It was a sad year with the passing of a holy trinity of Irish music giants Christy Dignam, Sinéad O’Connor and Shane MacGowan; RTÉ was rocked by a series of financial scandals; and U2 took Vegas by storm – here are our top entertainment stories of 2023.
January
4 January
The actor Jeremy Renner thanked fans for their “kind words” in a social media post from his hospital bed, three days after he was seriously injured in a snowplough accident near his US home.
The 51-year-old Marvel star said he was “too messed up to type” as he shared a picture on his official Instagram page.
Renner had been airlifted to hospital on New Year’s Day after suffering “blunt chest trauma and orthopaedic injuries” in an accident near the Mount Rose Highway, which links Lake Tahoe and south Reno, straddling the Nevada-California border. He would go on to chronicle his gruelling recovery throughout 2023.
10 January
The Banshees of Inisherin was the big winner at the Golden Globes in Beverly Hills, winning Best Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Actor for Colin Farrell and Best Screenplay for writer-director Martin McDonagh.
The black comedy, which was filmed on Inis Mór and Achill Island, had led the shortlist with eight nominations.
Accepting his award from co-star Brendan Gleeson, Farrell thanked the entire cast and crew of the film – including co-star Jenny the Donkey.
11 January
Jeff Beck, the influential guitarist who rose to rock and roll stardom with 1960s supergroup The Yardbirds and later had a prolific solo career, died after an illness, his official website said. He was 78.
“On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of Jeff Beck’s passing. After suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis, he peacefully passed away yesterday,” a statement on the English-born musician’s website said.
Ozzy Osbourne, Brian May, and Jimmy Page were among the musical heavyweights that paid tribute to the “six-stringed warrior” and “genius guitar player”.
And that’s a wrap! We take a look back at a year packed with A-list interviews including Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, Julia Roberts, Cate Blanchett and Russell Crowe | https://t.co/4Q2tmrJVcg pic.twitter.com/aWZypObX2y
— Entertainment on RTÉ (@RTE_Ents) December 24, 2023
12 January
Singer-songwriter Lisa Marie Presley, the only child of rock and roll legend Elvis Presley, died aged 54, hours after being hospitalised, her family said. She had been brought to a California hospital’s intensive care unit in cardiac arrest.
The star had been found “unresponsive” by her housekeeper at home in the celebrity-studded Los Angeles suburb of Calabasas, entertainment website TMZ reported. She had attended the Golden Globes on Tuesday 10 January.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner later ruled that Presley’s death was due to a small bowel obstruction as a delayed consequence of bariatric weight loss surgery.
16 January
The family of Aslan singer Christy Dignam issued an update on his health, thanking people for their thoughts and prayers and requesting privacy.
“Since December, Christy has been at home and is being cared for lovingly by family, with the support of a palliative care team,” the family said. “The Dignam family thanks everyone for keeping Christy in their thoughts and prayers and asks for privacy at this time.”
Dignam had been receiving treatment for amyloidosis – the build-up of an abnormal protein in tissues and organs – for a number of years and had spoken openly about living with the disease.
19 January
Michael Flatley said he was “on the mend” after having surgery to treat his cancer. The 64-year-old dancer and choreographer, best known for Riverdance, added that he had been released from hospital.
Flatley told his followers on Instagram: “Thank you to everyone around the world for your love and prayers. I am overwhelmed by your kindness. I have been released from hospital and am on the mend.”
In a post the previous week, Flatley’s account revealed he had undergone surgery for “an aggressive form of cancer” and was in the care of “excellent doctors”.
19 January
A hiker reported as missing in the San Gabriel Mountains in southern California was named as the British actor Julian Sands. The 65-year-old actor was reported missing in the Baldy Bowl area.
In June, Sands was confirmed dead after mostly skeletal human remains discovered in the area where he vanished were positively identified.
He was known for his roles in films such as A Room with a View, Leaving Las Vegas, and Warlock, as well as TV appearances on 24, Smallville, and Banshee.
