First episode of Glow Up Ireland to air on 2 September

The first episode of Glow Up Ireland will hit screens at 9.35pm on RTÉ2 on Thursday, 2 September, with Love Island’s Maura Higgins as presenter.

The new series will see 10 aspiring make-up artists being judged by Cathyanne Mac Allister and Emma O'Byrne, before one is ultimately crowned the winner and Ireland’s next make-up star.

The current Covid-19 climate meant RTÉ had to put strict protocols in place to film the show, including ongoing PCR testing and contestants living together in bubbles. There were numerous sanitising stations on set, and higher grade masks supplied to all involved.

In a change to the BBC’s original Glow Up UK format, the Irish competitors were only allowed to apply make-up to models for one challenge, and instead had to do themselves up for the other main challenge. The models were Covid tested before coming on set, and told to restrict their movements from the time of the check.

“Glow Up Ireland was made under very strict and onerous Covid protocols drawn up by the production company Indiepics and a specialist consultant,” said an RTÉ spokesperson. “All of the measures were informed by workplace guidelines and also by Screen Producer Ireland guidelines for both factual and entertainment programmes and drama production.”