TV3 has defended their decision to not include Colette Fitzpatrick’s name in their latest current affairs show.
The TV presenter is co-hosting alongside Pat Kenny on his the station’s new series Pat Kenny Tonight – and although Colette is in some imagery for the show, her name is not in the title.
Pat Kenny Tonight, will air for the first time this Wednesday at 9.30pm, was launched as the station’s new flagship current affairs programme, and now the station is facing “sexism” claims.
Controversy: There have been sexism claims | BRIAN MCEVOY
TV3 have said that while Colette and Pat both anchor the show, Pat is “very much the lead, and so this is reflected in the title”, according to the Sunday Times.
While Pat has hosted his own various shows before including The Pat Kenny Show, Frontline and of course The Late Late Show, Colette worked on TV3’s previous current affairs show Midweek, and co-hosts the breakfast show on Newstalk.
However Colette said she had no problem with her name not appearing on the show’s title.
“It’s entirely to do with Pat Kenny being the big current affairs broadcaster in the country and the best by a country mile,” she said.
Experience: Pat has anchored many shows | RTE
“Inevitably people will end up saying, ‘What was on Pat?’ ‘Did you see Pat?’ When you give programmes watery names, for want of a better term, if you call them ‘Insight’ or ‘Focus’, people don’t necessarily know what they’re going to get.”
Meanwhile TV3 said Pat will lead most of the debates in the series.
“While they both co-present the show, Pat Kenny is very much the lead, and so this is reflected in the title.
“Pat will host the main debates but Colette will play an important part in the show around our journalism,” a spokesperson said.
