RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst has said that he is “really pleased” to hear that former RTÉ star Ryan Tubridy has landed a new radio job.
Speaking exclusively to the Irish Mirror just an hour after Mr Tubridy announced he was moving to Virgin Radio in the UK, Mr Bakhurst described it as a “good signing” for the station.
Mr Tubridy parted ways with RTÉ in August following months of scandal over how the national broadcaster had declared his pay.
READ MORE: Ryan Tubridy makes major announcement as he confirms next career move with UK radio station
Speaking in his office overlooking the RTÉ campus in Donnybrook, Mr Bakhurst wished Mr Tubridy well in his new role.
“I'm really pleased for Ryan,” he told the Irish Mirror. “I like him personally, I've always said I think he's talented. I thought it was only a matter of time before he found something.
“I know the people who run Virgin in the UK. I used to regulate them when I was at Ofcom so “I know the individuals there and they're a good organisation. I think it's a good signing for them and it's great news for Ryan obviously.”
Mr Tubridy’s new show, which starts on January 4, will run between 10am and 1pm. Although he will relocate to London, the show will be broadcast simultaneously on Dublin’s Q102.
This means he will enter direct competition with RTÉ Radio 1’s Today with Claire Byrne and the Louise Duffy Show. However, Mr Bakhurst played down suggestions that he should be concerned about people switching over stations.
He said: “Competition is good. Audiences need to have choice. I think competition is only a good thing.
“It makes us all raise our game a bit.” Mr Tubridy and RTÉ parted ways in August, despite work being underway to get him back on the air in September.
He and Mr Bakhurst had developed a new €170,000 contract for him to return from September.
However, negotiations fell apart when Mr Tubridy released a statement which appeared to question RTÉ’s decision to restate his earnings for 2020-2021 following the publication of a report into how his salary had been declared.
Asked by the Irish Mirror if he had any regrets about how the situation had played out, Mr Bakhurst said that he did not “think I had any choice given the events along the way”. He added: I'm pleased that he’s now got a new job.”
Mr Bakhurst told the Oireachtas Media Committee in September that RTÉ had received legal correspondence from Mr Tubridy. However, he said that there has been “nothing further” in the intervening months.
Mr Bakhurst also told the Irish Mirror that a permanent replacement for Mr Tubridy’s old 9am radio slot will be confirmed soon.
He explained: “We’re working towards it. I'm hoping we will have that resolved quite soon. “I hope [it will be by the end of the year].
“We've had some great people in that slot. I am talking to Peter Woods, the head of Radio 1 and I think we are clear now where we want to go. So we're hoping to get that resolved quite soon.”
He added that he would give “no clues” whether one of the people who has been filling in, including Oliver Callan, Brendan Courtney and Maura Durrane, will be given the role on a full-time basis.
Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
