The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
IT’S ALL GRAND FOR FRANCIS AS TV RATINGS IMPRESS
KERRY hotelier, Francis Brennan says he is delighted with the success of his latest series, ‘Francis Brennan’s, Grand Indian Tour’, and well he should be.
On the show, viewers follow the adventures of 12 jet-setting tourists who have joined the charismatic host on a trip to India. Figures released by RTE last week confirmed the success of the series and thus far this series an average of 362,500 viewers watched each episode. Indeed the show captured an audience share of 25 per cent on Sunday nights.
Of course the show may not be everyone’s cup of tea but, despite receiving negative reviews from some critics, Mr Brennan simply chooses not to heed the criticism. “It’s fantastic, the general feedback I get from people all over the country has been good. The critics didn’t like it but generally speaking everyone is very happy,” he told The Kerryman.
Criticism comes with the job and Mr Brennan knows that but he points out the level of success he and brother, John have enjoyed since first taking to television.
“The figures are holding very strong for our shows. We always go between 300,000 and 400,000 on the At Your Service’ s and we are up there with the Grand Tour too, so that’s brilliant. Now, it’s also mid-summer don’t forget, when a lot of people don’t watch television compared to January and February with the At Your Service. So, to hold those sort of numbers in July is brilliant”, he said.
The experience of the two shows is completely different, as he explains. “I mean when you’re running around India in 47 degrees and you’re trying to keep ahead with the organisation and trying to ensure the bus is in the right place, there are 700 million things in your head. Whereas, with At Your Service, there is a six month plan and it works grand”.
Having gone it alone on last year’s series of At Your Service, his brother John is now back on board and so proper order has been restored.
“John is back this year, He took a little hiatus because Dromquinna Manor was eating up all his time but he has it under control now so he’s doing an appearance on every show at least anyway”.
Meanwhile, business is going very well for the Sandyford native and his presence on TV undoubtedly helps but, according to Mr Brennan, the numbers of visitors to Kenmare and the west coast in general has been greatly supplemented by the success of the Wild Atlantic Way.
“The best thing that has happened the hotel industry on the west coast is the wild Atlantic Way. Everybody will tell you, from the man selling the bikes to the doctors who are dealing with more people and those in the shops. It has distributed tourism right up to Donegal, which is something that wouldn’t have been as distributed before. It gives tourists more choice,” he adds.