Alan Hughes praises Virgin Media for not trying to cover up his sexuality on Ireland AM

Ireland AM celebrates 25 years on our screens today

Virgin Media star Alan Hughes has praised the station for allowing him to be comfortable with his sexuality on Ireland AM - as the show celebrates 25 years on air.

Alan was joined by fellow presenters Tommy Bowe, Muireann O'Connell, Martin King and Elaine Crowley as the morning show marks its mammoth milestone today.

The Dubliner has been hosting the show since the very beginning and Alan opened up about how grateful he is that Virgin Media bosses never asked him to hide his sexuality.

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He said: "That was a real chance for Ireland AM 25 years ago to say 'let's keep the gay thing quiet or down'.

"They would've done it in other places, like 'let's not mention'. Like 25 years ago if you were in a boy band, there was no way you would be mentioning you were gay.

"So in that respect it was really nice and they allowed me to be me and the response I've got from viewers over the years has been amazing.

"It's been brilliant," he said.

The panto star opened up about his first day hosting the morning breakfast show with Mark Cagney and Amanda Byram.

"Day one - I was on with Mark Cagney and Amanda Byram. It's so funny to look back at it and to see myself and Mark and Amanda that morning.

"I suppose there were nerves. It was a huge deal. I suppose people didn't know was it going to last a week, was it going to last a year... and here we are 25 years later. It's great, it's brilliant.

"It's a testament to the teams over the years and the way they have done it.

"Even with the variety of hosts we've had over the years, I've been the one constant," he said, laughing. "I'm still enjoying it."

He said he is addicted to the show being live.

"If it wasn't live, I don't know if I would still be here and I suppose other people leave to go off and do other things and because I've always had a dual thing with the panto so that other side of me, which I might've left to go into acting or do some stage work... because that has been running parallel for 25 years gives me the two choices so I think that kept me thinking I'm really lucky to be here and doing the other stuff as well.

"I think that is what kept me going. And I do think the 'live' thing. I think if it was a recorded show, you wouldn't get that buzz.

"The show has evolved so much. At the core of it people are tuning in in the morning to get their news, get what the weather is like because we're obsessed with weather in this country and then get a cooking slot."

Friday’s show will kick off with the top stories making the headlines, followed by a pop culture throwback to the last 25 years.

From 8am, the show’s five presenters - Muireann, Tommy, Alan, Elaine and Martin - will celebrate Ireland AM's milestone in the studio.

Joining them on the couch will be Ireland AM’s very first guest, actor Pat Shortt, along with comedian Mario Rosenstock, who will also drop by for the festivities. "The Man With Ten Siblings" Seamus O’Reilly will reunite with presenter Tommy Bowe to chat about their viral moment that took over the internet.

From the This Morning couch to the Ireland AM sofa, presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary will also join in on the celebrations.

Plus, one lucky viewer will win a trip to Las Vegas live on the show.

Speaking about the significant 25 years that Ireland AM has been on air, Director of Programming, Anthony Nilan, said: "Celebrating 25 years of Ireland AM is a true testament to the show’s enduring impact and its vital role in Irish broadcasting.

"As one of the cornerstones of public service television, Ireland AM has been committed to showcasing diverse voices and stories and we are incredibly proud of the contribution it has made to shaping and reflecting our viewers’ lives over the past 25 years."

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