Tommy Tiernan 'knocks it out of the park' with show on Saturday night but many viewers have one complaint

Tommy Tiernan with Bradley Walsh on Saturday night

Tommy Tiernan ‘knocked it out of the park’ with the latest instalment of his popular talk show on Saturday night, with viewers flocking to social media to praise his interviews with three very different guests.

The Chase presenter and actor Bradley Walsh was followed by opera singer, Celine Byrne, before Inner City GP Austin O’Carroll brought the curtain down on a show that earned gushing reviews from viewers on X (formerly Twitter).

However, the absence of a studio audience was a recurring criticism online, despite some arguing that this contributed to a more intimate feel on the set.

Tommy’s interview with Bradley Walsh was brimming with laughter as the two funnymen exchanged anecdotes, but the Gladiators host became more poignant and personal when discussing his son, Barney.

He described working with Barney, who is also an actor and TV host, as the “greatest thing”.

“In 2006, I was in a pantomime in Milton Keynes and I needed a sidekick in the show and my son, at the age of seven or eight, played my sidekick,” Bradley recalled.

“Running down for the curtain call every night with my son, taking a bow, was the greatest thing I had ever done, and it still is today.”

He described his son as “the person I always wanted to be”.

“Bradley Walsh was an absolutely cracking guest on the… show,” one man wrote on social media afterwards. “Literally could have chatted the whole night.”

Another remarked that the banter between Tommy and Bradley made them “a great duo”, while a woman said she “loved listening to Bradley Walsh”, adding that he “comes across so laid back”.

Chatting to Celine Byrne, Tommy discussed the power of prayer as the singer explained that she prays often and at one stage even considered becoming a nun.

However, Tommy opened up and revealed that he had turned to prayer at one point in his life when he was distraught and desperate for “peace”.

He described praying fervently while his problem persisted for around a month, but in the end said it had done “nothing”.

“Absolutely loved the interview with Celine Byrne – loving her voice and getting to know Celine, not just as a performer, but as a beautiful person,” wrote one viewer. “Wow, just loved this interview.”

Another person admired that she was “not afraid to stand up for her beliefs and religion” on the show. “Such an amazing woman,” another woman added.

People also praised Tommy’s final guest, Dr Austin O’Carroll, as a “thoroughly decent and humane man” as he spoke about the difficulties experienced by people in Inner City Dublin.

“[Tommy] knocking it out of the park again with Dr Austin O’Carroll interview,” wrote one impressed viewer. “Not another interviewer fit to lace Tommy’s shoes.”

The only complaint that people appeared to have on social media was the absence of a studio audience, which one person claimed made the show feel like “a rehearsal”.

“Love [Bradley Walsh],” wrote another person. “Flat without those cheering, clapping people,” they added.

One viewer disagreed, however, arguing that the show is thriving without people in the studio. “The conversations are intimate, uncomfortable, almost like you shouldn’t be eavesdropping. Great stuff,” they said.

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