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Irish Daily Mirror
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
The contenders to be next Liveline host amid search for Joe Duffy's replacement
With Brenda Donohue hoping to shake things up as she confesses she would love to replace Joe Duffy and host Liveline, we look at who is in the running for the most in demand job at RTE. The Liveline host was one of a kind and finding a new Joe is a tough task for RTE bosses. We look at those who will take turns at the mic for the next few weeks, as well as some other dark horses, such as Brenda, Daithi O' Se and Andrea Gilligan - and the woman being tipped as most likely for the hot seat: Katie Hannon. They'd need a mix of humour, common touch, and current affairs knowledge. RTE bosses are testing out Drivetime duo Sarah McInerney and Cormac Ó hEadhra, regular Liveline stand-in Katie Hannon, Saturday show presenter Colm Ó Mongáin, and Countrywide host Philip Boucher-Hayes. What's in their backgrounds that qualifies them for the key spot, and what are their strengths - and weaknesses - that will be considered in the final say. Brenda could be the dark horse. She's been a reporter for over 30 years after she joined The Gerry Ryan Show shortly after the late DJ landed the gig. She was his roving reporter for 18 years. Her TV and radio credits also include Countrywide, The Today Show, Celebrity Banisteoir and The Afternoon Show. Brenda told us: 'Am I going to put an expression of interest in like half the country is for the job? Yes. I will. 'I talk to people. I like people. They are the things that are going for me. I spent all my life talking to people. Hearing their ups and downs. I love all that. 'But it is a hard show. It is really tough.' The presenter reportedly 'ticks the boxes'. Sources previously told the Irish Mail on Sunday that Ó Mongáin 'has made a seriously good impression in here so his name keeps popping up. 'While not as well known, Colm is making a great fist at his weekend show, so there's the thinking that a relatively new name would be best to take Liveline into the future.' The presenter is currently filling in for two weeks after Joe left the station on Friday, June 27. His dulcet tones are warming to listeners at the moment as he asks people to 'be kind' as he takes over the hot seat temporarily, while admitting hosting Liveline is 'quite daunting'. Since October 2022, he's been the host of Countrywide on RTE Radio 1, and continues to present documentary series on climate, food, and consumer affairs (Hot Air, Buyer Beware!, What Are You Eating?) The everyman from Kerry has also remained popular amongst viewers as co-host of RTE's Today Show. The Rose of Tralee host is best known for co-hosting the daily chat show, alongside Maura Derrane and Sinéad Kennedy. He also has a strong background in Irish-language broadcasting, having worked extensively with TG4. He's a bookies favourite at 3/1 to take the iconic slot on Radio One with Ladbrokes. Newstalk host Andrea's name was among those thrown into the mix. But the star played down wanting to move to RTE, saying: 'It's a lovely honour to hear my name in the mix among so many fantastic, amazing broadcasters. But my focus is very much on my own show.' With RTE announcing they have axed her Monday night current affairs show, Upfront With Katie Hannon, heads have turned to see if Katie is the likely successor to the show. She previously hosted Liveline when Joe was on annual leave or busy presenting The Meaning of Life, so audiences are already used to the presenter if she is the chosen one to take over the reins. The ex-2FM star had previously told us you'd be 'mad not to consider' the job but has since done a U-turn and told Oliver Callan she has 'absolutely no interest' in the job. She's no stranger to call ins though, after working for ten years at the helm of her own 2FM show. Newstalk's Ciara Kelly has highlighted her credentials in the race to replace Joe Duffy - but knows the veteran broadcaster will be an 'extremely hard act to follow'. The Newstalk Breakfast host is one of several names in the running to take the Liveline hot seat Asked about the prospect of going solo after five years presenting as a duo with Shane Coleman, Kelly pointed out she did three years on Lunchtime Live - 'the Newstalk equivalent' to Liveline - before taking the morning slot. The former GP told the Irish Mail on Sunday: 'I did the first ever interactive radio show on Newstalk. 'I took over from George Hook in that slot and grew the audience very nicely. So yes, I did do that role, and it went well actually.' Remaining coy as to whether she has been approached by RTÉ, the former Operation Transformation contributor said she 'couldn't possibly say anything about any of that.'
