Radio star Aisling Bonner has said she "can't wait" for RTÉ 2FM's Late Breakfast Live with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra gig next month and is also looking forward to celebrating her first Christmas with her co-hosts Roz Purcell and Carl Mullan.
The trio are gearing up for a "big Christmas blow-out" at The Helix in Dublin on 9 December, an evening that promises plenty of banter and good craic.
Win! Tickets to RTÉ 2FM Late Breakfast Live with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra
"It was kind of born from the Breakfast Show we did a few weeks ago with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra," Bonner told RTÉ Entertainment. "It was an amazing morning, and we really felt that it needed to be on a stage with a big audience. We had loads of listeners who had travelled from all over the country to RTÉ for it."
"But a morning event doesn't suit everyone, so we said, let's make this more accessible - maybe a bit bolder, with a bit more craic - and do a big Christmas blow-out with the orchestra, who are just unbelievable, and even better in person than they sound on air," she explained.
Rise, Shine, Radio
Getting up at the crack of dawn on cold autumn mornings can't be easy, but the radio pro says it's all about putting your best foot forward.
"I'm a bit of a weirdo," she laughed. "I do a little vocal warm-up before the show because I had issues with my voice a few years ago, and it also helps me wake up. I do it in a little side studio locked away and then I'm ready to rock at 6am."
The Breakfast trio have smashing chemistry, and it's clear listeners want to be part of their gang too. So, what makes their much-loved show work so well?
"It's mad! We only started in February, so we're not even together a full year yet. I can't believe it's our first Christmas together; it really does feel like we've been together ages. I had never met Roz before we did our first pilot, and I only knew Carl from social media - we'd met once or twice. We were effectively all strangers, and it's mad how quickly you gel when you're thrown into that obscure situation of being breakfast hosts."
"The magic of it is that the three of us are all really different. We all have distinct interests. Roz is famous for her love of hiking and the outdoors, and the expertise she brings there. Carl is a bit of a tech nerd and he loves his planes. I'm a freak in other ways. I love my musicals and knitting and pinball," she laughed.
She added: "That blend of all those niche interests makes for an interesting listen."
Here Comes the Bride
Excitement is in the air for Bonner, who is set to tie the knot with her American partner, Alex, next year. The couple are already planning the big day and have started ticking off the key elements of their wedding, and she is thrilled to have finally said yes to the dress!
"We're actually getting married next June, so it won't be long coming in now. We got engaged just before Christmas, and we're going to look at rings on the anniversary of the engagement. We have the main headlines sorted: the venue, DJ, photographer, and dress.
"Getting the dress was the thing that made me the most excited, because I could finally visualise what I was going to look like. I'd had this fear that I would never find a dress I truly loved. I actually had the idea that I'd rework my mam's wedding dress. But then I took it out of the attic and it was looking a bit crusty, and I was afraid to touch it in case it disintegrated," she explained. "It is a beautiful dress, but I went and tried on a few just to see what styles I might like, and the first one I tried on was the one I went with."
Game On!
Bonner is effortlessly charismatic and an absolute joy to talk to - but just when we thought she couldn't get any more interesting, the conversation took a surprising turn: pinball.
"My love for pinball was born from my relationship with my fiancé, Alex. He's American and has played pinball for many years. When he moved to Ireland, he was determined to build a pinball scene because there wasn't really one in Dublin. I've just been a passionate supporter, but I've actually gotten pretty good at it myself."
"I'm just back a few days from the Dutch Pinball Open Expo (DPO) in Eindhoven - a very weird trip," she said.
It will, of course, have to be brought into the wedding somehow? "There's going to be at least one machine at the reception, and maybe even a small tournament running alongside it," she enthused.
You can catch 2FM Late Breakfast Live with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra on Tuesday, 9 December at The Helix, Dublin.
2FM Breakfast with Carl, Roz & Aisling airs weekdays from 6-9am.
