If you’ve long lamented the lack of Irish comedy series’, then you might like this news.

TV3 sister site 3e have today announced the arrival of Newsbag, the first animated adult comedy series produced for Irish television. Created by Gerard Barrett, who describes it as a mix of South Park and The I.T Crowd, (high self-praise indeed), the series follows Moss, Lenny and Gig, who work for a dysfunctional Dublin-based online news website, Newsbag, run by a rich megalomaniac named Eric Dundee.

According to the blurb; “Together, the trio pursue hot news trends such as the wave of Twitter-addiction spreading across the country, Barack Obama coming to Ireland, the spud shortage that brings Ireland closer to another famine, Lenny being afflicted with piles, Moss getting kidnapped by a gang of priests to become King of the Priests and more.” So far, so Paddy.

In the series premiere, Moss joins the Newsbag team and is overwhelmed by the creepy welcome he gets from eccentric CEO Eric Dundee. Gig is ecstatic when his new Personal Attack app gets approved by Crapple but is equally depressed when Molly makes him move desk for Moss. Dundee breaks the news to staff that Obama is coming to Ireland for a state visit. He wants Moss to go cover it with Lenny. Gig tags along but during Obama’s speech his app goes off, causing the whole place to erupt in chaos. Obama then breaks away from his entourage to go and explore Ireland with the Newsbag trio.

TV3 Director of Content, Jeff Ford, said: “We are excited to be teaming up with Icehouse Media to bring 3e viewers Ireland’s first animated adult comedy series. This unique animation is a fantastic addition to the many home-grown programming and talent that TV3 Group supports. It also highlights the importance of the BAI fund which contributes to the continuous relationship between TV3 and the independent sector.” 

Newsbag Creator, Head Writer & Executive Producer, Gerard Barrett, said: “It was always an ambition of mine to create a cartoon and set it in Ireland, so I came up with the concept of Newsbag and setting it around three friends working in an online news website in Dublin. It was the perfect setting for it and a great segue into potential storylines having it set around all types of news stories.”

Newsbag airs Saturday 12^th October 2013 at 10pm on 3e.