Lottie Ryan said she would take a job outside of RTE if the right thing came along - admitting she's been crying out to bosses for her own show for years.
The TV and Radio personality currently works as an entertainment reporter on 2fm, and as a host of the new Dancing with the Stars’ podcast. but has made no secret of the fact she wants her own leading gig on air.
Asked if she would make the move from the broadcaster, after over a decade working there, if an offer came up elsewhere, she told Irish Daily Mirror: “I suppose at the moment, the shows I'm interested in are within RTE. But I'm not closed off to opportunities."
“If there was a wonderful idea put in front of me that wasn't within RTE, I would, of course, consider it. Documentary wise, maybe.”
“But in terms of live entertainment, television shows, the big kahunas, the ones that I would really want to go for are currently under the umbrella of RTE and obviously other outside production companies.
“But, you know, as I said, if there was a great idea coming from somewhere else, I'm not gonna not look at it.”
It comes after the presenter won praise from Dancing with the Stars fans early this season, when she filled in for host Jennifer Zamparelli at the last minute when she got ill with Covid. Lottie, who is the eldest daughter of late RTE 2fm legend Gerry Ryan, said the brief encounter with the buzz of live TV gave her the kick to continue going after her dream of her own live gig.
“That was a huge wake up call for me because it was just so exciting. And the adrenaline rush was very addictive.
“So I would love to do some more live television. So those two things are definitely on my list, radio show and some more live TV, I think.
“I want to show on to 2FM. And so yes, Dan Healy[2fm boss], please give me a show. Thank you very much.
“I have been very vocal about it for a long time. I would love my own show.”
Speaking as part of One4All Mother's Day campaign to celebrate the leading ladies in our lives, the new-mum also spoke about how she has been dealing with ‘guilt’ since returning to work after welcoming her first son Wolf, last summer.
Particularly, after she was left upset by trolls who tried to shame her for it.
She said: “Yeah, that's definitely been something I've struggled with because I wasn't expecting it, and and I think I'd like to think I have a pretty thick skin. But this was something that because I was new to it, my skin just wasn't very thick yet.
“So it hurt and and it upset me quite a lot.
“And I think what shocked me about that whole thing was the fact that the comments were coming from other mothers.
“And so I think that that's a hugely difficult thing for moms today to have to deal with and cope with.”
The RTE presenter who has been in the public eye since she was a child, has batted off other people's opinions off her for decades.
And whilst said she is well able for it herself, she says she draws the line when it comes to her child or husband Fabio.
“It doesn't bother me anymore because I suppose I've known that my whole life I've grown up with it.
“I'm really used to it. I don't take offence to it.
“But when it comes to my baby or my husband, that's a whole other nerve with me for some reason.
“That's a different ballgame for me. And that's something I don't know if I'll ever get used to that but it's something that I'm still trying to, I'm still learning to navigate I think.”
Urging people to think before they assume they know everything about somebody’s situation, she went on: “You shouldn't have to second guess putting a picture of for sharing that your kid is in creche or that you're going back to work, you know, people don't know what's going on and other people's lives, you don't know what's going on behind closed doors, or what people are dealing with.
“And if people did know the full story, they probably feel mortified and really stupid from having made the comments in the first place.
She: “I was open and honest about the fact that I have to go back to work, I'm self employed, unless you want to pay my mortgage for me. I just was honest about it.”
Asked if her mother had imparted any advice to her since welcoming her now eight-month-old son, she explained: “That’s a difficult question because I suppose a lot of the things that I'm grappling with as a mum are things that my mum did that I'm not able to do.
“So for example, my mom grew up in a generation, I suppose, where a lot of women were at home.
“And, you know, my dad worked full time, and my mum was a full time mum.
“And that's just simply not possible for a lot of my generation, I think, including myself, so I was back in work after four months, and I work full time.
“And I think my mum was with us seven days a week, you know, growing up, that was my understanding of a mother figure.
“And, and I amn’t able to give that to my son.
“So I think, initially, I probably did grapple with a little bit of guilt, when I went back to work and, and that was something I had to get used to, but it's probably not a unique problem.
“I think a lot of people of my generation, you know, both parents have to work. And that's just the way it is these days.
“So I suppose I'm having to learn how to be a modern mother, which is quite different to how my generation saw their moms growing up, I suppose.”
And whilst Lottie praised her mum Morah and her 94 year old grandmother for their words of wisdom, she said the main advice she has been taking is from her fellow RTE presenter and pal Jennifer Zamparelli.
"Jen's a very close friend of mine, I'm constantly in awe of her workload on top of the fact that she has two children and a very successful marriage. She is constantly, almost on a daily basis, giving me help and advice," she said.
"If I'm having a rough morning, she'll say this is just a phase and that's probably been one of the biggest pieces of advice and that has meant the most to me because it lets me know if you hang in there, this too shall pass."
Lottie teamed up with One4all to help celebrate the maternal figures in our lives this Mother’s Day.
Commenting on the campaign, she said: “With restrictions lifted, I am more excited than I have been the last two years to celebrate Mother’s Day, especially as this is my first year as a “mum”.
“Whether it is a shopping day with my mum, going for ice cream with the kids or heading to a restaurant with the whole family; One4all Gift Cards are our go to gift for all the ladies in the family.”
As part of the campaign, One4all revealed Ireland’s Mammy Myths, still exist as three in four mums admit telling their kids the same tall tales they were told growing up.
Three quarters of people polled say their Mum or Granny had a funny saying or myth and almost two thirds (65%) say they believed those tall tales to be true into adulthood. Passing on the tradition to their own children, 74% tell the same little white lies to their own kids with 1 in 4 saying they do so to usually get their children to do something they don’t want to do.
Lottie said: "My mum has told me many of these myths growing up, but now since becoming a mum myself I find myself second guessing which tales are true.
"The one that stuck with me the most was if I swallowed chewing gum, my insides would stick together! I believed this one for longer than I would like to admit."
For more information on the One4all Gift Card, visit one4all.ie.
