The Meaning of Life

The story

The Meaning of Life is an Irish television programme, the first series of which was broadcast on RTÉ One in 2009. It is presented by the veteran broadcaster Gay Byrne. Each episode involves Byrne interviewing a well-known public figure. The series is broadcast each Sunday night at 22:20.

In 2010 The Meaning of Life returned for both a second and, later, a third series. Interviews with former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and actors Gabriel Byrne and Brenda Fricker during the second series attracted media attention when they spoke of their religious habits and child sexual abuse respectively.

Gay Byrne appeared on The Late Late Show on 18 December 2009 to discuss the programme.

A fourth series soon followed. Then a fifth series from January 2012. And a sixth in October 2012. And a seventh in January 2013.

The seasons

Season 1 Season 1 2009 · 6 episodes Season details＋

April 19, 2009

A synopsis is not available yet.

Season 2 Season 2 2010 · 6 episodes Season details＋

Jan. 17, 2010

A synopsis is not available yet.

Season 3 Season 3 2010 · 6 episodes Season details＋

Sept. 26, 2010

A synopsis is not available yet.

Season 4 Season 4 2011 · 6 episodes Season details＋

March 6, 2011

A synopsis is not available yet.

See all seasons (13)

Season 5 Season 5 2012 · 6 episodes Season details＋

Jan. 8, 2012

A synopsis is not available yet.

Season 6 Season 6 2012 · 5 episodes Season details＋

Oct. 7, 2012

A synopsis is not available yet.

Season 7 Season 7 2013 · 7 episodes Season details＋

Jan. 6, 2013

A synopsis is not available yet.

Season 8 Season 8 2013 · 5 episodes Season details＋

Oct. 6, 2013

A synopsis is not available yet.

Season 9 Season 9 2014 · 6 episodes Season details＋

May 4, 2014

A synopsis is not available yet.

Season 10 Season 10 2015 · 6 episodes Season details＋

Jan. 25, 2015

A synopsis is not available yet.

Season 11 Season 11 2015 · 6 episodes Season details＋

Sept. 27, 2015

A synopsis is not available yet.

Season 12 Season 12 2016 · 6 episodes Season details＋

Jan. 10, 2016

A synopsis is not available yet.

Season 13 Season 13 2016 · 6 episodes Season details＋

Oct. 16, 2016

A synopsis is not available yet.

Cast

G Gay ByrneSelf S Sinéad O'ConnorSelf C Colin FarrellSelf G Gerry AdamsSelf M Maeve BinchySelf R Ronan KeatingSelf N Neil JordanSelf G Gabriel ByrneSelf T Tommy TiernanSelf B Brenda FrickerSelf B Bertie AhernSelf M Mary RobinsonSelf

See more cast

E Edna O'BrienSelf T Terry WoganSelf F Fionnula FlanaganSelf D Deepak ChopraSelf I Ian PaisleySelf M Mícheál Ó MuircheartaighSelf D DanaSelf M Michael ParkinsonSelf B Brendan O'CarrollSelf M Mark Patrick HendermanSelf B Brian CodySelf M Martin SheenSelf B Ben DunneSelf A Andrea CorrSelf P Paddy MoloneySelf S Shay CullenSelf R Richard BransonSelf B Bob GeldofSelf M Mary ByrneSelf M Mary McAleeseSelf N Noel GallagherSelf S Seán GallagherSelf N Niall QuinnSelf N Norah CaseySelf C Colm TóibínSelf J J. P. DonleavySelf J John LonerganSelf M Maureen GaffneySelf M Maria Doyle KennedySelf C Christina NobleSelf B BonoSelf C Colm WilkinsonSelf E Emily O'ReillySelf P Peter McVerrySelf C Celine ByrneSelf I Imelda MaySelf M Majella O'DonnellSelf R Rory O'NeillSelf S Seán O'SullivanSelf E Eamon DunphySelf D David PuttnamSelf E Enda KennySelf C Cecelia AhernSelf S Stephen FrySelf B Barry McGuiganSelf M Mary BlackSelf C Charles SpencerSelf R Rowan WilliamsSelf H HozierSelf J Joan BurtonSelf D Diarmuid GavinSelf R Richard DawkinsSelf S Stanislaus KennedySelf E Eckhart TolleSelf R Ruby WaxSelf A Anna May McHughSelf D Dolores KeaneSelf J Jonathan SacksSelf E Eoin ColferSelf P Peter SutherlandSelf J John SheahanSelf G Garry HynesSelf A André RieuSelf J Joanne O'RiordanSelf U Umar Al-QadriSelf C Charles John BrownSelf