THURSDAY
Carr the star
A year or two ago, when I first saw ‘The Traitors’ reality show, I wasn’t at all sure about it. Pretty much by definition, the show involves deception and suspicion. There is also constant reference to ‘murdering’ of contestants (as per the structure of the game).
Many people have criticised it, describing the language as insensitive, while also frowning at what they see as the psychologically manipulative nature of the show.
Ultimately, I warmed to The Traitors. I still don’t like aspects of it – the constant references to murder, backed up by a ‘coffin task’ that many people consider in bad taste – but it is a slick and entertaining reality drama, now established as one of the most popular shows on TV.
Tonight’s final of Celebrity Traitors (BBC) drew in the region of 14 million viewers. It was a highly entertaining first celebrity version, and the undoubted star was comedian Alan Carr, who was also the overall winner.
The ever-good-humoured Jonathan Ross can take a lot of credit for the entertainment value of the series too. As ever, Claudia Winkleman was fantastic as host, a role that will undoubtedly define her career.
FRIDAY
On Steve Coogan…
I was nervous when I heard comedy genius Steve Coogan would be appearing on the Late Late Show – again. One watches his occasional appearances on the show with a degree of embarrassment, Coogan inevitably sharing the studio with (significantly) inferior talent – while invariably being subjected to ‘tell us about your Irish roots’ codology.
As it turns out, the cringe count was low enough. Coogan and Éanna Hardwicke were on to promote the new movie, Saipan, in which they play Mick McCarthy and Roy Keane respectively.
Hardwicke, a rising star, was modest and likeable. Coogan, the aforementioned genius (creator of the Alan Partridge character), was gracious and funny.
Still, when comedian Jarlath Regan joined the ‘Saipan duo’ and began talking about his new book – ‘The Gobshite Guidebook’ – my worst fears were realised. Host Patrick Kielty and Regan (a nice chap who’s not unfunny) couldn’t resist trying to engage Coogan – which was a bit like a street musician eagerly sharing notes with Mozart or Beethoven as they walked by.
SATURDAY
Early start…
I was taken aback on discovering that kick-off time for today’s Ireland-Japan rugby international at the Aviva Stadium is 12.40 pm.
I’ve now established that the remarkably early starting time was chosen in order to accommodate a TV audience in Japan. Japan is nine hours ahead of Ireland.
Still, isn’t there a risk that such early kick-offs can lead to excessive drinking by supporters in the pubs around the stadium?
More updates from the ‘Amateur Curmudgeon Society’ in due course.
SUNDAY
Say it ain’t so
Imagine my shock on browsing the front page of today’s Sunday Independent. Top right, there was a large photo of then-president, Michael D Higgins. He was admiring a bust of himself.
Above the photo, there was a very large ‘headline’ – BLACK FRIDAY SALE. Then a second headline… ‘Michael D Higgins bids farewell to the Áras.’
Surely not? Surely crafty Michael D wasn’t proposing to sell off all the furniture and ornaments – that bust would fetch a nice price – on the eve of his departure from the very splendid residence that is Áras an Uachtaráin?
Phew! Thankfully the gravitas we associate with the great man remains intact! The BLACK FRIDAY SALE was an advertisement for Harvey Norman, and unrelated to Michael D and Sabina’s departure. The relief!
MONDAY
Matt & Ivan
It’s not quite Roy v Mick, Al Capone v Eliot Ness, Joan Crawford v Bette Davis, Trump v Biden, Blair v Brown, Haughey v FitzGerald, Ali v Frazier – or even Twink v Linda Martin.
Still, the little (implied) falling out between broadcaster Matt Cooper and his erstwhile podcast-hosting colleague Ivan Yates has been at least a touch entertaining to observe!
Here’s the story so far: er… Cooper quickly dropped Yates from their Path to Power podcast when it emerged that Naughty Ivan had never declared he’d been working with Fianna Fáil and their short-lived presidential candidate, Jim Gavin.
Not content with what some people would consider an act of disloyalty to a friend, Mischievous Matt has since then rather smugly milked the controversy, even going as far as to comment on Yates’ psychological make-up.
Next Ivan, fresh from a few days’ hibernation as the wider ‘conflict of interest’ controversy raged, gave David McCullagh – new host of the Today programme (RTÉ Radio 1) – an early Christmas gift by appearing as his first guest this morning.
Insisting that he has nothing to say about Matt, Ivan promptly went on to claim that he had already been planning to leave their podcast, and that Cooper was far from happy about that.
On the more substantive issue – his failure to openly declare that he had worked with Gavin – Yates defended the decision on the grounds of ‘client confidentiality’.
To which I would respectfully say… ‘Baloney, Ivan.’ The reason I say so is as follows: If you want to credibly co-present a podcast on which you discuss an election campaign – and also stand in for Pat Kenny on his current affairs show during said campaign – you really do need to inform listeners that you’ve been working with one of the candidates.
As for Ivan v Matt, they could always try to resolve their differences by hosting a one-off podcast showdown at the 3Arena – with Twink and Linda on the undercard.
TUESDAY
New era…
Good luck to President Catherine Connolly (the inauguration ceremony was held today). On balance, I’m a fan. As I wrote in the People after her election win, Catherine Connolly is authentic. She believes everything she says. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with all politicians (to put it mildly).
Of course Ms Connolly is essentially leaving conventional political matters behind now, as she assumes the non-political role of president. It remains to be seen whether or not she will push boundaries, as her predecessor Michael D did (with apparent relish).
I wish President Connolly well, and I also wish good health and happiness to Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina. Welcome back west!
