RTE broadcaster Brenda Donohue has revealed she made a major blunder in her career while visiting the set of The Jerry Springer Show.
The much-loved radio presenter spoke to Dublin Live about a trip to Chicago that could have completely changed her life. When reflecting on her career, Brenda admits that she could have pushed herself harder.
She said: "I probably should have pushed harder for myself. I was too interested in living....my ambition wasn't huge. I was enjoying what I was doing. I was more interested in partying to be honest with you."
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"Trying to find the space to develop yourself - that's down to you. It's not down to any big organisation, it's down to you. But then life takes over and your in this kind of ham sandwich of kids, job, in-laws, out-laws, parents and you're kinda going 'I shoulda, I coulda...'"
"Particularly in the heyday when I was doing a lot of television, I should have probably pushed harder."
The popular reporter, who currently works on the Today Show, went on to speak about an incredible missed opportunity that could have changed her life.
"I had one amazing opportunity when I was in Chicago. I went over to the Oprah Winfrey show..." explains Brenda.
"In the studio next door Jerry Springer was being recorded....so I was going around asking people in the audience have they got a Jerry Springer secret
"I didn't know at the time that Oprah Winfrey's partner Stedman was watching me. So he called me aside and he said 'You've got something. I think you could be really big. Here's my card. Where's your card?' I didn't have a card."
And then Brenda reveals her massive blunder - "I lost his card. And then I went home and just told it as a story. But I never followed it up."
While Brenda says she has no regrets, she admits that she was "careless in my own potential"
The mum-of-three, who has worked as an RTE reporter for over 30 years, made her name working along side Gerry Ryan on his hit 2FM radio show. She has done lots of TV over the years but says her true passion will always be radio: "I think radio is like my first love. You'll never get over it. It's in my heart."
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