About this season
The Meaning of Life is an Irish television programme, the first series of which was broadcast on RTÉ One in 2009. It is presented by the veteran broadcaster Gay Byrne. Each episode involves Byrne interviewing a well-known public figure. The series is broadcast each Sunday night at 22:20. In 2010 The Meaning of Life returned for both a second and, later, a third series. Interviews with former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and actors Gabriel Byrne and Brenda Fricker during the second series attracted media attention when they spoke of their religious habits and child sexual abuse respectively. Gay Byrne appeared on The Late Late Show on 18 December 2009 to discuss the programme. A fourth series soon followed. Then a fifth series from January 2012. And a sixth in October 2012. And a seventh in January 2013.
Episodes (6)
1. Ruby Wax
Aired 10 January 2016 • 26 min
Scandalous, irreverent and hilarious, Ruby Wax shares her take on life with Gay.
2. Anna May McHugh
Aired 17 January 2016 • 27 min
Anna May McHugh, matriarch of the National Ploughing Championships, shares her love of all things rural and agricultural and her deep faith with Gay Byrne.
3. Dolores Keane
Aired 24 January 2016 • 27 min
One of Ireland’s most loved singers, Dolores Keane shares her fight against alcoholism, breast cancer and depression and her joy in music making with Gay Byrne.
4. Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
Aired 7 February 2016 • 27 min
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, author of ‘Not in God’s Name’, condemns those who kill in God’s name and says religious leaders need a new message of peace and tolerance.
5. Eoin Colfer
Aired 14 February 2016 • 27 min
International bestselling children’s author, creator of Artemis Fowl, soon to be a major movie, Eoin Colfer gives his take on the ‘meaning of life’ to veteran broadcaster, Gay Byrne.
6. Peter Sutherland
Aired 6 March 2016 • 27 min
The late Peter Sutherland, UN Special Representative for Migration, dubbed “the father of globalisation” joined Gay Byrne to discuss his take on the Meaning of Life.