Gay Byrne and Pat Kenny have hit out at The Late Late Show for their “unsatisfactory” pre-recorded interviews.
The former hosts of the popular RTE One chat show made their comments after it was revealed that Graham Norton and Michael Buble’s Late Late interviews last night were pre-recorded with current host Ryan Tubridy.
“I tried pre-records myself and I found them unsatisfactory.
“In the course of my 40 years I remember doing it three times and I just found it very unsatisfactory because the 200 people in the studio audience are sitting there looking at a television screen,” Gay told the Irish Mirror.
Unsatisfactory: Graham Norton’s interview was pre-recorded | RTE
“They realise they might as well be at home and get unhappy. They want Graham Norton or Michael Buble there with them and Ryan – not prerecorded.”
Despite his harsh comments, the veteran broadcaster understands why certain guests must be recorded ahead of the live show.
“I completely understand it though if they really want to have them on the show and they aren’t available to come live. People at home don’t know any different unless they’re told otherwise.”
Meanwhile, Pat Kenny, who has most recently moved over to TV3 after working with RTÉ for 41 years, agreed with Gay – and told how the the interview loses its “spontaneity” when it’s pre-recorded.
“First of all I never liked [pre-recorded interviews]. We did possibly two or three in my 10 years. There was less than you could count on one hand.
Backlash: Former hosts Gay and Pat have slammed the use of pre-recorded interviews | VIPIRELAND.COM
“It was usually when there was an inavailability, you pre-record them or you don’t get them. That was the only reason. Graham [Norton] has his own show of course so he’s not as free as he would like to be to promote his new book.
“It’s a calculation, you lose the spontaneity of the liveness because the audience are sitting there looking at a screen. The odd time we did it we used to give them chocolates so they were kind of at the movies.
“You have to think about it like this – is this person famous enough that you’re willing to pay the price of not going live.”
Rare: RTE try to keep the use of pre-recorded interviews to a minimum | VIPIRELAND.COM
When RTÉ was contacted by the Irish Mirror, a spokesman said, “every effort is made to ensure pre-records are kept to a minimum”.
“The Late Late Show features hundreds of guests and musical acts every year. From time to time, some are facilitated with pre-records because they are unavailable on Friday night.”
