FOR A FEW weeks, it looked like The Saturday Night Show was about to unseat The Late Late Show as the most viewed programme on Irish television.
The show, then presented by Brendan O’Connor, was one night viewed by 501,900, more than 2,300 more than Ryan Tubridy’s offering.
With the arrival of Ray D’Arcy to RTÉ, the growing momentum behind the show was halted as O’Connor was unseated to allow the veteran broadcaster a prime time television slot.
Although it will take time for this new programme to establish itself, Tubridy hasn’t seen it as a reason to simply sit back and relax.
“I think the arrival of any show on a Saturday night, whether it was Brendan once and Ray now, it always ups the ante,” he told TheJournal.ie.
Since we all came back in late July and into August, the hunger in terms of delivering guests, items, ideas and quality has been enhanced, and I attribute that to the arrival of competition.
Put simply, they’ve had to pull their socks up.
But does he see D’Arcy as next in line to present the Late Late?
This is a definite possibility, but Tubridy has no plans to leave the Late Late anytime soon - “Jesus, I’m just in the door.”
Looking back over the show’s more than half a century existence, he is. Pat Kenny lasted a decade, Gay Byrne lasted the best part of four decades, while Tubridy started just six years ago – although it must be noted he has lasted longer than Frank Hall’s one-year reign in 1964.
Tubridy isn’t set on remaining in the seat forever. He conceded that the classic chat-show format is something that is ageing, and has remained mostly untouched by the massive upheaval the media has experienced in recent years.
Could we see a more in-depth, long-form interview style show from Tubridy? Or perhaps a travel programme? He’s considering it.
That isn’t to say Tubridy isn’t enjoying what he’s doing now.
There’s one part of the show that he seems to have a particular grá for, and it’s one that isn’t televised (something that’s probably for the best).
Interview by Daragh Brophy.
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