Dermot from Republic Of Telly to host RTÉ’S answer to BBC’S Never Mind The Buzzcocks
FORMER Republic Of Telly host Dermot Whelan is to return to RTE TV with a new show that has ambitions to be the national broadcaster’s answer to the BBC’s Never Mind The Buzzcocks.
The Today FM DJ, 41, has developed the show himself and told the Irish Mail on Sunday that it would combine his two great loves – comedy and music.
‘It’s a musical comedy show called Hey Ho, Let’s Go.
‘I love music, I’ve always been a fan, and I love comedy so it’s a natural fit.
‘It’ll have musicians and celebrity guests and it’s a cross between Never Mind The Buzzcocks and Who’s Line Is It Anyway meets Blankety Blank.
‘The first one will go out around Christmas time and then its run proper begins in the new year.
‘It’ll be fun and funny and I’m really looking forward to doing it,’ he says.
Whelan’s return to RTÉ follows a successful stint on its flagship comedy show, Republic Of Telly, with Jennifer Maguire and Bernard O’Shea, over three seasons between 2010 and 2013.
Although he’s racking up TV experience, Whelan is quick to dismiss any suggestion he might be quietly climbing Montrose’s career ladder, which has The Late Late Show at the top.
‘I don’t think anybody fancies The Late Late! Not in its current guise anyway,’ he said.
‘I just don’t know how Ryan does it, I think he’s a genius the way he can segue from a serious chat about child abduction into a chat with Amanda Brunker.’