Cutting Edge wins IFTA for star O’Connor
BRENDAN O Connor’s Cutting Edge has won best Entertainment Show at the Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTAs).
The RTE star, and Sunday Independent Deputy Editor (Features) picked up the award for his provocative midweek show — after just five episodes.
Speaking to the Sunday Independent, Bill Hughes who set up Mind The Gap Films with fellow producer Bernadine Carraher — the company behind the show — said he was thrilled the risk has paid off.
“It’s a whole new way of doing a chat show around the table, it adds sparkle to a tired format and we have completely reinvented it. The fact that everyone is face-to-face, eyeball to eyeball, toe-to-toe and it’s all so immediate seems to really appeal to people.
“It has a magical combination of mixing a newshound with an entertainer and a person with a world view. That combination brings a really dynamic energy to the table that provokes discussion.”
Speaking about the upcoming season, Mr Hughes said, “People can expect a really great new cast of characters from all three worlds. We have an extraordinary breadth of new people as well as some tried and tested excellent regulars. It’s live so anything can happen.”
Comedian Al Porter, who made two headline-grabbing appearances on the show, also picked up the Rising Star award.
Mind The Gap films also picked up another award for These Walls Can Talk in the Best Cinematographer category — with Michael Donavan winning the statuette.
O’Connor returns to TV this month with the show, which he once called “the most intense experience I have ever had on camera.”
“It is really heartening to win an IFTA. But like all success stories it’s a team effort and I would like to thank the producers and all the staff for making it what it is,” O’Connor said.
The show will air from October 19 on RTE1 at 9.35pm