It’s been reported that Brendan O’Connor will meet with RTE bosses to decide on a title for his new €1million show.
The “bear pit” series, which will be produced by Mind the Gap for the broadcaster, will be an “in the round” format where the Cork native will allegedly get comedians, journalists and politicians to rip it out of each other.
However, sources have insisted that the presenter’s new show is very different to RTE2’s former debate show The Panel.
“The Panel had people on desks. Bren’s new show is in the round with well-known faces eyeballing each other,” an RTE insider told the Irish Sun.
Show: Brendan’s new show is said to be different to RTE’s former debate show The Panel | VIPIRELAND.COM
“No one is looking for one liners or gags. What’s required is people who are clever and opinionated.”
The source continued that the show needs to be “uncompromising” to get audiences talking about it at home and at work.
“It has to be such a tough uncompromising show because Brendan has such strong journalistic instincts,” a source admitted.
“There will be no question of people sacrificing the debate to make easy punchlines. This show has to set the agenda to have people talking about it the next day at work.”
: Brendan’s new show | ANDRES POVEDA
The insider added that the show has a short amount of time to come together before it’s filmed live each week in RTE in May.
“We have to get the set right, the graphics, the look, and have enough run-in time to get it right,” the TV insider added.
Currently covering Ryan Tubridy’s RTE Radio 1 slot, Brendan is reportedly keen on making sure the series goes off without a hitch.
“Brendan is famous for doing his homework on everything. This is a wellstructured Irish format, but Brendan will want to have as many dry runs as possible so it’s flawless by the time it airs,” the source explained.
Hitch-free: Brendan reportedly is making his show to go off without a hitch | VIPIRELAND.COM
“This will be decided in the coming days as the final contracts are signed and the format is fine-tuned.”
According to reports, the series will run for 16 weeks, with a short run starting in May before returning for a longer stint in the winter.
“The new show has such a long run because Brendan has a contract to appear on RTE TV for that many hours from his Saturday Night Show,” the insider added.
