Richard Branson had to write Gay Byrne's name on his hand to remember who he was

BILLIONAIRE RICHARD BRANSON has revealed that he wasn’t 100% sure who Gay Byrne was prior to a 2013 Meaning of Life interview.

The British entrepreneur blogged today on his admiration for Stephen Fry’s “brave” interview on the RTÉ programme at the weekend.

Gay found Fry’s scathing attitude to religion a little hard to take.

Source: RTÉ

“It was very brave of Stephen to speak so boldly about his religious views on the show, and so lucidly get his views across,” Branson wrote. “As a fellow atheist, I agreed wholeheartedly with his argument.”

Branson said he also caused Byrne some grief during his own interview, after the RTÉ veteran spotted something on his hand.

“He asked me what I had written on the back of my hand… his mouth gaped open,” Branson said, explaining that he had several interviews that day and didn’t want to get mixed up.

I must admit I didn’t know the show at the time and hadn’t really heard of Gay, despite him being something of an institution in Ireland.

The interview has itself slipped into the depths of the RTÉ archives, and isn’t readily available online.

However, in one screenshot is floating around, captured by Our Progress.

Branson does seem a little awkward with his cup…

Read: The 7 best moments from Gaybo’s interview with Stephen Fry >

More: “I have no intention of taking a break” – Gay Byrne refutes suggestion he’s retiring >