How agreeable are you?
I never actually thought about that until you asked the question. I presume that I’m reasonably agreeable, in that otherwise I wouldn’t have people agreeing to be on the radio programme, or do various podcast interviews with me. I suspect I have a reputation for tough current affairs interviews, but that’s what’s required when I’m doing political interviews and the likes. Other than that, I would hope that, say in a work context, people find me agreeable.
What’s your middle name and what do you think of it?
Joseph. My late mother, who was from Belfast, was the youngest in a family of five. I think I was named Joseph because that was one of her brothers. It’s fine. To be honest I was given two middle names. I was also given Raphael, which I most certainly did not like.
Where is your favourite place in Ireland?
I’ve a whole load of favourite places. I left Cork city to move to Dublin in 1987 and have never lived in Cork since, but I still love going back. I love going to Connemara. I find it beautiful. I love large parts of Kerry as well, which as a Cork man I probably shouldn’t be saying, but I love places like Dingle in particular. We had many brilliant, family holidays with the kids in Dingle. Going back to my childhood as well, I loved every summer going up to Belfast.
Describe yourself in three words
Patient. Pragmatic. Hard-working.
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When did you last get angry?
I can’t remember. I don’t think I get angry too often. I get angry with stupidity in the sense that I get angry with people who don’t learn from having done things wrong. I’ll forgive everything once, but not necessarily if it’s repeated. At home I’d get annoyed rather than angry if all the dishes are left by the, now adult kids, packed up in the sink.
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What have you lost that you would like to have back?
All I can say is when something’s lost, that’s it. What’s the point in wishing for something back that you can’t have back, because then you only have too much sorrow and regret. You just have to park it and move on again.
What’s your strongest childhood memory?
I have strong childhood memories of going with my mother to Belfast in the 1970s. She used to go up every July to mind my grandmother who was very elderly. My grandmother was staying with my uncle and his family and they would tend to get out of Belfast for the 12th of July. But she wasn’t really well enough to go with them. They used to go to a caravan in Newcastle in Co Down. As a kid it was very impressionable being in Belfast at the time, at the height of the Troubles in the 1970s. My memories as a child would have been of west Belfast, and you’re aware of these British soldiers around the place, wondering “Why are they coming into the garden, when I’m up playing with my cousins?”
Where do you come in your family’s birth order, and has this defined you?
I’m an only child so clearly it has defined me. I’ve always been conscious of the fact that I didn’t have any brothers or sisters. And, as I like to joke with my children, I’ve been conducting an experiment with them to see how I will get on with having to live with so many children.
What do you expect to happen when you die?
Nothing. My only concern about it is how people that I love, or love me, will be after I’ve gone. I don’t think too much of death. I think very much of trying to live the rest of the life that I have as healthily and as productively as possible.
When were you happiest?
I’m happiest when I’m with the family. I wouldn’t say there was a period in my life when I was the happiest. I feel I’ve been very fortunate throughout my life. Obviously there have been sorrows, and there have been times when things have gone very, very wrong. But I suppose overall I wouldn’t highlight one particular part of my life as being happier than others. I’m just happy to be living it as it is now.
Which actor would play you in a biopic about your life?
Kiefer Sutherland. Although he’s probably way too small. He wouldn’t be as tall as me. I used to enjoy 24 enormously many years ago.
What’s your biggest career/personal regret?
I’m very fortunate in that I’ve had the opportunity to do all the things I’ve wanted to do. If I had a regret, I suppose, when Ivan Yates and myself did the leaders’ debate for the 2020 general election on Virgin Media. I think we possibly could have done a better job on it than we did.
Have you any psychological quirks?
I like sleeping on the right-hand side of the bed. That’s about it.
