TV3 bins last episodes of Porter’s Blind Date
‘Disaster’ as station searches inhouse for host to replace ‘sex pest’ comedian
TV3 HAS canned the scheduled episodes of Blind Date featuring comedian Al Porter as host, the Irish Mail on Sunday can reveal.
Porter had filmed 12 shows, six of which have already aired. The remaining six were due to be shown in the new year. However, in the wake of allegations of groping and inappropriate behaviour levelled at the comedian in the past week, the station has taken the decision to bin the remaining shows.
‘It’s an absolute disaster for TV3. They spent a fortune on Blind Date, buying the format, the production, the promotion, not to mention Al’s salary. But they are left with no option,’ said a well-placed source.
‘The remaining six will never see the light of day. It’s just an absolute disaster all round.’
Last week, four men shared accounts of alleged inappropriate sexual conduct about the Tallaght funnyman on social media.
Within 48 hours, the 24-year-old had quit his €140,000-a-year presenting gig on Today FM and was dropped as lead character in the Olympia’s Christmas Panto. Now his big break in TV3 is on the cutting room floor at Ballymount.
TV3 bought the rights to the dating show – made popular by Cilla Black in the 1980s – two years ago.
Lucy Kennedy was originally lined up as host but the station decided to install the flamboyant Porter in an attempt to attract millennials.
Instead they have found themselves caught up in a storm of controversy.
‘There are crisis talks at the moment. They’ve just taken the one decision to scrap the remaining shows. There was no way they could have aired them,’ said a source.
But insiders have said TV3 was pleased with the reaction to the first shows and wants to bring it back – but in a safer pair of hands. Station chiefs are understood to be looking to existing staff within TV3 for a new host.
Meanwhile, Porter has gone to ground since the accusations against him emerged. Last Sunday night he announced he was resigning from Today FM. He issued a statement which many felt only served to fuel the fire.
‘I have been completely taken aback by reports in the media and on the social networks over the weekend, and by the scale and tone of the vitriol,’ stated Porter.
‘While my conduct, which had been in keeping with my flamboyant and outrageous public persona, may be regarded as offensive and unacceptable by many people, I at no time intended to upset anyone.
‘Up until now, I had been unaware of these complaints or the impact of my conduct and I am truly sorry for any distress I may have caused
‘They spent a fortune on format and promotion’
in what I had regarded as lighthearted and good-natured circumstances.’
He went on to thank Today FM, the Olympia Panto and TV3 ‘for the space and time I’ve been granted to deal with the situation’.
Porter is facing a Garda investigation after St Patrick’s Mental Health Services confirmed it has received an official complaint in relation to him.
In a statement, the hospital said: ‘The organisation is currently investigating the complaint in line with its policies and procedures.’
‘There was no way they could have aired them’