I waited two weeks after Ryan left then put my hat in the ring for the job
Brendan Courtney admits he’d love to be the new host of Tubridy’s old radio show
SEASONED presenter Brendan Courtney has confirmed he has officially thrown his hat in the ring to take over Ryan Tubridy’s coveted RTÉ 1 radio slot.
Courtney – regarded as one of the leading contenders to replace Tubridy – has already stood in as host of the 9am weekday slot at various times over the past two years.
He told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘I was actually on that week when Ryan was fired. It was a crisis. Look, everybody knows what happened, so myself and Oliver [Callan] were covering as things were rumbling on.
‘I just went in like a good boy, put my head down, didn’t question anything, took the brief.
‘At the same time I felt great empathy for everyone working
‘I just went in like a good boy, put my head down’
here.’ He admits staff at the station were shell-shocked as the gravity of the controversy over the hidden payments to Tubridy hit home at Montrose.
‘Everyone felt it, everyone carried it around with them. But every single one of the people working there carried on and did the absolute very best they could.’
Courtney has fronted a wide variety of shows on television and radio over the past two decades, and has garnered a reputation as a hardworking and popular presenter.
And when Tubridy’s slot suddenly became vacant, he was determined to pitch for the role.
He told the MoS: ‘So what I did – and I haven’t told anybody this – I did go to the [RTÉ] head of radio and I said: “I want to put my hat in the ring.” I’ve been covering [on the 9am slot] for two years. I think people have gotten to know me and like me.
Many times I’ve been told people notice when I do the show because it goes well, and I’m a little bit of a breath of fresh air. That’s the phrase they use.’ He said he ‘waited about two weeks’ after it was announced Tubridy would not be returning before making his pitch.
‘Basically, I was told that lots of other people had also expressed interest.’
Despite the controversy over the hidden payments scandal and its financial impact on the cashstrapped national broadcaster, Courtney has only warm words for his former RTÉ colleague.
‘I do know Ryan, and I’m terribly fond of him, and he’s only ever been really generous to me,’ the presenter and fashion designer said. ‘We’ve had a couple of texts.
‘I know Ryan and I’m terribly fond of him’
When it all happened, I just wanted to wish him well and I know the horrible situation this is for him to be in.’
He praised Tubridy’s ‘boundless’ energy and generosity, adding: ‘I have a massive respect for him I think he’s honestly one of the best TV broadcasters in the world.
‘I watched his career as I was coming up and I think he’s very inspiring.’