Is Total Xposure the cheapest Irish television production ever?

After last week's revelations that the panel of 'expert' judges on TV3's flagship reality show were doing the job for their love of discovering talent, the Sunday Tribune can reveal that the show's means of transport were also provided for free.

An internal email, seen by this newspaper, circulated in the weeks before the production began was entitled 'A chance to be on TV!!'.

It wasn't actually a call to arms for prospective contestants though, but a shout out for anyone with a full driver's licence who would be prepared to chauffeur the contestants around for free. In cars provided to the station for, yes, free. The programme makers had secured the use of three people carriers to ferry around contestants and would be featured in the programme (hence the possibility of appearing on TV).

"We need to secure the services of some careful drivers who will be available throughout the summer to drive these vehicles. This is a super opportunity to be involved first- hand in TV production – and this promises to be the biggest show on TV this summer," the email said. It then went on to describe the kind of candidates they were looking for.

"Do you know anyone who fulfils the following criteria? Between the ages of 25 and 60, full clean driving licence. Reliable, smart dress, knowledge of Dublin area. Available Thursdays and Fridays from 19 June 19 to 14 August."

But just when you thought you might have come across the perfect summer job in these recessionary times the email cut to the chase.

"This will ideally suit a student or retired person, someone who has a lot of free time over the summer and is willing to help out. There is no pay but we will cover expenses where necessary."

When asked about the rates of pay for the drivers working on Total Xposure, the Sunday Tribune was told that they were paid a rate for the days that they worked but that "it was a daily rate for one day a week" and that the drivers were retained "for just a couple of Fridays, not on a contract basis".

"I think the confusion arose because they were just asked to work this Friday and the next Friday but not on a regular basis so there would be no regular pay," the TV3 spokesperson said.