In what is rare praise from me-I think RTE have made a great call here. Whether by accident or design, the NKM drones and the Montrosia insiders have been over looked, and the travesty that is "positive" discrimination cast to one side, in order to appoint someone who is by far the best candidate for the job, when compared against anyone else associated with said vacancy.
His first show will come after the summer hiatus in September, although he will probably appear on the final Hobbidy love-in on next Friday 26th. Many will wish him every success.
Despite a long career, Mr. Kielty may not be well known by LLS viewers, although many will at least have heard of him. A Co. Down native, while not in the first flush of youth, he is a fresh enough 52. His stand up career kicked off in Dublin in the early 90s, where he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Ardal O'Hanlon, Sean Hughes, and D'Unbelievables (Jon Kenny & Pat Shortt as they were then known). His first appearance on Gay Byrne's LLS in 1992, where he competed as a National Comedy Search finalist (along with Dylan Moran). He didn't win.
From there though, a somewhat more successful TV career began. Shows on BBC (NI) and UTV followed, and he ended up with his own production company, which spawned numerous other vehicles.
Back here, he acted as MC for the Special Olympics in 2003. Always a positive, constructive, yet searingly honest voice in regard to NI politics, the Troubles and the Peace Process, he participated in a BBC documentary in 2020 to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the GFA.
He is married to the very lovely Cat Deeley and they have two young sons. On marriage, he said "Find a woman that's out of your league, and try to convince her she isn't".
He last appeared on the show a year ago. This clip in particular might illustrate the contrast between him and the guy he is replacing-check out the insincerity emanating from the left of the screen-do not adjust your set...
