Final of quiz series replaced by `Simpsons'

The final programme in the Network 2 television quiz series Challenging Times, advertised to be broadcast at 7 p.m. last night, was replaced at short notice by an episode of The Simpsons. It was discovered the programme had already been broadcast on May 23rd.

The programme producer, Mr Mick McCarthy, said he was told about this for the first time on Tuesday evening.

He was also told that programme number 11, a quarter-final in the series, which was scheduled to be broadcast on April 25th, did not go out because of the Andorra versus Republic of Ireland match that evening. It has not been broadcast since.

The final programme was number 15. Mr McCarthy said that on this occasion at least he had been told about the mistake. Last year a programme in the series was broadcast out of sequence and no one then or since had spoken to him about it.

Ms Paula O'Gorman of The Irish Times, who organised the series, said she had been told yesterday of the mistake by Mr McCarthy.

Mr Kevin Myers, presenter of the programme, said no one had been in contact with him about the matter.

He said he was not surprised at RTE in this regard. He said that on the last day of filming, about four weeks ago, he had been casually informed it was the last programme and the series was to end after 10 years.

He has not received any official notification, however.

Personnel at RTE's Public Affairs Department were unaware of the mistake when contacted last night, nor were the station's executives.

Managing Director Television Mr Cahal Goan said last night he was "embarrassed" that such a thing could happen and would be investigating it "as a matter of urgency".