Media

Late Late Show review: It was professional, competent and safe – a recipe for boredom

The challenge Kielty and his team face is that people don’t watch for professionalism, competence or safety

Patrick Kielty proved he can handle pressure as he hosted his first Late Late Show. But the programme needs to seriously up its game on content

On Friday night Patrick Kielty provided that most essential element of live TV – calm competence.

It may not sound like much, but smoothly guiding a 90-minute live TV show is a significant challenge, particularly when it is the controversy-shrouded cash cow for the state broadcaster and you know you are taking the helm in the glare of massive publicity and attention. Despite the extraordinary pressure, he was fluff-free and handled transitions, pieces to camera ...