The tagline of the email from RTÉ a few weeks ago couldn t have been more intriguing: Strictly embargoed until 6am Wednesday. Cannot appear in print, online or via social media. What could be momentous enough to merit such secrecy?
It turned out to be an announcement that Home Of The Year would soon be back for a seventh series, with two new judges joining architect Hugh Wallace - an event which, without being unkind, would hardly make a ripple in any normal year, never mind the current situation.
On Tuesday, it was back on screen anyway with the first three of 21 houses battling it out over the next eight weeks for the title of Best House In Ireland That Most Of Us Couldn t Possibly Afford . That includes the winner of this episode, a big black new build in Co Cork with a grand piano as the kitchen island.