Tubridy issues chat show challenge to Kenny: Bring it on

Ryan Tubridy has revealed he is excited at the prospect of a chat show head-to-head with Pat Kenny, summing up the challenge with: “Bring it on.”

Tubridy said the possibility of Kenny fronting a talk show on TV3 would bring healthy competition to the Friday night slot.

TV3’s station head has openly expressed his intention of pursuing Kenny, an ex-host of the Late Late Show, for a prime-time show to take on RTÉ’s flagship programme.

Tubridy, who returned to 2FM yesterday morning after his summer break, said the presence of his former colleague and friend on RTÉ rival television station would up everyone’s game.

He said: “I see reports in the papers in the last couple of days that TV3 might have a go at the Late Late Show with a new show, maybe with Pat at the front of it, which would be very, very exciting.

“It is complete rumour and hearsay at the moment obviously. Even PK says himself today: ‘I don’t plan on coming back on TV anytime soon.’

“But certainly it would throw up some fun and games in the TV world. Bring it on. It would up all our games.

“It would be good to have a bit of competition about the place.”

Tubridy also spoke about his recent meeting with Ireland’s other famous chat show host — Graham Norton.

He revealed how he bumped into the Cork star backstage in Pat Shortt’s dressing room in London after watching The Cripple of Inishmaan.

“In the lobby wandering in was Graham Norton,” said Tubridy. “He is a very, very nice man indeed and very friendly. The funny thing was, backstage after the show, there was about 200 people waiting to meet Daniel Radcliffe because he’s Harry Potter.

“I had to make my way through the crowd and got into the dressing room and there was Pat Shortt — one of the funniest and nicest men you could meet and a tremendous actor.”

Tubridy said he ended up talking to Radcliffe later on in Shortt’s dressing room and quizzed him about once dating a girl from Ballyhaunis.

“I [was] backstage chatting away to Pat and Graham and all my new best friends and in walks Daniel Radcliffe. You couldn’t meet a nicer fella, down to earth, fun, pleasant, really eager to say hello.

“We got talking. I said I met a girl who said you went out with someone from Ballyhaunis. He said: ‘It’s true!’ He was full of stories about being in Ireland and hanging out in Ireland a few times.”

However, Tubridy said Shortt was the true star of the show, which is taking the West End by storm.

“The real success of that night was Pat Shortt, who is playing a blinder on the West End,” said Tubridy.

“They are loving him over there and I think he’s going to be a big star in the UK.”