After a decade at the helm of one of Ireland’s most beloved television programmes, Ryan Tubridy has announced that he will be stepping down as host of the RTÉ Late Late Show at the end of the year. The news has received mixed reactions from fans of the show, many of whom have grown to admire Tubridy’s unique brand of charm and wit over the years. However, despite the sadness that many feel at the departure of Tubridy from the show, one person who has been quick to praise the presenter is the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar. In a statement released earlier this week, Varadkar commended Tubridy for his contribution to Irish broadcasting, and acknowledged the profound impact that he has had on the nation’s cultural landscape.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has paid tribute to Ryan Tubridy’s “considerable contribution to broadcasting” after he announced that he will step down as The Late Late Show host this summer. Mr Varadkar declined to speculate on who might succeed to the Friday night hot seat, but he praised the role of the show as an important information service and significant charity fundraiser. He also declined to comment on whether a woman should be appointed as his successor, stating that he wanted to recognise Ryan Tubridy’s 14 years of service presenting the show.
Ryan Tubridy, who turned 50 in May, is the third full-time presenter of The Late Late Show, which has been broadcast on RTÉ since 1962. He took over from Gay Byrne, who presented the show for 37 years before retiring in 1999, and Pat Kenny, who hosted the show for ten years before Tubridy took over in May 2009.
In his statement announcing his departure, Tubridy said it had been “a privilege to host the national institution that is The Late Late Show for the last 14 years” and thanked the “tremendous teams of producers, researchers, crew and executives who have done the hard work to keep the show on the road over the years”. He made particular mention of his time at the helm of the show during the Covid-19 crisis, saying: “During the pandemic particularly, the viewing figures bear testament to the fact that many families across Ireland tuned in as we tried to make sense of it all. In a time of massive disruption and fragmentation of media and fake news, trust matters and I hope The Late Late Show offered that over the years.”
Tubridy stressed that he would maintain his role presenting his morning radio show on RTÉ Radio One and spoke positively about his future plans, which will include more time with his family and making documentaries about his favourite topics. He also expressed gratitude to the Irish public for their support and generous donations to the Late Late Toy Show and Covid-19 appeals, which raised over €30 million for good causes in total.
RTÉ Director-General Dee Forbes thanked Mr Tubridy for his “enormous commitment to The Late Late Show during the seven years I have had the privilege to work with him”. She praised his ability to create a unique connection with children and audiences all over Ireland, and beyond, and credited him with transforming the Late Late Toy Show into a national event celebrating Irish children and the most popular television programme in Ireland every year. RTÉ’s Director of Content, Jim Jennings, praised Tubridy’s passion for The Late Late Show, saying he had been a fantastic custodian of the programme for the last 14 years.
The announcement of Tubridy’s departure has sparked speculation about who will replace him. The Late Late Show is a cultural institution in Ireland, and the role of the host is highly visible and influential. RTE has not yet announced who will succeed Tubridy, but it is expected that a decision will be made later in the summer.
Many people have called for a woman to be appointed as the next host of the show, arguing that it is time for greater gender balance in Irish broadcasting. Several women have been mentioned as potential candidates, including Miriam O’Callaghan, who has hosted the programme on several occasions, and Claire Byrne, who currently presents RTÉ’s flagship current affairs programme, Claire Byrne Live. Others have suggested that the next host could come from outside RTÉ or from a more diverse background to reflect changing societal attitudes in Ireland.
The discussion about who will replace Tubridy is a reflection of the wider debate about gender and representation in Irish broadcasting. While progress has been made in recent years, there is still a long way to go to achieve full gender parity and inclusivity in the industry. The Late Late Show has been an important part of Irish popular culture for almost 60 years, and whoever succeeds Tubridy will have a significant responsibility to reflect and shape the values and attitudes of Irish society in the years to come.
In conclusion, Ryan Tubridy’s departure from the Late Late Show after 12 years at the helm marks the end of an era for Irish television. His commitment to broadcasting, his creativity, and his passion for the Irish arts and culture have been instrumental in shaping the show and its impact on Irish society. The Taoiseach’s recognition of Tubridy’s contribution to Irish broadcasting reinforces the host’s importance to the country’s cultural landscape. While we’ll miss seeing Tubridy on our screens every Friday night, we wish him all the best in his future endeavors and look forward to seeing what the next chapter of Irish television holds.
