Eyebrows were raised when RTÉ announced that controversial comedian Tommy Tiernan would be fronting a new chat show on Thursday nights.
They were raised even further when it was revealed that the format would see Tommy having no prior knowledge as to who his guests were until they arrived on stage to be interviewed.
This has resulted in some comical moments over the past few weeks as the Navan man sometimes clearly hasn’t a clue who the person is sitting down beside him, Vogue Williams being a perfect example of this.
Last night, however the laughter subsided for a while as Dr. Brendan Kelly, Consultant Psychiatrist at Tallaght Hospital and Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College, took a seat beside Tommy to discuss the issue of mental health and suicide in Ireland.
Take a look:
It was a side of Tommy that a lot of people hadn’t seen before and he was widely commended for his ability to switch seamlessly from serious to funny and back again:
Very interesting conversation between @Tommedian & Dr Kelly.Looking after your emotional health & wellbeing is vital. #TommyTiernanShow
— L. NíHéineacháin (@LaobhaoiseNihE) January 20, 2017
#TommyTiernanShow There’s a genuine and very special depth to @Tommedian that underpins all of his comedic genius. Saw it right there.
— ℂ???????????????????? ℂ???????????????????? ???????? (@ciarancannon) January 19, 2017
How does @Tommedian mix the ridiculous with absolutely hitting the nail on the head when it comes to the serious #TommyTiernanShow #Unreal
— John O’ Donoghue (@jodonoghue1983) January 19, 2017
Fascinating & authentic conversation between @Tommedian &Brendan Kelly on #TommyTiernanShow about the emotional health & wellbeing of humans
— Conor Cusack (@Conor14Cusack) January 19, 2017
Tommy Tiernan asking all the right questions. Making mental health advice understandable. Iontach. #TommyTiernanShow
— MáireT (@MaireTNC) January 19, 2017
Dear @rte please make @Tommedian one of your regular interviewers. Hilarious, sympathetic and knowledgeable..great mix #TommyTiernanShow
— rorymcevoy (@rorymcevoy) January 19, 2017
Thank you, @Tommedian, for an honest and spontaneously insightful interview with Dr. Brendan Kelly. No man is an island, but he’s close.
— Helen Broderick (@dontknowmuchnow) January 20, 2017
// The Tommy Tiernan Show // @Tommedian chats to Dr Brendan Kelly on his new chat show pic.twitter.com/4EMBaOE4m7
— RTE One (@RTEOne) January 20, 2017
Brilliant stuff. A future Late Late Show host? He certainly did his chances no harm last night.
You can check out the whole chat with Dr. Kelly the rest of last night’s show on RTÉ Player.
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