So the powers-that-be in RTÉ have decided, and announced this evening, that Ryan Tubridy is the man to replace Pat Kenny. The 35-year-old presenter’s first programme as host of ‘The Late Late Show’ will be broadcast in September.
Ryan Tubridy with Twink and Grainne Seoige. Win some, lose some.
Commenting on taking over the programme from departing host Pat Kenny, new host Tubridy said: “I’m very taken aback by this announcement. ‘The Late Late Show’ casts a wide net across this island and it is a humbling honour to be asked to present such an iconic programme”.
So that’s that.
At least it’s not Gerry Ryan. Be thankful for small mercies.
Pat Kenny’s last Late Late Show as host will be broadcast on Friday, 29th of May.
‘Tubridy Tonight’ will not return in the Autumn. Instead RTÉ bosses “want to look again at the Saturday night schedule”.
Odds on our very own Darragh Doyle to get a gig? We’ll just have to watch this space!
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Definitely the best option available imho.
Well at least ta Plank imithe. Of the three amazingly secret candidates Tubridy is probably the best….still would’ve been cool if it was someone we hadn’t heard of before.
It was decided by a quorum of the elders in the woods on Killiney hill about 100 years ago, so no surprise there.
Oh I can’t wait to see the Archbishop on telling us witty stories about his cloak blowing up in the wind.
Thought he didn’t want it.
Oh well.
q1)
Will the Late Late become TT?
q2)
So what happens on Saturday? Or Friday. Its unlikely, but the Late Late could return to its old Saturday slot, would suit some guests.
The replacement for Tubs Tonight… Will Miriam O’Callaghan get a regular show alongside the “Prime:Time” gig?
Or will RTE try out someone new *waves at Darragh Doyle*
I can almost see RTÉ replacing “You’re A Star” with “You’re A Host” and getting a new presenter that way.
Don’t laugh, anyone remember “Saturday Live” with a different host each week? That is how they “picked” Pat Kenny.
Very probably voodoo.
Sean, would’ve been very interesting if it was someone we hadn’t heard of before. TV execs don’t always go for interesting tho. Still I think Tubs’ll do a decent job of it all the same.
Indeed Holemaster, indeed!
Will, Tubs has said he doesn’t want long winded chat. Wants to go along the Parkinson lines. Which is no harm. Altho I think the audience still want human interest stories, political pieces and debates etc.
As for Saturday, don’t expect RTÉ to break the mould. Miriam (sans Prime Time) or Gráinne Seoige should get a light entertainment show I reckon. No fear of anyone new, RTE can’t afford that!
Hmmm…
Have to be careful here given my empolyers, but…
In my *personal* opinion someone unknown would have been a disaster. You can’t give a show of this importance and complexity to someone without a track record.
I watched him on Six One yesterday and his talk of changing some things is brave. It really does need to move on into the 21st century and, to be fair, he’s the perfect person for the job
It’s definitely won’t be TT, but a bit more relaxed and less stiff. He’ll definitely have to do the serious stuff but he does that all the time on the radio so that’s no hurdle…
It might be enough to entice a whole generation back to Friday night TV and away from Jonathon Ross if it’s done right.
Rick, you’re right the Late Late is overdue a change. It’s too long and wide-ranging; the Producers really need to split the distance both thematically and in duration.
But I do hope Tubridy takes it and makes it his own and in so doing injects a bit of much needed energy into the format.
We live in hope!
I would be concerned however with how he’ll handle common Joe Soap issues and things that don’t necessarily interest him persoanlly. Sometimes he can get bored quite easily and there’s no scope for that on the Late Late.
I’d like to see the process that arrived at the decision to choose him. I don’t believe it was fair and open. It’s just the same old crew looking after their own and putting them into the right slots.
@Holemaster What’s the alternative?
H, and again in a personal capacity, why should that matter? We’re not electing a president or The Pope here so what business is it of anyone’s shy of RTE management who presents a chat show?
I guarantee you this is how it happened. The 3 or 4 top brass all sat down, discussed it over a series of meetings and that was that. Just as these things are done in every other broadcast organisation in the world.
They asked who the safest and most capable pair of hands were and, realistically, one name was always going to be at the top of that pile.
I’ll ask Ciara’s question too - who else should have gotten it and why?