RTE’s Sinead Kennedy revealed she has been labelled a “foghorn” and a “constipated duck” by her TV colleagues in the past.
Opening up about the struggles and insecurities that come with working in the cut-throat TV industry, the seasoned Winning Streak host, 36, said she has learned to accept she will never be everyone’s cup of tea.
The Cork-born presenter, who cut her teeth with the broadcaster more than 17 years ago, explained: “Over the years you get told different things.
“Like maybe you shouldn’t laugh like that.
“Somebody once compared it to a foghorn and a co-presenter said I sounded like a constipated duck.
“And I’m like, ‘I know it’s the most horrendous noise but it’s me’. You get told things you need to work on.
“I know that you’re never going to be everybody’s cup of tea and I’m fine with that.
“But there will come a time when someone will say ‘We don’t want you presenting any more’ for whatever reason, whether it is my age or my accent or my laugh.
"So I’ve always been thinking about the long game, about what else I want to do.”
Speaking to RTE Guide, Sinead added: “I have a thin skin. I’m getting better over the years but it has taken a long time to get used to rejection.
“But there are only certain things you can change about yourself. So I’m trying to live by the mantra ‘What’s for ya won’t pass you’.”
After spending months in lockdown in her native county, Sinead, who has a Master’s degree in psychology, has now returned to Dublin.
She is working on a new radio documentary based on the darker side of human behaviour, as well as preparing to launch a brand new magazine style TV show with Kevin McGahern called Summer At Seven.
And while Winning Streak remains on furlough, the host is also getting the ball rolling on a TV documentary on dementia.
Meanwhile, Sinead said she has no idea when Winning Streak will be back.
She added: “Because the audience is such an integral part of Winning Streak, we really can’t manage without them.”
