Alan Hughes paid tribute to the late Gay Byrne and told how he attended his panto every year with his beloved grandchildren.
The Dublin presenter has fond memories of uncle Gaybo who died on Monday aged 85 following a cancer battle.
Alan, 56, told the Irish Mirror: “It’s so sad that Gay is gone, both Gay and his wife Kathleen would come to the panto every year.
“Gay would have been there this year and he was always so complimentary about it.
“Gay loved taking the grandkids, they were his pride and joy.
“I met Kathleen and his daughter Crona last week at Noel Cunningham’s book launch and I invited them to the panto.”
The former Late Late host, who shaped modern Ireland over six decades, advised Alan on the cut throat world of media, early on in his career.
Alan explained: “As Gay once said to me, no matter how popular you are, there’ll always be someone who doesn’t like you, that’s just the way it is if you’re in the public eye.”
The Virgin Media One presenter said is often ridiculed for his Dublin accent but he’s proud of his roots.
He added: “Of course there are people who are negative who’ll say will you ever get your man off the telly.
“Or he can’t speak properly, but I play up to that and say I’m very proud to be from Ballyfermot.”
The Ireland AM star is back as Sammy Sausages for the Cheerios panto Cinderella at the Royal Kilmainham Hospital, Dublin, from December 5 until January 5.
Rob Murphy reprises his role as Buffy with Jake Carter as the dashing Prince Charming.
Michele McGrath stars as the wicked witch, Ireland’s Got Talent star Paul Ryder as Sparkle and Jenny Dixon as the fairy godmother.
Alan, who has been doing Panto for 23 years, quipped: “It’s exhausting at my age, Sammy Sausages will be coming out in a zimmer frame in a few years.
“There’s kids who don’t know me from Ireland AM but they know me as Sammy Sausages.”
The telly favourite added that in the wake of the 65 redundancies announced at Virgin Media One last week, the future is uncertain and he counts his lucky stars he still has his dream gig.
He said: “We celebrated 20 years on Ireland AM recently and I’ve been on the show since the start, whoever thought 20 years later I’d still be on it.
“Redundancies are part of any walk of life, just look at all the job cuts being made around the country.
“If you’re going to let that bother you, you’re never going to get on with it.
“You can’t go into work thinking is this going to be my last day.
“I’ve a contract for another year and I’ll be there for another year whether they want me or not.
“I really want to continue doing the show, I’m really happy there.”
