He Talked The Line
To some, Liveline presenter Joe Duffy is the nation's unofficial agony uncle, a voice for the disaffected and downtrodden. But the programme’s ‘open mic’ policy has landed it in controversial waters on more than one occasion. As his extremely personal autobiography is published, the host of RTÉ Radio’s No.2 programme accuses Trinity College of elitism, talks about the crusade against head shops, discusses his brother’s addiction and hits out at David McSavage's send-up of Liveline.
Olaf Tyaransen, 30 Nov 2011
Yeah, I’d do anything, I’d do any telly. Now I’ve been dropped from telly in the last few weeks (laughs). I did a live programme for three months every year on a Sunday evening called Spirit Level, which I loved, and I primarily loved it because it was live. Now it was from the religious affairs department, but I was told the other day it’s gone because of cutbacks, which is a great pity. So I’m available for live television for any station, Olaf, any station.
What’s been your greatest achievement?
Being here I suppose (shrugs). Your greatest achievement is your kids, isn’t it? Without a shadow of a doubt. I’m not from a background where you lie back looking at the stars and say, “My greatest achievement is…” You know, you don’t. I’m always dogged by the Larry Mullen question. Larry says to himself, “When am I gonna be found out?” He says, “I don’t know sometimes if I’m a good drummer. I don’t know if I’m the best drummer, and I don’t even know sometimes if I’m the best drummer in the band!” You know the story I tell in the book, about the fella I was in college with who was away in Sweden for years and he rings his mother and says, “What’s Joe Duffy doing now?” and the mother says, “He just answers the phones in RTÉ.” You live in that insecurity, but then you ask yourself, “Hang on, Joe, if you’re so worried about insecurity, why are you in this job?” There’s no grand plan. There has never been a grand plan.
Do you have a motto in life?
You’re never as good as critics say you are, and you’re never as bad as critics say you are. I think the biggest downfall for people in our business is hubris, believing your own publicity. So don’t lose the run of yourself.
Just Joe: My Autobiography by Joe Duffy is published by Transworld Ireland.
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