Navan comedian explains his licence to shock

Gay Byrne has chosen an often controversial guest on his old Late Late Show for his 'The Meaning Of Life With Gay Byrne' on RTE this Sunday night. He will be discussing the topic with Tommy Tiernan, the Navan native comedian who caused controversy with his references to Jesus and the Church on the primetime show over the years. In programme two of the new series, Byrne talks to Tiernan about the strong role religion and spirituality play in his approach to life and comedy. Tiernan hit the headlines - again - last summer with what were perceived as horrifically anti-semitic remarks. To Gay Byrne, who knows him well, this outburst was mystifying, since he doesn't imagine for a moment that Tiernan espouses those obnoxious views. The comedian sets out to explain why, in his view, the stage gives him not only a licence, but a sacred duty, to say the unsayable, whatever the consequences. Religion proves a surprisingly strong element in his make-up. The programme airs on RTE 1 on Sunday 24th January at 10.30pm.