The odds on Ryan Tubridy returning to RTÉ Radio aren't too hot, according to bookmakers, despite the former Late Late host signaling his wish to return to working ways at the national broadcaster.
Bookmaker BoyleSports has said the end of RTÉ2 and the sale of Montrose are two of the outcomes being backed as part of Kevin Bakhurst’s anticipated shake up of the state broadcaster in the wake of the Ryan Tubridy pay scandal.
The new Director General has already stood down the executive board, and has since refused to rule out the sale of RTÉ’s Montrose campus where it has been based since 1961.
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A change of residency from the Donnybrook site before the end of next year is now listed as a likely prospect according to odds of 5/1.
Boylesports has also said that RTÉ2FM and RTÉ2 are both under threat according to respective odds of 3/1 and 10/1.
Bakhurst confirmed there will be no announcement on Ryan Tubridy’s future at the organisation this week, but conceded that he faces a ‘big decision’ on whether the broadcaster's top-earner will return to the airwaves.
Tubridy stressed that he wants to get back to work when questioned by two Oireachtas committees on Tuesday, but odds of 11/2 are available on him returning to the RTÉ airwaves with speculation rife that he may enter talks with UK broadcasters in a bid to resurrect his career.
BBC Radio tops the list of likely destinations for Tubs at 7/4, although a healing of divisions with RTÉ remains more plausible than a switch to Channel 4 (6/1), ITV (8/1) or Sky (12/1).
Lawrence Lyons, spokesperson for BoyleSports said: “Kevin Bakhurst’s in-tray is bulging and with a move from Montrose and channel switch-offs in the picture, punters are clearly tuned in to big changes.”
Here are some of the odds the Bookmaker has listed:
What next for RTÉ – To happen before end of 2024
3/1 2FM to be sold/shut down
5/1 Montrose site to be sold
10/1 RTÉ2 to be sold/shut down
50/1 RTÉ Radio 1 to be scrapped
80/1 RTÉ1 to be scrapped (highly unlikely)
Where will Tubridy go next?
7/4 BBC Radio
3/1 BBC TV
11/2 RTE Radio
6/1 Channel 4
7/1 RTE TV
8/1 ITV
8/1 Virgin Media Ireland
10/1 Channel 5
12/1 Sky
