Jason Byrne has called for more comedians to enter Ireland’s Got Talent next year.
The popular talent show has officially been commissioned for a second series, which will air in 2019, and panel judge Jason is confident it’s going to be bigger and better next year.
Speaking to Goss.ie at the TV3’s Upfront event, Jason said, “The standard’s going to be higher now, and the reason why the standard’s going to be higher is because when you have a new show, people aren’t sure whether to enter it.”
“And we were lucky to get some of the acts that we got, they were fantastic. But now, there’s going to be a kick and scramble to get on it, because the production was massive.”
He continued, “There was a solid €50,000 there as a prize, their own show on TV, and like, nobody left there humiliated – they all left stars. Little stars, big stars, old stars, young stars, they all did it, it was great.”
One thing Jason would really like to see more of next year is comedians.
He told us, “I’m looking forward to seeing maybe more comedians, that’s what I want to see now. I know I said that last year, but now that the show has already been on, we’re going to see a higher calibre comic come on there now.”
When asked if he’ll be biased as the Irish comedy scene is so small, Jason laughed, “I would do anything to see Dara O’Brian enter! I’d love to press an ‘X’ on him – it would be so funny!”
However, Jason explained, “The Irish scene is way bigger than you think it is, when you look at the Kilkenny comedy festival, and the Vodafone comedy festival coming up, there’s so many acts there.”
“See, when I started out there wasn’t so many of us, because telly wasn’t really a thing. Well, there was television! But comedy on television wasn’t such a big thing and now it is so they’re all wanting to do it.
“They see it as a career now, you know, but we used to do it for the craic – so that’s why we’re all so good, because we’re naturally grown. Organic comics, the rest of them aren’t!” he joked.
On working with fellow judges Louis Walsh, Michelle Visage, and Denise Van Outen again – Jason said, “It’ll be great to be back with them because I know them now.”
“The first series we didn’t really know each other that well, we knew of each other, and now I know Michelle in and out, Denise in and out, and Louis in and out.
“And Lucy (Kennedy) of course! I mean, the only one I really knew well was Lucy! So together as a panel, we’re coming back as mates now,” he added.
Watch more of Jason’s interview below:
