The first indication that Pat Kenny would present another television programme, was on the night he announced his departure from presenting
The Late Late Show. By the time of presenting his last programme, it was announced a new current affairs programme would begin in autumn 2009. It was later announced that it would be 21 September 2009. A public invitation for comments and ideas on topics was issued by the makers of the show. Lenihan talked about the proposed
National Asset Management Agency and the purchase of €28 billion in loans from
Anglo Irish Bank. As a result of cutbacks,
RTÉ could only afford to spend
€2 on sandwiches per audience member. The programme won "Best Current Affairs programme" at the
7th Irish Film and Television Awards on 20 February 2010. Kenny accepted the award. The programme returned to RTÉ One on 20 September 2010. In November 2009, the viewership was reduced to 333,000, less than the 493,000 received by
The Apprentice on
TV3 When
George Lee appeared on the programme explaining his resignation from politics on 8 February 2010, the viewing figures were at 627,000.
The Frontline gained nearly 70,000 viewers when TV3 temporarily replaced its rival
Tonight with Vincent Browne with UK celebrity torture show ''
I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!'' in November 2011.
Incidents On 2 November 2009,
Jack O'Connor of
SIPTU suggested that in the 2010 budget, "a reasonable level of tax" should be placed on "Trophy Houses". Kenny responded by asking what is a trophy house. To this O'Connor responded with "A house like yours, probably." After some hesitation, Kenny quoted: O'Connor then apologised instantly.), a member of the audience, spent three minutes accusing Kenny of "pontificating and moralising" people on
social welfare, despite being in receipt of a €600,000 salary. Then referring to a
previous court case involving Kenny, he concluded by saying, "Now I am going to sue an old woman for a field because I feel I might make a million or more." After being removed by security, the programme continued. Days before the
2011 presidential election, a debate was held between the candidates on
The Frontline. A tweet was read out by Pat Kenny which caused
Seán Gallagher, ahead on opinion polling, to falter on live television.
Michael D. Higgins subsequently won the election. A member of Gallagher's campaign team described it as an "earth shattering" moment for Seán Gallagher. Gallagher later took RTÉ to court over its role in the sabotage of his election campaign. During the debate held on 21 May 2012 concerning the
Irish European Fiscal Compact referendum, Pat Kenny got down on his hands and knees and shouted at a farmer in the audience to shut up. He also promised a debate on the CAP "in January"—scheduling of which would have occurred two months after it was announced that
The Frontline had been axed. ==Reception==