Ryan Tubridy showed in a disappointing fashion that he may not be quite ready for the position he has inherited as host of the Late Late Show. The interview was a real opportunity to demonstrate that he could engage a serious topic at a level that is accessible and informative, but instead chose to ambush Professor Dawkins in a manner more akin to the tabloid television tactics of Jeremy Kyle than what we should be entitled to expect from our national stations flagship talk show. The stance he took lacked objectivity and it seemed that he chose from the outset to ally himself with those who see Dawkins as nothing more than a militant atheist with no regard for the “sanctity” of religious beliefs. Dawkins politely but pointedly attempted to bring the conversation back to the reason for his appearance, i.e. the subject of his latest book, but Tubridy persisted in an almost sneering tone to hector him about his beliefs.

At one point of the interview Tubridy, the supposed host, was directing questions from the audience, giving the interview the air of a trial rather than a conversation, and in truly abhorrent fashion he then polled the audience about their religious beliefs and presented the findings top Professor Dawkins with a schoolyard challenge about whether or not all the people who had expressed a belief in god were deluded, as if such an eminent thinker and academic would be somehow persuaded by peer pressure and would balk against continuing to espouse his beliefs, or should be expected to take a straw poll of older than average Irish people as somehow indicative of a greater truth rather than a feeble attempt by a presenter out of his depth to curry favour with his audience rather than his guest.

Aside from the lack of respect and deficit of manners shown to his guest, the interview identified in Tubridy either an inability to remove himself from personal feelings in the conduct of his role as host, resulting in the “us against you” tone of the interview, or it indicates that his desire to be accepted by the viewing public outweighs his capacity for professional journalism in the medium he now finds himself.

The worst part about this whole matter is that I am a fan of Tubridy. I listen to his Radio 1 show regularly and have always thought him erudite and objective, which, I’m sure, is part of the reason that this interview was such a disappointment. Assuming he had planned the interview and knew beforehand the direction he was going to take, I question why it seemed to depart to such a degree from what I, and many others, have come to expect from him. As an editorial decision the decision to pursue the line he did was flawed, in execution the interview was unworthy, and regrettably it will leave an indelible stain on a branch of his career so recently born.

Like any blemish, it’s ugliness and impact will fade over time, but unless the Late Late Show is to become a popcorn pastiche of puff-piece interviews, with little substance or relevance Mr Tubridy will need to refine his approach to serious topics and serious guests.

The Late Late Show or Tubrity Tonight?
I find no difference in the two shows.Same music,same silly comments.
The man is completly obsessed with drawing attention to himself rather than his guests. He does not have the ability to keep the viewers attention.
The L.L.S will no longer be watched in my home unless a real pro.replaces Tubrity.