Tributes to a man full of fun and game for a laugh
RTÉ TV personality and presenter Bunny Carr died yesterday aged 91.
The Clontarf man who coined the iconic phrase ‘Stop the lights!’ was at the helm of some of RTÉ’s earliest shows when it launched in 1961.
Mr Carr most notably hosted famous quiz show ‘Quicksilver’, a weekly game show broadcast from a different town in Ireland each week.
The legendary quizmaster and broadcaster also presented ‘Going Strong’, ‘The Life Game’, ‘The Politicians’, ‘The Person in Question’ and ‘Encounter’.
His show ‘TeenTalk’ also saw a number of well-known individuals in both media and politics make their television debut, including a young Vincent Browne.
In 1970 he became director of the Catholic Communications Centre, training priests in media skills.
By the end of 1970s, Mr Carr had also established his own PR business, Carr Communications, which he ran until his retirement in 2004.
He parted ways with the state broadcaster in 1984, although he made the occasional appearance back on TV screens over the decades, remaining a familiar face to many.
A number of famous faces paid tribute to the media guru since the news broke yesterday, with another game show legend, ‘Winning Streak’ host Marty Whelan, classing Mr Carr as “a gent”.
Sports broadcaster Des Cahill also paid homage to Mr Carr, who he described as a “hugely popular presenter”.
Speaking on ‘The Ray D’Arcy Show’ on RTÉ Radio 1 yesterday, Kathleen Watkins, wife of broadcaster Gay Byrne, who worked with Mr Carr, said they go over any hiccups in the early days of broadcasting together “with a laugh”.
“It was a pleasure to have known him and to have worked with him. He was always game for a laugh and full of fun,” she said.
He is pre-deceased by his wife Joan, who died in 2005.