20 January
The death was announced of the American musician David Crosby, who co-founded two influential rock bands during his career, at the age of 81.
The singer-songwriter rose to fame in LA-based folk-rock group The Byrds. Shortly after leaving the band, he joined supergroup Crosby, Stills, and Nash, with Stephen Stills and Graham Nash, which later added Neil Young.
In a statement to US outlet Variety, his wife Jan Dance wrote: “It is with great sadness after a long illness, that our beloved David (Croz) Crosby has passed away. He was lovingly surrounded by his wife and soulmate Jan and son Django. Although he is no longer here with us, his humanity and kind soul will continue to guide and inspire us. His legacy will continue to live on through his legendary music.”
24 January
Ireland enjoyed a record-breaking year at the Oscar nominations, with The Banshees of Inisherin writer-director Martin McDonagh, the film’s stars Kerry Condon, Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, and Barry Keoghan, Aftersun‘s Paul Mescal, and An Cailín Ciúin among the Irish nominees.
The Northern Irish film An Irish Goodbye from Tom Berkeley and Ross White was among the nominees for Best Live-Action Short. The film’s star, James Martin, said he “burst out crying” after being informed An Irish Goodbye had been nominated.
Irish editor Jonathan Redmond was nominated for Best Editing for his work on Elvis, and Avatar: The Way of Water‘s Richard Baneham – an Oscar winner for his work on the original movie – was among the Best Visual Effects nominees.
29 January
Tom Verlaine, the influential frontman of the band Television, which emerged from the New York punk rock underground in the late 1970s with the seminal album Marquee Moon, died at the age of 73, his family announced.
The singer and guitarist died in New York “after a brief illness”, Jesse Paris Smith, the daughter of Verlaine and punk-poet laureate Patti Smith, told The New York Times, without specifying a cause of death.
Paying tribute to Verlaine, Stuart Braithwaite of the band Mogwai said: “His role in our culture and straight up awesomeness on the electric guitar was completely legendary. Name 10 minutes of music as good as Marquee Moon. You can’t. It’s perfect.”
February
5 February
Beyoncé became the most decorated Grammy artist of all time when she collected her 32nd trophy at this year’s ceremony.
The pop superstar won the Best Dance/Electronic Music Album award for her latest album Renaissance, taking her total to 32. This was one more than the previous record, held by Hungarian-British conductor Georg Solti, who died in 1997.
Beyoncé’s wins on the night also included Best R&B Song, Best Dance/Electronic Recording, and Best Traditional R&B Performance.
8 February
Composer Burt Bacharach, whose orchestral pop style was behind hits like I Say a Little Prayer, died aged 94.
The cause of death, which happened at home in Los Angeles, was natural causes, his publicist Tina Brausam said.
Bacharach, who played Dublin’s Iveagh Gardens in 2019, delighted millions with the quirky arrangements and unforgettable melodies of songs such as Walk on By, Do You Know The Way to San Jose, and dozens of other hits.
11 February
Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C. scooped the Best International Group award at the Brit Awards in London’s O2 Arena.
The band were awarded the coveted prize ahead of Blackpink, Drake & 21 Savage, First Aid Kit, and Gabriels.
Guitarist Carlos O’Connell was the only band member at the star-studded event, as the rest of the group were on tour in Australia.
13 February
U2 confirmed they would be taking up a residency at the newly opened MSG Sphere in Las Vegas in the autumn – without drummer Larry Mullen Jr as he recovered from surgery.
“It’s going to take all we’ve got to approach the Sphere without our bandmate in the drum seat, but Larry has joined us in welcoming Bram van den Berg, who is a force in his own right,” U2 said in a statement on their official website.
“The Sphere is more than just a venue, it’s a gallery and U2’s music is going to be all over the walls,” they promised.
15 February
Hollywood actress Raquel Welch, star of the 1966 films One Million Years BC and Fantastic Voyage, died at the age of 82, her family confirmed.
“Raquel Welch, the legendary bombshell actress of film, television, and stage, passed away peacefully early this morning after a brief illness,” their statement read.
