Galway Bay FM News Archives
Irish version of Come Dine With Me cuts the mustard
Date Published: 13-Jun-2011
The formula behind Come Dine With Me which has been a hit on Channel 4 for several years and started on TV3 last week, is simple and makes for great television.
The programme-makers select five people, generally opinionated characters, who think they are excellent amateur cooks and want to win the prize of €1000.
Each person cooks a dinner for the others over five consecutive nights. Each host is scored by the other diners on the basis of food and hospitality, with 10 being the golden number. But of course, personality has a huge part to play in it. If you don’t like someone, you might hold back on a point or two. . .
The characters on TV3 are definitely Irish, but the formula is the same, right down to narrator Dave Lamb, who drily pinpoints the foibles of each contestant and puts the boot in – in a humorous way – at every opportunity.
In last week’s episodes, set in Cork, there was plenty of conflict. The mix of Luisa Costello, Vicki Shorten, Helena Crowley-Hayes, David Roche and Jamie Knoblauch saw plenty of strong personalities, with Helena and Luisa particularly practically bristling when they were around each other.
Luisa is a vegetarian and her fellow contestants created special, meat free dishes for her when they were entertaining. She, however, did not return that compliment. No meat would enter her kitchen. Watching her prepare dinner, this vegetarian knew that her dishes were never going to wow her meat-eating guests. And they didn’t.
That’s why the programme works – this viewer might not have fared any better, but from the comfort of my couch, I knew that butternut squash risotto and ‘pretend’ Parmesan were never going to cut the mustard with carnivores, especially hunting advocate Helena. But the food is only part of it. Each contestant is filmed making their meal and speaks to the camera, explaining why they think they will win. Then the other guests are filmed giving their reactions to the food and hospitality throughout the evening. The host doesn’t know what they are saying, so hasn’t a clue how their food is going down.
The editing process focuses on participants’ eccentricities, catching them out if they appear cocky. Luisa certainly was cocky both about her food and her entertaining where she made all her guests dress in a weird variety of clothes she had in her house. She didn’t win!
Come Dine With Me is a cut above other reality shows because the contestants are voted on by their peers, and not by the viewers at home. It also allows viewers to be grateful they aren’t in the spotlight while all the time giggling at other people’s foibles. Nasty but nice. Watch out for the Galway episodes coming soon.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.
Date Published: 07-May-2013
Galway has a population of young people which is more than twice the national average.
According to information gathered by the Central Statistics Office, Galway’s population of 20 to 24 year olds is more than twice the national average.
The number of 25-34 year olds in Galway is also more than the norm nationally, with the two main colleges thought to be the main reason.
However immigration in Galway is much higher than in other areas at 19.4 percent, compared to the national average of 12 percent.
Date Published: 07-May-2013
A city councillor is encouraging people to donate goods directly to charity shops.
It follows allegations of thefts from clothes banks in Galway and across the country in recent months.
However, cameras are in place at some clothes banks and surveillance is carried out by local authorities.
Speaking on Galway Talks, Councillor Neil McNeilis said the problem of theft from clothes banks is widespread.
Date Published: 07-May-2013
A park ‘n’ ride scheme from Carnmore into Galway city could become a permanent service if there is public demand.
That’s according to the Chief Executive of Galway Chamber of Commerce, Michael Coyle.
The pilot scheme will begin at 7.20 next Monday morning, May 13th.
Motorists will be able to park cars at the airport carpark in Carnmore and avail of a bus transfer to Forster Street in the city.
Buses will depart every 20 minutes at peak times and every 30 minutes at offpeak times throughout the day, at a cost of 2 euro per journey.
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