RTÉ to ‘reimagine’ Ray as a quiz show host due to empty studios
RTÉ bosses are in “a flurry of discussions” as they attempt to solve the ongoing problem of absent studio audiences in a brand new season of television.
The Sunday Independent understands that Ray D’Arcy’s live chat show “will be reimagined in a very different format” as part of the station’s response to Covid-19 restrictions.
Speaking to the newspaper, a source said: “RTÉ bosses don’t want to have a chat show on both a Friday and a Saturday night with no live audience for either. It’s too much.”
They added: “Obviously, The Late Late Show will keep going as it is because it is the station’s flagship show. But there is talk of changing Ray’s slot. That’s the show that is going to have to sacrifice and change with the times.”
Describing the format that D’Arcy’s new show could take, the source said: “There is talk of Ray doing one-to-one pre-recorded interviews during the week, which will then air on the Saturday night. Another idea that has also been tossed around is that Ray would host a quiz show again, because it’s easy for contestants to socially distance and Ray has been very good at that before.”
The source said: “But the really big worry for
RTÉ is The Late Late Toy Show, which goes out in November. It’s the station’s big money spinner and the enthusiasm from the live audience plays a central role to the excitement on the night.
“No matter how good the kids are, no matter how much energy Ryan Tubridy brings — it is going to be very difficult to present that to complete silence in the studio. The ‘one for everyone in the audience’ moments can’t happen and they don’t know how they are going to recreate that vibe.”
The coronavirus pandemic has brought much of Ireland’s television production to a halt, including live sports and drama, but live TV chat shows pose the biggest problem. “Filming drama is far easier because actors can socially distance and ‘cheat’ with camera angles,” the source said.
“And on the news and current affairs shows, you don’t miss live audiences so much because you don’t need the same level of energy. But entertainment shows are different.
“Presenters have been doing a great job in challenging circumstances, but it’s now up to their teams to come up with creative solutions because this could go on for a long time.”
The comments come just days after RTÉ issued an earlier-than-usual call out to children for applications to audition to be part of this year’s Toy Show.
Other shows in Ireland that have been forced to face up to the realities of Covid-19 include Dancing with the Stars.
The national broadcaster says it plans to hold off on airing the show until 2022.
Whether RTÉ decides to test audience members for Covid in advance of The Toy Show remains to be seen.