“Her career spanned over 50 years starring in over 30 films and 50 television series and appearances. The Golden Globe winner, in more recent years, was involved in a very successful line of wigs.”
15 February
The actor Bruce Willis was diagnosed with untreatable dementia, his family said, less than a year after he retired from acting because of growing cognitive difficulties.
The 67-year-old Die Hard actor stepped away from Hollywood in March 2022 and had been out of the limelight since then.
“As Bruce’s condition advances, we hope that any media attention can be focused on shining a light on this disease that needs far more awareness and research,” the family said in a statement.
19 February
The Banshees of Inisherin‘s writer-director Martin McDonagh and stars Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan were among the winners at the British Academy Film Awards – the BAFTAs – in London, but An Cailín Ciúin missed out in its two categories.
Irish special effects Oscar winner Richard Baneham and his Avatar: The Way of Water colleagues won the BAFTA for Special Visual Effects.
The Northern Irish film An Irish Goodbye won Best British Short Film for the duo of Tom Berkeley and Ross White.
March
13 March
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There was success at the Oscars for Northern Irish comedy-drama, An Irish Goodbye, which won Best Live-Action Short Film and for Dubliner, Richard Baneham, who won his second visual effects Oscar for his work on Avatar: The Way of Water.
The dimension-jumping Everything Everywhere All at Once was the biggest winner on the night with seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Director (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), Original Screenplay, Actress (Michelle Yeoh), Supporting Actress (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan). Yeoh’s win saw her become the first Asian to win Best Actress.
Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin, which had been nominated in nine categories, went home empty-handed.
16 March
Halfway through the month, RTÉ announced that Ryan Tubridy would step down from The Late Late Show at the end of the season.
Speaking about his decision to leave the longest-running live TV chat show in the world, Tubridy said: “It has been a privilege to host the national institution that is The Late Late Show for the last 14 years.
But, as we know now, this was not going to be the biggest story of the year featuring Tubridy and RTÉ…
20 March
There was sad news this month when the death of TV star Paul O’Grady was announced by his partner Andre Portasio. O’Grady was also known for his drag queen persona Lily Savage.
During his career, he hosted The Paul O’Grady Show, Blind Date and Blankety Blank, as well as the multi-award-winning For The Love Of Dogs.
The Birkenhead-born star, whose family roots were in counties Roscommon and Louth, also hosted ITV celebrity game show, Paul O’Grady’s Saturday Night Line Up.
23 March
Filming was halted on the latest season of Top Gear amid reports that “daredevil” presenter Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff was “quitting the show” after being involved in an accident at the end of last year.
BBC Studios said that “under the circumstances” they felt “it would be inappropriate to resume making season 34 of Top Gear at this time”.
They added: “We have sincerely apologised to Freddie and will continue to support him with his recovery.”
April
2 April
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It was a good month for Paul Mescal as he was named Best Actor at the Olivier Awards for his portrayal of Stanley Kowalski in the new London production of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire.
Mescal’s co-star Anjana Vasan won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, and the production was also honoured with the Best Revival award.
7 April
S Club 7 singer Paul Cattermole died “unexpectedly” at the age of 46, his family and the pop group announced.
The singer, who was due to reunite with the band for a 25th anniversary tour, was found dead at this home in Dorset.
Created by former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller in 1998, S Club 7 had hits including Reach, Don’t Stop Movin’ and their debut Bring It All Back.
10 April
On the 10 April we learned that David Attenborough had unearthed the skull of a ferocious Jurassic predator for a new BBC film.
With a working title of Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster, the hour-long programme, which will be broadcast on 1 January 2024, will see the 96-year-old broadcaster and naturalist explore the history of the prehistoric marine reptile the pliosaur.
Attenborough said: “Pliosaurs were the biggest and most formidable hunters in the Jurassic seas – the marine equivalent, you might say, of T-Rex.
“The skull of this one is, by itself, over two metres long and armed with massive fangs.”
