Current host Patrick Kielty seemed flustered.
Angela Scanlon unintentionally created a very awkward moment on last night’s Late Late Show when she brought up the name of current host Patrick Kielty’s predecessor.
Ryan Tubridy left RTÉ’s flagship programme in May of 2023, and months later found himself in a legal battle with his former employer over clashing interpretations of the station’s contractual obligations to him.
Early this year, the 51-year-old crossed the Irish Sea to take over the weekly mid-morning show on Virgin Radio, where he passes fellow Irish broadcaster Scanlon in the corridors.
The Ratoath native joined Virgin Radio in April of this year, replacing Graham Norton on the weekend breakfast show.
On last night’s programme, Scanlon shared the green room with her close friend and former Robot Wars colleague Dara O’Briain.
When Kielty introduced the 40-year-old to the audience, he said: “She is an Irish broadcaster who recently landed a new show on Virgin Radio and once hosted a chat show here on RTÉ. No, not that broadcaster.”
When Scanlon took her place in the chair opposite Kielty, she joked: “I got the gig over there first, can I say.”
When Patrick clarified that he was referring to her following in the footsteps of Norton at Virgin Radio, she added: “Tubs is there as well.”
A stunned Patrick repeated, “Tubs is there”, as he attempted to steer the ship away from the tricky conversation about the show’s former host.
Angela, however, continued to push the button, asking: “Do we not talk about him… he who shall not be named.”
Dara chimed in: “I don’t know what the rules are.”
Finding his feet, Patrick brought the exchange to an end by saying: “Oh we can. Normally what happens on This Is Your Life is they bring out the surprise guest at the end and here he is.”
Considering the fiasco that was last year’s RTÉ payment scandal, Kielty likely wanted to change the subject as quick as possible to avoid saying anything that might put him in his bosses bad books.
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