Tubridy to return to Cork airwaves in the new year

After a rocky few months where he was caught up in the RTÉ payments scandal, the star will now be joining the weekday lineup on Virgin Radio UK in the new year, broadcasting from the London studios of News UK. The show will be broadcast simultaneously on Dublin’s Q102.

Ryan will follow 'The Chris Evans Breakfast Show', from 10am to 1pm, Monday to Friday, starting in January. He joined Evans on air recently to announce the news, saying that it was “quite surreal".

For Cork fans, Ryan will also be broadcasting a dedicated Irish weekend show across Wireless Ireland stations, including Cork’s 96FM.

“I couldn’t be more excited to start this new chapter. New city, new stations, new beginnings. I love radio and what a joy to be back.

"It’s been a pleasure getting to know my new friends at Virgin Radio, all of whom have been warm, engaging and very entertaining. It will be great to be back on the radio in the UK and across Ireland,” he said in a statement.

“And big thanks to the London Irish who have made me feel so welcome in recent weeks. On a personal note, this is a big day for my wonderful family who I hope to make proud, and also the people who advised me so well recently and got me to this moment,” he added.

Ryan will join Corkman Graham Norton, who currently presents a weekend show on Virgin Radio UK on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

He also revealed that he will be relocating to London and is currently exploring potential new neighbourhoods, with Islington and Primrose Hill emerging as top contenders.

Ryan, typically reserved about his family matters, opened up about his daughter's response to his new job. In an interview with the Sunday Times, he confessed that he was deeply touched by the support of his daughters, Ella (23) and Julia (17), to the extent that he became emotional.

“When I signed the contract last week, I got in the back of a taxi and I got two messages from my daughters and I just started to cry,” Ryan said.

“You know, it just sums it all up. I realised that what I was doing all this for was for them and for my family.”