Tommy Tiernan says he'd be ‘great on Liveline' but may not be able to be President as well
Comedian Tommy Tiernan has addressed speculation that he could be the potential successor for both President, Michael D Higgins, and Joe Duffy in his coveted Liveline slot.
The presenter, who emerged as a popular presidential candidate in a Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll earlier this year, said he has 'never even considered' a bid for the Áras.
And while The Tommy Tiernan Show lets him show off his 'natural' curiosity that means he'd 'be great on Liveline', he said: 'I'd find it very hard to fit that and the presidency in'.
Tommy Tiernan
News in 90 Seconds - May 17th
Speaking to RTÉ's Brendan O'Connor, Tiernan said: 'On the chat show, it's very easy for me to keep asking questions because I am curious about people.
"It's very easy for me to have long conversations with people I meet at the street and not to think that my curiosity is nosiness - it probably kind of is – but (to) be naturally curious. You know, I'd be great on Liveline.'
Asked whether he would take over as host after Duffy steps down at the end of June, he said: 'No, I couldn't. I'd find it very hard to fit that and the presidency in.'
On whether he has ruled out a bid for the Áras, the comedian said he has 'never even considered it'.
"I'm too young,' he said, adding that President Michael D Higgins to 'far too intelligent' to see Tiernan as a potential successor.
'He's a gifted man and my feeling is that we're all aware of his morality, his fearlessness in the stands that he has taken, his gift as an orator and his integrity,' he said.
'We've had 14 years of the most magnificent presidency, a president that we have been proud of and it's not for us to imagine how the next presidency will happen.'
He said it will be 'important to seriously and respectfully acknowledge the brilliance of his presidency and to say thank you. I don't know who the runners and riders are for the next one, but we will need to take a moment to genuinely thank Michael D Higgins for 14 years of inspiring presidency'.
When O'Connor asked whether it was 'not the time' for Tiernan to make a bid, he joked: 'Not with Liveline and the play and all that.'
The comedian will appear on stage at the Abbey Theatre from next month in The Cave, a new play by Kevin Barry.
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