Difficulties can, from time to time, present opportunities, and that’s certainly proven the case for the ‘Second Captains’ team led by Eoin McDevitt in the wake of their RTE debut on Tuesday last.
The manner in which the former ‘Off The Ball’ presenters (including Ken Early, Ciaran Murphy, Mark Horgan and Simon Hick) have recovered from their radio departure last March has been manna-like for their loyal fans.
And while their former Newstalk show (back in the hands of original presenter Ger Gilroy) has proven resolutely entertaining throughout the summer, McDevitt & Co’s TV debut was a resounding triumph.
Adapting their hugely enjoyable radio show format for televisual purposes, ‘Second Captains Live’ proved a breezy, humorous hour of television, the polar opposite of the sadly tired and jaded ‘Late Late Show’.
Last Tuesday’s debut broadcast was must-see stuff, with McDevitt’s interview with former Munster and Irish rugby star Ronan O’Gara its undoubted highlight, in particular the evolution of his friendship with Jonny Sexton.
Light entertainment has hardly been RTE’s strongest weapon in recent years. But with ‘Second Captains’, Montrose appears to have turned a most welcome corner. For more, visit www.irishtimes.com/second-captains.
