Late Late is back – like an old friend or an arch enemy

TV Watch with Dave O’Connell

The Late Late Show is like Daniel O’Donnell. Because you’ll never meet someone with no opinion on either – you either love it or couldn’t imagine a better reason for going on a Friday night.

But for 52 years, it has been part of the staple diet of Irish life and as the 53rd season began last Friday, it was fairly clear that this would be nothing more than a variation on a well-worn theme.

Again, to some, that seems like two hours of abject misery but for so many it was like the return of an old friend after the Summer holidays.

It may not have the razzamatazz of Graham Norton or Jonathan Ross – although unlike both of those, it is actually live – but you don’t reinvent what remains the longest running chat show on the planet.

That said, you can anticipate some changes because Ryan Tubridy’s new producer is John McMahon, who was also his sidekick when the pair of them reinvented the breakfast show on 2FM – a show that catapulted Tubridy into the big league of Irish broadcasters.

And they did start with the interview that everyone’s been looking for ever since the Rose of Tralee – a chat with the Rose herself, Maria Walsh, who hasn’t spoken publically since she came out as a lesbian.

And you’d have to say that this was expertly handled – no sensationalism or overconcentration on what the Mayo beauty quite rightly points out is just one aspect of her very busy life.

She was engaging, confident, assured, warm and most of all multi-dimensional, placing as much emphasis on her membership of the Pioneers or her work with the No Name Club in Shrule as she was on her sexual orientation.

She said herself that she is utterly transparent and clearly she is equally honest; she fell in love with her GAA team-mate in the US and they were together for two years before breaking up – but still her former partner was in Tralee with the Walsh family to support her.

Her father Vincent was in the audience with her brother Michael – who also happens to be gay – but it was Vincent who really summed it all up with his simple love and pride in a wonderful daughter.

She said that when she told him, he hugged her for 10 minutes until she said he could let her go because it wouldn’t change anything. Being the Rose of Tralee won’t change her either, but it might alter the public conception of the contest – and that’s one reason that her honesty is such a positive thing.

But, as Maria herself said, if she has helped one teenager or young person struggling with their sexuality, then it will all have been worthwhile.

As Ryan said in conclusion, this will not be the last time we see her on the telly.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.