Ryan Tubridy battled to save his career yesterday but admitted: “I could be out of a job by Friday.”
The former Late Late Show host addressed two Oireachtas committees on Tuesday over the RTE payments scandal, which revealed he received €345,000 in non-disclosure payments over a five-year period.
Both the star and his agent Noel Kelly were grilled for six hours by politicians sceptical of their claim that RTE was to blame.
An emotional Tubridy, 50, said he can barely leave his house. He said: “I am truly sorry for all of this and for any part that I might have played.”
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It comes as new RTE boss Kevin Bakhurst said Tubridy wouldn’t be gone by the end of the week.
While there may have been seven hours of committee meetings, there remain significant questions for RTE, Ryan Tubridy and Noel Kelly still to answer.
Here’s what happens next.
When will Tubridy discover his fate at RTE?
Tubridy has been missing from his 9am Radio 1 slot for the last three weeks as the controversy erupted. He said during the Oireachtas Media Committee that he could be out of a job come Friday. But this was denied by RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst, who said: “I suspect it will be a matter of a couple of weeks probably.”
Will Tubridy hand back the Renault money?
Both Tubridy and his agent Kelly stated the deal with Renault was with RTE and that they were not involved in organising the arrangement. Renault had agreed to pay Mr Tubridy €75,000 a year for appearances, but pulled out after year one.
RTE had underwritten the agreement and paid €150,000 to cover the loss in 2021 and 2022.
There are six engagements still to take place under the Renault deal. Asked what would happen if they did not take place, Mr Tubridy said he will hand back the money, which is resting in Tuttle Productions’ accounts. However, he contended he was willing to do the appearances if he was asked to do so.
What’s next?
With four reviews and another RTE appearance at the Public Accounts Committee today, who knows?
The Committees are also waiting to hear if former Director General Dee Forbes will attend a meeting, meaning that the controversy is bound to rumble on for the rest of the year.
