Livin' with Lucy

For the 1980s American sitcom starring Lucille Ball, see Life with Lucy.

Livin' with Lucy
StarringLucy Kennedy
Country of originIreland
No. of seasons5
No. of episodes20+
Production
Running time30 minutes
Original release
Network
Release14 April 2008 (2008-04-14)
Related
The Podge and Rodge Show

Livin' with Lucy is an Irish television programme presented by Lucy Kennedy. First aired on 14 April 2008, the premise of the show is that Kennedy spends a weekend living with a different celebrity each episode, analysing their daily lives and interviewing them in their own homes all the while with cameras filming in the background. The show aired originally on RTÉ Two on Monday nights at 21:30. The programme has proven controversial, with Kennedy being stalked by paparazzi and some of the celebrities airing slanderous views.

Series two began on 20 October 2008. Series three began to air on RTÉ Two on Thursday 11 November 2010 and ended on 16 December 2010.

Episodes on RTÉ

Series 1

Series one began on 14 April 2008. During filming of the show Kennedy was hunted by the paparazzi and subjected to vicious photography and googling when she stayed with British tabloid fodder Jade Goody.[1] She encountered controversy whilst staying with Samantha Mumba when the singer launched a verbal attack on Irish radio presenter Dave Fanning, calling him a number of unprintable expletives.[2] David Norris was said to have commented: "I tire out people half my age. I had Lucy Kennedy staying with me for her Livin' with Lucy series and she had to go to bed for a week afterwards."[3]

Date of transmission Celebrity host Source
14 April 2008 Samantha Mumba [4]
21 April 2008 Jade Goody [5]
28 April 2008 David Norris [6]
5 May 2008 Brian McFadden [7]
12 May 2008 Calum Best [8]
19 May 2008 Daithí Ó Sé [9]

Series 2

Series two began on 20 October 2008. In the first episode presenter Lucy Kennedy spent three days with Shane Lynch in his caravan in Surrey. Don Baker enticed Kennedy into his jacuzzi and she also joined him on stage to play the tambourine.[10]

Date of transmission Celebrity host Source
20 October 2008 Shane Lynch [11]
27 October 2008 Don Baker [12]
3 November 2008 Sonia O'Sullivan [13]
10 November 2008 Adele King [14]

Series 3

Series three began on 11 November 2010 and ended on 16 December 2010.

Date of transmission Celebrity host
11 November 2010 Crystal Swing
18 November 2010 Vanessa Feltz
25 November 2010 Jermaine Jackson
2 December 2010 Derek Acorah
9 December 2010 Simon Delaney
16 December 2010 David Gest

Episodes on TV3/Virgin Media

Series 1

In August 2016 TV3 (Ireland) announced they had taken over the rights of the show and changed to Living with Lucy. Shane Long, Kerry Katona and Jedward were among the celebrities appearing in the series.

Date of transmission Celebrity host Ref.
20 September 2016 Shane Long [15]
4 October 2016 Kerry Katona [16]
11 October 2016 Al Porter [17]
25 October 2016 Jedward [18]
8 November 2016 Brendan Grace
15 November 2016 Finbar Furey

Series 2

Date of transmission Celebrity host Ref.
19 September 2017 Davy Fitzgerald
3 October 2017 Katie Hopkins
10 October 2017 Michael Healy-Rae
24 October 2017 Danniella Westbrook
7 November 2017 Dickie Rock
14 November 2017 Sarah Harding

Series 3

In September 2018 Virgin Media One, the new name for TV3 broadcast this series.

Date of transmission Celebrity host Ref.
3 September 2018 Nathan Carter
10 September 2018 Gemma Collins
17 September 2018 Christy Dignam
24 September 2018 Kellie Maloney
1 October 2018 Ivan Yates

Series 4

Date of transmission Celebrity host Ref.
2 September 2019 Gráinne Seoige
9 September 2019 John Connors
16 September 2019 Nadine Coyle
23 September 2019 Barry Keoghan
30 September 2019 Deirdre O'Kane

Lodging with Lucy

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and various lockdown rules, Lucy Kennedy hosted a variation of the show, Lodging with Lucy, in which guests came to stay with her in a hired lodge in County Meath, Ireland.

Date of transmission Celebrity host Ref.
28 September 2020 Paul McGrath
5 October 2020 Ian Dempsey & Mario Rosenstock
12 October 2020 Adele King
19 October 2020 Greg O'Shea
2 November 2020 Amy Huberman
9 November 2020 Lynn Ruane

Series 5

Date of transmission Celebrity host Ref.
11 October 2021 Pat Spillane
18 October 2021 Paul Gascoigne
25 October 2021 Hughie Maughan
1 November 2021 Michelle Heaton
8 November 2021 Rory O'Neill
15 November 2021 Rachel Allen

Series 6

Date of transmission Celebrity host Ref.
22 October 2023 Simon Gregson
29 October 2023 Katie Price
5 November 2023 Des Cahill
12 November 2023 Andrew Maxwell
26 November 2023 Richie Sadlier
3 December 2023 Mary Coughlan

Reception

The Irish Independent claimed self-regard was Kennedy's "most striking trait" and derided her obsession with bodily functions ("poo" and "willies" are frequently mentioned). When Calum Best announced his reasons for taking part (he wanted to "tell the Irish people what's going on -- if they watch this shit show."), the newspaper suggested they give him a job as a critic. It was later named by the Irish Independent as one of its six worst television programmes of 2008.[19]

See also

Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over

References

  1. ^ "Paparazzi Scare: Lucy Hunted by the press". Irish Independent. 9 April 2008. Archived from the original on 10 April 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
  2. ^ "Not a Fann: Mumba takes a pop at DJ Dave on 'Livin' with Lucy'". Irish Independent. 14 April 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
  3. ^ "Pregnant Lucy prepares for her new role". Evening Herald. 23 April 2009. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
  4. ^ "Episode 1: Samantha Mumba". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 2 May 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
  5. ^ "Episode 2: Jade Goody". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 2 May 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
  6. ^ "Episode 3: Senator David Norris". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 2 May 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
  7. ^ "Episode 4: Brian Mc Fadden". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 2 May 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
  8. ^ "Episode 5: Calum Best". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
  9. ^ "Episode 6: Daithi Ó Sé". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
  10. ^ "Livin' with Lucy was hot and steamy says Failte Towers star". Evening Herald. 16 October 2008. Retrieved 22 October 2008.
  11. ^ "Episode 1: Shane Lynch". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 31 October 2008. Retrieved 20 October 2008.
  12. ^ "Episode 2: Don Baker". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 13 November 2008. Retrieved 20 October 2008.
  13. ^ "Episode 3: Sonia O'Sullivan". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 13 November 2008. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
  14. ^ "Episode 4: Twink". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 10 December 2008. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
  15. ^ "'Move over Brangelina' - TV3 audiences just fell in love with Shane Long and wife Kayleah". Irish Independent. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  16. ^ "Kerry Katona reveals all in this week's 'Living with Lucy'". Xpose. TV3. Archived from the original on 25 October 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  17. ^ "Everyone wants to move in with Al Porter after last night's Living with Lucy". Irish Examiner. Irish Examiner Ltd. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  18. ^ "It's double trouble on this week's Living With Lucy". VIP. VIP Publishing. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  19. ^ "TV best and worst of 2008". Irish Independent. 27 December 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2009.