RTE star Marty Whelan has backed Patrick Kielty to be the next host of the Late Late Show.
The popular presenter described the Co Down host “a good guy” who would do a “good job” if he was to take over from Ryan Tubridy.
Speaking in Liverpool ahead of the Eurovision semi-final, Marty said: “I was wondering what he was doing at the IFTAs, I thought ‘Has Cat Deeley won an award’. I was wondering why he was there because nobody else was,” he said joking.
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“If it is him, I would be delighted because he is a good guy, I have a memory of Patrick, I like him very much. I met him during Celebrity Bainisteoir and my team played against his. He won, so I think I rest my case. He is a good guy and I think he would do a good job as would many other people.”
Marty said he hasn’t received any calls from Late Late Show producers offering him Ryan’s job, adding: “But my phone hasn’t started ringing – I think we all know what that means.”
It comes in the wake of Patrick’s wife Cat Deeley appearing to confirm her husband was in the running for the job.
Speaking to reporters on the red carpet at this year’s IFTAs on Sunday night, she said the couple would talk about a move to Ireland “if he gets it”.
Patrick did not directly address the rumours, but said Ryan was “the best in the business”.
“I think that the Late Late Show is one of the greatest TV shows on the planet and whoever gets it is going to be really lucky,” the 52-year-old said.
“I think something that maybe hasn’t been said, I’ve done chat shows before and I know how difficult they are. I’ve been a guest on the Late Late Show and I’ve sat alongside Ryan doing his stuff and whoever gets that gig will have huge, huge shoes to fill.
“What he does, week after week, I don’t think people appreciate him as much as they should because Ryan is absolutely world-class and he’s the best in the business.”
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