FORMER Prime Time presenter David McCullagh has opened up about life with his RTE journalist wife and why he decided to leave the huge chat show.
The Six One News host and his News2Day editor wife, Anne-Marie Smith have both worked for the national broadcaster for over 20 years.
David previously presented Prime Time alongside Miriam O’Callaghan from 2013 until 2020.
The TV host gave a glimpse inside his experience on the current affairs chat show during the Covid pandemic as he told RSVP: “On Prime Time, Miriam and I couldn’t be in the studio together so she presented the show on Tuesday and I did Thursday.”
He elaborated: “The idea was that if one of us went down the other would be standing.”
McCullagh waved goodbye to Prime Time in 2020 when he traded the stage to sit behind the news desk.
The popular presenter explained how he “loved” his time working on the show alongside Miriam, but noted: “Things move on.”
He added: “I had a great time on the show, I loved my time there and I loved working with Miriam O’Callaghan and the rest of the team there.
“But things move on and I have done all sorts of different jobs in my 28 years there, that is one of the great things about RTE.
“You can stay within the same company and work with the same people while moving around and doing different roles. That keeps things fresh for the individual and for the audience.”
David, Anne-Marie, and their teenage daughter Rosie are all equally interested in current affairs.
The family will often tune into the news when they wake up in the morning to keep up to tabs.
David said the family-of-three discuss politics and news “all of the time”.
However, the proud dad was unsure when asked if Rosie would ever follow in her parents’ footsteps.
He said: “I think it is a bit too early to be making decisions like that, I don’t know. I don’t think she knows either but a world of possibility awaits her.”
David and Anne-Marie met years back while they were both reporting on a story at the Children‘s Court in Smithfield.
The host joked that it was where “love stories began”.
McCullagh currently presents RTE‘s Six One News opposite Sharon Tobin.
