THREE of Britain's Roses will take to the stage this evening for the first live selection that will be televised on RTE One from the Festival Dome in Tralee, Co Kerry.
Over 750,000 viewers are expected to tune in at 8pm to watch the first 18 Roses get interviewed by Dáithí O’Sé.
Mairéad Hussey (Manchester), Michelle Kelly (Scotland) and Aoife Broderick (Derby) are among the Roses competing for the crown this evening in the hotly anticipated showcase.
20-year-old Mairéad admitted that whilst she has support from both England and her native Galway, she’s looking forward to meeting Dáithí again.
“We’ve got to know him quite well now, and definitely on stage when you’ve got the nerves he tends to calm you down a bit,” she said.
Michelle Kelly (23), who works as an auditor with PwC and is originally from Tyrone, revealed that she is “totally honoured” to be representing her current home Scotland where she has lived for several years.
During tonight’s selection the 2014 Newbridge Silverware Escort of the Year will also be announced, with one of the 32 escorts receiving a prize worth €5,000.
Nottingham Rose Claire Regan (27), who will feature in tomorrow’s selection, explained that she is enjoying the experience in Ireland so much that she does not want to leave.
“The welcome we’ve got from everybody, in every town we’ve been to, it’s just been incredible. We feel like were celebrities, it’s been amazing and we don’t want to leave,” she said.
While the Rose of Tralee TV host Daithi O Se is taking a break during the 9 O'Clock News tonight, viewers can log-on to view an online "back-stage" programme on the RTE Player.
Aidan Power will present "Live from the Red Room" between 9pm and 9.30pm to bring audiences worldwide behind the scenes of the show.
