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The Irish Sun

‘My legs were jelly' – How unlikely RTE star triumphed on Pope special coverage with notes from backroom & no computer

DEREK Mooney has told how he thought RTE bosses were away with the birds — when they asked him to go live on the Pope's death. The Mooney Goes Wild host had been due to host a two-hour nature special on Advertisement 4 Derek Mooney was forced to abandon his two-hour nature special 4 Pope Francis passed away on the Easter bank holiday Credit: EPA 4 Pallbearers carry the coffin of Pope Francis during his funeral Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Credit: Reuters But tragedy struck minutes before they went on air on April 21 when it was announced Flanked by three wildlife experts, Derek was asked to abandon his nature broadcast and for the next two hours discuss Pope Francis' shock passing, interviewing bigwigs including Archbishop Desmond Martin and former President Mary McAleese. Derek told us: 'I don't think people could believe I was the one telling them the Pope was dead. I couldn't believe it either.' The broadcast, where the unprepared wildlife boffin was forced to abandon his nature special and cover the pontiff's death was turned into a sketch by Oliver Callan on Callan's Kicks. Advertisement READ MORE IN SHOWBIZ But the real Derek was more than up to the challenge, ad-libbing and interviewing religious experts — a task that would have challenged the most seasoned broadcasters in The wildlife host even quoted from 2019 movie The Two Popes to discuss Francis' personality. Derek told us: 'You can get an impression of someone from seeing a film. "And I knew from watching that film how the previous pope, Benedict, had been a serious fella and Pope Francis had more of a sense of joy about him.' Advertisement MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN Exclusive Latest Mooney, 58, couldn't even rely on a computer in front of him for notes, as a glitch meant he hadn't been able to log on. Trump jokes he 'wants to be pope' following Francis' death However, Derek triumphed on the Pope special, with colleagues saying he deserved some sort of award for his coverage. He said: 'I came off air and my legs were like jelly. I'd been terrified that I'd say the wrong thing. 'I thought the broadcast showed RTE in the best light because listeners got all the information they needed from the backroom team of editor Jack Murphy, my researcher Michelle Brown, broadcast co-ordinator Stephen Higgins and sound guy Niall McMonagle. Advertisement 'They just kept passing me notes into the studio about what religious expert I was interviewing next. "I did have to explain to listeners a few times why it was me, Derek Mooney, on air covering The Pope's death.' A-LIST LIFT It's a big weekend for the broadcaster, famous for his 'Byeee' catchphrase, with Mooney Goes Wild celebrating 30 years on air. Derek jokes that his knowledge of nature is better than Pope or pop. Advertisement Years ago the TV host gave Derek told us: 'It was just after Robbie left "Robbie asked if he could play me his new song, and put a cassette on in my car. 'He then asked what I thought of his new song. I told him I thought it was rubbish. It was called Angel.' Advertisement 4 Derek was tasked with interviewing former President Mary McAleese Credit: Getty Images - Getty