On the couch with TG4’s Séamus Ó Scanláin
Séamus Ó Scanláin began his TV career when he was still in primary school, as part of the cast for the Irish-language version of Teletubbies. Since then, he has worked in news, continuity and kids’ TV, and been the voice of Harry Potter’s Ron Weasley as Gaeilge. He cohosts Glór Tíre on TG4 and Iris Aniar on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
How much TV do you think you watch every week?
Not as much as I used to. It can vary, depending on the time of year and what’s on. I tend to jump from genre to genre – from Room to Improve to shows like Bádóirí on TG4 – and Sundays wouldn’t be the same without Dancing with the Stars. I’ll also see the news at least once a day.
Is there just too much good TV now to watch it all?
There is a lot of good stu , and it is a problem nding the time to see everything. I binged on the rst seasons of Narcos, for example, but the new season has been out now for a month or two and I’ve yet to see it.
Have you always been into country music?
Yes, to an extent. My sister, aunt, cousins and grandfather are sean nós singers and though I never caught the singing bug, I’ve had a huge interest in country music from a young age. My Spotify is peppered with some great Irish country. There’s a real feel-good factor to it. I was very fortunate to join Aoife Ní Thuairisg and the Glór Tíre team, and am really looking forward to the live shows coming in March.
What are your unmissable shows right now?
The evening news, Bádóirí, and Net ix for Narcos, Making a Murderer, The Staircase and an Australian spy series called The Secret City. And I dip in and out of shows like The Big Bang Theory, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Simpsons, RTÉ Investigates and Panorama.
Were you a fan of Harry Potter before getting the job of voicing it as Gaeilge?
My sister was a huge fan, and had all the books and DVDs at home when we were younger. I wasn’t a huge bookworm but really liked the lms! The Irish language rights for the franchise were bought by TG4 while I was in secondary school, auditions were announced and I was fortunate enough to land the part of Ron, Harry’s friend.
What show would you like a cameo in?
Dancing with the Stars. Perhaps Nicky Byrne’s gig on the balcony? Jennifer Zamparelli seems like great craic and I’d say we’d get on well; I might teach her a few words of Gaeilge too.
What’s it like to work with children?
It really is great. On Léirmheas Leabhar I interview children for a book review slot. They’re always a joy to work with. And I come from a large family, with lots of young cousins, so during various babysitting adventures over the years I’ve picked up a few skills in dealing with kids.
How does working on TV compare to radio?
I love both platforms. My main background in broadcasting is voiceover work and radio, which are quite similar when you think about it. It was only very recently that I jumped over to telly.
What huge watercooler show have you not seen?
There’s a lot of talk about the Net ix documentary Fyre and the lads have told me that I’m missing out on shows like Breaking Bad and House of Cards.