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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Entertainment
Sandra Mallon

RTE's Late Late Show had just one call and one email about Ryan Tubridy asking Jamie-Lee O'Donnell about her age

RTE received just one email and one phone call about Ryan Tubridy asking Jamie-Lee O’Donnell her age on the Late Late Show.

On Friday night, host Tubridy got into hot water after asking the 30-year-old star her age, a question which she felt was "misogynistic".

Jamie-Lee, who plays teenager Michelle in the hit Channel 4 sitcom, quickly shut down the line of questioning and said that he wouldn't have asked a male actor the same question.

READ MORE: RTE's Ryan Tubridy stays silent on Late Late Show drama after Derry Girls star slammed 'misogynistic' question

He queried: "This may be a rude question and you don't have to answer but can I ask you how old you are?"

Jamie-Lee jokingly replied: "I'm 117 - and very, very wise."

"Good answer. Would you consider telling me what age you are?" said Tubridy.

"This is the thing about that, it gets on my nerves a wee bit," said Jamie-Lee.

Tubridy began to backtrack, saying: "Oh no, that's okay, I'll walk away from it if you'd like me to."

"Do you know what it is, it's always quite misogynistic even if it's unintentionally misogynistic because men don't get the same scrutiny in their career," said Jamie-Lee.

But despite the mixed reaction online, only one email and phone was received.

A spokesperson for RTÉ said: “RTÉ received one phone call and one email from the public about The Late Late Show interview with Jamie Lee O'Donnell.

“RTÉ received no formal complaint regarding Friday night's Late Late Show.”

Tubridy defended himself on Friday night saying: "I would definitely have asked the male actor the same question because he's playing a teenager too."

Jamie-Lee replied: "You're saying that now, there's nobody here. I'll have to take your word for it."

RTE has declined to make any comment over the segment since it aired.

It has since emerged that Tubridy had already asked Jamie-Lee the exact same question during a radio interview in 2018 on RTE One.

In the previous interview Tubridy says: "You play a 16-year-old, you are what age in real life?"

"Not 16," replies Jamie-Lee shortly.

Tubridy continues: "Are you not going to tell us your age?"

"Well no, because I think a bit of a big deal was made of it with Nicola [her co-star in Derry girls] and I don't think it was very fair," says Jamie-Lee.

"So, it’s just sort of a wee bit unfair and it took away a bit from the performances we were doing."

Tubridy backs down, saying: "I’ll just tiptoe away from that now, will I?"

"Yeah, just slightly," replies Jamie-Lee, adding, "I’m 47, just go with that."

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