Ryan Tubridy reveals he was done with being “public property” as being one of the reasons he's stepping down from hosting the Late Late Show.
The RTE star is stepping down from hosting the Friday night chat show on May 26. In a wide-ranging interview, the father-of-two has now revealed his reasons for sensationally quitting the show – saying he was ready to step out of the limelight.
Ryan said: “I think it’s time to concentrate on the love of people closer to me than the attention of those I don’t know.
READ MORE: Eurovision 2023 winner Loreen says she'd love to duet with Johnny Logan
“My life was lived in the glare of the limelight for 20 years so yes, that was one of the reasons. I wanted to turn that light down. I just think I had my fill of being public property at that level.
“Now I’ve always accepted the fame thing was part and parcel of the job, but then you hit an age and think, ‘That was lovely, but I don’t want to play that game anymore.’
“Last summer, the seeds were sown in my head, but it got short circuited in the last few months. So no one thing, but a tapestry of events that helped to lead me to where I am today.”
He said: “I believe that I’ve done as much as I can with the show. I also believe that the show is ready for a change.
“It’s a show that always needs to reinvent itself and I have said for a few years that it should be shorter in length and also have a shorter season.
“The run of 37 or 38 consecutive Fridays of two hours of live TV with four or five parts is too much. They might change that eventually, but it didn’t happen on my watch.
“I believe that would have been wise to do some time ago and post-Covid would have been the perfect opportunity.
“But part of the situation of the longer show is that it is so lucrative for the station so why would they turn away revenue? But there should be a discussion about commerce versus content.”
His replacement is rumoured to be Patrick Kielty - but Ryan said he has zero say.
“I have zero say, and that’s right, if you’re gone, you’re gone. If the bosses want to reimagine the show in the likeness of someone else, I should have a say.
“But I will have an interest and I’m hoping they pick the right person. I was the keeper of the flame but that’s coming to an end."
READ MORE
- Virgin Media star Martin King says Ryan Tubridy is 'bonkers' to give up Late Late Show
- 'Ryan Tubridy and Michael Buble for Eurovision' - Late Late Show viewers react to heartwarming duet
- ITV confirms Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield's fate amid growing pressure
- Patrick Kielty becomes bookies' favourite to take over Late Late Show and hints at possible move
- Who is Patrick Kielty? Rumoured Late Late Show host's career so far and marriage to Cat Deeley
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.
