The Best Episodes of The Meaning of Life

Every episode of The Meaning of Life ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Meaning of Life!

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

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Meaning of Life Season 1 Episode 1 - Colin Farrell
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #1 - Colin Farrell

    S1:E1

    Gay talks to action film hero Colin Farrell about what has shaped his beliefs about faith, spirituality and the bigger questions about life.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. The Meaning of Life Season 1 Episode 2 - Gerry Adams
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    #2 - Gerry Adams

    S1:E2

    In a remarkably revealing interview, Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein President talks to Gay Byrne about issues of personal faith and morality and how they have impacted on his role within the Republican movement.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. The Meaning of Life Season 1 Episode 3 - Maeve Binchy
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    #3 - Maeve Binchy

    S1:E3

    Gay Byrne talks to Maeve Binchy about the big questions of life and death and gets some unexpected answers.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Meaning of Life Season 1 Episode 4 - Ronan Keating
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    #4 - Ronan Keating

    S1:E4

    Singer-songwriter and charity campaigner Ronan Keating talks with Gay Byrne about the events which have shaped his life and beliefs.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. The Meaning of Life Season 1 Episode 5 - Sinéad O'Connor
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    #5 - Sinéad O'Connor

    S1:E5

    Singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor talks about the impact that her religious upbringing had on her life and the evolution of her spiritual beliefs.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. The Meaning of Life Season 1 Episode 6 - Neil Jordan
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    #6 - Neil Jordan

    S1:E6

    Oscar-winning writer and director, Neil Jordan, tells Gay Byrne that he doesn’t see himself as religious… and yet he believes he’s seen proof that there’s an after-life.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Meaning of Life

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  8. The Meaning of Life Season 2 Episode 1 - Gabriel Byrne
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    #7 - Gabriel Byrne

    S2:E1

    Gay talks to actor Gabriel Byrne about his ongoing struggles with depression and alcohol and about the many events which have occurred across his life which shape his beliefs.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. The Meaning of Life Season 2 Episode 2 - Tommy Tiernan
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    #8 - Tommy Tiernan

    S2:E2

    Gay talks to controversial comedian Tommy Tiernan about the strong role religion and spirituality play in his approach to life and comedy.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. The Meaning of Life Season 2 Episode 3 - Brenda Fricker
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    #9 - Brenda Fricker

    S2:E3

    Gay Byrne talks to Oscar award-winning actress Brenda Fricker about acting and fame and the depression that has crippled her for so much of her adult life.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. The Meaning of Life Season 2 Episode 4 - Bertie Ahern
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    #10 - Bertie Ahern

    S2:E4

    Gay talks to former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern about how Catholicism influenced his approach to political and personal events in his life.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. The Meaning of Life Season 2 Episode 5 - Mary Robinson
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #11 - Mary Robinson

    S2:E5

    Gay Byrne talks international human rights ambassador Mary Robinson about how her experiences of the world have both challenged and enriched her faith.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. The Meaning of Life Season 2 Episode 6 - Edna O'Brien
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    #12 - Edna O'Brien

    S2:E6

    Gay Byrne talks to writer Edna O'Brien, who in her 80th year, reflects on the way her turbulent life has shaped her religious beliefs and personal values.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. The Meaning of Life Season 3 Episode 1 - Terry Wogan
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #13 - Terry Wogan

    S3:E1

    Gay Byrne interviews fellow veteran broadcaster Terry Wogan about his thoughts on ageism, religion and a life which has had its highs and lows, its moments of tragedy, laughter and success.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. The Meaning of Life Season 3 Episode 2 - Fionnuala Flanagan
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    #14 - Fionnuala Flanagan

    S3:E2

    Emmy and IFTA-winning actress, Fionnula Flanagan, reveals to Gay Byrne how her moral compass owes much more to her ex-communicated, alcoholic revolutionary father than to the nuns who educated her.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. The Meaning of Life Season 3 Episode 3 - Deepak Chopra
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    #15 - Deepak Chopra

    S3:E3

    Gay Byrne talks to prolific author and spiritual guide Deepak Chopra about his beliefs and influences.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. The Meaning of Life Season 3 Episode 4 - Ian Paisley
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #16 - Ian Paisley

    S3:E4

    Gay Byrne talks to Ian Paisley about his beliefs and influences.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. The Meaning of Life Season 3 Episode 5 - Micheal O'Muircheartaigh
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    #17 - Micheal O'Muircheartaigh

    S3:E5

    Gay Byrne meets legendary sports broadcaster Micheál Ó Muicheartaigh.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The Meaning of Life Season 3 Episode 6 - Dana
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #18 - Dana

    S3:E6

    Gay Byrne talks to Dana about her beliefs and influences.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. The Meaning of Life Season 4 Episode 1 - Michael Parkinson
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #19 - Michael Parkinson

    S4:E1

    In the chair is Gay’s long-time friend and former colleague, Sir Michael Parkinson. The two of them worked together in the early days of Granada TV, including the night The Beatles made their television debut. Paul McCartney asked Parky for his autograph… for his Mum. The band also asked the young Gay Byrne to manage them. He said ‘No’!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. The Meaning of Life Season 4 Episode 2 - Brendan O'Carroll
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    #20 - Brendan O'Carroll

    S4:E2

    Brendan O’Carroll tells Gay Byrne, the man who discovered him, how much his TV character Mrs Brown owes to his Mum, an ex-nun, pioneering Labour T.D. and widowed mother of eleven.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. The Meaning of Life Season 4 Episode 3 - Abbot Mark Patrick Henderman
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    #21 - Abbot Mark Patrick Henderman

    S4:E3

    The Abbot of Glenstal is a paradox: a priest who never wanted to be a priest, who freely describes the Church to which he has given his life as "a dinosaur". Expect the unexpected, as Gay asks him life's big questions.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. The Meaning of Life Season 4 Episode 4 - Brian Cody
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #22 - Brian Cody

    S4:E4

    Kilkenny GAA legend, Brian Cody tells Gay Byrne why he's never been tempted to leave the faith - or for that matter, the county - of his upbringing.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. The Meaning of Life Season 4 Episode 5 - Martin Sheen
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #23 - Martin Sheen

    S4:E5

    On a day when his son, Charlie, appeared to be committing career suicide, Martin Sheen spoke to Gay Byrne with remarkable openness about his family, his faith and his film career - three strands which come together in his latest movie, The Way.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. The Meaning of Life Season 4 Episode 6 - Ben Dunne
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #24 - Ben Dunne

    S4:E6

    Even before the Moriarty tribunal had branded his behaviour "profoundly corrupt", Ben Dunne admitted to Gay Byrne he'd been "a complete eejit" in his past dealings with politicians. His colourful life has included several brushes with death, an IRA kidnapping and a chequered relationship with Charlie Haughey. He reveals how it was the infamous events in a Florida hotel room that put him on the road to redemption.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  26. The Meaning of Life Season 5 Episode 1 - Andrea Corr
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #25 - Andrea Corr

    S5:E1

    Gay interviews singer and actress Andrea Corr, who discusses the challenges she has faced in developing a career as a solo performer, her happy childhood in Dundalk filled with music and starting The Corrs when she was 15.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Colin Farrell" is the best rated episode of "The Meaning of Life". It scored /10 based on 0 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 4/19/2009. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Gerry Adams".