On the road again
As she settles in as new co-host of Nationwide, Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh tells Michael Doherty why she has seldom felt happier, healthier or more comfortable in her own skin
If a pre-requisite for co-hosting Nationwide is enjoying engaging with the public, Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh is perfect for the job. Spend time out and about in her company and there’s a steady stream of passersby eager to meet a broadcaster who has been a familiar face on our screens for almost three decades. For her latest TV venture, Bláthnaid has teamed up with Anne Cassin on Nationwide, the popular magazine series first aired in 1993. Of course, Bláthnaid has a tough act to follow now that Mary Kennedy has exchanged life on the road for a turn around the dance-floor. The Meath woman is taking it all in her stride as she settles into her seat, sweeps her Claudia Winkelman-esque fringe (of which more later) from her eyes and reflects on her return to TV.
“It’s true that over the last few years, I haven’t been on anything mainstream,” she explains, “but when you meet people, they don’t really see the difference. In this business, we’re a bit obsessed with what shows we’re on and how often we’re on. Perhaps the changing nature of the business is teaching us not to define ourselves in that way. You don’t think you change that much but what’s being asked of you changes.”
In what sense? “Well, all of a sudden, you find yourself asking about a gig and while they’re courteous, you can see them looking at you thinking, ‘She’s not right for this.’ So you ask yourself, is it me, is it my age; because that is a factor for women. I don’t care what anybody says; it is not the same for men in this industry. But then you also have to ask yourself, how many TV shows would I really love to do? That’s why, when I read that Mary was retiring, I immediately contacted RTÉ management and said, ‘I want to put my name forward.’”
It turned out that Bláthnaid was right for this gig and duly found herself charged with the task of replacing Mary Kennedy. Big shoes, methinks. “It’s funny you should say that,” says Bláthnaid. “A woman came up to me the other day in Dunnes and said just that, ‘Oh, Mary’s are big shoes to fill’. I said to her, ‘It’s Ok; Mary’s a size five, I’m a size six!’ I was joking, but to be honest, I don’t think of it like that. It’s not that I think so much of myself, but I am very different to Mary.”
So what is the attraction of Nationwide? “I think this show offers a wonderful mix,” she explains. “It’s like daytime meets young people’s meets current affairs: all of which I’ve done. When I was on daytime, a viewer who lived on her own paid me a lovely compliment by saying that she never felt lonely while the show was on. And if someone is at home at 7.00pm and they tune into Nationwide, they also can’t help but feel part of something. This show has the feel-good factor and lets you know that there’s a world out there.”
Speaking of feel-good factors, Bláthnaid had been affected by undiagnosed abdominal pain for most of her life until it was finally given a name, volvulus, and was finally treated. Those painful days are over and you can see a new pep in her step. “Health-wise I’m great,” she agrees. “I do have a pep in my step and with no concept of how ill I had been all of my life before my volvulus was finally diagnosed. My health is good now and I would say that I’m more comfortable in my own skin than at any previous time in my life. But it’s an ongoing journey. People say I wear my heart on my sleeve and that hasn’t always been a good thing for me; but comfortable in my own skin? Yes, but I don’t want to get too comfortable!”
Not only does Bláthnaid feel different, she also looks different. Her familiar wavy tresses have been replaced by a sleek fringe, which caused quite a stir on social media. So it’s time for the blunt question about the blunt fringe: whim or grand plan?
“Well, it wasn’t a whim,” she laughs, “it was something of a plan. I had gotten the gig with my old hair, but I just wanted to do something new. I was being practical too, thinking of being out and about in the wind, and my hairdresser, Elaine, said, ‘Would you ever do the fringe?’ I told her I had a half fringe before and I cringe when I look back on those photographs. But my face is different now. I haven’t done anything to it, I hasten to add, but it’s great that something suits you at 49 that didn’t suit you at 29. It’s usually the other way around!”
Ah yes, 49. Unlike some in her profession, male and female, Bláthnaid has never been coy about her age (“I’ve never done that TV age thing, so to start now would be a joke”). But how does she feel about the upcoming milestone? “Well, I do love an excuse for a party,” she says, “but while some say it’s only a number, 50 is a big number! I think that your focus changes as you grow older. My focus now is on finishing those hurdles with my children – their education, their mental health – minding them and giving them tools to mind themselves. And then it’s about my husband Ciarán and I: where we are, where we’re going to be, and building a comfortable life together.”
A happy, healthy Bláthnaid is clearly ready for the challenge of Nationwide. She’s also ready to act on the most frequently offered piece of advice from the
general public to date: ‘Get yourself a nice coat!’
Photography: Kip Carroll; stylist: Clémentine MacNeice; make-up: Breifne Keogh; hair: Elayne Archbold (Brown Sugar). Look 1 (cover): Anne: earrings, Mo Muse; blouse and skirt, H&M; shoes, River Island. Bláthnaid: earrings, Mo Muse, Powerscourt Townhouse Centre; jumpsuit, H&M; shoes, River Island. Look 2: Anne: earrings, Emma By Jane, EmmaByJane. com; jumper, Victoria Beckham @Brown Thomas; jeans, J Brand @Harvey Nichols; coat, Marks & Spencer. Bláthnaid : earrings, Mo Muse, Powerscourt Townhouse Centre; coat, Marks & Spencer; jeans, Paige @Brown Thomas. Look 3: Anne: earrings, Emma By Jane, EmmaByJane.com; shirt dress, Bow&Pearl, bowandpearl.com; shoes, River Island. Bláthnaid: earrings, Mo Muse, Powerscourt Townhouse Centre; jacket, Max & Co @Arnotts; jeans, Paige @Brown Thomas; shoes, River Island.
Comfortable in my own skin? Yes, but I don’t want to get too comfortable!