| Runtime: | 30 minutes |
| Starring: | Lucy Kennedy |
| Country: | Ireland |
| Num Seasons: | 5 |
| Num Episodes: | 20+ |
| 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.
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 | [4] | ||
| 21 April 2008 | [5] | ||
| 28 April 2008 | [6] | ||
| 5 May 2008 | [7] | ||
| 12 May 2008 | [8] | ||
| 19 May 2008 | [9] |
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 | [11] | ||
| 27 October 2008 | [12] | ||
| 3 November 2008 | [13] | ||
| 10 November 2008 | [14] |
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 |
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 |
| 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 |
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 |
| 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 |
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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
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]