Former television producer Larry Masterson dies aged 73

Larry Masterson, who produced many of RTÉ’s flagship entertainment programmes including The Late Late Show, has died aged 73.

He died on Sunday with his family by his side in Blackrock Hospice in Dublin.

Masterson was one of the most established and respected producers in television. Apart from RTÉ, he produced shows for TG4, Channel 4, the Discovery Channel, Learning Channel and Travel Channel.

In the 1970s, when the Dubliner was a young student at University College Dublin, he was one of the group of people who set up the Simon Community in Ireland.

Masterson began his career as a social worker. Producer Noel Smyth invited him onto several RTÉ programmes as a panellist, resulting in a move into media. He then went on to enjoy a 50-year career in the industry, producing many of RTÉ’s flagship entertainment TV shows.

He worked with some of the biggest household names in the country – his work with Mike Murphy on The Live Mike and Murphy’s Australia were among the highlights. After two seasons of The Live Mike, they did the famous candid camera with Gay Byrne in Trinity College.

Masterson went on to set up MD Productions with Seamus Deasy and Mike Murphy.

He was a nature lover, and programmes such as his Waterways series with Dick Warner were particularly important to him.

He produced several major TV chat shows for RTÉ, including ones hosted by Miriam O’Callaghan, Brendan O’Connor, Daniel O’Donnell, Pat Kenny, Mike Murphy, and Ryan Tubridy.

Masterson retired as Executive Producer of The Late Late Show in May 2017.

His close friend John McColgan told RTÉ: “Larry was a much-loved, much-respected producer who was always great company. He is beloved by his friends and colleagues. Everyone who met Larry loved him.”

Masterson is survived by his wife Hazel and his daughters Kerri and Tara.