All Ireland Talent Show

Former You’re A Star host Brian Ormond is being tipped to step in as a judge on this year’s series of the All Ireland Talent Show.

Paddy Power make the Clondalkin local their 5/2 favourite to replace Boyzone’s Shane Lynch after the tattooed crooner confirmed he would not be returning as the Dublin judge for another series.

With regional auditions for the show scheduled to kick off on August 21 show bosses are desperate to confirm a new judge. Other celebrities in the running to fill Shane’s shoes include Westlife’s Nicky Byrne at 5/1, Panto queen Twink at 6/1, newlywed Michelle Heaton at 8/1 and Brian McFadden at 10/1.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power, said: “Brian Ormond would be the perfect choice to take over from Shane. He knows exactly what it’s like to come from nothing having risen to fame through reality shows himself and hailing from Clondalkin he’s also a true Dub!” (more…)

Galway girl Grainne Seoige could be snatched across the water by UK TV chiefs after wowing viewers with a stand in performance on ITV’s GMTV.

So impressive was gorgeous Grainne that bookies Paddy Power are already betting on who will replace her as host of RTE’s ‘All Ireland Talent Show’.

Derek Mooney, host of RTE’s new talent search ‘Fame’ is the 4/1 favourite to take the reins followed by former ‘You’re A Star’ host Brian Ormond at 5/1. Yummy mummy Lorraine Keane is 6/1 to return to TV while Grainne’s younger sister Síle is an 8/1 shot to step into her shoes. Afternoon Show presenter Sheana Keane is a 50/1 outsider to join her old co-host Blathnaid NiChofaigh on the show!

The odds on Grainne landing a co-hosting job at GMTV is just 11/8 and there are even 8/1 odds she’ll replace Holly Willoughby as host of ‘The Xtra Factor’ and 20/1 odds that she’ll takeover from Dermot O’Leary on the X Factor stage.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power, said: “A career in the UK would be a huge deal for Grainne. Forget the black stuff, Grainne looks set to become Ireland’s newest big export, only with a nicer head! RTE could soon be looking for a replacement to fill her shoes!” (more…)

Kerry person of the year Dáithí O’Sé looks set to leave his fellow judges feeling under the weather this weekend when the All Ireland Talent Show final takes place.

The West, mentored by the TG4 weatherman is the red-hot favourite at 4/5 to produce this year’s winning act. Sexy Sean nós dancer Emma O’Sullivan accompanied by John O’Halloran on melodeon are 11/8 to walk away with the €50,000 prize, while Dáithí’s other act pretty blonde Olwyn Murray is 5/1 to sing her way to victory.

But it won’t be all plain sailing for Dáithi on the night. He faces stiff competition from The South under John Creedon. John also has two acts in the final – the very talented Ben Escorcio at 11/4 and Michael Lawlor at 6/1.

Bláthnaid’s Na Fianna are 6/1 to win for The East while Dana’s little belter Chloe Coyle is 8/1 to win for The North.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power, said: “It’s hard to look past The West when it comes to the All Ireland Talent Show. Dáithi has been sweeping the board all the way through the competition and with two great acts in the final he’ll be very hard to beat.” (more…)

Boyzone hunk Shane Lynch is being tipped to throw in the towel on RTE’s All Ireland Talent Show after failing to secure a place in the semi finals for ANY of his Dublin acts.

Paddy Power are betting 4/5 that the racy judge will not return for another series of the talent show, a move which could see big wigs in RTE scramble to change the format of the voting.

Ever since the show began in 2009 it’s been an uphill struggle for the Dublin region. Acts from the West under Dáithí O’Sé and acts from the South under John Creedon dominate the show leaving other regions under Blathnaid, Dana and Shane out in the cold.

It’s 11/8 that TV bosses will move to change the voting procedures for next years series, 2/1 that they remove the Dublin region altogether and 5/1 they bring ‘You’re A Star’ back in its place! The cheeky bookie is even quoting 100/1 odds that the show will be renamed ‘Ireland’s Got No Talent’.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “Dublin’s record in the All Ireland Talent Show really has been miserable. Between tactical voting from all the judges and Dublin failing to get behind their acts Shane must be feeling completely helpless and fed up. We wouldn’t be surprised if he decided to call it a day.”

Meanwhile, this year’s series is reaching its conclusion. The final of the All Ireland Talent Show takes places on Sunday 14th March and Paddy Power have made Dáithí O’Sé’s Galway duo Emma O’Sullivan & John O’Halloran their 5/2 favourites to go the distance. (more…)

The West of Ireland has raced back into the lead to produce the winner of this year’s All Ireland Talent Show after Gaelgoir judge Dáithí O’Sé pulled off a spectacular hattrick at the weekend.

