Ryan Tubridy has announced his next career move after leaving RTE in August.
The former Late Late Show host confirmed this morning that 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. 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.
Speaking about the move, 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!”
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.
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Ryan Tubridy could land his very own UK TV show by the end of 2024, according to Ladbrokes.
The veteran broadcaster has just announced that he will be moving across the water and returning to the airwaves with Virgin Radio UK, and the bookies make him just 2/1 to go one step further and land his very own TV show in the UK by the end of 2024.
Ladbrokes are also offering odds of 8/1 that ‘Tubs’ will follow in the footsteps of legendary Irish broadcaster Terry Wogan and host the Eurovision for the BBC in the next five years.
Bookies release odds on who might be next to depart RTE
BoyleSports make Claire Byrne its 2/1 favourite to be the next star out the door at Montrose.
Lawrence Lyons, spokesperson for BoyleSports said: “The Montrose soap opera clearly has a few more episodes to be written and with redundancies on the horizon, it’s the big hitters like Claire Byrne and Miriam O’Callaghan who could see their relationships with RTÉ hit the rocks.”
Next RTE presenter to leave?
2/1 Claire Byrne
4/1 Miriam O'Callaghan
6/1 Lottie Ryan
6/1 Doireann Garrihy
8/1 Jennifer Zamparelli
8/1 Joe Duffy
9/1 Ray D'Arcy
9/1 Tommy Tiernan
10/1 Marty Morrissey
12/1 Brendan O'Connor
14/1 Sarah McInerney
33/1 Patrick Kielty
RTE's Claire Byrne wishes Ryan well
Claire Byrne told listeners to her show: ‘We’ll all be keeping an eye on that. I wish Ryan well with his new start and new career in London.’
Tubridy simultaneously making a comeback to Irish airwaves
Ryan Tubridy will be making a comeback to Irish airwaves at the same time as he starts his new radio gig in London.
He'll be live from Virgin Radio in the UK from 10-1pm on weekdays starting in January - and the show will simultaneously air on Dublin's Q102.
Ryan will also present a dedicated Irish weekend show across Wireless Ireland stations on Dublin’s Q102, Cork’s 96FM, Live 95 in Limerick and LMFM.
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Tubridy reveals where he would like to live in London
Speaking on Virgin Radio today, Tubridy confirmed he will begin the new show on January 4 and will be relocating to London.
Ryan 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."
Tubridy says departure from RTE was like being "mugged by God in a hoodie"
Ryan Tubridy says the career move feels "serendipitous" and that in hindsight, his abrupt departure from RTE was like being "mugged by God in a hoodie" - an analogy given to him by the late Sinead O'Connor.
Speaking on the 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."
Tubridy on new career move to London - " I am desperately excited"
Ryan appeared on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio on Thursday morning to meet his new colleagues where they discussed his departure from RTE and the new role in British radio.
Speaking on the show this morning, Ryan said: "This is quite surreal, I am desperately excited. I start a new job, in a new city, a new station, in a few weeks time and I don't know where to begin!"
ANNOUNCEMENT!
— Virgin Radio UK (@VirginRadioUK) November 16, 2023
Ryan Tubridy is joining Virgin Radio!
He’ll be hosting Monday-Friday from 10am-1pm and starts with us in January
Welcome to the station #RyanTubridy @Q102FeelGood #ChrisEvansBreakfastShow pic.twitter.com/tJ6ofAaRFT
"Take a bow Mr Tubridy, you are wonderful and inspirational" - Statement from Noel Kelly Management
Ryan Tubridy's agent, Noel Kelly, released a statement on Thursday celebrating Tubridy'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."
Full statement from Virgin Radio UK on Ryan Tubridy joining the station
London, 16 November, 2023: "Virgin Radio UK today announces that star presenter Ryan Tubridy will be joining the weekday lineup on the station in the new year, broadcasting from the London studios of News UK. The star will follow The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio UK, and broadcast from 10am to 1pm, Monday to Friday. Ryan joins Chris Evans and Graham Norton on the most exciting radio station currently broadcasting in the UK. Ryan will also be broadcasting live from London simultaneously on Dublin’s Q102.
"Ryan, who most recently hosted the hugely popular Late Late Show on RTÉ 1 and The Ryan Tubridy Show on RTÉ Radio One, will be the new voice of mid-mornings on Virgin Radio UK and Dublin’s Q102 every weekday from 10am to 1pm.
"Ryan will also host a dedicated Irish weekend show which will mean that the much-loved presenter will be available to Irish audiences six days a week.
"Ryan 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!”
Wireless Ireland MD Sean Barry, comments: “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.”
