![]() ![]() “Doris is from Għaxaq, a mother of three children who today are grown-ups, but I’ve known her for many years, and she always abided by what her children did and decided, whatever it was,” Eileen opened up in an interview last year. Fun fact: Eileen got the gig thanks to President Emeritus Agatha Barbara (then Culture Minister), who had insisted that Malta’s carnival celebrations also needed a female presence.Īnd we all know how that persisted for a couple of decades… because it was during the opening of Carnival 2006 that the iconic “Ara Doris!” was born.īy the way, years later, Eileen finally explained the story – and person – behind that meme. Juggling children’s shows and plays, Montesin started presenting lotto draws, something which even the youngest reader will be familiar with as she’s maintained it up to this day.Īround this time, Eileen also became the first woman to present the annual Valletta dances and Floriana float defile’ during Carnival. It was also around this time that some of Eileen’s most iconic roles started coming to life… one of which she’s kept for over three decades. The power of green screens saw the very first examples of computer graphics being introduced to the island’s shows, with Eileen featuring in some magical tales perfect for any 1980s D&D fan. Flybilletter valletta tv#With the 1980s well underway, colour wasn’t the only thing to arrive onto Malta’s TV sets… Two fully booked weekends later, the comedy was a raging success ready for the nation’s TV sets. But that wasn’t everything – the comedy (which also saw two other versions being written) would be filmed to be eventually broadcast on Xandir Malta. ![]() ![]() Initially planned to be a one-off weekend production at the Manoel Theatre, In-Neptuija tal-Kappillan sold out within hours of tickets opening, and the production pair knew they had stumbled upon something big.Įventually, Montesin ended up booking for two more weekends… at the much-larger Mediterranean Conference Centre. Within months of featuring in a play with Joe Gatt, Montesin had a new plan brewing, and all she needed was the talent to bring it to life.Īfter some persuading, the two formed a drama company, and their first product was the comedy In-Neputija tal-Kappillan. For people who might recognise that name, they know exactly what happens next. Flybilletter valletta series#In fact, she would go on to also present the series Il-Konsumatur and the popular Blanzuni ’85.īy now, it was time for a new challenge to present itself… but instead of waiting, Eileen went out looking for one. Then, in 1987, after a quarter of a century of life (most of which was spent on the stage or in front of a camera), Eileen Montesin presented her last children’s show, L-Arka Mużikali.Īlways intent on being a broadcasting chameleon, however, Eileen did not limit herself to only children’s shows for those formative seven years in the 80s. Mid-Dinja ta’ Ġillin, Larry x-Xadin and Int, Jien u il-Merill were other shows children growing in the mid and late 80s will definitely remember.Īnd let’s not forget Nanna Għadek Tiftakar, a show which read like a love letter to Malta’s traditions… including children singing għana and makjetti decades before father-son duo Jomike and Lydon won the hearts of the nation. In fact, many of these programmes would see Eileen collaborate with her eventual husband, Mark Haber. This would kick off seven consecutive years of Eileen Montesin presenting and producing children’s TV shows throughout her 20s. When she turned 20, Eileen Montesin finally appeared on Malta’s TV sets – which back then were still black and white – on the programme Kikku u Sika. It was also around this time that the Manoel Theatre welcomed Montesin for her first role in a play – It-Tieġ – courtesy of the Sliema Dramatic Company. In Valletta’s Santu Wistin Hall, the bright-eyed teenager organised an entire variety show by herself. It didn’t take long for Montesin to aim even higher though… and her first big break at showing off all her skills came months later, when she was only 15 years old. As the years went on, the school broadcasts kept rolling in, but these were just the tip of the iceberg.īefore she even hit teenagehood, Eileen had tasted success, being awarded the title of Best Actress for the play Id-Dota.īeyond school, Montesin found every opportunity to act or present, be it a variety show in Valletta or a sombre Good Friday pageant. Montesin was born on 1st October 1962 in Birkirkara… and it only took a couple of years for her love of the stage and media to blossom.Īt just 10 years old and having lived in Valletta, a very young Eileen was chosen as one of four students to head her school’s first-ever broadcast. ![]()
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