Ryan Confidential
Encyclopedia
Ryan Confidential was an Irish
home-produced television program
me broadcast on RTÉ One. It was presented by Gerry Ryan
, until his unexpected death
at the age of 53 on 30 April 2010. The programme was created by the producer
David Blake Knox.
The format placed Ryan and celebrity
guests in restaurant
s and hotel
s, designed to provide a more intimate
setting than a studio
. Ryan then interview
ed his guests. The programme, commissioned by RTÉ's Entertainment Department, proved popular, and ran for eight seasons.
who spoke of feeling like a "bloody eejit" for provoking the set up of the Tribunals, Colin Farrell
whose use of "salty language
" prompted a large number of complaint
s despite an on-screen warning about the show's content and Brian O'Driscoll
who appeared replete with "interesting haircut" before an important Magners League match for Leinster
. The Irish Times
critic, Shane Hegarty said of an early interview with multimillionaire
step dancer
Michael Flatley
: ``Gerry Ryan returned to the television screens again this week. He has a habit of doing that, like a fly
you thought you'd chased from the room.`` Ryan alluded to the upset this remark caused him in a special Ryan Tubridy Confidential, aired on 16 October 2008 to coincide with the release of the presenter's autobiography, in which the tables were turned on the regular interviewer as he was asked questions by his protegé Ryan Tubridy
. Tubridy was selected after RTÉ expressed their dissatisfaction at Ryan's original plan - to interview himself.
The eighth and final series featured interviews with Conan O'Brien
, Roger Moore
and, Hugh Hefner
at the Playboy Mansion
. The Hefner and O'Brien interviews were recorded in Los Angeles
. In a rare interview O'Brien said he was more comfortable with Ireland than the pressures of American television.
Ryan's interview with Heather Mills from the eighth series was first broadcast the night before his death. A re-edited and extended version of the 2008 episode, in which Ryan was interviewed by Ryan Tubridy, was aired after the presenter's death. It drew an audience share of 40.5 per cent, and 565,000 viewers - the highest ratings for any episode of Ryan Confidential. The final Ryan Confidential filmed before the presenter's death, the George Hook
episode, aired on 20 May 2010. It was viewed by more than 400,000 viewers. Hook later described Gerry Ryan as "a superb interviewer".
, a past guest on the show who had died, was screened on RTÉ One on 24 March 2008 at 18:30.
Ronnie Drew: A Ryan Confidential Special aired on 1 January 2009 on RTÉ One at 18:30.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
home-produced television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
me broadcast on RTÉ One. It was presented by Gerry Ryan
Gerry Ryan
Gerard "Gerry" Ryan was an Irish presenter of radio and television employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann...
, until his unexpected death
Death of Gerry Ryan
The sudden death of RTÉ broadcaster Gerry Ryan occurred on 30 April 2010. He was 53. Ryan had been presenting The Gerry Ryan Show since 1988 and at the time of his death had the largest audience on RTÉ 2fm...
at the age of 53 on 30 April 2010. The programme was created by the producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
David Blake Knox.
The format placed Ryan and celebrity
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
guests in restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
s and hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
s, designed to provide a more intimate
Intimate part
An intimate, personal, or private part is a place on the human body which is customarily kept covered by clothing in public venues and conventional settings, as a matter of decency, decorum, and respectfulness...
setting than a studio
Television studio
A television studio is an installation in which a video productions take place, either for the recording of live television to video tape, or for the acquisition of raw footage for post-production. The design of a studio is similar to, and derived from, movie studios, with a few amendments for the...
. Ryan then interview
Interview
An interview is a conversation between two people where questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information from the interviewee.- Interview as a Method for Qualitative Research:"Definition" -...
ed his guests. The programme, commissioned by RTÉ's Entertainment Department, proved popular, and ran for eight seasons.
History
Guests on Ryan Confidential included Ben DunneBen Dunne
Ben Dunne is an Irish entrepreneur and former director of his family firm, Dunnes Stores, one of the largest chains of department stores in Ireland. In 1981, he was kidnapped by the IRA and held for seven days...
who spoke of feeling like a "bloody eejit" for provoking the set up of the Tribunals, Colin Farrell
Colin Farrell
Colin James Farrell is an Irish actor, who has appeared in such film as Tigerland, Miami Vice, Minority Report, Phone Booth, The Recruit, Alexander and S.W.A.T....
whose use of "salty language
Profanity
Profanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or debasement of someone or something. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, desecrating, or other forms.The...