14 April
In a shock announcement, we learned that Mark Sheehan, guitarist with The Script, had died in hospital after a brief illness. He was 46.
A statement on the band’s social media pages said: “Much loved husband, father, brother, band mate and friend Mark Sheehan passed away today in hospital after a brief illness.
The Script was formed in Dublin in 2001 and have sold over 20 million albums, scoring huge hits with the likes of The Man Who Can’t Be Moved, For The First Time, We Cry and Hall of Fame.
27 April
Towards the end of the month, controversial talk show host Jerry Springer died at the age of 79.
He was best known for showcasing dysfunctional families on The Jerry Springer Show, which ran from 1991 until 2018 in the US.
The show started out with a more traditional format, before the series became known for chair throwing and bleep-filled arguments.
May
4 May
In early May, superstar singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran won a US copyright lawsuit which alleged he used parts of Marvin Gaye’s hit song, Let’s Get It On, for his track Thinking Out Loud. The verdict in the US trial followed a similar but separate copyright case that Sheeran faced in London last year, which he also won, over his 2017 hit Shape Of You.
10 May
Veteran Hollywood star Robert DeNiro made headlines when he revealed he had welcomed his seventh child at the age of 79, his first with his girlfriend Tiffany Chen.
20 May
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Following Ryan Tubridy’s announcement in March that he was stepping down from hosting The Late Late Show, many high-profile names were linked to the presenting gig. After months of speculation, Co Down star Patrick Kielty was finally revealed as the new host of the long running RTÉ One chat show. He said he was “absolutely thrilled” and “genuinely humbled” to be taking the reins.
20 May
On the very same day, another huge TV story broke when ITV announced that Phillip Schofield was stepping down from This Morning with “immediate effect” after more than 20 years on the show. Schofield later admitted to having an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger colleague.
24 May
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The music industry mourned one of its greats on 24 May when the death of Tina Turner was announced. The Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, one of the biggest recording artists of all time, passed away peacefully after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht, Switzerland, at the age of 83.
26 May
Towards the end of May, Ryan Tubridy signed off from his stewardship of The Late Late Show with an emotional, star-studded and Toy Show-tastic finale. The special show featured a variety of guests including President Michael D Higgins, Toy Show stars, two Muppets, half of U2 and once and forever Beatle Paul McCartney.
June
2 June
A US judge approved a settlement agreement for the family of Halyna Hutchins, following the Rust cinematographer’s death on the set of the movie in October 2021 after a prop gun Baldwin was holding was discharged.
9 June
In what was easily one of the most bizarre entertainment stories of the year, R&B singer Kelis and actor Bill Murray were romantically linked after being spotted together several times in the UK.
11 June
Harry Styles’ Slane gig on 11 June was one of the hottest tickets of the summer and the pop icon didn’t disappoint. The singer wowed 80,000 fans at the iconic Irish outdoor venue, decked out in a sequined green and silver bomber jacket. The gig was the first Slane Castle since Metallica played in 2019 and the first post-pandemic concert at the venue.
13 June
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On 13 June, the death of Irish music great Christy Dignam was announced following a long illness. The news of the Aslan singer’s passing aged 63 prompted an outpouring of sadness and tributes across the country, with Bono saying Christy had “one of the greatest voices I ever heard.”
17 June
Kourtney Kardashian announced that she was expecting a baby with Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker in dramatic fashion when she held up a sign at his band’s gig that read: “Travis, I’m pregnant.” The sign was a reference to the video for Blink 182’s iconic 1999 hit All The Small Things.
27 June
Lewis Capaldi announced that he would be taking a break from touring “for the foreseeable future” as he tried to “adjust to the impact of my Tourette’s”. The news came after the Scottish star struggled to perform at Glastonbury the previous weekend, with the crowd carrying him through his songs.
