Kenny gets sound advice on toppling Taoiseach

AS SELF-HELP guides go, this Thursday’s new series on RTÉ is pretty much out on its own.

For its immediate target audience can only be realistically one person and his name is Enda Kenny. It’s of no use to Bertie Ahern because he is already there.

So You Want to be Taoiseach is an intriguing programme showing all the right moves and connections an aspiring young politician must make to become Taoiseach.

It’s presented by comedian and actor Ardal O’Hanlon who also happens to be the son of Ceann Comhairle and Cavan-Monaghan TD, Dr Rory O’Hanlon.

His opening line in the series is: “Do you have the drive, the cynicism, the ego, the family connections, the personality, the looks, the ability to defend the indefensible, the thick skin, the common touch, the thirst for power, the brass neck & and the killer instinct … because if you do, then what you need now is the know-how...”

The series is full of anecdotes, personal experiences, revelations and political advice provided by politicians and political commentators.

Interviewees offer guiding principles, humorous stories and recall some GUBU-esque decisions, scandals, rows, secret deals and extraordinary characters that have coloured Irish politics.

As a result, this insider’s guide offers the audience — and budding Berties out there — a unique and compelling insight into how the Irish political system works; how parties do business; the rough and tumble of political life; the harsh realities of losing an election or being turfed out.

So You Want to Be Taoiseach, RTÉ1, 10.15pm, Thursday, April 12.