RTÉ’S DEREK MOONEY has said he has “no issue” with Ray D’Arcy, who took over his daily radio slot on RTE Radio One.
Speaking to Ryan Tubridy this morning, Mooney said he had only listened to a few minutes of D’Arcy’s show.
“I have heard a couple of minutes of the Eurovision programme, but that is all I’ve heard,” said Mooney, adding that he didn’t mean any disrespect, but that he was just being honest.
The RTE Radio One star left his weekday afternoon slot late last year to take up a new role as wildlife executive for RTE television and radio programmes.
Second thoughts
However, Mooney admitted he has been having some second thoughts about the move.
“I thought it was the right time, not sure it is now.”
Speaking about his replacement he said that it is “the reality of the business” that RTÉ bosses would start looking “at the next man or woman” to take over.
“He [Ray] wasn’t in the picture… to be honest , I thought you were doing it,” he said to Tubridy.
“It wasn’t my business who was going to replace me.”
Mooney said he did have some regrets when he had to pack up his desk and move to the other side of the building.
Sitting over with the RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta crew, he said he felt “a bit out of my depth” but said they were all wonderfully welcoming.
“It felt a little strange.”
Mooney said he is happy with his new slot of 10pm-11pm on Sunday nights.
“I heard it described as the graveyard slot – think what you want – but I asked for that slot.”
“I think you can develop an audience in the evening.”
With competition of Love/Hate and Room to Improve out of the way, he thinks it will do fine, he said.
The Late Late Show
What would Mooney aspire to? Hosting the Late Late Show, he said.
“I’d like to have the Late Late. I think I should do it next year,” adding that he didn’t mean any disrespect to his interviewer.
“You have to dream and have ambition… and want to aspire… the Late Late is biggest show on telly.”
The interview also touched on the presenters love life. Mooney said he was not in relationship and hadn’t been on date “in years”. He said he generally did not like discussing his personal life.
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