Bookies Paddy Power have made the West the ones to beat at 11/10 after Dáithí’s Mayo girl Olwyn Murray topped the public vote securing a third consecutive place in the semi finals for the region!

The South under John Creedon has now slipped into second place at 5/2 to mentor this year’s winning act, while Blathnaid is 4/1 to produce this year’s winner. The North’s Dana and Dublin judge Shane Lynch are outsiders to win at 6/1 and 10/1.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “At this stage it’s beginning to look like the West are unstoppable. Clearly the other regions aren’t voting as much as them. It could very quickly become a one-man show if Dáithí keeps producing winners like this every week!”

Surprisingly Shane Lynch’s act singer Chris Geoghegan is the bookies 9/4 favourite to top the public vote and sail through to the semis in this weekend’s Heat. (more…)

Feisty red-head Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh and TG4’s Daithi O’Se’s on-screen feud is intensifying after the Kerry man yet again chose to send one of her acts packing on Sunday night.

It was John Creedon’s Bella Anam that got through to the semi final by the skin of their teeth after Daithi chose the singing duet over Blathnaid’s quirky band Pyrotechnics. Tensions are now running so high that bookies Paddy Power are betting 8/1 that Blathnaid will blow her top and fling a glass of water over Daithi’s head a la The X Factor’s former firey judge Sharon Osbourne while it’s 20/1 she gets into a catfight with any of the judges!

Meanwhile Sean Nós stunner Tara Burke McDonnell remains the red-hot favourite at 3/1 to win the whole thing followed by Ballad group Na Fianna, this weekend’s 7/4 favourites to win Heat 5, and Opera tenor Michael Lawlor at 8/1.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “Viewers could almost cut the atmosphere with a knife on Sunday – Blathnaid didn’t look happy at all and it looks like civil war has broken out in the quest to win this year’s All Ireland Talent Show.” (more…)

The nominations for the 7th Annual Irish Film and Television Awards have been announced and bookies Paddy Power have already chalked up their favourites.

Castleknock local Colin Farrell is the 13/8 favourite to win Best Actor for his role in Neil Jordan’s Ondine, while last year’s Rising Star Award winner Saoirse Ronan is hotly tipped at 5/4 to bag the Best Actress award for her role in The Lovely Bones.

Also favourite to scoop an IFTA award this year is TV3’s The Apprentice at 8/11 in the Best Entertainment category and Brendan Gleeson at 11/8 for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in the Best TV Actor category.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power, said: “There’s no stopping Saoirse Ronan. The Oscar nominated actress is yet again top of the list to win an IFTA. Hollywood aside though, it’s TV3’s hugely entertaining The Apprentice that is the red-hot favourite to bag the accolade for Best Entertainment programme this year.”

The IFTA Awards will take place on Saturday 20th February in the Burlington Hotel. (more…)

Handsome weatherman Daithi O’Se has stormed ahead of his fellow judges in the betting to produce this year’s All Ireland Talent Show winner.

The Kerry man representing The West of Ireland is now 2/1 to mentor this year’s winning act with the South’s John Creedon now in second favourite position at 9/4.

The turnaround occurred when one of Daithi’s acts, Sean Nós stunner Tara Burke McDonnell took to the mic. Daughter of Nan Tom Teamín, Tara has swiftly risen to the top of the betting to become the bookies 3/1 favourite to win the whole thing.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “Tara’s haunting voice blew the public away and she was by far the best act last weekend. Daithi wasn’t lying when he said he had amazing talent this year and the West so far looks to be the region to beat!”

The All Ireland Talent Show wasn’t the only programme commanding viewers on Sunday night. Dancing On Ice fans were also flicking to and from TV3 to see nasty judge Jason Gardiner cut the celeb’s down to size.

Paddy Power are betting All Ireland Talent Show chiefs will go all out to boost ratings by encouraging Shane and co to be tougher on this year’s acts. Ladies favourite Daithi is just 11/10 to become the Simon Cowell of the series and mark the lowest score on Sunday night! (more…)

Icy temperatures look set to continue in Ireland and the UK over the weekend but Reality TV fans need not worry as there’s a jam packed weekend of entertainment slap bang in their living rooms in the form of Celebrity Big Brother, Dancing On Ice, So You Think You Can Dance and Ireland’s All Ireland Talent Show!

Paddy Power still make Hollywood hard man Vinnie Jones their 2/1 favourite to win Big Brother while Boyzone’s Mikey Graham is amongst the favourites to win Dancing On Ice at 11/2.

Meanwhile John, Daithi, Dana, Shane and Blathnaid will all battle it out in the third heat of The All Ireland Talent Show. (more…)