The Saturday Night Show
Encyclopedia
The Saturday Night Show is an Irish
chat show hosted by Brendan O'Connor
that has been broadcast on RTÉ One
since 2010. The show features guest interviews, audience participation and live music. The Saturday Night Show is broadcast every Saturday night during the autumn-spring season directly after the main evening news
.
's stepping down as host of The Late Late Show in 2009, RTÉ announced that Ryan Tubridy
, host of his own Saturday night chat show, would be Kenny's replacement. Tubridy Tonight
had aired since 2004 and had regularly drawn an audience of up to half a million since the first series. The departure of Tubridy to the Friday night slot left a gap in the schedule. In late 2009 RTÉ announced that it was to commission a new Saturday night entertainment show that would be fronted by "an established name or a combination of established names". Miriam O'Callaghan
and Gerry Ryan
, two broadcasters who lost out in the battle to succeed Kenny as host of The Late Late Show, were two names that were mentioned as possible hosts. It was hoped that the show would be "high energy", would "provide a distinctively Irish take on contemporary entertainment" and roposals for the show's format could include "chat, music, comedy, satire or some other element, such as audience participation, games, etc". It was reported by the Evening Herald
that the programme would have a budget of 90,000 per programme. Newspaper reports in late 2009 revealed that the new chat show would be hosted by Sunday Independent
journalist Brendan O'Connor and Lucy Kennedy
, however, these reports were unfounded.
In a new departure RTÉ decided to pit two new chat shows against each other. Brendan O'Connor, who moved to RTÉ from The Apprentice: You're Fired!
on TV3, would present The Saturday Night Show for an initial run of eight weeks before handing over to Craig Doyle
who would present Tonight with Craig Doyle
for a further eight weeks. Whichever chat show proved successful would be recommissioned for a further series.
and Jim Corr
were the first interviewees while Republic of Loose
were the first musical guests.
's show which was panned by the critics and regarded as a flop.
controversially spoke about his conspiracy theories. He believes that the truth about the September 11 terrorist attacks is being suppressed, that swine flu
may have been man-made and that American military weapons caused the 2010 Haiti earthquake
. Corr also argued that climate change
is a hoax and that a secret society is trying to establish a one-world government.
British entertainer Michael Barrymore
also appeared on the first series. During a bizarre interview Barrymore pretended to be a sheep before claiming to be the father of Jedward
.
In February 2010, Ray D'Arcy
took on Enda Kenny
by vowing he would leave Ireland after the February 2011 general elections if Kenny became Taoiseach
after previously comparing the man to a four-day-old floury potato. The audience applauded as D'Arcy continued: "If you listened to Enda Kenny during the week, he said 'I'm now going to be myself'. He's the longest-serving TD, he's been eight years as leader of Fine Gael and now he decides he's going to be himself."
Alex Reid proposed to Chantelle Houghton
when the British celebrities appeared on the show on an episode broadcast on 8 October 2011.
Oliver Callan
announced he was gay on the show on an episode broadcast on 29 October 2011.
Newly-weds Alan Hughes and Karl Broderick joined Brendan to discuss their whirlwind love affair on 5 November 2011, announcing that it was their first interview as a couple despite having been involved with each other for 18 years.
The Saturday Night Show continued its gay theme by having Chris Burch, the stroke survivor who woke up to discover he was gay, as a guest, with Alex James
also talking about how he makes cheese
.
at Donnybrook
, Dublin 4
. That studio is also home to the show's Friday night rival The Late Late Show
. As RTÉ's biggest studio, it holds 200 audience members. The first two programmes in the first series (broadcast on 30 January and 6 February 2010) were pre-recorded at 7:30 p.m. on the same dates that both shows were aired. However, all subsequent programmes have been broadcast live.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
chat show hosted by Brendan O'Connor
Brendan O'Connor (journalist)
Brendan O'Connor is an Irish journalist, comedian, media personality and retired pop star. Since 2010 he has presented The Saturday Night Show on RTÉ One. O'Connor is a columnist for the Sunday Independent, and is editor of the newspaper's Life Magazine.O'Connor's pop career has included a stint...
that has been broadcast on RTÉ One
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
since 2010. The show features guest interviews, audience participation and live music. The Saturday Night Show is broadcast every Saturday night during the autumn-spring season directly after the main evening news
RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock
RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock is the flagship evening news programme for Irish television channel RTÉ One. It is presented by Anne Doyle, and deputised by Eileen Dunne. It is the final comprehensive news programme of the day on RTÉ One...
.
Replacing Tubridy Tonight
Following Pat KennyPat Kenny
Patrick "Pat" Kenny is an Irish broadcaster and former disc jockey and continuity announcer. He is employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is their highest paid presenter. He presents Today with Pat Kenny on RTÉ Radio 1 each weekday morning between 10:00 and midday...
's stepping down as host of The Late Late Show in 2009, RTÉ announced that Ryan Tubridy
Ryan Tubridy
Ryan Tubridy , affectionately known as "Tubs", is an Irish broadcaster and writer, a presenter of live shows on radio and television in Ireland. He has been described as "one of Ireland's most gifted broadcasters"...
