And here is your (new) host...
Ben & Jerry’s, who are looking for an Irish entry in a global fairtrade initiative, have suggested something like a Late Late Tub-ridy of their ice cream and there might even be one for everyone in the audience.
Meanwhile, bookies are taking bets on the identity of Tubridy’s first guest when he takes over the show next September – Pat Kenny is the even money favourite, Gay Byrne is 2/1, and US president Barack Obama is 8/1 to appear on the show before the end of 2009.
Pat Kenny last night congratulated Ryan Tubridy on getting the Late Late Show slot as his successor, but also warned the newcomer: “It can be a mixed blessing.”
Kenny, who has headed the show for 10 years, will present three more programmes before its season ends and Tubridy takes over in the autumn.
“I wouldn’t presume to offer Ryan advice” he said. “One thing I would say is that he should do his own thing. He has done pretty well with Tubridy Tonight.
“It is very different to what I would present, but then the Late Late will change to suit the presenter.”
Speaking from Bundoran, Co Donegal, where he was recording a vox pop for his radio show slot on the European elections, Kenny said he attempted to contact Tubridy to offer his congratulations, but couldn’t get through.
“I couldn’t get through on his mobile. I imagine he was a little busy.”
Following the announcement at the end of March by Pat Kenny that he was standing down, senior management at RTÉ had been considering the options.
Heirs apparent included Gerry Ryan, who did a once off fill-in for Kenny, and Miriam O’Callaghan who was regarded within the bowels of the Montrose HQ as shoe-in.
“The Late Late Show is a unique programme that involves entertainment, comedy, audience interaction and social discussion. Ryan has shown time and time again on television and on his RTÉ Radio 1 show that he can handle the range of interviews required of a Late Late Show presenter, with both skill and insight. He’s a great broadcaster and we know he’ll make the show his own,” managing director of television Noel Curran said amid yesterday’s fanfare. “We want to keep the mix of entertainment and social discussion that are at its core, but we also want to look at new ways of harnessing Ryan’s enormous strengths. He has a huge energy and passion for the show and we all look forward to working with him and playing to those strengths on air,” he said.
Tubridy said he was taken aback by the announcement and looked forward to giving the show “a real, 21st century twist”. 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, he said. “I’d like to pay tribute to the other contenders who would have made fine presenters of this programme.
“I would also like to thank everyone who helped to make Tubridy Tonight what it was over the last five years. ”
The Late Late Show is the world’s longest running chat show. It was first aired on July 6, 1962, and was presented by broadcaster Gay Byrne until Kenny took over in 1999. Kenny announced his departure live on the show on March 27, stating it was time to spend Friday nights with his family. Tubridy has been presenting his Saturday night TV show, Tubridy Tonight, since 2004. RTÉ said it will not return in the autumn.
Mr Curran said: “Do we need two chat shows on a weekend? Maybe we do, but we want to take this opportunity to also look at other entertainment show possibilities.
“There will be a new home-produced entertainment show for Saturday night and we will consider carefully what that show will be.”
Tubridy’s first Late Late Show as host will be broadcast on September 5, 2009.
Pat Kenny’s last Late Late Show as host will be broadcast on Friday, May 29, 2009. He is to become the face of a new current affairs programme, scheduled to be broadcast on Monday nights replacing Questions and Answers.
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