Ryan Tubridy and RTÉ reach crucial stage in talks for presenter’s return

The presenter is expected to return to his RTÉ radio slot soon.

Ryan Tubridy and RTÉ have entered a crucial stage of negotiations this weekend as talks continue regarding the presenter's potential return to the airwaves. RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst has said the discussions have entered a "delicate stage" as the national broadcaster is urgently trying to resolve this matter. “There is an urgency now to resolving this matter, and I hope we can do so in the coming week or so,” Mr Bakhurst told the Sunday Independent. Mr Bakhurst also revealed that there have been no discussions about the termination of Tubridy’s contract and that the talks are focused solely on his return to RTÉ Radio 1. "As you can imagine, this is a complex discussion and there’s a lot to consider on both sides," said Bakhurst.

"I hope to be announcing something next week or the week after."

Tubridy has been off the air since June following revelations of inaccuracies in his published payments from RTÉ. The news was followed by huge fallout around the broadcaster, culminating in highly publicised Oireachtas meetings featuring Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly in July.

Opportunities elsewhere scarce for Ryan Tubridy

[caption id="attachment_778015" align="alignnone" width="600"] (Photo: Rolling News)[/caption] While discussions are ongoing between the presenter and RTÉ about a potential return, Tubridy was reportedly on the lookout for opportunities elsewhere after the scandal broke. Reports last month suggested that the presenter was looking at the possibility of basing his career in the UK. However, according to Extra.ie, sources say that "offers of work appear to be, at best, sparse." Since the payments scandal, RTÉ has haemorrhaged nearly €3.7 million in TV licence revenue. The broadcaster was plunged into deeper trouble when it was revealed that TV licence fee revenue took another big hit in August, as figures released at the start of the month show around €900,000 lost compared to the same week in 2022.

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