LIVELINE host Kieran Cuddihy has challenged former Newstalk colleague Ivan Yates to a live on-air debate after the PR consultant dismissed the RTÉ radio program as a “barbecue” that treats guests like “pinballs,” thesun.ie reported. The clash unfolds ahead of the IMRO Radio Awards in Kilkenny, where Cuddihy is nominated for Speech Broadcaster of the Year.
The Radio Debate Challenge in Kilkenny
The public feud escalated after Yates admitted he explicitly advises his media-training clients to steer clear of phone-in radio broadcasts. Yates, a 66-year-old former broadcaster and government minister, runs a communications coaching business whose past clients include failed presidential candidate Jim Gavin. Cuddihy responded directly to those criticisms by defending the unscripted nature of his afternoon RTÉ show.
“I think it’s a testament to Liveline that you can’t control the message,” Cuddihy told thesun.ie, adding that he would welcome Yates onto the airwaves to debate the format. “Honestly I’d be more upset if Ivan Yates’ advice was ‘go on Liveline, you’ll be able to get your point across and come out smelling like roses’.”
Yates criticizes mainstream Irish broadcasting as interchangeable
Beyond the format of afternoon call-in shows, Yates turned his criticism toward mainstream Irish broadcasting as a whole. Ahead of the radio awards ceremony, the media trainer claimed that RTÉ Radio and Newstalk have become interchangeable, creating an insulated “mono-culture” that fails to connect with everyday audiences.
“I think the two stations have come together in terms of their items, like the items are the same,” Yates said. He pointed to mainstream programs hosted by Claire Byrne and David McCullagh, arguing that a left-of-centre, nanny-state worldview dominates contemporary media while dissenting voices have been pushed aside.
Yates releases new book and rules out daily broadcasting return
The remarks coincide with the release of Yates’s new book, The Game of Life and How to Win it, published by Gill Books and priced at €19.79. The volume compiles life lessons and survival advice gathered from prominent figures across politics, sports, and the arts.
Despite his ongoing commentary on the media industry, the former politician maintained that he has no intention of returning to a daily broadcasting career. Instead, he continues his work as a private communications coach, drawing on decades of personal experience and public controversy.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Broadcaster Feud
What triggered the public dispute between Kieran Cuddihy and Ivan Yates?
The conflict began when Ivan Yates criticized Liveline in an interview with thesun.ie, calling the show a “barbecue” and advising his PR clients to avoid phone-in radio programs entirely. Kieran Cuddihy responded by challenging Yates to a live on-air debate to defend the program.
What is Ivan Yates’ current professional role?
Yates works as a communications coach and media trainer for public figures and high-profile clients, following his departure from full-time radio and television broadcasting. He recently published a book titled The Game of Life and How to Win it through Gill Books.
Which radio awards ceremony coincides with this story?
The war of words between the former Newstalk colleagues precedes the IMRO Radio Awards in Kilkenny, where Kieran Cuddihy holds a nomination for Speech Broadcaster of the Year.
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