Blathnaid lashes out at 'glamourpusses' taking over RTE
Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh
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PRESENTER Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh has hit out at the "glamourpusses who seem to have taken over" RTE in recent years.
The 41-year-old said the emphasis in the national broadcaster should be on true 'stars' such as Bill O'Herlihy and Sean Duignan, but declined to name the "glamourpusses" she fears are increasingly prominent in Montrose.
"I came to RTE in 1989, aged 18 from school, and it was everything you grew up with," she told the Irish Independent.
"It was Mecca. Being part of something in here is still a huge buzz, and I love it that RTE are celebrating their 50 years.
"But Bill O'Herlihy and Sean Duignan, they are brilliant. It's not about the glamourpusses who seem to have taken over in the last few years, it is about them."
The mother of four is a well-known face on RTE television but insisted she was paid significantly less than those considered the top 'talent'.
In recent years she has been a judge on the 'All Ireland Talent Show', presented by Grainne Seoige, and has herself presented 'Charity ICA Bootcamp'.
"I am doing my job. I am not on big money, talent money, I am a staff worker . . . I wonder can I pay my VHI like everybody else," she said.
"That's what people say to my face more than anything else, that there is no extravagant lifestyle.
"I remember when the press were outside my house once, they said 'this couldn't be her house, it's too normal'," she said.
The media interest at that time was sparked when her colleague Sheana Keane abruptly left 'The Afternoon Show' which she co-presented with Ms Ni Chofaigh in March 2009, citing "personal reasons".
The show was later axed and replaced with two programmes, 'The Daily Show' with Daithi O'Se and Claire Byrne, and 'Four Live' presented by Maura Derrane.
The future of both afternoon shows is now unclear, and she said she doesn't know if the relative success of 'The Afternoon Show' could be repeated.
"We had huge success but it was a different time," she said.
"That said I'm a huge fan of Maura Derrane, and Daithi and Claire's show is very different to the programme we did. It's just I don't see either show because where I am now in RTE is near sport, and if a TV is on, it's showing football," she said.
- Ken Sweeney Entertainment Editor
Irish Independent
