TUBS TIPPED FOR TODAY FM SHOW
SPECULATION is mounting that Ryan Tubridy will take over the newly vacant lunchtime slot on Today FM.
The former Late Late Show host is expected to announce a new role across the water with Virgin Radio UK soon.
However, industry insiders said it would only be ‘a parttime’ gig, and RTÉ’s former golden boy is intent in resurrecting his career and reputation in the wake of the hidden payments scandal.
A source told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘It’s no secret the one thing he wants is to regain what he lost, and a major part of that is his standing with the Irish public. He can’t do that from the UK; he wants to find a place on radio in Ireland.
‘The Virgin role is part-time – holiday cover and the like. Tubridy is a homebird and even his posts about living it up in the UK show he is like a fish out of water.’
One high-profile vacancy opened up this week after Today FM presenter Pamela Joyce announced she is departing the lunchtime slot at the independent station.
A radio insider told the MoS: ‘Today FM are looking for a big name to fill the lunchtime slot. Pamela Joyce is just the latest in a long line of presenters to have vacated that gig. Mairéad Ronan left, as did Fergal D’Arcy.’
The vacancy comes as
Tubridy’s stock took another tumble this week with the release of the JNLR radio listenership figures, which confirmed his old 9am slot on RTÉ Radio 1 has picked up
13,000 more listeners since his high-profile departure.
A source noted: ‘It really nails the RTÉ lie that they had to fork out megabucks for so-called top-talent. [Presenters] Oliver Callan, below, and Brendan Courtney have increased the listenership in Tubs’ former slot. So is he really missed? The figures say not.’
Sources said that while Today FM owners, Bauer Media, would be keen to tempt Tubridy, they won’t break the bank to do so.
Tubridy’s temporary departure from the airwaves may have benefitted some of RTÉ’s rivals, most notably his Late Late Show predecessor Pat Kenny, whose Newstalk show gained 26,000 listeners, bringing his total audience to 206,000 – the station’s first show to top the 200,000 mark.
A source said: ‘There were big celebrations in Newstalk HQ [after the JNLR figures were confirmed]. Kenny was crowned King of the Radio. lots of Moet was popped and downed.’
Responding to queries about Ryan Tubridy, a Today FM source said they ‘will announce a new lunch show in due course’.