Gong, baby, gong: Simon swaps night feeds for glitzy IFTAs
Congratulations to actor Simon Delaney on the birth of his son, Isaac Thomas Delaney, this week.
But bonding time between father and son will be cut short with Simon hosting the IFTAs next Saturday.
The biggest event in the Irish TV and film calendar, The Diary was desperately making calls this week trying to find out what might be in store.
We can reveal that -- just as in 2011 -- the ceremony will open with a video introduction of host Simon 'blue-screened' into some well known footage.
And the unlikely pairing of Glenn Close and Brendan O'Carroll will be taking the flak.
Why? Because in the film Albert Nobbs star Glenn Close is a woman playing a man while Brendan is a man playing a woman in Mrs Brown's Boys. Both are up for gongs on the night.
Comparisons between Neil Jordan's ruthless Italian dynasty The Borgias, nominated for an IFTA and the Irish entertainment industry are also inevitable.
Just don't expect any gags about Tallafornia, as all the TV3 jokes have been jettisoned since the bosses at Ballymount pulled out of the show this year.
Amy Huberman and Chris O'Dowd will be among those attending, but not Hollywood actor Colin Farrell.
The IFTAs will be broadcast on RTÉ One at 9.30pm next Saturday night.
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