Madam, – Your TV review of our production Take On the Take Awayfor RTÉ television (Weekend Review, July 17th) stated, "this looks inspired by a BBC series of the same name".
Far from copying the BBC version of T ake On the Take Away,we produced that series too. Our business model is based on creating original formats that have international sales potential. Most of our shows, like The Restaurant, begin life in Ireland, and then travel. However, Take On the Take Awaywas picked up by the BBC first and then went on to become a daily show in Germany for two years.
We try to champion originality in an Irish television environment where the pressure is on broadcasters to do copycat shows. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland appears to have no remit for making Ireland an exporter of new ideas, the Film Board only knocked on our door when it was about to get the snip, and only for Enterprise Ireland we would have nobody to talk to. – Yours, etc,