Virgin Media Ireland is set to air a new chat show which will see Irish celebrities interviewed by a group of people who who are neurodivergent, autistic, or have learning disabilities.
The format is based on a French series called Les Rencontres du Papotin (The A Talks), which launched two years ago on France 2.
The series sees French public figures, such as French President Emmanuel Macron, quizzed by a collective of participants with autism or learning disabilities with the aim of revealing a side to the interviewees that has not been seen in previous press interviews.
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Networks in Spain, Denmark, and Poland have recently begun airing their own version of the show, while multi-award-winning actor and director, Michael Sheen, fronted a one-off special for the BBC titled The Assembly which was broadcast during Autism Acceptance Week.
Kite Entertainment, the production company behind the likes of Gogglebox Ireland and Ireland’s Fittest Family, are now set to produce a new version of the series for Virgin Media Television which will feature famous Irish personalities being interviewed by a group of neurodivergent journalists.
If the original French show is anything to go by, the questions will be probing, funny and brutal, with no subject off limits.
Commenting on the upcoming series, Anthony Nilan, director of programming at Virgin Media Television, said: “As a public service broadcaster, we have always ensured that inclusivity and representation is at the core of our commissioning strategy.
"The A Talks is a television show that empowers and celebrates its participants and challenges viewers’ perceptions in a positive way. It also gives us a chance to discuss topics and stories through a different lens that we hope will spark further conversations and debate.”
Kite Entertainment’s managing director, Darren Smith, added: “Every now and then, you come across a show that has both a proper entertainment punch and a real purpose.
"From the moment CAN’T STOP media showed us The A Talks, we knew it was one of those shows and instantly wanted to make it.
"So naturally, we are delighted to be now making it for Virgin with support from the Coimisiún na Meán Sound & Vision Fund. Let the casting begin!”
Matthieu Porte, co-founder at CAN’T STOP media, which represents the format, said: “We are delighted to work with Virgin Media Television and Kite Entertainment to bring The A Talks to Ireland.
"We are convinced Irish viewers will immediately fall in love with the show as in every other country, changing forever the perception many viewers still have about people on the spectrum.”
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