Scotsman
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Under the Radar: Ant Thomaz
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Ant Thomaz is a remarkable talent, formerly featuring in the bands Union Of Knives and DOPESICKFLY, and he's now set to release his debut album, GAIA, inspired by and featuring his daughter of the same name. To date, he has supported artists such as Eddi Reader, Starsailor, Big Country and Shaun Ryder's Black Grape, collaborated with comedian, actor and singer Karen Dunbar and been championed by Aarti Joshi on Go Radio, Michelle McManus on The Afternoon Show on BBC Radio Scotland, Meg Lellan via BBC Radio nan Gàidheal and Derek McCutcheon on CamGlen Radio. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The upbeat lead single from the album, Believe, is released next week and has already been featured by the BBC Upload team. See Thomaz live in Glasgow this Friday at The Rum Shack, at both the Eden and Leith Festivals on Saturday, at The Old Bridge Inn in Aviemore on 21 June, and later in the summer at the Sounds of Iona Festival, Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival and Callendar Jazz and Blues Festival. See Ant Thomaz PIC: SWEENEYPIX PHOTOGRAPHY Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon run music industry seminar and social night Born To Be Wide, see
The Advertiser
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
ABC radio host James Valentine remembers the day he met TV's Mr Squiggle
ABC radio presenter James Valentine grew up with Mr Squiggle, so when he got to share a first-hand interaction with the beloved marionette, he was understandably excited. Mr Valentine was one of the many Australian children who would sit glued to their TVs during episodes of the popular children's show during its four-decade run on ABC TV. The show, which aired from 1959 to 1999, saw Mr Squiggle, the man from the Moon, turning children's squiggles into sketches with his pencil nose. Read more from The Senior Joining him on his adventures were his friends Gus the Snail, Bill the Steam Shovel and of course, the perennially grumpy Blackboard, who was always telling the aloof Mr Squiggle to "Hurry Up" and get on with his drawing. James grew up in the 1960s, when the show was still black and white and was hosted by Miss Pat (Pat Lovell). It was about 20 years later, when he was hosting popular children's program The Afternoon Show, that he gained a first-hand insight into the show and the man behind it. That man was puppeteer Norman Hetherington, who created and operated all the marionettes on the show and also provided their voices. James worked in the studio next door to Mr Squiggle's and would regularly pass and say hello to Hetherington in the hallways. Then, he got the chance to visit the Mr Squiggle set personally to film a segment for his own show, giving him the chance to feel like a kid all over again. "I got to be a squiggle companion for, you know, one moment," he said. "I got to hold Mr Squiggle's hand. I got to do the 'I don't know, Mr Squiggle, what is it? (the sketch)'. 'Oh, it's a camel on the washing line... you've got it the wrong way up. Turn it the other way up. See, there it is now. "It was like, wow, I've got to do this with Mr Squiggle. So, you know, I have a great fondness for it." So, what was the man behind the show like? "He was a very, you know, softly spoken, shy sort of man. He wasn't an ebullient character, you know, he was a quiet kind of man. "He was a bit like one of those people that when he was around Squiggle, he kind of was Squiggle." Mr Valentine said Hetherington even bore a striking resemblance to Mr Squiggle. He was also a dedicated family man. The famous puppets seen on the show were created to celebrate the births of each of his children. His daughter Rebecca would even go on to present and work behind the scenes on later series of the show. The National Museum in Canberra will celebrate the lasting legacy of the beloved show during an upcoming exhibition. The free exhibition, which will also include iconic characters Blackboard, Rocket, Bill Steamshovel and Gus the Snail, will explore the history of the famous characters and the magic behind Norman Hetherington's artistry. It will feature more than 800 objects drawn from the Norman Hetherington collection, including puppets, artworks, scripts, costumes, props and sets. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. ABC radio presenter James Valentine grew up with Mr Squiggle, so when he got to share a first-hand interaction with the beloved marionette, he was understandably excited. Mr Valentine was one of the many Australian children who would sit glued to their TVs during episodes of the popular children's show during its four-decade run on ABC TV. The show, which aired from 1959 to 1999, saw Mr Squiggle, the man from the Moon, turning children's squiggles into sketches with his pencil nose. Read more from The Senior Joining him on his adventures were his friends Gus the Snail, Bill the Steam Shovel and of course, the perennially grumpy Blackboard, who was always telling the aloof Mr Squiggle to "Hurry Up" and get on with his drawing. James