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A BESPECTACLED Ryan Tubridy was all smiles over the weekend as he started his new weekly column in our sister paper, the Irish Mail on Sunday, as part of his new career.
The 50-year-old DJ is giving his ‘unique’ insight into his new London life as he settles into his new flat in St John’s Wood and his three-hour daily morning slot with Virgin Radio in Britain, which he started two weeks ago.
He sensationally left RTÉ last summer in a controversy sparked by irregularities over his publicly declared pay.
Speaking of his column, the father of two girls and former host of The Late Late Show and the 9am show on RTÉ Radio
‘I was feeling nervous about it’
One said: ‘New city, new show, new beginnings, so the possibilities are endless. This weekly column means the reader can join me along the way.’
Not only did he have a busy weekend writing his in-depth tales of life in the English capital, he was also excited to welcome his daughters Ella, 23, and Julia, 17, to London.
He told listeners in the UK and on Dublin’s Q102, where the show is also aired, that he’s ‘very excited’ about his plans.
The radio host told listeners that his daughter was visiting him in his new home in London as he announced on air: ‘My youngest is in the sky on her way to see me so I’m very excited.’ The Dubliner revealed to listeners he would be making the most of the visit, buying tickets to go and see Les Misérables in the West End.
So many people have been visiting him that he revealed he had to buy a camper bed to put up all his guests.
In his column, he said before his move he had little experience of London, so he relied on his siblings’ knowledge.
‘Two of my brothers and one of my sisters lived here for long stretches so there were many visits for intense weekends of chats, pints and pubs.
He added: ‘My friends did a property search which led to checking out all sorts of flats. There were occasional times when I was walking the streets alone and feeling nervous about it all but, thankfully, they were rare moments and after scouring a few places, I found the right flat in time for Christmas. I haven’t lived in a flat since my 20s so it was all very studenty when I found myself tasked with furnishing a flat from scratch. But I am now very well acquainted with John Lewis, Argos and Mr Price.’
Tubridy credited his daughters with helping him deal with homesickness.
‘I’m loving it here,’ he said.