Fair City sizzles to woo back viewers

Saucy love tangles are being set up to help struggling TV soap Fair City win back its viewers.

The Dublin-based soap has slumped from No 1 spot to fifth place, with ratings falling by more than 60,000 to just over half a million.

It now trails behind Fawlty Towers, the Monday and Wednesday episodes of Coronation Street and Keeping Up Appearances.

Now TV bosses are banking on illicit sex to spice up the ratings. And that will lead to cheated wife Sandie Dowling (played by Charlotte Bradley) becoming a cheat herself with garage owner Harry Molloy (Paul Raynor).

Newcomer Ava Spillane (Lise Hearns) will try to seduce Jimmy Doyle (David Mitchell).

And a randy priest will set his sights on bar owner Kay McCoy (Sheila McWade).

Fair City hit the top slot in the charts when rival Glenroe went off the air for the summer. But it failed to stay on top.

"It's a disappointment," said an RTE producer. "We were sure it would establish itself.

"It shows how fickle viewers can be - you just never know. But hopefully we'll get back to No 1 again with the new, strong storylines.

"The fact that all the shows pulling bigger audiences were made by British TV companies does little for our morale."

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