Actor Colin Farrell is to appear on the first Claire Byrne Live show to discuss the issue of same-sex marriage.

The programme will have a range of guests and audience members from all sides of the debate live in studio to discuss the topic of same-sex marriage as well as a live interview with Dr Sharon James of Coalition for Marriage who campaigned against the introduction of same-sex marriage in the UK.

Farrell recorded the interview with Claire via satellite link from LA and it will be his first broadcast discussion on the issue.

The Irish actor, whose brother Eamon is gay, is a supporter of same-sex marriage.

He recalled the bullying his brother Eamon experienced growing up.

“I remember him coming home with blood on his shirt, and he got plenty of beatings and he got just called names continuously... so he had a very, very, very tough time, a lot of cruelty, like real, absolute shameful cruelty that was placed upon him.”

Referendum

Farrell said he felt it was unfair that his brother had to marry his partner Stephen Mannion, in Canada.

“To see them every day live their lives as a happily married couple is an amazing thing, and to think that they had to leave their own country to do that is sad and disappointing and just grossly unfair, I feel.”

He also gave his support to the same-sex marriage referendum and said it would be an important step for Irish society.

"I carry Ireland with me everywhere I go, and I love my country deeply. This is my coming out of the closet, as it were, publicly and saying that I support this vote with every fibre of my being."

Claire Byrne Live is a new hour-long current affairs TV programme which will broadcast on Monday nights at 10.35pm from January 19th on RTÉ One and RTÉ News Now.