July
A torrid year for RTÉ saw controversy mount on controversy over undeclared payments to Ryan Tubridy and other financial issues at the national broadcaster. In early July, documentation given to the Oireachtas Committee on Media confirmed losses at Toy Show The Musical reached €2.2 million, with just over 11,000 tickets being sold for the shows. Speaking at the media committee, Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin described the losses made as a “disgrace” and a scandal. Mr Griffin said the losses were equivalent to the TV licences for “every household in Tralee and every household in the town of Killarney”.
8 July
Blur frontman Damon Albarn said the band had been waiting all their lives to play Wembley at the first of two gigs at the stadium in July. The Britpop survivors delighted the massive crowd with a 25-song set comprising all their greatest hits and a few surprises. Blur had not played a major UK show since London’s Hyde Park eight years ago but were match fit for Wembley after a series of warm-up gigs including a recent show at Dublin’s Malahide Castle and appearances at European festivals. The resurgent band also released a new album this year, titled The Ballad of Darren.
10 July
In what was one of the most idiotic trends of the year, “fans” took to throwing items at pop stars as they performed in concert. Harry Styles was hit in the face by an object as he performed on stage in Vienna. Videos shared online from the gig at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Austria showed the pop megastar walking across the stage before an item flew through the air and struck him near his eye. He could be seen wincing in pain before bending over while clutching his face in his hands.
16 July
It was announced that Jane Birkin, the British-born singer and actress who became a style icon in her adopted France, had died. She was 76. Birkin had been suffering from health problems in recent years that had forced her to cancel concerts. French media reported that she was found dead at her home in Paris. Birkin was best known for the 1969 hit Je T’aime… Moi Non Plus in which she duetted with her then partner, the late French singer and songwriter Serge Gainsbourg.
18 July
July saw a movie showdown for the ages as the two big movies of the year – Barbie and Oppenheimer – went head-to-head when they were released on the same day. The Light House cinema in Dublin and Pálás in Galway geared up for the phenomenon which was christened ‘Barbenheimer”. Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie, and Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Cork actor Cillian Murphy, were the biggest movies of the summer season and both cinemas offered audiences a chance to see both with early screenings.
Frustration flowed on social media as many Taylor Swift fans missed out on tickets for her three-night stint at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The golden tickets officially went on sale on 20 July for next summer’s Dublin concerts – but within minutes only pricey VIP packages were left. On top of that, fans had been queuing patiently for hours but were left unimpressed and outpriced as those packages were priced at more than €300 per ticket. The dearest was €743.62.
21 July
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Legendary singer Tony Bennett died at the age of 96. The American, who had an enduring hit with I Left My Heart in San Francisco, died at his home in New York City of age-related causes, publicist Sylvia Weiner said in a statement. No less than Frank Sinatra called the former singing waiter “the best singer in the business” after he became a star in the 1950s. Paying tribute, Frank’s daughter, Nancy Sinatra, said Tony Bennett was “kind, loving, talented and generous” and “one of the most splendid people who ever lived”. Bennett went on to win 20 Grammy awards, including a lifetime achievement award.
26 July
Kevin Spacey, one of the most recognised faces in Hollywood before his name made headlines for a different reason, was found not guilty of nine sex offences on four men between 2001 and 2013, following a trial at Southwark Crown Court in London.
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There was very sad and very shocking news when the death was announced of singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor at the age of 56. In a statement, her family said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.” O’Connor was propelled to international stardom in 1990 with her version of Nothing Compares 2 U. Written by Prince, she made the ballad her own and topped the charts around the world. The simple, yet unforgettable, accompanying video featured almost nothing else but a close-up frame of the shaven-headed star singing with tears rolling down her cheeks.
August
August 1
A teaser clip of the revival of Neighbours revealed a wedding twist ahead of the soap’s return to TV screens on RTÉ and Amazon Freevee. The soap, which has followed the lives of those living and working in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough since 1985, was dropped by Channel 5 in the UK last year following failure to secure new funding.
10 August
Tributes were paid to the late musician Robbie Robertson, who was hailed as a Canadian “icon” and a “great friend” following his death at the age of 80. Robertson was The Band’s lead guitarist and songwriter behind such classics as The Weight and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. He died surrounded by family in Los Angeles “after a long illness”, his publicist Ray Costa confirmed to the AP news agency.
