Four Late Late Show talking points, from Miriam O'Callaghan to Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi speaks to Patrick Kielty at the Late Late Show Halloween Special
Broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan joined the show to discuss her new biography, which shares intimate details of her personal life, including the losses of her sister and her father two months apart.
O’Callaghan described 1995 as her ‘annus horribis’ — it was the year of her sister Anne's death from cancer, and her father's subsequent stroke and death a few weeks later.
“She died of stomach cancer and she was only 33, and I remember being not being able to comprehend how this could happen in the world,” she said.
She recalled her father’s grief the day before Anne’s death.
“My dad was a man of few words. He was a Kerry man and he never really showed his emotions. And he started to cry, and he just said, ‘Miriam, we're losing the jewel in our crown. We're losing the jewel in our crown’. And I was so angry.
“I was so angry that the world had come along and kicked them in the face and robbed them of the jewel in their crown and robbed us all. I was distraught. It's the only thing in life I'm angry about, and I'm still angry about.”
O’Callaghan said her father suffered a stroke while getting her sister’s memorial card printed and passed away shortly after in hospital.
“So my life changed, and then my marriage broke up. So I always say 1995 was my annus horribis.”
She also reflected on her career, including reporting on significant moments such as the Omagh bombing, the Good Friday Agreement, and the marriage equality referendum, and said she still loves her job.
“I love it. I love the people I work with. I feel really privileged to have a ringside seat and to work on the best television show in Ireland, .”
Singer Jon Bon Jovi joined Patrick Kielty to discuss next year’s Bon Jovi gig in Croke Park and Irish influences. He spoke about how Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy had a major impact during the band’s formative years.
“They came up at a very influential time in my life, because we were young teenage boys when Lizzy was doing. and and doing their version of . And those things were breaking in America, and they made storytelling fun.”
He said he learned guitar by playing their music.
"I learned to play those songs, which is why I learned how to write songs. Instead of a guitar teacher teaching you simple scales, this guitar teacher took out the sheet music to , said, ‘watch this’. It was like that was a magic potion.”
Bon Jovi’s upcoming tour is their first since the lead singer underwent vocal cord surgery in 2022 and he admitted he did not realise he would be unable to perform for so long.
“I didn't lose faith, but I really didn't think it would take this long. Maybe prior to the surgery, if you had said it's going to be three and a half years, then I might have thought about not doing it. But I trusted in the doctor, and I followed the protocols, and I feel good now.”
Some of the coaches visited the Late Late to discuss the upcoming 13th season of the popular programme. Davy Fitzgerald and Donncha O’Callaghan joined new coaches Ellen Keane and Michael Darragh MacAuley to share some insight into what viewers can expect when the show returns on Sunday evening.
“We've a few new exciting coaches, we've a few new events, and we've new venues as well,” O’Callaghan said, “It was a really enjoyable summer. A bit like Davy said, it's always going to get competitive, but when you throw new coaches into it, new dynamics, there was real rivalry straight away.”
Keane joked she turned out to be a tougher coach than she had expected.
“I thought I'd come into this show and be really reserved. Turns out Davy has influenced me. By the end of the season, I had no voice. I'm a little bit afraid of the show coming out, because people are definitely going to see a different side to me. But you know, it was really fun. It's actually quite fun shouting at people,” she said.
We were treated to a love-fest on Friday evening when former cast member Lynne McGranger, known to fans as Irene, joined Kielty to reminisce about the popular Australian soap. Also in the studio were the podcast hosts Shane Daniel Byrne, Tony Cantwell and Killian Sundermann, who were more than happy to walk down memory lane with McGranger.
McGranger said Irish fans of the soap have always been enthusiastic in their love for the shw.
“Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of [Irish] people come to Palm Beach to watch the show being filmed and say hello, and it's just lovely,” she said.
“I'm not just saying this, we love our Irish fans so much, because you guys are generous, and you're wonderful and friendly. Your passion and love for the show is genuine, and we love that.”
She added she was surprised to be recognised as Irene in Ireland despite changes in her appearance.
“I've been to Ireland a few times with my husband and daughter, and we love it. And everywhere I go, I seem to get recognised, even though the hair is not red anymore. I thought that I might be able to hide, but I just opened my gob, and suddenly, everyone goes, ‘I know that voice’.”
Kielty mentioned Byrne, who was sitting beside the actor, is a bit of a superfan too.
“I am freaking the fuck out. Our generation watched loads and loads of ,” he said. “One time I dressed up for Halloween as a Summer Bay student, and I had a little outfit, the white shirt and the blue jeans, and I had blood on my face, and I just kept saying, ‘there's been a cyclone’. I wasn't a kid. I was like, 25.”
