Ray D’Arcy has slammed rumours that his Saturday night TV show is getting the axe but the RTE star has admitted he has lost sleep over his radio ratings in the past.
The veteran broadcaster is taking a break from our screens for the summer as comedian Tommy Tiernan brings his show to Saturday nights on RTE One for an eight-week stint.
But D’Arcy took aim at false rumblings that his rating winning show faced the chop.
Ray, 54, told the Irish Mirror: “There’s no question mark over my show coming back.
“A Paper never refuses ink, they have to dream up some story, they add two and two and come out with five.
“As we all know two and two equals four and I’ll be back in September and I’m really looking forward to it.”
The Kildare native added: “We had a great season, we were up on the year before, the only entertainment show on RTE that was up in the ratings.
“Everybody was really happy with it and right to the end it was very strong.”
The veteran broadcaster started in radio and TV some 31 years ago, and despite his longevity in the business he admits he feels insecure.
He explained: “You never feel secure, I’m very insecure in what I do, you go from contract to contract depending on somebody liking what you do.”
The star revealed how he often lost sleep over the radio ratings over the years.
He said: “We have the JNLR results every three months.
“It’s scary, it’s only recently that I stopped losing sleep the night before, I guess it comes with age and you think what will be will be.”
RTE Radio 1’s The Ray D’Arcy Show takes the show on the road this June as Ray heads up a new campaign encouraging people in their communities to get out and get active.
The dad-of-two stepped out yesterday (Tuesday) to launch Run with Ray.
Over five days from June 10, Ray will be broadcasting from Cork, Limerick City, Wexford, Co. Kildare and Dublin from 3pm to 4.30pm.
Ray will then unplug and join the start line with runners in each community as they sign up to run alongside the star.
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Speaking at the launch yesterday, Ray said: “When I go for a run and you feel lithe and athletic and you think ‘I like this feeling.’ I go for five or six runs a week.”
“I’m an evangelist for running because it’s so simple, I don’t know what I’d be like if I didn’t run, I’m probably slightly addicted which isn’t healthy.
“I get a bit grumpy if I don’t get a run in.”