16 August
A comedy club announced it had found a new venue for Father Ted co-writer Graham Linehan at the Edinburgh Fringe, after the original venue cancelled the show he was due to appear in. Leith Arches announced it was no longer hosting a Comedy Unleashed show on Thursday after learning Linehan, a critic of the trans rights movement, would be performing a stand-up routine.
17 August
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Celebrated chat show host Michael Parkinson died peacefully at home at the age of 88 surrounded by loved ones. The TV star interviewed some of Hollywood’s biggest names throughout his illustrious career – with names such as Jimmy Cagney, Fred Astaire, Lauren Bacall and Ingrid Bergman on the list.
23 August
‘Stay tuned for more’ – Ryan Tubridy posted first comments since the end of talks over whether he would return to the airways on RTÉ. Negotiations on his return to his RTÉ Radio 1 programme ended without agreement. Commenting on a video he posted on Instagram, he wrote: “A new dawn, a new day, a new beginning. Stay tuned for more”. Tubridy went off air on RTÉ Radio on 22 June, when controversy over the under-declaration of his salary by RTÉ was first revealed by the RTÉ Board. RTÉ announced it had understated his earnings by €345,000 from the years 2017 to 2022.
September
1 September
Ireland’s biggest music festival Electric Picnic kicked off September in spectacular style with performances from Niall Horan and Billie Eilish the stand-out moments for many.
At the end of his set on Friday night, Horan told the 70,000-strong Stradbally crowd: “I wish I could put into words how this felt. From Patrick Street, Mullingar to this…
“This is a country with less than five million people – and the noise that we make worldwide is insane. And as long as you would like me to, I’m happy to fly the flag for our little country all over the planet.”
He continued, “I love our little country, I love being here tonight. I love you all!”
A somewhat unlikely act stole the show, however, with rebel music group The Wolfe Tones’ performance on Sunday drawing the largest crowds in the festival’s history to the Electric Arena stage.
15 September
One of Irish TV’s biggest 2023 moments came as Patrick Kielty took over as presenter of RTÉ’s Late Late Show.
Curiosity about how the change of presenter would affect the show was rife, and nearly one million of us tuned in to watch his debut.
Kielty’s first ever guests included Tommy Tiernan, former President Mary McAleese, footballer James McClean, The 2 Johnnies, as well as live music from Chasing Abbey.
27 September
Sad news came on 27 September as the news broke that legendary Irish-born actor Michael Gambon had died aged 82.
Gambon, who was born in Dublin’s Cabra, won four TV Baftas and was known for his extensive back catalogue of work across TV, film, radio and theatre over a career spanning five decades.
In recent years he played Albus Dumbledore in six of the eight Harry Potter films.
29 September
The most highly-anticipated live music event of the year came courtesy of U2 and The Sphere in September.
The 20,000-seater venue itself blew minds, with fans clamouring for tickets after the mind-boggling visuals of the venue were shared on social media.
The show’s run has been extended to March.
29 September
After 27 years, an arrest was finally made in the case of the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur.
On 29 September, Las Vegas police arrested Duane “Keefe D” Davis in connection with the murder. A clark county grand jury handed down a murder indictment later that day. The case is ongoing.
30 September
A huge celebrity court case finished at the end of the month as former That ’70s Show actor Danny Masterson was found guilty of the rape of two women and sentenced to 30 years behind bars.
Further controversy emerged when it was revealed that Hollywood power couple and friends of Masterson, Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, had written a letter of support for their friend as part of the case.
The duo later posted a much-criticised video apologising for doing so.
4 October
The sports documentary the world was waiting for dropped on Netflix on 4 October.
Beckham is a four-part Netflix documentary series about one of the world’s most famous ever footballers.
The series explored everything from Beckham’s father’s gruelling training regime for his young son in his formative years, to his early days as a trainee at Manchester Utd.