grew up in the 1960s, when the show was still black and white and was hosted by Miss Pat (Pat Lovell). It was about 20 years later, when he was hosting popular children's program The Afternoon Show, that he gained a first-hand insight into the show and the man behind it. That man was puppeteer Norman Hetherington, who created and operated all the marionettes on the show and also provided their voices. James worked in the studio next door to Mr Squiggle's and would regularly pass and say hello to Hetherington in the hallways. Then, he got the chance to visit the Mr Squiggle set personally to film a segment for his own show, giving him the chance to feel like a kid all over again. "I got to be a squiggle companion for, you know, one moment," he said. "I got to hold Mr Squiggle's hand. I got to do the 'I don't know, Mr Squiggle, what is it? (the sketch)'. 'Oh, it's a camel on the washing line... you've got it the wrong way up. Turn it the other way up. See, there it is now. "It was like, wow, I've got to do this with Mr Squiggle. So, you know, I have a great fondness for it." So, what was the man behind the show like? "He was a very, you know, softly spoken, shy sort of man. He wasn't an ebullient character, you know, he was a quiet kind of man. "He was a bit like one of those people that when he was around Squiggle, he kind of was Squiggle." Mr Valentine said Hetherington even bore a striking resemblance to Mr Squiggle. He was also a dedicated family man. The famous puppets seen on the show were created to celebrate the births of each of his children. His daughter Rebecca would even go on to present and work behind the scenes on later series of the show. The National Museum in Canberra will celebrate the lasting legacy of the beloved show during an upcoming exhibition. The free exhibition, which will also include iconic characters Blackboard, Rocket, Bill Steamshovel and Gus the Snail, will explore the history of the famous characters and the magic behind Norman Hetherington's artistry. It will feature more than 800 objects drawn from the Norman Hetherington collection, including puppets, artworks, scripts, costumes, props and sets. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. ABC radio presenter James Valentine grew up with Mr Squiggle, so when he got to share a first-hand interaction with the beloved marionette, he was understandably excited. Mr Valentine was one of the many Australian children who would sit glued to their TVs during episodes of the popular children's show during its four-decade run on ABC TV. The show, which aired from 1959 to 1999, saw Mr Squiggle, the man from the Moon, turning children's squiggles into sketches with his pencil nose. Read more from The Senior Joining him on his adventures were his friends Gus the Snail, Bill the Steam Shovel and of course, the perennially grumpy Blackboard, who was always telling the aloof Mr Squiggle to "Hurry Up" and get on with his drawing. James grew up in the 1960s, when the show was still black and white and was hosted by Miss Pat (Pat Lovell). It was about 20 years later, when he was hosting popular children's program The Afternoon Show, that he gained a first-hand insight into the show and the man behind it. That man was puppeteer Norman Hetherington, who created and operated all the marionettes on the show and also provided their voices. James worked in the studio next door to Mr Squiggle's and would regularly pass and say hello to Hetherington in the hallways. Then, he got the chance to visit the Mr Squiggle set personally to film a segment for his own show, giving him the chance to feel like a kid all over again. "I got to be a squiggle companion for, you know, one moment," he said. "I got to hold Mr Squiggle's hand. I got to do the 'I don't know, Mr Squiggle, what is it? (the sketch)'. 'Oh, it's a camel on the washing line... you've got it the wrong way up. Turn it the other way up. See, there it is now. "It was like, wow, I've got to do this with Mr Squiggle. So, you know, I have a great fondness for it." So, what was the man behind the show like? "He was a very, you know, softly spoken, shy sort of man. He wasn't an ebullient character, you know, he was a quiet kind of man. "He was a bit like one of those people that when he was around Squiggle, he kind of was Squiggle." Mr Valentine said Hetherington even bore a striking resemblance to Mr Squiggle. He was also a dedicated family man. The famous puppets seen on the show were created to celebrate the births of each of his children. His daughter Rebecca would even go on to present and work behind the scenes on later series of the show. The National Museum in Canberra will celebrate the lasting legacy of the beloved show during an upcoming exhibition. The free exhibition, which will also include iconic characters Blackboard, Rocket, Bill Steamshovel and Gus the Snail, will explore the history of the famous characters and the magic behind Norman Hetherington's artistry. It will feature more than 800 objects drawn from the Norman Hetherington collection, including puppets, artworks, scripts, costumes, props and sets. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
