D'Arcy hotly tipped to front The Panel but playing it cool
PANEL PICK: Ray D'Arcy, pictured during his recent stint as Rose of Tralee host, was today filming a pilot episode as the host of RTE's satirical news show, The Panel
Monday September 29 2008
TODAY FM presenter Ray D'Arcy looks set to land one of the most coveted jobs in Irish television.
The Diary can exclusively reveal the well-known DJ and television personality was heading to Montrose today to record a pilot programme for RTE show The Panel.
With just weeks to go until the scheduled new series, a new host has yet to be announced though pilots were filmed with the likes of Grainne Seoige and David McWilliams.
Show bosses are now hoping Ray could save the day by accepting the plum job.
The well-liked presenter is hotly tipped to follow in the shoes of Dara O'Briain and front the satirical programme.
According to our source: "They really want Ray to do it because they feel he has just the right wit to handle it, but he's not so keen.
"He's agreed to shoot the pilot today and see how it goes but he won't commit to anything just yet.
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"He loves radio and that's where his heart is," the source added.
Ray is well used to dealing with comic wit after spending years keeping puppets Zig, Zag and Dustin in line during his tenure on children's TV show The Den.
He is a fan of comedy and regularly has international stand-ups as guests on his hit radio show.
If all went to plan, Ray would join his Today FM colleague Mairead Farrell on the programme.
The bubbly brunette is a regular contributor to the hit RTE programme and this summer toured the country with the team to bring The Panel to the stage.
She has worked on the Ray D'Arcy show for years and the pair regularly keep listeners in stitches with their comical on-air banter.
Dad-of-one Ray is the final person to test for the programme: producers have already lined up two other big-name personalities to shoot a pilot episode in front of a live audience.
As the Herald revealed last month, Grainne Seoige was the first candidate to try out for the joB. Then, economist David McWilliams was in the recording studio last week to try his hand at the presenting gig.
Since joining Today FM, former Den and Blackboard Jungle presenter Ray has kept his foot firmly in Irish television.
He presented the first few series of You're A Star and also took up the mantle of presenter of the Rose of Tralee host three years ago.
-- LN