The series also covered Alex Ferguson’s strong concerns over Beckham’s celebrity lifestyle as his star rose, and the infamous hairdryer incident.
Of course his relationship with wife and Spice Girl Victoria was explored as well as his much-publicised alleged affair with Rebecca Loos, which he did not confirm or deny, with Victoria recalling, “It was the most unhappy I have ever been in my entire life.”
8 October
The Big Brother house opened its doors to a new batch of contestants for the first time in five years as the reality series returned.
The influential social experiment show was revived by ITV after it was axed by Channel 5 in 2018 amid a ratings slump.
AJ Odudu and Will Best presented and the series was won by Jordan, who walked away with the £100,000 (€116,000 approx) cash prize.
14 October
Taylor Swift hype reached an all-time high in October, with the release of her Eras tour film in cinemas worldwide on 14 October, and the re-release of her seminal album 1989 only two weeks later.
The film led to great scenes of young Swifties singing and dancing in theatres all over the globe, and the film became the highest-grossing concert movie of all time.
Read our review here.
10 October
Holly Willoughby, the long-time presenter of ITV’s This Morning, told ITV she would not be returning to the show, after a man in the UK was charged over an alleged plot to kidnap and murder the presenter.
Revealing the news on Instagram, the presenter wrote, “Sadly… I now feel I have to make this decision for me and my family.”
“I will miss you all so much,” she wrote.
11 October
On 11 October, Jada Pinkett Smith made an announcement that launched a thousand memes.
During an interview with NBC’s Today to publicise her memoir Worthy, she revealed that she and husband Will Smith have been separated since 2016.
The revelation boggled onlookers as the pair still very much seemed to be a couple after this point, appearing together at high-profile Hollywood events, including the 2022 Oscars, where the infamous “slap” incident occurred.
24 October
Pop star Britney Spears released her much-anticipated memoir, The Woman in Me, which was billed as a “brave and astonishingly moving” story about freedom, fame, motherhood, survival, faith and hope, and promised to offer insight into her stage career and controversial 13-year conservatorship.
The singer made big revelations in the book, including alleging that she had an abortion while in a relationship with ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake from 1999 to 2002. She described the abortion as “one of the most agonizing things I have ever experienced in my life.”
25 October
Richard Roundtree, the trailblazing actor who starred as the titular private detective in several Shaft films beginning in the early 1970s, died at the age of 81, it was announced on 25 October.
Roundtree’s longtime manager, Patrick McMinn, said the actor had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died at his home in Los Angeles.
Roundtree was considered the first black action hero and became one of the leading actors in the “blaxploitation” genre through his New York street smart John Shaft character.
“Richard’s work and career served as a turning point for African-American leading men,” McMinn said. “The impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated.”
28 October
Matthew Perry, best known for playing Chandler Bing in the hit ’90s TV sitcom Friends, died aged 54 on 28 October, sending shockwaves across the world.
First responders found Perry unconscious in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home and were unable to revive him, law enforcement sources told the Los Angeles Times.
NBC, which aired Friends, tweeted: “He brought so much joy to hundreds of millions of people around the world with his pitch-perfect comedic timing and wry wit. His legacy will live on through countless generations.”
The actor had previously spoken and written extensively about his addiction problems.
November
3 November
The song, written and sung by John Lennon and later developed by the other band members including George Harrison, was finished by McCartney and Ringo Starr decades after the original recording.
Described as the last Beatles song, it was sourced from a Lennon demo, using technology to extricate and isolate his voice.
8 November
American actor Patrick Dempsey, famed for his role as Derek ‘McDreamy’ Shepherd on Grey’s Anatomy, was unveiled on Jimmy Kimmel Live! as the sexiest man alive.
He joked about his new title, saying: “Never give up on a dream.”
“I’m just happy they made a decision and it was me this year. I’m very grateful,” 57-year-old Dempsey said.
