Dunphy plays down importance of first showdown with Pat Kenny

TELEVISION’S newest talk show host Eamon Dunphy has played down the importance of this Friday’s inaugural broadcast to the long-term success of his programme.

"It's not a sprint it's a marathon," he said of the much-hyped showdown with RTÉ rival Pat Kenny with whom he goes head-to-head on competing channels. "We will do him [Kenny] over the season. It's a long season with 30 shows. It won't be won or lost on Friday night," he said, adding: "If it bombs, we will still go to Renards and have a jar."

Bookies, however, are tipping Dunphy and TV3 to floor Kenny in the opening weeks of the series but to lose out in the long run when initial curiosity wears off and viewers return to Kenny's familiar Late Late Show format.