More 4 announces Ardal's Ireland (w/t)

In a new 3x60’ series, Ardal’s Ireland (wt), comic actor Ardal O’Hanlon, will explore the Emerald Isle and Irish life as he goes off the beaten track around his beloved homeland. Commissioned by Channel 4 Features the series will be produced by Northern Irish indie Big Mountain Productions

Using a series of Victorian guidebooks , written by Mr & Mrs S C Hall to tempt the English over to Ireland, Ardal will meet the people who make the country the great nation that it is. He will roam from small towns to idiosyncratic attractions, detour from pulpit to pub and rejoice in the unique festivities and characters you could only find in Ireland.

Ardal’s Ireland will unearth and share an Ireland you could only know by having grown up there – or having been a member of one of the most famous Irish ecclesiastical TV families Father Ted!

The series was commissioned by Channel 4 Features commissioning editor Lizi Wootton and will be made by Big Mountain Productions with executive producers Jane Kelly and Philip McGovern.

Of the commission Lizi said: "I’m delighted to be working with Ardal O'Hanlon and Big Mountain Productions, creating a series that I know will be rich in beauty, insight and eccentricity."

Jane Kelly added: “This is an exciting, fun authentic series we’re making in Ireland for C4 with one of Ireland’s top comedy talents. And it’s a great opportunity for us to build and nurture our brilliant development and production teams here.”

This latest commission from Channel 4 follows Big Mountain’s first commission Generation Foundation from Gill Wilson, Head of Features for Channel 4.