After 14 years as host of The Late Late Show on RTE, Ryan Tubridy will stand down.
Ryan, 49, described hosting the national institution as a “honour” and stated that he will be leaving at the end of the current season.
The radio DJ has welcomed celebrities like as Derry Girls star Jamie-Lee O’Donnell, albeit she was not pleased when he repeatedly questioned the Teen star her age.
Announcing his departure, Ryan said: ‘As I reflect on my time at the helm, I realise that we experienced extraordinary times as a country in that period.
‘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,’ he said.
Ryan also hosted the Late Late Toy Show, which collected millions of euros for children’s charities around Ireland.
Emma Watson, the actress of Harry Potter, even made a surprise visit on the show, exchanging a meaningful message with Hermione Granger fan Caitriona Kalogeraki, 10.
Caitriona raises awareness of autism, with The Little Women actress, 32, branding her ‘an amazing young woman.’
‘I will especially miss the yearly craziness of the Toy Show, and while millions of people got to witness the hundreds of youngsters who made it onto the live programme, I saw a lot more hopeful singers, messers, dancers, and musicians during auditions around the country,’ the presenter said.
‘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.’
Mr Tubridy’s radio show will continue to air on weekday mornings.
‘I will continue on the radio show which I love and will talk about other projects in the future that will embrace my love of books, history and Ireland but that’s for another day. For now, we have exciting plans for the remaining shows this season,’ he said.
Dee Forbes, RTE’s director general, congratulated Tubridy for his “enormous devotion” to the long-running show.
‘The Late Late Show is a TV sensation both at home and abroad that continues to have a particular place in Irish life,’ Ryan says.
‘He had big shoes to fill, but he has made the show his own over the past 14 years,’ she said.