Former RTÉ presenter Ryan Tubridy began his new radio show this morning, after saying he is “chomping at the bit” to get started.
The weekday radio show airs 10am to 1pm on Virgin Radio UK and is simulcast in Ireland on Q102.
Tubridy announced the move in November after his permanent departure from RTE was confirmed in August.
His departure came after a well-publicised payments scandal, leading to RTÉ suffering significant financial and reputational damage, as well as instigating a programme of cuts and voluntary redundancies at the broadcaster.
Other Virgin Radio broadcasters include Chris Evans, Graham Norton and Leigh Francis.
Tubridy kicked off the show by saying he has “so much to do and so much to say”, before playing U2’s Pride (In the Name of Love), followed by the Backstreet Boys’ I Want It That Way.
He introduced himself as someone who’s been “broadcasting in Ireland for the last 20 years” after starting aged 12 “reviewing books on the radio as a child.”
He also referenced presenting The Late Late Show as “the most lovely job in the world” but that he is now “working here, living here and loving here in London” and has received a “lovely welcome from everybody”.
He said, “I woke up this morning with a smile on my face going, I cannot wait to go to work, I cannot wait to get stuck into this year, I cannot wait to say goodbye to 2023.”
He did not reference the payment controversy at RTÉ.
He described himself as “a political anorak, bookworm, a nerd” who likes Star Trek, reading newspapers and hardcopy books.
He then spoke to Hollywood Russell Crowe, who is a friend of the presenter since he appeared on The Late Late Show.
Crowe took a break from hosting a dinner party in his home to chat to Tubridy, with his houseguests making animal sounds in the background to illustrate their rural Australian location.
The pair chatted about the dinner party menu, books, Crowe’s upcoming role as prominent Nazi leader Hermann Göring in historical drama Nuremberg and his UK and Ireland tour with his band Indoor Garden Party.
Prior to his own show, Tubridy appeared on Chris Evans’ programme to tease what listeners can expect from the new show, saying, “We’ve nice music lined up which I’m delighted about… I looked at the list and thought, ‘That could have come out of my head.’”
He also said that he will be introducing himself to UK listeners with an “Ask Me Anything” segment throughout the show.
He also acknowledged that the show is a work in progress and that the next few months would see him “testing the waters” in terms of format.