" prompted a large number of complaint
Complaint
In legal terminology, a complaint is a formal legal document that sets out the facts and legal reasons that the filing party or parties In legal terminology, a complaint is a formal legal document that sets out the facts and legal reasons (see: cause of action) that the filing party or parties In...
s despite an on-screen warning about the show's content and Brian O'Driscoll
Brian O'Driscoll
Brian O'Driscoll is an Irish professional rugby union player. He is the current captain of the Ireland Rugby team and captained Leinster Rugby until the start of 2008 season. He also captained the British and Irish Lions for their 2005 tour of New Zealand...
who appeared replete with "interesting haircut" before an important Magners League match for Leinster
Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
. The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
critic, Shane Hegarty said of an early interview with multimillionaire
Millionaire
A millionaire is an individual whose net worth or wealth is equal to or exceeds one million units of currency. It can also be a person who owns one million units of currency in a bank account or savings account...
step dancer
Irish dance
Irish dancing or Irish dance is a group of traditional dance forms originating in Ireland which can broadly be divided into social dance and performance dances. Irish social dances can be divided further into céilí and set dancing...
Michael Flatley
Michael Flatley
Michael Ryan Flatley is an American Irish dancer, choreographer, actor, musician and occasional television presenter. He became internationally known for Irish dance shows Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, Feet of Flames, and Celtic Tiger...
: ``Gerry Ryan returned to the television screens again this week. He has a habit of doing that, like a fly
Fly
True flies are insects of the order Diptera . They possess a pair of wings on the mesothorax and a pair of halteres, derived from the hind wings, on the metathorax...
you thought you'd chased from the room.`` Ryan alluded to the upset this remark caused him in a special Ryan Tubridy Confidential, aired on 16 October 2008 to coincide with the release of the presenter's autobiography, in which the tables were turned on the regular interviewer as he was asked questions by his protegé Ryan Tubridy
Ryan Tubridy
Ryan Tubridy , affectionately known as "Tubs", is an Irish broadcaster and writer, a presenter of live shows on radio and television in Ireland. He has been described as "one of Ireland's most gifted broadcasters"...
. Tubridy was selected after RTÉ expressed their dissatisfaction at Ryan's original plan - to interview himself.
The eighth and final series featured interviews with Conan O'Brien
Conan O'Brien
Conan Christopher O'Brien is an American television host, comedian, writer, producer and performer. Since November 2010 he has hosted Conan, a late-night talk show that airs on the American cable television station TBS....
, Roger Moore
Roger Moore
Sir Roger George Moore KBE , is an English actor, perhaps best known for portraying British secret agent James Bond in seven films from 1973 to 1985. He also portrayed Simon Templar in the long-running British television series The Saint.-Early life:Moore was born in Stockwell, London...
and, Hugh Hefner
Hugh Hefner
Hugh Marston "Hef" Hefner is an American magazine publisher, founder and Chief Creative Officer of Playboy Enterprises.-Early life:...
at the Playboy Mansion
Playboy Mansion
The Playboy Mansion is the home of Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner. Located in the Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles, California, the mansion became famous during the 1970s through media reports of Hefner's lavish parties.-History:The house is described as being in the "Gothic-Tudor" style...
. The Hefner and O'Brien interviews were recorded in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. In a rare interview O'Brien said he was more comfortable with Ireland than the pressures of American television.
Ryan's interview with Heather Mills from the eighth series was first broadcast the night before his death. A re-edited and extended version of the 2008 episode, in which Ryan was interviewed by Ryan Tubridy, was aired after the presenter's death. It drew an audience share of 40.5 per cent, and 565,000 viewers - the highest ratings for any episode of Ryan Confidential. The final Ryan Confidential filmed before the presenter's death, the George Hook
George Hook
George Hook is an Irish broadcaster, journalist and rugby union pundit. He had a career as a rugby union coach and businessman, before becoming a rugby pundit with Raidió Teilifís Éireann...
episode, aired on 20 May 2010. It was viewed by more than 400,000 viewers. Hook later described Gerry Ryan as "a superb interviewer".
Guest list
This is an incomplete and incomprehensive list of guests who have featured on Ryan Confidential.Series 3
|
Series 4
|
Series 5
|
Series 6
1. Gerry Ryan Gerry Ryan Gerard "Gerry" Ryan was an Irish presenter of radio and television employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann... was interviewed by Ryan Tubridy Ryan Tubridy Ryan Tubridy , affectionately known as "Tubs", is an Irish broadcaster and writer, a presenter of live shows on radio and television in Ireland. He has been described as "one of Ireland's most gifted broadcasters"... on this very special occasion to promote his newly released autobiography. |
Specials
A Ryan Confidential Special, in tribute to Joe DolanJoe Dolan
Joseph "Joe" Francis Robert Dolan was an Irish entertainer, recorder and singer of easy listening songs...
, a past guest on the show who had died, was screened on RTÉ One on 24 March 2008 at 18:30.
Ronnie Drew: A Ryan Confidential Special aired on 1 January 2009 on RTÉ One at 18:30.