Director of content Bill Malone and head of programming Aoife Stokes, who were elected recently to the centre’s committee, and studio manager Mark Bayley guided the group on a tour of the complex.

First stop was the newsroom to meet executive producer Gareth O’Connor and presenter Claire Brock who were preparing the 8pm bulletin. The newsroom is integrated visually into the main news set in Studio One and contains a live sports position.

Bayley then took the group to see Studio One where, alongside news, daytime and the late-night current affairs show, The Tonight Show, are made. The latter’s producer, Ruairí McKenna, explained how the lively nightly debate show is put together.

Next the group went to Studio Two, where the first stop was the new set of the daily breakfast show, Ireland AM. They met the show’s day producer Katriona Quinn.  

Studio Two is also the venue for sports content on Virgin Media’s channels, as well as some entertainment and current affairs shows. The RTS group met sports presenter Tommy Martin and sports producer Brian Gleeson.

Bayley then outlined Virgin Media’s plans for additional studio resources in a newly constructed Studio Three.