| The Frontline | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | David Donaghy[1] |
| Presented by | Pat Kenny |
| Country of origin | Ireland |
| Original languages | English, Irish |
| No. of seasons | 4 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Dave Nally[2] |
| Production locations | Studio 4,[3]RTÉ Television Centre,Donnybrook, Dublin,Ireland |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | RTÉ One |
| Release | 21 September 2009 (2009-09-21)[4] – 28 January 2013 (2013-01-28) |
| Related | |
| Questions and Answers Prime Time | |
The Frontline is a topicaldebatetelevision programme inIreland, which aired for 60 minutes every Monday night onRTÉ One at 22:30. It debuted on Monday, 21 September 2009.[5]The Frontline replaced a similar political analysis showQuestions and Answers.[6] The programme features around an invited audience and featured guests.[7]
Many public figures politicians have appeared on the programme.[4][8] Some incidents on the programme have attracted a large amount of media coverage.[9][10] The programme has generally received positive reviews.[11][12] The programme is broadcast from Studio 4 in RTÉ.[3] The first programme received an audience share of 43.4%, with a viewing audience of 464,000.[13] Later into the programme 100,000 fewer people watched it, watchingThe Apprentice instead.[14] It won "Best Current Affairs programme" at the7th Irish Film and Television Awards in February 2010.[15]
The show returned in September 2012. However, RTÉ announced in October 2012 that the show would be revamped in early 2013. In November 2012, media reports indicated that this revamp would involveThe Frontline being axed and replaced withPrime Time: Debate, and that the new show would be similar toThe Frontline but under thePrime Time branding.[16][17]The Frontline aired for the final time on 28 January 2013.[18]
The Frontline was hosted by formerThe Late Late Show presenter andRTÉ Radio 1 presenterPat Kenny.[19] The programme runs for 60 minutes on Monday nights onRTÉ One.[6] It was directed by David Donaghy[1] and produced by Dave Nally.[2] Studio 4 in the RTÉ Television Centre was the venue of the programme.[3] That was also used forThe Late Late Show.[20]
The show differed from its predecessorQuestions and Answers in that the show does not entirely focus on a panel. The show regularly featured one-on-one interviews with key political and social figures, such as theMinister for Finance[21] and theLeader of the Labour Party,[8] as well as specially themed shows.[22] Other formats include a panel from various social and political backgrounds discussing political issues affecting Ireland and the wider world.[4][22][23] The programme debates "the most important news stories of the week".[19] The programme also features debate on "major political, economic and social issues".[7] The programme also features somesatire.[24]
Steve Carson, head of programming inRTÉ Television, said the programme wouldn't be a replica of the old format.[25] An audience also features as part of the discussion similar toQuestions and Answers.[23]
For the beginning of the programme, Kenny "zips around the studio, microphone in hand".[21]
"The core of it will remain that audiences get a chance to ask politicians questions, but the format will be a lot more varied".
The first indication that Pat Kenny would present another television programme, was on the night he announced his departure from presentingThe Late Late Show.[26] By the time of presenting his last programme, it was announced a new current affairs programme would begin in autumn 2009.[27] It was later announced that it would be 21 September 2009.[5]
There was a high demand for tickets, whichRTÉ described as phenomenal. 4,000 applications were received for a capacity of 120 seats (originally 60 forQuestions and Answers, which was subsequently doubled).[4] A public invitation for comments and ideas on topics was issued by the makers of the show.[4]
The first programme had guests such asEamon Dunphy,Fintan O'Toole,Pat Farrell,Tom Parlon andBrian Lenihan,Minister for Finance. Audience members included small business people and mortgage holders.[21] Lenihan talked about the proposedNational Asset Management Agency and the purchase of €28 billion in loans fromAnglo Irish Bank.[28]
As a result of cutbacks,RTÉ could only afford to spend€2 on sandwiches per audience member.[29]
The programme won "Best Current Affairs programme" at the7th Irish Film and Television Awards on 20 February 2010. Kenny accepted the award.[15]
A special programme about the aftermath of sudden recession aired in May 2010.[30]
The programme returned to RTÉ One on 20 September 2010.[31]
There was a previousFrontline during the end of the 1970s and beginning of the 1980s in betweenThe Politics Programme andToday Tonight. ‘Frontline’ was an investigative report and analysis programme on issues of the day fromBrian Farrell,Michael Heney,Forbes McFall andMichael Ryan.
For the first two programmes, viewing figures were above the programme's predecessorQuestions and Answers. The first programme had an initial audience of 464,000 viewers. Overall, the second programme reached an audience of 653,000.[13] In November 2009, the viewership was reduced to 333,000, less than the 493,000 received byThe Apprentice onTV3[14] WhenGeorge Lee appeared on the programme explaining his resignation from politics on 8 February 2010, the viewing figures were at 627,000.[31]
The Frontline gained nearly 70,000 viewers when TV3 temporarily replaced its rivalTonight with Vincent Browne with UK celebrity torture showI'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in November 2011.[32]
On 2 November 2009,Jack O'Connor ofSIPTU suggested that in the 2010 budget, "a reasonable level of tax" should be placed on "Trophy Houses". Kenny responded by asking what is a trophy house. To this O'Connor responded with "A house like yours, probably."[10] After some hesitation, Kenny quoted:
I built my house in 1988. Like, why is that a trophy house? I don't want this kind of crap coming at me.[33]
O'Connor then apologised instantly.[10]
The following week (9 November 2009), during an interview withMary Hanafin, Alan O'Brien (who has a conviction from 2006 forincitement to hatred[34]), a member of the audience, spent three minutes accusing Kenny of "pontificating and moralising" people onsocial welfare, despite being in receipt of a €600,000 salary.[35] Then referring to aprevious court case involving Kenny, he concluded by saying, "Now I am going to sue an old woman for a field because I feel I might make a million or more." After being removed by security, the programme continued.[9]
Days before the2011 presidential election, a debate was held between the candidates onThe Frontline.[36] A tweet was read out by Pat Kenny which causedSeán Gallagher, ahead on opinion polling, to falter on live television.Michael D. Higgins subsequently won the election. A member of Gallagher's campaign team described it as an "earth shattering" moment for Seán Gallagher.[37] Gallagher later took RTÉ to court over its role in the sabotage of his election campaign.[38]
During the debate held on 21 May 2012 concerning theIrish European Fiscal Compact referendum, Pat Kenny got down on his hands and knees and shouted at a farmer in the audience to shut up.[39][40] He also promised a debate on the CAP "in January"—scheduling of which would have occurred two months after it was announced thatThe Frontline had been axed.[41]
The programme generally received a "big thumbs up".[11] Patrick Freyne of theSunday Tribune described the programme, in his television review column, as "the People versus A Bunch of Bastards". He also called it "slick, pacy and well-researched".[42] Hilary Fannin writing inThe Irish Times, predicted that the programme, in relation to theeconomy, "will [not] be allowed to debate much else in the months to come".[43] She also rated it as one of the best current affairs programmes in 2009.[44] The two reviewers said that, compared toThe Late Late Show, Kenny was more "in his comfort zone".[42][43]Sarah Carey, also inThe Irish Times, was disappointed by the tone of the programme even though Kenny was "thoroughly enjoying himself". She said it was a televised version ofLiveline.[45]
FuturePresident of IrelandMichael D. Higgins, then aLabour Party TD, said in February 2010 thatThe Frontline "degrade[d] politics" and called it a "really bad programme".[46]
"They'll take it from the farmers! They're going to rob the farmers! James, I promise you we will do a programme on the Cap in January", Kenny shouted. As Reynolds persisted, Kenny told him to "get a life".