, host of his own Saturday night chat show, would be Kenny's replacement. Tubridy Tonight
Tubridy Tonight
Tubridy Tonight is an Irish chat show hosted by Ryan Tubridy that aired for five series on RTÉ One between 2004 and 2009. The programme featured guest interviews , audience participation and live music from both a guest music group and the house band...
had aired since 2004 and had regularly drawn an audience of up to half a million since the first series. The departure of Tubridy to the Friday night slot left a gap in the schedule. In late 2009 RTÉ announced that it was to commission a new Saturday night entertainment show that would be fronted by "an established name or a combination of established names". Miriam O'Callaghan
Miriam O'Callaghan
Miriam O'Callaghan is an Irish television current affairs broadcaster, chat show host and radio presenter with Raidió Teilifís Éireann . She has presented the leading current affairs show, Prime Time, since 1996, and her own chat show, Saturday Night with Miriam, since 2005...
and Gerry Ryan
Gerry Ryan
Gerard "Gerry" Ryan was an Irish presenter of radio and television employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann...
, two broadcasters who lost out in the battle to succeed Kenny as host of The Late Late Show, were two names that were mentioned as possible hosts. It was hoped that the show would be "high energy", would "provide a distinctively Irish take on contemporary entertainment" and roposals for the show's format could include "chat, music, comedy, satire or some other element, such as audience participation, games, etc". It was reported by the Evening Herald
Evening Herald
The Evening Herald is a mid-market tabloid evening newspaper published in Dublin, Ireland by Independent News & Media. It is published Monday-Saturday, and has three editions — City Edition, City Final Edition and National Edition...
that the programme would have a budget of 90,000 per programme. Newspaper reports in late 2009 revealed that the new chat show would be hosted by Sunday Independent
Sunday Independent
The Sunday Independent is a broadsheet Sunday newspaper published in Ireland by Independent News and Media plc. The newspaper is edited by Aengus Fanning, and is the biggest selling Irish Sunday newspaper by a large margin ; average circulation of 291,323 between June 2004 and January 2005,...
journalist Brendan O'Connor and Lucy Kennedy
Lucy Kennedy
Lucy Kennedy is an award-winning Irish presenter of radio and television. Along with Bazil Ashmawy she currently co-presents the radio show Weekend Breakfast with Baz & Lucy on RTÉ 2fm. She has been described as "one of Ireland's most familiar faces"....
, however, these reports were unfounded.
In a new departure RTÉ decided to pit two new chat shows against each other. Brendan O'Connor, who moved to RTÉ from The Apprentice: You're Fired!
The Apprentice: You're Fired! (Ireland)
The Apprentice: You're Fired! is a follow-on show to the Irish series The Apprentice.The show is hosted by Anton Savage and like other versions, features celebrity guests and the fired apprentice....
on TV3, would present The Saturday Night Show for an initial run of eight weeks before handing over to Craig Doyle
Craig Doyle
Craig Doyle is an Irish television and radio presenter. To British viewers he is recognisable as working for the BBC and ITV...
who would present Tonight with Craig Doyle
Tonight with Craig Doyle
Tonight with Craig Doyle is an Irish chat show hosted by Craig Doyle that was broadcast on RTÉ One for one series in 2010. The show featured guest interviews, audience participation and live music...
for a further eight weeks. Whichever chat show proved successful would be recommissioned for a further series.
Debut
The Saturday Night Show made its debut on 30 January 2010 for an initial run of eight programmes. Peaches GeldofPeaches Geldof
Peaches Honeyblossom Geldof is a British journalist, television presenter and model.-Background:Geldof was born in London in 1989, the second daughter of Bob Geldof and Paula Yates. She is the granddaughter of Hughie Green. Her sisters are Fifi Trixibelle Geldof and Pixie Geldof...
and Jim Corr
Jim Corr
James Steven Ignatius "Jim" Corr is an Irish musician, singer and songwriter. He is a member of the Irish folk/rock band The Corrs, the other members being his three younger sisters Andrea, Sharon and Caroline. He is also a DJ....
were the first interviewees while Republic of Loose
Republic of Loose
Republic of Loose are an Irish funk rock band from Dublin. Formed in 2001, the band currently consists of lead vocalist Mick Pyro, bass guitarist and vocalist Benjamin Loose, keyboardist Darragh, guitarists and vocalists Dave Pyro and Darach O' Laoire and drummers and percussionists Andre Lopes...
were the first musical guests.
Recommissioned for a second series
Following the completion of both The Saturday Night Show and Tonight with Craig Doyle it was decided to recommission the former for a second series. It proved more popular with the audience than Craig DoyleCraig Doyle
Craig Doyle is an Irish television and radio presenter. To British viewers he is recognisable as working for the BBC and ITV...
's show which was panned by the critics and regarded as a flop.
