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Paisean Faisean ("Fashion Passion") is an Irish language television dating show broadcast on TG4. It was presented in the first three series by Aoife Ní Thuairisg, and in the fourth series by Bláthnaid Nic Dhonnchadha and Mairéad Ní Chuaig. The fifth series saw Nic Dhonnchadha present alongside Síle Seoige.

Format

Magma films bought the format from Digital Rights Group with the line "Boys buy clothes for girls" from that Clodagh Freeman created the series. Magma films get a percentage of international rights as they bought the format from paper and brought it to the screen first. The format of the show traditionally involves three men choosing outfits for one woman – although the episode aired on 19 November 2007 featured four gay men. The suitors are shown a short pre-recorded clip of the girl, wearing jeans and a white T-shirt, in which she introduces herself and gives clues as to which clothes she likes. Each man shops in a different shop, and has €400 spending money (raised to €500 in the fourth season). The person for whom the outfits are purchased must then base her choice of "date" on which outfit she likes the best. The winning man and the woman then share dinner in a restaurant.

Magma Films, producers of Paisean Faisean, have since sold the rights to Zoo Productions who will produce the series for MTV under the title Style Date. The show has also been produced in Turkey, while a Polish version is expected later on this year.

Controversies

Advertising

In the show's second season it raised some controversy, when complaints were upheld against two of its advertisements by the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland; a billboard advertisement depicting a woman in slightly revealing clothing led to complaints of 'reducing women to mere sexual objects'; and a radio advertisement in which a woman complains about people being able to see her underwear, with the response 'Not if you're not wearing any, they won't', led to complaints about sexual equality. Angela Kerins, Chair of the Equality Authority Board in Ireland came out strongly to confirm their condemnation of the advertisements.

Gay contestants

Series four included an episode with gay couples. Ní Thuairisg refused to film episodes featuring gay couples, claiming "incompatibility with her religious beliefs" (she is a Jehovah's Witness); this may have contributed to her departure.

References

1. "MTV buys TG4's hit fashion/dating show". RTÉ. 28 April 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
2. "MTV Shops for 'Paisean Faisean'". Irish Film and Television Network. 20 April 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
3. "MTV buys TG4's hit fashion/dating show". RTÉ. 28 April 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
4. The Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland :: Complaint
5. The Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland :: Complaint Archived 8 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine
6. "Glam TV host had religious objection to all-gay show". Irish Independent. 20 May 2007.
7. GCN | Daily Dish
8. McConnell, Daniel (20 May 2007). "Glam TV host had religious objection to all-gay show". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 20 May 2007.

External links

• Official site on TG4.ie in Irish
• Official site on TG4.ie in English

• Irish-language television shows
• TG4 original programming