RTE presenter Anne Cassin has admitted she underestimated how much of a “beast” Nationwide is.
And she revealed ex-host Mary Kennedy advised her to buy thermals and a pair of woolly socks when she first joined the show.
Anne joined Nationwide in January 2012, having previously hosted Capital D.
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She said; “I didn’t really appreciate at the time how big a beast was with its impressive history and reach.
“Mary welcomed me onto the show and added that I would need my thermals and woolly socks. Back then, I didn’t have a clue what she was on about. Now I know,” she told the Rte Guide.
Her co-host Bláthnaid Ni Chofaigh joined Nationwide three years ago following the retirement of Mary Kennedy but she never really gets to appear on screen with her show colleague Anne Cassin.
She said: "Anne and I rarely get to work together so it was lovely. I could be heading to Donegal, and Anne could be heading to Kilkenny, so a lot of stuff you do on Nationwide is on your own, with a crew.
"I have to say, the crew carry Nationwide. You meet them and you work with them for the day.
"You direct together, you are producing together, you are making decisions together, you know. They are great."
Nationwide turns 30 this year and joining the show was a different experience for Bláthnaid.
She said: "I haven't always joined an up and running production. I have usually been on a production from the beginning, so it has been different.
"I think it is probably harder to come in on a production because everyone else knows how it works, or how the system works, and I am kind of still learning it."
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