RTE spent over €332,000 on interview guests, food and drink for five shows, just in 2013.
Two of the station’s flagship’s programmes – The Late Late Show and The Saturday Night Show – cost RTE €215,296 last year alone.
According to the Herald the food and drinks bill for the two shows plus Saturday Night With Miriam and Gay Byrne’s For One Night Only, amounted to a further €85,280.
Expensive: Miriam’s show spent €15,531 on guests last year | RTE
The new figures were released under the Freedom of Information Act this week.
They state that RTE spent €243,128 on TV guests. Including contributors, musicians and bands, to feature on the four entertainment shows.
During their New Year’s Eve Show alone, RTE spent €3,584 on guests although RTE refused to each guest specifically.
The highest spend on guests in 2013 was on Brendan O’Connor’s The Saturday Night Show at €118,615.
Pricey: Brendan’s show spent the most on TV guests | RTE
RTE also paid €96,681 booking stars to chat to Ryan Tubridy on The Late Late Show.
Last year stars such as Tom Cruise, Gary Barlow, Steve Coogan and Colin Farrell all appeared on the show.
Miriam O’Callaghan’s summer slot Saturday Night with Miriam spent €1,941 for guests for each of its eight episodes, adding up to €15,531.
RTE also paid €12,301 for two episodes of Gay Byrne’s live music series For One Night Only which last year featured Boyzone and Phil Coulter.