The Bridget Jones’s Baby star said he had been “close a few times”, having been on the front cover of People magazine the year George Clooney was chosen as Sexiest Man Alive and again with Matt Damon.
9 November
The SAG-AFTRA actors’ union reached a tentative agreement with Hollywood studios to resolve the second of two strikes that rocked the entertainment industry as workers demanded higher pay in the streaming TV era, the union said.
Members of SAG-AFTRA walked off the job in mid-July asking for an increase in minimum salaries, a share of streaming service revenue and protection from being replaced by “digital replicas” generated by artificial intelligence (AI).
10 November
A jury ordered Robert De Niro’s company to pay more than $1.2 million (€1.24 million) to his former personal assistant after finding his production company engaged in gender discrimination and retaliation.
While the jury found De Niro was not personally liable for the abuse, they ordered his production company, Canal Productions, to make two payments of $632,142 to his long-time personal assistant, Graham Chase Robinson.
13 November
The band have decided to “go out on a high” after their show in the SSE Arena in Belfast and their two shows at Dublin’s 3Arena next October.
16 November
Former RTÉ presenter Ryan Tubridy announced a move to Virgin Radio UK in London.
He will host the station’s mid-morning show, which runs from 10am to 1pm Monday to Friday, from early January 2024.
As part of the deal, Tubridy will also be broadcasting live from London simultaneously on Dublin’s Q102.
On weekends, he will present a dedicated Irish weekend show across Wireless Ireland stations on Dublin’s Q102, Cork’s 96FM, Live 95 in Limerick and LMFM.
24 November
He grew up watching The Late Late Toy Show at home in county Down – so it was a big deal for Patrick Kielty to host the most-popular TV programme of the year.
A delighted Kielty later described the experience of presenting The Late Late Toy Show as ‘a forever night’.
In a review on the RTÉ website, Alan Corr wrote: “As the father of two young lads of five and seven, it all came very naturally to the new host. As did his talent for breaking a lot of the toys.”
30 November
The death was announced of Pogues frontman and songwriter Shane MacGowan. He was 65 and had been ill for some time.
In a statement shared on social media, The Pogues wrote: “It is with the deepest of sorrow and heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Shane MacGowan.
“Shane died peacefully at 3am this morning with his wife Victoria and family by his side.”
MacGowan had been receiving treatment at St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin for several months. He was discharged on 22 November and returned home to spend time with his friends and family.
December
3 December
The 27-year-old star was promoting Dune: Part Two alongside Timothée Chalamet when she was struck near her right eye.
6 December
The Screen Actors Guild, known as SAG-AFTRA, said 78% of members who voted approved the multi-year contract.
8 December
Hollywood star Ryan O’Neal died “peacefully” at the age of 82, his son Patrick O’Neal announced.
The US actor starred in drama Peyton Place before rising to international stardom after his Oscar-nominated turn as Oliver in the romantic 1971 film Love Story, opposite Ali MacGraw.
10 December
British radio presenter and reality TV star Sam Thompson was crowned king of the jungle on reality show I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
Former professional boxer Tony Bellew was runner-up while former Ukip leader Nigel Farage came third.
11 December
The Cork-born actor and television presenter Frank Twomey died, his family confirmed.
The TV personality was best known as a presenter on the Irish children’s afternoon show Bosco, in which he appeared alongside the inquisitive puppet throughout the show’s original 1980s run.
13 December
The death was announced of the American actor Andre Braugher, star of the series Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Homicide: Life on the Street, at the age of 61.
15 December
The death of Friends star Matthew Perry was ruled an accident from the “acute effects of ketamine”, the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner confirmed.
Aslan confirmed that they will continue to perform as a band next year with a new lead singer.
Their front man Christy Dignam died on 13 June after a long illness.
21 December
Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach confirmed that they married earlier in December.
The Hollywood power couple met in 2010 while filming Greenberg, and became romantically involved 12 years ago, getting engaged in 2020.
Compiled by John Byrne, Alan Corr, Audrey Donohue, Harry Guerin, Suzanne Keane, Sarah McIntyre
