On The Couch With Kieran Cuddihy
Kieran Cuddihy grew up in Kilkenny. A qualified solicitor, he moved to Canada in 2009 and a voluntary stint on a radio station kindled an interest in broadcasting. On returning to Ireland he did a Masters in Journalism at DCU and joined Newstalk in 2011. Since then, Kieran has presented a range of shows across the station, including Breakfast and Off the Record. He currently hosts The Hard Shoulder every weekday from 4-7pm.
Is there just too much good TV now to watch it all?
It’s certainly hard to remember what shows are starting and when. Myself and my wife are terrible for only realising something has started after the rst episode. That’s ne if it’s on RTÉ or Virgin, but you’re snookered if it’s the BBC. Unless you know how to access the BBC iplayer from here. Which, of course, I don’t.
You began your career in Law. Who would win a TV courtroom legal battle between Matlock and Rumpole of the Bailey?
I think I’ll stick my wages on Rumpole.i was gifted a Rumpole of the Bailey book not long after I started studying law, so nostalgia swings it for him.
Are you a telly on, laptop on the knees and phone for tweeting over-load kind of person?
With two young kids at home, I don’t really get to sit down and watch anything until they are asleep, and at that point, I’m trying to switch o . So I do my best not to have the phone out. I don’t always succeed, though.
Are current affairs broadcasters genuinely interested in every news item they cover or just good at pretending? What are your unmissable shows right now?
I love Landscape Artist of the Year on Sky Arts. I do a bit of painting myself (badly) so I like to see how these people with actual talent approach a piece.
What are the main differences between Canadian and Irish telly?
We are much better served by public television here, I think. In Canada, they do great news and current a airs broadcasting, but for entertainment you need cable television. Here, we have some really strong o erings from RTÉ, Virgin and TG4.
All-time favourite TV drama, comedy, soap, documentary and live event?
The Wire for TV drama; 25 years later, you can’t beat Fr Ted for comedy; we’re an Emmerdale house when it comes to soaps; for a documentary, I love coming across a rerun of The World At War; and of course, the greatest live event of all time was the 2014 drawn All Ireland hurling nal between Kilkenny and Tipperary.
Are there any genres of TV you just can’t abide?
I don’t mind admitting that I would watch some pretty brain-dead television, but I draw the line at anything to do with the Kardashians.
Who would play you in the TV show of your life and what genre is it?
Well if I can pick anyone, I suppose I should try and improve on reality. So I’ll go with a real looker: Ryan Gosling or Jamie Dornan. The show should probably be a mockumentary based in a radio station. Maybe I could write it – I have plenty of material!