Notable incidents
On the debut show musician Jim Corr of the CorrsThe Corrs
The Corrs are an Irish band which combine pop rock with traditional Celtic folk music. The brother and sisters are from Dundalk, Ireland. The group consists of the Corr siblings: Andrea ; Sharon ; Caroline ; and Jim .The Corrs came to international prominence with their performance at the...
controversially spoke about his conspiracy theories. He believes that the truth about the September 11 terrorist attacks is being suppressed, that swine flu
Swine flu
Swine influenza, also called pig influenza, swine flu, hog flu and pig flu, is an infection by any one of several types of swine influenza virus. Swine influenza virus or S-OIV is any strain of the influenza family of viruses that is endemic in pigs...
may have been man-made and that American military weapons caused the 2010 Haiti earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
. Corr also argued that climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
is a hoax and that a secret society is trying to establish a one-world government.
British entertainer Michael Barrymore
Michael Barrymore
Michael Kieron Parker , better known by his stage name Michael Barrymore, is a British comedian who appeared as a presenter of game shows and light entertainment programmes on British television in the 1980s and 1990s. These included Strike It Lucky, My Kind of People, My Kind of Music and Kids Say...
also appeared on the first series. During a bizarre interview Barrymore pretended to be a sheep before claiming to be the father of Jedward
Jedward
John Paul Henry Daniel Richard Grimes and Edward Peter Anthony Kevin Patrick Grimes are an Irish hip pop duo. They are identical twins and perform under the name Jedward...
.
In February 2010, Ray D'Arcy
Ray D'Arcy
Raymond 'Ray' D'Arcy is an Irish television and radio presenter. He currently presents a weekday morning radio programme, The Ray D'Arcy Show, on Today FM...
took on Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and has been the Taoiseach since 2011. He has led Fine Gael since 2002. He served as Minister for Tourism and Trade from 1994 to 1997. He is also a two-term Vice President of the European People's Party.Kenny has been a Teachta Dála for Mayo since...
by vowing he would leave Ireland after the February 2011 general elections if Kenny became Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
after previously comparing the man to a four-day-old floury potato. The audience applauded as D'Arcy continued: "If you listened to Enda Kenny during the week, he said 'I'm now going to be myself'. He's the longest-serving TD, he's been eight years as leader of Fine Gael and now he decides he's going to be himself."
Alex Reid proposed to Chantelle Houghton
Chantelle Houghton
Chantelle Vivien Houghton is an English glamour model and television personality. She was the first 'non-celebrity' to feature in the Channel 4 reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother in 2006....
when the British celebrities appeared on the show on an episode broadcast on 8 October 2011.
Oliver Callan
Oliver Callan
Oliver Callan is an Irish vocal and performance satirist and impressionist known for featuring on Nob Nation, Green Tea and The Saturday Night Show. He rose to fame during the 2000s when his daily Nob Nation slots aired on RTÉ Radio...
announced he was gay on the show on an episode broadcast on 29 October 2011.
Newly-weds Alan Hughes and Karl Broderick joined Brendan to discuss their whirlwind love affair on 5 November 2011, announcing that it was their first interview as a couple despite having been involved with each other for 18 years.
The Saturday Night Show continued its gay theme by having Chris Burch, the stroke survivor who woke up to discover he was gay, as a guest, with Alex James
Alex James (musician)
Professionally known as Alex James is an English musician, songwriter, journalist and cheesemaker. He is best known as the bass player and occasional vocalist of band Blur...
also talking about how he makes cheese
Cheesemaker
A cheesemaker is a person who makes cheese.The craft of making cheese dates back at least 4,000 years. Archaeological evidence exists of cheesemaking by the ancient Egyptian civilizations....
.
Production
The Saturday Night Show is broadcast live from Studio 4 in the RTÉ Television CentreRTÉ Television Centre
RTÉ Television Centre is a television studio complex which is owned by Radio Telefís Éireann and has been home to the national broadcaster of Ireland since 1961. It is situated at Montrose, Donnybrook, Dublin 4...
at Donnybrook
Donnybrook, Dublin
Donnybrook is a district of Dublin, Ireland. It is situated on the southside of the city, in the Dublin 4 postal district, and is home to the Irish state broadcaster RTÉ. It was once part of the Pembroke Township...
, Dublin 4
Dublin 4
Dublin 4 is a postal district of Dublin, Ireland including the suburbs of Sandymount, Ballsbridge, Donnybrook, Ringsend and Irishtown on the South side of Dublin....
. That studio is also home to the show's Friday night rival The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...
. As RTÉ's biggest studio, it holds 200 audience members. The first two programmes in the first series (broadcast on 30 January and 6 February 2010) were pre-recorded at 7:30 p.m. on the same dates that both shows were aired. However, all subsequent programmes have been broadcast live.
Broadcast dates
| Series | Dates | Shows |
| 1 | 30 January 2010 - 27 March 2010 | 8 |
| 2 | 25 September 2010 - 28 May 2011 | 31 |
| 3 | 24 September 2011 - 2 June 2012 | 33 |