Setting a new Tone

PATRICK Kielty repeatedly poked fun at the RTE secret payment scandal and former host Ryan Tubridy during his opening monologue last night.

- DANNY DE VAAL

The 52-year-old comedian from Co Down didn't hold back and joked he felt like Joe Duffy waiting to be introduced at a Wolfe Tones gig while backstage.

It was a nod to the Liveline presenter's infamous on-air bust-up with the band over a performance of Celtic Symphony at Feile an Phobail in Belfast in August.

Kielty went on to tell the audience everything about this season of the chat show was new.

He explained: "We've got a new opening. We got a new logo and we've got a brand new house band for you folks - give it up for Grant Thornton and the Flipflops." The gag got a huge applause from the audience.

Kielty then turned his attention and took aim at former host Tubridy whose secret payment deal with the broadcaster caused outrage across the country and led to an avalanche of resignations at the station.

Senior management at RTE along with Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly who negotiated the infamous deal also all appeared at various Oireachtas committee meetings during the summer.

Kielty joked: "We're trying out a brand new format tonight on the show the host gets to ask the questions instead of having to answer them at the Oireachtas.