It was announced yesterday that broadcaster Pat Kenny would be joining the country's newest TV channel UTV Ireland, which is set to launch in January 2015. More details of what exactly the presenter will be doing there have now emerged and it looks like he will be giving his old place of work a run for their money.
Kenny's new show for the channel will see him interview a range of personalities from both the political and the entertainment world. Yep, that pretty much sounds like The Late Late Show, but they wouldn't be so daring as to put it on at the same time, would they? Either way, there will be wars over who gets what guests.
Ireland's Head of Channel Mary Curtis told the Irish Independent; "This will not be a hard news and current affairs show [...] Although we may touch on those subjects depending on the different guests Pat has on. "You have seen what he has done on RTE; we are going to utilise and maximise on that experience." Going on to say; "He is very good with a live audience, he is very good with talent, he has an encyclopaedic knowledge and he understands and can handle complex and light issues."
Curtis was also asked whether she thought Ryan Tubridy should be worried; "No-one need worry if they are doing their job well. There is plenty of room for us all out there."
This either bodes very well for us viewers, in that The Late Late Show will now up its game to compete with UTV, OR, both shows will be stretched so tight on getting guests in and end up fighting for soap stars to appear.
Let's hope it's the former.
Pat Kenny, who made the unexpected move to Newstalk last year, said at the launch: "I have had a pretty comprehensive apprenticeship between 'The Late Late Show', 'Kenny Live' and 'The Frontline', I am looking forward to delivering an entertaining and exciting series... I have always been about grabbing the audience and keeping them with me. It's new and interesting territory and I am looking forward to hopping on board UTV Ireland for another great adventure."
