RTÉ comeback for Ryan Tubridy? Inside the rumours of a summit with Kevin Bakhurst | Irish Independent
Flor Lynch
The reverberations from his departure are still being felt in RTÉ.
The new schedule kicking off this morning on RTÉ Radio 1 is influenced by the fallout from the Ryan Tubridy payments scandal. In the new belt-tightened era in Montrose, stars have departed and presenters haven’t had their contracts renewed as RTÉ hierarchy make it clear the “talent” are merely hosting the shows – not running the show.
But amid the upheaval in Donnybrook, word has emerged of a warming of relations between the prodigal son and the bosses who sent him into exile.
The Dublin 4 grapevine says Ryan Tubridy and director general Kevin Bakhurst met up in recent weeks.
Read more
The gossip is that the summit between the former Late Late Show presenter and the RTÉ chief allegedly involved a coffee and a chat.
“Bakhurst is having cups of coffee with Tubs, so purgatory may be temporary,” a source said.
RTÉ management adopted a relatively stony silence when asked about the purpose of the meeting, choosing to neither confirm, deny or clarify the encounter.
“RTÉ has no comment,” a spokesperson said.
Tubridy’s representatives in Noel Kelly management did not respond to queries.
RTÉ chief Kevin Bakhurst. Photo: PA
The reunion is thought to be the first proper conversation since Tubridy’s ignominious departure in the wake of the infamous Renault barter account deal affair.
Tubridy had been paid sums of €75,000 by RTÉ on top of his declared salary. When the existence of the payments were revealed in 2023, RTÉ was plunged into crisis.
A ripple effect uncovered all manner of issues from the ill-fated Toy Show: The Musical, to €5,000 worth of flip-flops, and Marty Morrissey’s loan of a car for five years.
Tubridy was initially benched due to the controversy. And relations with Montrose management soured as he hit back during his appearance before an Oireachtas committee.
Ryan Tubridy as he launches 'The Bookshelf with Ryan Tubridy'. Photo: Evan Doherty
Later in the summer of scandal, though, Bakhurst decided to end contract talks with Tubridy – and dumped the star. The sticking point was the €150,000 paid to Tubridy – for two promotional events that did not take place – and the presenter’s insistence the money did not amount to a salary top-up.
Bakhurst felt the presenter had not accepted his fair share of the blame in the scandal.
After Tubridy’s departure, Bakhurst said he wanted the money back and the presenter said he intended to pay it.
This summer, two years after the scandal erupted, Tubridy repaid the €150,000 to his former employer with little fuss.
The RTÉ director general did always leave the door open to talking to the fallen star about projects in the future.
Tubridy was shocked he wouldn’t be returning to the national broadcaster’s airwaves and moved to London to become a presenter with Virgin Radio UK, along with his three-hour show simulcast on Q102 in Dublin.
But he is continually back in capital city attending events and hosting his weekly podcast, The Bookshelf with Ryan Tubridy, where he interviews authors.
Tubridy is not back in favour to be included in the new RTÉ radio schedule and nor has he featured in the reshuffle at Newstalk. But he still has a significant profile and cachet as a TV and radio presenter.