TVNow

2006

The Wright Stuff

Rosaleen McMeel For TVNow caught up with Finbar Wright, on a break from rehearsals, to find out more!



What's the new show all about?

Essentially, The Irish Tenors will be performing as a trio and as soloists and also with lots of guests!  
At the top of the tree is Andrew Lloyd Webber, who is ever so elusive.  He rarely, if ever, agrees to appear 
on anything and never performs on  anything, so not only has he agreed to appear, but also to perform.  It's 
a great coup for us and we are delighted that he agreed to do it. 



Seemingly he has been aware of our success, and of course he does hve a house in Tipperary and that probably 
helps!  We will also be joined by Shayne Ward, Sharon Shannon, Paul Carrick and Paul Byrom, amongst others.



So it will be a real mix of genres as well as age groups then?

Oh absolutely, The Irish Tenors have a wide repertoire and we attract a wide audience, So the viewers will hear 
all sorts of things from Van Morrison right up to Puccini and everything in between.



Are you looking forward to it?

I am.  I always see television as though you are being invited into people's living rooms and I really do consider 
that a great privilege.  It is light entertainment: a bit of music and banter and hopefully people well enjoy it.



Although you might perform in perfect harmony, what is it really like off-stage?  Do you get along?

We get on very well.  I am happy to say Anthony and myself have known each other for a long time so there is kind 
of comfort thing tht we get from that.



We are really good friends outside of the music and Karl is new to the group, this is his first undertaking with us.  
He was a great find!  I think he will have a fantastic career and he is only 26 years old now, so it's all ahead of him



How do you think the different personalities will work onscreen?

Well we are all different, vocally and we have different personalities so it's kind of three for the price of one in 
many ways.  At least, if you don't like one, you may like one of the other two.  There is someone for everyone!



You have performed on countless television shows both here and abroad, did you pick up any tips along the way?

Well one thing I learnt is that you must treat the camera as a person - if you are looking into a camera lens you must 
be very conscious of them as your audience. So you have to, as they say, 'make love to the camera,' metaphorically 
speaking of course!



Is there a presenter that you really admire or hope to emulate?

The obvious person is Gay Byrne.  My first great opening in the business was on the Late Late Show and they have continued 
to support my career over the years.  I have seen countless presenters around the world, the Jay Lenos and the like, but I 
don't think any of them would compare to him in his intimacy with his audience and asking unusual questions.



You have managed to achieve so much already, is there anything left on your "To Do List'?

There is plenty!  One of my great loves in life is gardening and if you are into that then you never see an end to it, 
that's the beauty of it.  There is always another season and something else to be done.  And it's the same in the music 
business.



Lastly, do you ever take time off?

I don't have a lot this year! When we finish this, we are getting ready for our summer tour of the United States and we 
are already taking bookings into 2008!  It really has been great, so long may it continue.


MOVE OVER PAT KENNY...



Riding high on their enormous success, The Irish Tenors - Finbar Wright, Anthony Kearns, and Karl scully - are set to 
host a brand new TV show.  and not a group todo things by half, they are taking over the slot previously occupied by 
The Late Late Show!



Summertime is never a good time in television. Usually it heralds the end of many of our favourite shows, a list of 
re-runs and made for TV movies that do little to keep us entertained.

However, all this is about to change. The good people at RTE have been busy putting together a brand new entertainment 
show which not only promises to entertain but will undoubtedly delight audiences of all ages!



This new show is the brainchild of Bill Hughes the producer behind the hugely successful Celebrity Jigs N Reels. Now he 
has combined top Irish musical talent in the form of the world-renowned Irish Tenors, who have conquered audiences all 
over the world, with a chat show.  Together, they will present a musical and entertainment feast in a ten-part series.



Backed by many of Ireland's finest musicians The Irish Tenors, Anthony Kearns, Finbar Wright, and new member Karl Scully, 
will perform songs from the trio's enormous crowd pleasing repertoire of Irish classics, popular standards, showtunes, and 
light opera.



The Tenors will also be joined by leading Irish and international musical guests, including the ever elusive Andrew Lloyd 
Weber who, despite his resistance to public appearances, is making a very compensation to work alongside The Irish Tenors.



Having sold out the world's most famous concert venues like Madison Square garden, The Sydney Opera House, and radio City 
Music Hall, the Irish Tenors have brought audiences to their feet.  The fact that there are at the heightof their entertaining 
powers will undoubtedly result in a instant audiences for this unique entertainment show. For thoe who hae yet to discover the 
reason for this trio's enormous success, then be sure to tune in, you won't be sorry. 

TVNow Magazine