As Ireland AM celebrates 25 years of waking the nation, we take a trip down memory lane with none other than long-time presenter and fan favourite, Alan Hughes. In an exclusive chat, Alan dishes on the show’s best moments, behind-the-scenes antics, and what’s kept him rising and shining on Irish telly for over two decades. Spoiler: it’s not just the coffee!
RUBBING SHOULDERS WITH THE STARS…
From Hollywood icons to local legends, Ireland AM has brought the famous and fabulous right into our living rooms — often with a side of cheeky banter and some unexpected surprises!
“We got to meet so many people over the years. Talking about Electric Picnic, meeting Kylie [Minogue] and interviewing her twice – and she’s so adorable! Renée Zellweger was another one. There’s been so many over the years… highlights of people. You kind of go, ‘Oh my God, I’m such a big fan of Downton Abbey,’ and then you get to meet all of them [the cast],” Alan recalls.
SNIP HAPPENS
Watching Alan Hughes attempt a DIY haircut live on air quickly became a pandemicera TV highlight. As he followed along with a stylist on video call, things took a hilarious turn, resulting in a fringe t for a Jim Carrey impersonation. The clip had viewers in stitches, proving that even live TV blunders can bring a much-needed laugh!
FROM SERIOUS TO SURREAL
It’s not every morning show that can seamlessly pivot from hard-hitting news to covering the man with the world’s biggest penis, but Ireland AM has perfected the art of balance!
“We bring the news every morning, we bring the hard stories, but just last week we had the man with the world’s biggest penis. So, there you go – we bring the breaking news that people want to hear as well! That’s Ireland AM for you,” Alan relents.
FLAME ON!
Nothing spices up a morning cooking segment like an accidental fire, and chef Catherine Leyden delivered just that when her tea towel ignited mid-recipe!
Alan explains, “Things go wrong – it’s live television – and people love it! There a few weeks ago, Catherine Leyden set one of the tea towels on re, and she kept saying ‘it’s not on re!’ and we were saying ‘it’s going on re!’ and she goes, ‘Oh Jeeesus!’".
THE TERRIFIC TRIO
Sometimes, the most unlikely trio makes for the most compelling TV. Who could forget when these miss t presenters joined the star ting line? The camaraderie between Alan, Muirrean and Tommy is the secret ingredient that keeps viewers hooked every morning
!
“The bond that myself, Muirrean and Tommy have, in a very different way, is just amazing. We have just clicked so well – I don’t think anybody ever thought that the three of us would bond so well together. We just have a blast! There would be people coming in and you’d go, ‘Oh God, am I going to get on with this person?’ And there is an adjusting period that we all had to get used to. But it happened very quickly with me, Tommy and Muirrean and I think that’s down to us all just being a bit mad – ha ha!”
A SUPER EFFORT
Ireland AM’s dedication to supporting the LauraLynn Foundation is nothing shor t of inspiring, with one standout moment raising a whopping €120K in just one morning, as Alan shares, “They send me a little superhero every year that one of the little kids paints, and puts my name on it. I have a whole selection of them in my of ce, which means so much to me.”
TONGUE-TIED TOMMY
In a moment that will haunt him forever, Tommy Bowe enthusiastically interrupted his co-host during a serious segment, blur ting out “10 siblings?!” — just before she nished with “…sadly lost their mum.” Cue the groan, facepalm, and wave of secondhand embarrassment that washed over the nation. It’s the kind of live TV gold that fans love — awkward, hilarious, and utterly unforgettable.
Make sure to tune into the 25-Year Anniversary Special of Ireland AM on September 20th, and catch up on Virgin Media Play!
Images courtesy of Virgin Media
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