RTE star Marty Whelan has opened up about the "scariest time of his career" as he prepares for the Eurovision Song Contest.
The Winning Streak host left RTE to join Century Radio, but the station collapsed in 1991, leaving the popular host without a job.
Marty said he was fortunate telly chiefs in RTE had "no axe to grind" and welcomed him back – but claimed radio bosses were "another matter".
READ MORE: Marty Whelan says he 'gets no grief' for Eurovision commentary gig and has no plans to retire
He said: "The evening that Century died in 1991, I was very unsure of what I was going to do and that was the scariest time in my career. Had I burned all my bridges and what happens now? My daughter Jessica was only a baby, a little thing, and I really didn’t know what to do.
"I remember walking along the beach in Portmarnock figuring out what I was going to do.
"Fortunately, I was blessed that there were individuals (in RTE) on the television side who had no axe to grind, who were good to me.
"Radio was another matter and that took years to get on board."
As Wild Youth prepare for their bid for the Eurovision on Tuesday night in Liverpool with their song, We Are One, Marty reflects on his own relationship with the annual song contest.
"I’m like the person at home on the couch, wanting to have a bit of craic. It is the biggest music event of the year, whether you like it or not.
"And on the night, there is always an act, or two, that are complete and utter lunatics and I love it for that.
"It was big in our house as it was in many houses," he told The RTE Guide.
Marty said if Ireland ever got the chance to host it again, he would love to play some part on screen.
"If we ever get to host it again it would be nice to play some part on screen."
Marty also opened up about the prospects of retiring as he turns 67.
"I don’t want to retire, and I have no intention of retiring. If I stop now, could I survive financially?
"Yeah, I could, not as fabulously as I do, but I’d be grand.
"But I love what I do, and I have loads of energy so why stop?" he added.
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