set to be announced as the new permanent host. Former host Ó Briain has indicated that he was aware of the presenter in question, and is quoted as saying on a breakfast radio show that "HE is very funny" but refusing to discuss the matter any further. However, in early 2009 it emerged there would be a further delay in obtaining a permanent host for "at least another couple of weeks", with Craig Doyle presenting the first show of the new year. In the event, the guest host format continued for the entire 2008-2009 series. Following a short run with David McWilliams at the helm in 2009, the show was thought to have been de-commissioned. However, in August 2010, at the launch of RTÉ's Autumn schedule, it was announced that Craig Doyle would be the presenter for a new run of fourteen shows.

A DVD entitled The Panel - The Best of... was released in 2008.