Gaybo's too nice to say he told them sop, but he did

THE king is back; can autumn be far behind? There was Gay Byrne, all bonhomie and charm, striking poses amid the roses, relaxed, lightly tanned, ready for the fray.

Can talk radio be far behind? Afraid so. Gaybo is too gracious to say I told you so but, speaking about RTE Radio 1's new schedule, he remembered.

"Five years ago when I ventured to say there was too much talk Ion RTE Radio II from eight in the morning until after Marian [Liveline] 1 was beaten about the head." Some newspapers wrote: "Gaybo, shut up and go back to work." One carried an editorial along the same lines, he said. And now there is silence.

He was at the Guinness Hop Store in Dublin yesterday for the media introduction of 33 women who will take part in the Rose of Tralee contest next week.

RTE management had approached him to go back five days a week at 9.10 a.m., but he quoted the movie mogul Sam Goldwyn: "You can include me out".

He understood perfectly why they wanted him - "someone" - across the week. Now, "Pat [Kenny] is doing that." He is "enjoying my four days off" (radio). So the king of Friday's (talk show) men, who will still produce and host The Late Late Show every Friday night, shall reign over the radio waves on just Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

For ever and ever? "We'll see how it goes." He believes the new programme, which is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. each day, will carry many of the elements of the Gay Byrne Show, although it will be lighter in tone. This is also the approach for the programme to be hosted by Gareth O'Callaghan on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Gareth was there too yesterday, posing for the cameras with the king.

Gaybo agreed, modestly, there would never be another Gay Byrne in Irish broadcasting, such is the continuing fragmentation of radio and TV in this country. "I was just the right guy in the right place at the right time," he said. "I've had a wonderful, wonderful career."

But he doesn't want to retire. He hopes "they will keep on giving me work". The thought of idle retirement does not appeal to him - "it would drive me to drink."

He feels "sorry for Moya [Doherty] and John [McColgan]." They're good people." They won the franchise for a new national radio station. He believes it is god ing to be "tough" for them. "RTE has to compete with the independents, but they will have to compete with the independents and RTE."

Meanwhile, The Late Late Show will be 35 years old next year, the longest running and most successful TV chat show "anywhere", and with the same producer and presenter. Last year was a very good year, we were never out of the top three ITV programmes," he observed.

But while Gaybo continues with his brilliant broadcasting career, he has stepped down as compere of the Rose of Tralee contest: a bit like Hamlet without the Prince. He will be replaced by Falstaff.

He had to withdraw last year due to illness. He thought then he was "coming to the end of my days. That I was popping my clogs. The Roses, Derek, were not high on the list of priorities."

"He told me not to do it," interjected Derek Davis, with a laugh.

No, he has no advice for Derek, he needs advice from nobody."

But Gaybo will be a judge at the contest this year. He has all the essential credentials for being a judge, too. "In my 17 years as compere I always got the winner wrong," he said.

Generally though, he feels the Rose contest has become "more standardised". He misses "the characters and weirdos of the early years and he blames the presence of the same old faces on selection committees for this. He believes it is "to the detriment of the show". But it must go on next Tuesday and Wednesday on a TV set near you.