The pandemic may be keeping so many of us apart from our loved ones - but it's not getting in the way of the ongoing bromance between Marty Morrissey and Bernard O'Shea.
The two surprised more than a few people when they hit it off to such an extent that they ended up doing a TV show together - last year’s hoot of a hit, Marty and Bernard's Big Adventure.
That show saw the lads look at the concept of the modern man, and travel to New York where their eyes are opened to a world of plastic surgery, male skin care and fashion.
This time around they’re hitting our TV screens with Marty and Bernard - On the Road Again. More of that in mo. First up, a few words with Marty Morrissey - who’s also presenting Marty in the Shed on the RTÉ Player.
When asked what it was like to get back together for some more adventures with Bernard, he gave a little chuckle. Safe to say, this is a friendship that goes way beyond sharing a TV show and making eejits of each other in front of the nation.
"To be honest with you, we’re in daily contact," Marty says, without a hint of faux, showbiz bonhomie. "We don’t just meet up to do the show if you know what I mean. We’ve become close friends. He’s one of my best friends at this stage. That started on Dancing with the Stars."
"To be fair, we share similar interests," he adds. "We love broadcasting, we work in the media, we love sport - be it GAA or soccer or rugby, whatever - we’ve loads to talk about. Obviously, nowadays it’s the virus.
"I must say, he’s great company, so it’s never a bother. We get on very well and it’s great to be doing a second series with him."
Naturally enough, Marty and Bernard - On the Road Again was recorded before the Covid-19 crisis hit Ireland in March. Filming it now would have pretty much close to impossible, what with social distancing, severe travel restrictions and the like.
Looking back on it now, Marty admits that the timing of the show’s filming schedule cut things quite fine and that they were rather fortunate to get it over the line, just as the world was changing dramatically for everyone.
"We filmed this in January and February, and we only finished it off after we had to do a couple of voiceovers in the first week of March," says Marty. "Our involvement ended literally as lockdown came. We were lucky to get it done."
Since then, their lives have - like everyone else’s - changed dramatically. Nearly everyone’s at home, so many are out of work, and - most unfortunate of all - many people have lost their lives.
"Our main concern since has been family and friends," says Marty, who is currently at home in Clare, where - of course - he currently hosts his Marty in the Shed show.
"We sympathise with the people who lost their loved ones - this thing is just awful," he adds. "Maybe this programme, I would like to think, is coming at a good time. It’ll give people a breather.
"That’s all it is - a breather for an hour on a Wednesday night that will, hopefully, give people a chance to smile and just forget about Covid-19 for an hour, if they can."
Given the times that we’re currently in, it could be argued that entertainment has never been more important for people. After all, if something can take your mind off more serious matters, you can relax a little. Being entertained is a way of helping people to cope with Covid-19 and its repercussions.
"And that is true," Marty says, at the increased value of entertainment since lockdown began. "I’ve never watched so much TV in all my life. And it’s mainly news admittedly. But I also think - if I may be slightly biased, because of where we both work - I think the [RTÉ] News and Current Affairs team have been outstanding.
"From a media point of view, I think we’ve been a source of reliable information and accurate updating, and I’m very proud to be part of the newsroom, in a very peripheral way.
"As we slowly try and get back to normal - the new normal - maybe this programme will help. That’s all. At the end of the day, it’s a TV programme."
In this brand new three-part series, Marty and Bernard meet various people from a variety of walks of life, from different communities around the country, who do remarkable things for their local areas. Each week they will meet a new group, with whom they will set a challenge in order to fundraise for that group.
"The first programme is about the Ballybough GAAs for MAs," Marty explains, before outlining the central focus of Marty and Bernard - On the Road Again.
"The one thing we wanted it to be was about community. To be about Ireland. And one of the things I suggested was the GAA for Mothers and Others, as it’s called officially."
Marty first acquainted himself with the group while working on The Marty Squad on RTÉ Radio One. Without putting too fine a point on it, it would be fair to say that he was pretty much overwhelmed by these ladies. They certainly made a massive impression.
"We were looking for items, seeing who could come on the programme with us, and it was suggested that we interview the Ballybough GAAs for MAs," recalls the Bronx-born broadcaster.
"So they came across to the Croke Park Hotel for a live broadcast. I think they were supposed to be on the air for five minutes, and 20 minutes later we were still with them.
"I absolutely fell in love with them. They were just great fun. Great characters. I think the people of Ireland will love them."
Marty and Bernard - On the Road Again, 9.35pm, Wednesday, RTÉ One
