I’m a sex symbol
Star discusses new show based in shed & why he has no regrets about not getting married
NOTORIOUSLY private Marty Morrissey has told how he likes being dubbed a “sex symbol”, admitting harmless flirting is a bit of craic.
The RTE star, who’s been dating his partner Liz Kidney for 20 years, has kept his love life away from the public glare.
The Co Clare man told the Irish Sunday Mirror he has no regrets about not getting hitched, insisting you never know what the future holds.
Marty, 61, said: “Now I won’t go down the personal route, absolutely not, but let’s just say happy days, you never know, let’s see what happens.”
From interviewing Cindy Crawford at the 2008 Beijing Olympics to declaring he had a “crush” on Georgia Salpa, Marty loves the “craic” and is known for his devilment and infectious personality.
When asked about his sex symbol status, he laughed: “I’ve always said I’m a sex symbol myself but nobody else believes it.”
In his new show broadcasting from his shed in Clare, Marty has made a name for himself as a “flirty rascal” interviewing everyone from actor Chris O’dowd to Westlife’s Nicky Byrne.
BANTER
He added: “I thought it was a great compliment, I enjoy just the banter and the fun, they know when I say anything it’s not serious, it’s done in jest, that I’m having the craic.”
Commenting on his flirting ways, Marty said: “It’s part of the Irish sense of humour.
“We do get away with murder because we’re Irish. The Shed idea has blossomed and thank God people liked it.”
Holed up in Clare in his mother’s house, Marty In The Shed is gaining further popularity on the RTE Player.
His beloved mammy Peggy kept himself and the tight-knit crew going during filming with cups of tea and sandwiches.
Peggy’s age remains off limits he says, adding: “She’s flying it, like the biggest problem with mam was to try to keep her at home, she was mad to get out.
“The church is really important for her, thankfully it stayed open so she could go and say her rosary in the evening.
“She comes out now and again to bring a cup of tea out to Matt, who’s working with me. I do get treated to an odd cup of coffee.”
Spending time with his mammy has
I enjoy the banter and the fun, they know when I say something it’s not serious MARTY MORRISSEY ON HIS UNDOUBTED POPULARITY
been a blessing and he admits he now appreciates home life more.
Marty said: “It’s valuable time to be able to spend at home and please God when we’re finished this awful coronavirus that we’ll have new work practices, it will be different.
“It’s certainly given me a new value for home and it’s certainly allowed me to spend more time with mam, that I wouldn’t have got to otherwise as we’re all chasing our tails doing what we do.
“In some ways it’s a chance to reset the button and I hope we continue on with that, as we give each other more time
and not always be on the mobile phone texting.”
Marty In The Shed has been a ratings hit and it seems everything the GAA pundit does turns to gold.
He added: “I suppose it’s a little bit of luck, I’m a bit proud of it as it’s been a very simple idea, but RTE then added the touch.
“It was great to gather up the friends and to do this. I was lucky I knew so many nice people. Nicky Byrne was great agreeing for his kids to do a penalty shoot-out and commentating on the World Cup.
“It was lovely Mike Denver showed us his little baby Mia on the show.
People did things, that if we were in studio we wouldn’t see.”
Marty admits he’s not a superstar in Clare as his mates keep his feet firmly on the ground.
AUTOGRAPH
He said: “Oh big time, there’s no big heads here. I remember a couple of lads went to matches with me when I started first. If I was stopped and asked for an autograph my friends would take the p*** and say to them, ‘What in the name of God do you want an autograph from this guy for?’
“There’s no fear of a big head, my own crowd are the best in the world, they keep me well grounded. Competing on Dancing With The Stars in 2018 was a career high for Marty.
He added: “I would say the dancing was one of the best things I ever did, if I knew then what I know now, I would have practised a lot more, even before the thing started.”
Marty’s youthful glow inside and out is a winning formula and one he believes is down to gratitude.
He said: “It’s all about positive thinking and enjoying life as much as you can. I love people, having the craic and the fun and I’m very lucky in the job I have, I love what I do, being kind.”