PK@rte.ie (again). The All New (Patrick Kielty) Late Late Show Thread

I am not talking about anyone in a similar situation, there are plenty of controversial people or taboos to talk about.

they are completely safe, as I say Pat just wanted to move blondie’s band member along he wasn’t there to counter his canteen guests view.

This kind of pious deference to law is everywhere now and it’s so frustrating. Why does being involved in an ‘active’ (and ‘ongoing’!) legal case prevent the Late Late Show from having him in the programme and exposing his views to scrutiny?

Did the Real PK say that he would have him on TLLS if he was hosting?

I suppose to get at TLLS for having no teeth, but as I say the real PK had no teeth, and there are plenty of times when he was toothless particularly on TLLS.

The simple fact is that he is relevant. He has generated tens of thousands of words of commentary and criticism. The Late Late Show shouldn’t be interviewing every nutcase who makes a name for themselves, but Burke I think is a clear exception.

They could have him on against a panel of commentators - Fintan O’Toole on one side of the spectrum, David Quinn on the other - all holding him to account.

But ultimately, he is an interesting guest who would create interesting television. The LLS should not be agonising over questions about how it would go or what we would learn. That is the kind of risk-averse, legalistic thinking that I mentioned has infected our society and is leading to inertia. The job is to be interesting and provocative, and they’re failing to be.

There's also the very real risk of the Burkes slandering someone or multiple someones live on the air. I'll admit, I'm not a solicitor, but I'd imagine that could land RTE in very hot water.

I can't remember the details but didn't RTE get into trouble a number of years back when Nell McCafferty slandered a public figure live on air and the individual subsequently sued RTE for damages and won? A decision was made to never allow Nell to comment live on RTE again.

This decision became very apparent when Nell was an audience member on a LLS tribute to Gay Byrne at the time of his passing and she struggled to put across her contribution but Tubridy cut her off every time. It was a very uncomfortable watch.

I suspect RTE would not want to risk a similar scenario with Enoch. The obvious solution would be to pre-record the interview but that potential self censorship/sanitising tends to negate any appeal of watching EB going off on a rant.

Pat Kenny was just stirring it really, trying to make his successor look bad. An old trick.