He's cultivating a reputation as Ireland's most formidable interviewer – and Tommy Tiernan wowed audiences again tonight with a trio of powerful conversations.
Viewers were blown away as author Marian Keyes opened up about the highs and lows of a life in the spotlight, hailing Tommy for his sensitive manner and ability to tackle tough themes.
The Limerick woman talked writing, drinking and botox with refreshing candour, gently prodded along by her twinkly eyed host.
On social media, one hailed her as "refreshingly honest", while another called the conversation "adorable".
"Brave and honest" was the conclusion another viewer drew from an interview that saw Tommy open up about his own mother's death by suicide.
The tweet that summed up the public's response read: "Jesus, the rawness and utter brilliance of @Tommytiernan getting to the human core of @MarianKeyes with sensitivity and respect.
"Then to the botox story, struggle, life and experience. Brilliant interview. The realness of it."
After the show, 57-year-old Marian tweeted: "Ah LADS Thank you for all your incredible loveliness, I had the very BEST of times having the chats with the beautiful human being that is @Tommedian."
"I felt we could have talked forever. A heartfelt go raibh míle MÍLE maith agaibh."
Marian wasn't the only guest to leave a lasting impression on viewers, though – musician Dave Balfe stunned the TV audience with an incredible interview filled with pregnant pauses and tear-jerking moments.
Dave held nothing back as he opened up on the loss of his best friend, an event so demonstrably awful that he struggled to find the words to describe it.
Seconds that felt like hours ticked by as Dave stared into his lap, amid an interview that left readers gobsmacked with its authenticity.
"Tommy Tiernan is the master of silence," one onlooker wrote on Twitter. "Sometimes that's all that's needed."
After the interviewer, Dave closed out the show – which was a darker watch than other weeks – with a virtuosic performance of For Those I Love.
