The annual cost of producing RTÉ’s Fair City has been revealed. The primetime favourite costs €11m per year to film, an average of €56,000 per episode.The soap airs four nights a week on RTE One and has been very popular with the public since its debut in 1989.
The total cost of producing Fair City came to a total of €11,361,670 in 2014. This is an increase from €11,087,030 in 2013. In comparison, TV3’s new rival soap Red Rock, which began airing in January 2015, costs an average €65,000 per episode and airs twice a week.
Many of Fair City‘s actors have praised the public reception that they receive. George McMahon, who played Mondo, said he feels like a “rock star” outside Dublin.
“I do find that there is a huge following around the country,” he explained. “I get a lot more people coming up to me when I’m outside Dublin – I feel like a rock star. I guess the city is quite fast-paced and you could see anyone walking down the street, whereas down in Limerick you definitely hear more about it,.”