More oul’ chat when Brendan returns next year
Midweek slot will suit O’Connor’s easygoing style, says RTÉ
BRENDAN O’Connor is to be given a new chat show after being shunted from his Saturday night slot to make way for RTÉ’s new golden boy Ray D’Arcy.
Sources have confirmed that O’Connor will host the show from spring next year and he will remain with RTÉ 1.
The show will go out midweek, and will ‘most likely be a lighter entertainment chat show’ similar to Craig Doyle’s previous efforts, they said.
However, while RTÉ have confirmed some details, the format of the new programme is as yet undecided. ‘Brendan will have a show that will start next spring. It was agreed this week. But no further details have been decided yet,’ said a source.
The MoS has also learned that despite initial interest from an independent production house, RTÉ will do the show themselves.
‘There are no production companies. It will be done in-house,’ said RTÉ.
Sources have said it will be a lighter show to suit O’Connor’s style of presenting as it is felt RTÉ One needs some light entertain- ment. ‘Brendan is good at the lighter guests and chats. So that is the format the show will likely take. ‘And RTÉ have enough hard-hitting serious shows. This will bring the right blend of lighter entertainment,’ said a source. However, RTÉ’s previous efforts in this area have been largely seen as a flop with shows Tonight With Craig Doyle and Craig Doyle Live both failing to attract audiences.
Last month RTÉ finally confirmed what the MoS had revealed last year – that Ray D’Arcy would replace O’Connor as host of RTÉ’s Saturday night chat show.
In March RTÉ confirmed that D’Arcy would be taking over the slot with his own show.
He is reported to have rejoined RTÉ on an annual salary of €500,000.
In a statement, RTÉ One control- ler Adrian Lynch said O’Connor’s run on The Saturday Night Show had been ‘a great success’ for the channel, which needs to continue to ‘offer the public great shows and keep great talent’.
Last week on the Saturday Night Show O’Connor made his first reference to the move since last month.
During his pre-show monologue he said that he had read that ‘RTÉ were bringing back Zig and Zag. Next they will be bringing back Ray D’Arcy,’ he laughed.
‘RTÉ have enough hard-hitting shows’