LAST UPDATE | 16 Mar 2023
RYAN TUBRIDY WILL step down as host of The Late Late show at the end of the current season, RTÉ has announced.
Tubridy took over presenting duties from Pat Kenny in 2009.
Speaking today, Tubridy said: “It has been a privilege to host the national institution that is the Late Late Show for the last fourteen years.
“To the viewers, I am so grateful for the loyalty you have shown to the Late Late Show, week in, week out.
“Not only did you raise €30 million for Irish charities, including over €15 million for children’s charities all over the island that are particularly close to my heart, but you showed incredible generosity of spirit for which I am profoundly grateful.
“I was often touched by the kind comments of viewers stopping me on the street or at the supermarket on a Saturday to say ‘thank you’ or ‘well done’ for highlighting an issue that affected them or their families on the previous night’s show.”
Tubridy also thanked his family “who stood by me every day of every week, year in, year out.”
He added that he will “especially miss the annual chaos of The Toy Show”.
Tubridy will present his final Late Late Show on Friday 26 May on RTÉ One.
“When you know, you know.” ❤️#LateLate pic.twitter.com/MLh45CQioE
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) March 16, 2023
He will however continue to present his radio show on weekday mornings from 9.00am – 10.00am on RTÉ Radio 1.
RTÉ has not yet made any decision regarding the next presenter of the Late Late Show, but said an announcement will be made later in the summer.
RTÉ Director-General, Dee Forbes said thanked Tubridy for his “enormous commitment to the Late Late Show”.
“The transformation of the Late Late Toy Show into a national event celebrating Irish children and the most popular television programme in Ireland every year is testament to his talents as a broadcaster and his ability to create a unique connection with children and audiences all over Ireland, and beyond,” said Forbes.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1’s Today with Claire Byrne programme, Tubridy said he could “give 50 reasons” for his decision to leave but the “most soulful” one was that “when you know, you know, and I know”.
You know when you’re at a party and you’re really enjoying it? I’m at that party still but I’m reaching into my pocket and I’m ordering a taxi.
“I don’t want to be sticking around when someone is turning off the music and lights and going, you’re still here?” he explained.
He said he made his decision through “lots of long walks and talks with myself”.
The presenter described the impact that his 14 years as the face of the programme has had on his life and his family’s lives.
“When you’re The Late Late Show presenter, you belong to a lot of people, whether it’s on the street or in the pub of the coffee shop.
“That’s part of the joys of it when you’re the guy, but when you’re the family of that person, it’s always tricker, and I think another five or ten years of that would be punishment for them.”
He thanked former presenters Gay Byrne and Pat Kenny for doing “such a great job of keeping the show going” and the viewers of the show, particularly for contributions to fundraisers in recent years during Covid-19 and for children’s charities.
“Irish people are extraordinary, even in the middle of a crisis,” he said.
Reflecting on his time on the show, he said he has met “standout people like Vicky Phelan and Adam King and Saoirse Ruane and more recently Charlie Bird”.
“People who’ve moved the country and been selfless. Catherine Corless comes to mind immediately, a gentle, kind historian who changed the world through persistence and and dignity and diligence.”
Presenting the Toy Show was “like being Santa Claus’ ambassador on earth”, Tubridy said, describing how children’s jaws would “drop on the ground” when they spotted him in public.
He confirmed that he intends to continue presenting his daily morning radio show on RTÉ, but that he has no intentions of ever coming back to The Late Late Show.
“You can be very much more yourself on radio than you can be on TV,” he said.
I’ve hit that lovely point in my life where I know what I want and I like what I know and I know that I’ve done as much as I can with The Late Late Show, but I’m really excited about the next bit.
“What I would love to do – I’ve got so many ideas. I love books, history, politics, Ireland, museums, travel – combining these things into programmes, documentary. I’d love to write again. I’d like to go back to academia part-time.
“I’ll never be bored.”
Additional reporting by Lauren Boland
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