Fair play, RTE for renewing my role
But soap star Ryan ‘always worried’ about getting the axe
BY FAIR City’s Ryan Andrews said he’s grateful his contract has been renewed in the wake of the RTE redundancy announcements.
The national broadcaster plans to reduce staff by 400 by 2028, a redundancy scheme estimated to be in the region of €40million.
Ryan, 30, has played Sean Cassidy for the last 16 years on the soap.
The Dubliner told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “I’m back for next year so it’s just before Christmas that we find out.
“People are asking me this week if I am worried about my job, but we’re always worried we’ll be killed off or sent to Galway and never come back.
“Sean could be axed in March. We are always thinking like this.
“Last week I did some filming, I hit my mark, said my lines, did my Christmas episode and I go.
“I don’t have 100% input into what’s happening with Kevin Bakhurst or the presenters.
“It is different for the actors there compared to other presenters.
“Sometimes we can be put into one big bracket that we’re all in it together, but everyone has their own things going on.”
The telly favourite, who wed long time primary school partner Michaela O’neill, in Majorca this summer laughed off suggestions that he’ll have a sexy storyline for the Christmas episode.
He quipped: “The sexiest thing you’re going to see me doing on Christmas Day is making the gravy in a Christmas jumper and a Santa hat.”
When asked for comment on the rumour that the soap might be axed, he said: “Fair City is nearly over 30 years old, it has a massive loyal fan base. In particular with Covid when Fair City stopped people realised just how much they missed it and needed it in their lives.” Outsourcing the hit show could pose problems too.
He said: “It’s filmed within RTE, all the cast and crew are RTE based I don’t really see it working.” Ryan is back as Olly in the 3Olympia panto of Olly Polly and the Magic Lamp.
He said: “Our main goal this year is to make the panto bigger and better.” ■ Olly Polly and the Magic Lamp runs from December 20, 2023 until January 7, 2024.