Ryan Tubridy’s new radio deal could see the broadcaster take home €100k a year.
The former Late Late Show host – who once earned over half a million euro with RTE – announced he is joining UK station, Virgin Radio as a presenter.
He will start a new show on January 4. It will follow The Chris Evans Breakfast Show and broadcast from 10am to 1pm, Monday to Friday.
READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: RTÉ DG Kevin Bakhurst gives his opinion on Ryan Tubridy's new job announcement
Tubridy will also host a dedicated Irish weekend show meaning he will be on air to audiences six days a week.
The show will broadcast live from London and air simultaneously on Dublin’s Q102.
But an insider said Tubridy isn’t well known to UK audiences, and it is believed the star cut a deal that sees him earning no more than €100k – a stark contrast to his days as RTE’s highest-paid presenter for several years.
"His profile just isn’t big enough in the UK, but he could be taking home between €70k to €100k. It’s great for him though.
"He will really have to start from the bottom and work his way to the top again."
His pal Chris Evans earns over £2million, according to the BBC's latest figures. He tops the list of talent earning mega-bucks working at the station.
Speaking about the move, a clearly elated Tubridy, 50, said: "I couldn’t be more excited to start this new chapter. New city, new stations, new beginnings. I love radio and what a joy to be back. It’s been a pleasure getting to know my new friends at Virgin Radio, all of whom have been warm, engaging and very entertaining. It will be great to be back on the radio in the UK and across Ireland.
"And big thanks to the London Irish who have made me feel so welcome in recent weeks. On a personal note, this is a big day for my wonderful family who I hope to make proud, and also the people who advised me so well recently and got me to this moment.
"To the listeners, wherever they may be, I urge you to join us on this adventure every weekday morning - and across Ireland at the weekend. There is much fun to be had!"
Speaking on Virgin Radio on Thursday, Tubridy confirmed he will begin the new show on January 4 and he will be relocating to London.
He said he has a few things to sort out before he starts with the new job and he has not yet decided where to live in London.
He received a number of suggestions from the Virgin Radio crew on the show, including Primrose Hill and Hampstead Heath, but Ryan said he had a few preferences as to the type of area he was looking for.
Ryan said: "I've been looking around, people have said Putney.... I like a little village feel, [some bookshops], a nice pub."
But he opened up about his abrupt departure from RTE in June, saying he felt like he was being "mugged by God in a hoodie" - an analogy given to him by the late Sinead O'Connor.
He has been off since June 22 after controversy surrounding undisclosed payments to the broadcaster.
In August, RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst ended negotiations with him over his return to his Radio 1 show, saying trust had broken down between the two parties.
Speaking on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show, he said: "When things happen in your life that can be a bit curious and a bit weird, you can have a bumpy time... and about two weeks before she died, Sinead O'Connor got in touch with me and she said 'How are you doing?'
"I said, 'I'm doing great' and she said, 'You know in life you think things have gone weird?' and I said 'Yea' and she said, 'You just get mugged by God in a hoodie'.
"I said 'You'll have to explain that to me'. She said, 'Well you're kind of beaten up by this guy who steals your wallet and punches you in the face [you think it's awful] and he walks away, takes the hood down and it's a really nice person - or God - and he goes 'You're welcome because you needed that to happen.'
"So I think being mugged by God in a hoodie is not a bad thing and that mugging has brought me here today."
His former colleague Claire Byrne was among the first to wish him well.
Claire Byrne told listeners to her RTE Radio One show: "We’ll all be keeping an eye on that. I wish Ryan well with his new start and new career in London."
The announcement comes after months of speculation over his next career following his dramatic departure from RTE earlier this year.
He had fuelled speculation that a move to the UK could be on the cards in recent months, with high-profile visits to London.
Tubridy's agent, Noel Kelly, released a statement celebrating his client's move to UK radio.
In the statement, NK Management said: "The wait is finally over and we are now delighted to share our exciting news.
"Ryan Tubridy has joined the Virgin Radio UK team.
"Ryan’s show will air live from London at 10am until 1pm every weekday, following the legendary Chris Evans’ breakfast show and it will be broadcast in the UK and Ireland.
"We are incredibly proud of Ryan. His talents, strength, professionalism and resilience are to be applauded.
"Take a bow Mr Tubridy, you are wonderful and inspirational."
The bookies are already speculating he will land his own TV show by the end of next year.
Ladbrokes are offering odds of 2/1 for Tubs to go one step further and land his very own TV show in the UK by the end of 2024 and 8/1 that he will follow in the footsteps of legendary Irish broadcaster Terry Wogan and host the Eurovision for the BBC in the next five years.
Wireless Ireland MD Sean Barry, commented: "Ryan is the biggest broadcaster in Ireland, a peerless professional and much-loved by his legion of Irish fans. He will be the perfect mid-morning companion on Q102. And his exciting new weekend show will be broadcast exclusively on Q102, Cork’s 96FM, Limerick’s Live 95 and LMFM. He will be an enormous hit with Wireless Ireland’s audiences."
EVP, President of News Broadcasting, Scott Taunton, said: "Ryan is a star in Ireland and I’m delighted we are able to create a destination for those loyal fans, as well as a UK-wide platform across Virgin Radio UK. Ryan joins a stellar line up at Virgin Radio, as we continue to invest in the very best talent across News Broadcasting."
