New IFTAs host Caroline Morahan is confident that the upcoming awards ceremony will not be a repeat of last year’s “shambles”.
The awards, now in their 12th year, are returning in less than two weeks and the actress is jetting home from LA to present the evening.
The former Off the Rails star follows in the footsteps of Laura Whitmore and Simon Delaney, who were met with a lot of criticism after 2014’s ceremony which was described as a “shambles” at the time.
Subsequently RTE axed the show and this year we’ll have to tune in to TV3 to get our IFTA fill.
But Caroline doesn’t seem too worried about last year’s mishaps and told EVOKE.ie that this year things will go much more according to plan.
‘‘It must’ve been a tough gig for Simon Delaney and Laura Whitmore,” she commented, “but that won’t be a problem again. This will have a special feel to it, in a more intimate space.”
She added: “It was unfortunate what happened last year with the technical problems or the sound, but it forced the issue and I think it was really smart to divide the show into two. That needed to happen.”
When asked about what approach she’ll be taking to her presenting on the night, Caroline said she’d be opting for the witty route – and will try and emulate Tiny Fey and Amy Poehler!
“I’m up for it all – you have to be funny and shake people up a bit, having that mixed in with all the important stuff of honouring people and their achievements. I want to put my own stamp on things.”
The actress also revealed that she could thank her role in She Stoops To Conquer for bagging her the gig, and for giving her the comedic flair she’ll need on the night.
“I don’t doubt that it helped me in being approached for this hosting job. People got to see another side of me, in a comedic part, and that’s always a good thing”.
“I love what Tina Fey and Amy Poehler do with the Golden Globes, I really admire them”, she added.
Despite the pressure, Caroline says she’s very much looking forward to the gig.
“It’s a huge animal because of the prestige of it and there are so many elements, but I’m very excited about it,” she said.
“It is a big responsibility being at the helm of a show like this and we’re going to get stuck in with production meetings at the end of the week.”
The IFTAs are taking place next Sunday the 25th in The Mansion House, and TV3 will be airing the awards the next day.
