The first indication that Pat Kenny would present another television programme, was on the night he announced his departure from presenting "The Late Late Show". By the time of presenting his last programme, it was announced a new current affairs programme would begin in autumn 2009. It was later announced that it would be 21 September 2009. There was a high demand for tickets, which RTÉ described as phenomenal. 4,000 applications were received for a capacity of 120 seats (originally 60 for "Questions and Answers", which was subsequently doubled). A public invitation for comments and ideas on topics was issued by the makers of the show. The first programme had guests such as Eamon Dunphy, Fintan O'Toole, Pat Farrell, Tom Parlon and Brian Lenihan, Minister for Finance. Audience members included small business people and mortgage holders. Lenihan talked about the proposed National Asset Management Agency and the purchase of €28 billion in loans from Anglo Irish Bank. As a result of cutbacks, RTÉ could only afford to spend €2 on sandwiches per audience member. The programme won "Best Current Affairs programme" at the 7th Irish Film and Television Awards on 20 February 2010. Kenny accepted the award. A special programme about the aftermath of sudden recession aired in May 2010. The programme returned to RTÉ One on 20 September 2010. For the first two programmes, viewing figures were above the programme's predecessor "Questions and Answers". The first programme had an initial audience of 464,000 viewers. Overall, the second programme reached an audience of 653,000. In November 2009, the viewership was reduced to 333,000, less than the 493,000 received by "The Apprentice" on TV3 When George Lee appeared on the programme explaining his resignation from politics on 8 February 2010, the viewing figures were at 627,000. "The Frontline" gained nearly 70,000 viewers when TV3 temporarily replaced its rival "Tonight with Vincent Browne" with UK celebrity torture show "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!" in November 2011. On 2 November 2009, Jack O'Connor of SIPTU suggested that in the 2010 budget, "a reasonable level of tax" should be placed on "Trophy Houses". Kenny responded by asking what is a trophy house. To this O'Connor responded with "A house like yours, probably." After some hesitation, Kenny quoted: O'Connor then apologised instantly. The following week (9 November 2009), during an interview with Mary Hanafin, Alan O'Brien (who has a conviction from 2006 for incitement to hatred), a member of the audience, spent three minutes accusing Kenny of "pontificating and moralising" people on social welfare, despite being in receipt of a €600,000 salary.