Leo Varadkar and partner open up about 'next step' in first interview as couple
Leo Varadkar and his partner Matthew Barrett joked about taking the 'next step' in their relationship by appearing together on a podcast. During the light-hearted conversation, they reflected on Eurovision's connection to the LGBTQ+ community, memora
Leo Varadkar and his cardiologist partner Matthew Barrett shared a light-hearted moment suggesting they've taken the "next step" in their relationship by featuring together on a podcast.
The ex-Taoiseach and Matt talked up their love for Eurovision on the Eirevision podcast, hinting at a new chapter in their life, as they done their first interview together.
Joking about what signals a step forward in a relationship, Matt quipped during the interview: "We're finally taking the next step in any couple's relationship". Laughing, he added that that after moving in together, hitting the podcast scene was the natural progression: "It's the next logical step. We got the house together and it's finally time to do a podcast!"
Leo, who earlier this year handed over the reins as Taoiseach and leader of Fine Gael, couldn't help but chuckle over how often the Eurovision popped up in unexpected moments throughout his political journey.
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He recounted one such occasion: "It does come up because it's the kind of thing you can talk about," he explained, before diving into an anecdote involving the former Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) leader who was once Angela Merkel's potential successor, and her neighbour, Eurovision star Nicole.
This quirky incident he shared happened at a conference in Bavaria. Leo said: "The person who was supposed to succeed Angela Merkel, but she had to resign the leadership, it didn't quite work out for her - one of her neighbours was Nicole [Seibert] from Ein bichen Frieden. It was a weird thing to come up at a conference in Bavaria, you know, talking to the person who was then the leader of the CDU", reports RSVP Live.
Varadkar also delved into Irelands Eurovision strategy, expressing his view that the Late Late Show hosting our Eurosong contenders isn't exactly showing them in their best light. He stated: "I just think the Late Late Show studio one or studio two isn't the place to do it. I don't think it does justice to a really good song, and then that's the images that go out for the first couple of weeks.
"It would be nice for a stage maybe somewhere different like the Helix or a different venue where you can actually do a much more impressive stage show. I remember back in the day there was a national song contest, and that's how we picked our winner, and you'd have a different song maybe from every county or something like that."
The conversation also touched on the link between the Eurovision and the LGBTQ+ community. Leo commented: "Definitely in the last 10 or 15 years it's become much more of an LGBT phenomenon."
Matt added: "I think about it [as] more of a general sort of voice of the oppressed and everybody equal on an international stage."
Leo also shared his favourite Eurovision winner was Celine Dion, while Matt chose Linda Martin. Matt said: "Just because her post-Eurovision career has just been hilarious and iconic. She's just a real treasure. She's got an enduring relevance particularly amongst gays and people who are fond of good TV."
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