Winning Streak
| Winning Streak | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Genre | Game show |
| Presented by |
Mike Murphy (1990–2001) Derek Mooney (2001–08) Aidan Power (2008–09) Kathryn Thomas (2008–11) Marty Whelan (2009–) Geri Maye (2011–13) Sinéad Kennedy (2013–) |
| Country of origin | Ireland |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Location(s) | RTÉ Television Centre |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | RTÉ One |
| Original release | 21 September 1990 |
Winning Streak is an Irish television game show, Europe's second longest-running after the UK's Countdown. Aired weekly in Ireland, five contestants play a number of games to win cars, holidays, and cash prizes up to €1,000,000. Broadcast on Saturday nights between September and June on RTÉ One, the game show is among the channel's most popular programmes, often ranking among the top five in the ratings. However, there was a significant drop in viewership in the 2008/2009 series. The game show began on 21 September 1990, and has been hosted by popular television personalities Mike Murphy (1990–2001) and Derek Mooney (2001–2008). Prize money for the show is funded by the Irish National Lottery, with entry to the game based on National Lottery scratchcards.
Mooney stepped down as the show's host at the end of the 2007–08 season. The 2008–09 season was rebranded Winning Streak: Dream Ticket and was co-hosted by Kathryn Thomas and Aidan Power. They were the first duo to host the programme and Thomas was the show's first permanent female presenter. Aidan Power stood down, after the 2008/09 season ended on 6 June 2009, because of his commitments to the RTÉ's youth-orientated programme, The Cafe, as well as presenting on The All Ireland Talent Show in early 2010. Marty Whelan stepped into Aidan's shoes, co-hosting the 2009/10 series with Kathryn, which aired from 12 September 2009 (reverting to its original name Winning Streak) until 29 May 2010. The twenty-first season, commenced on 4 September 2010, again with Kathryn Thomas and Marty Whelan at the helm. Kathryn was then replaced with Geri Maye, who was replaced by Sinéad Kennedy.
These were the Mike Murphy years. The structure of the show was very similar over the series throughout this time. Murphy would meet each contestant individually, chatting to them for a few minutes, then they would play the first game. These games included, among others:
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