RTÉ admits paying Tubridy €345,000 more than declared

Bathurst has destroyed his credibility from the start

Moving on from the toy show for a moment, did we ever figure out why exactly they needed such an expensive photographer for Fair City.

I know, I know, it's obvious that RTE just love p*ssing away money but I'm talking about on a practical level.

Where exactly were/are all these photos ending up. It's surely not just for archival purposes?

You have your OK/HELLO and other trashy celeb magazines, along with the weekend newspapers for their SOAP roundups but even with all those combined, that wouldn't account for the mountains of pictures the photographer was probably taking.

The government are looking very inept here now. The scandal broke months ago and the PAC uncovered even more dodgy dealings in June. Its nearly October and the only action we have seen is Tubridy scuppering his own return. The execs have received golden parachutes or went to ground. No accountability, no reform, no plan, no answers. Just some can kicking reports... That's FFGG to a tee.

I would concur with that assumption CM

Sure, Tubridy can make a surprise appearance on the Late Late Toy Show announcing what charity he'll be donating that €150,000 to... and I'm sure you'll agree, we could expect the generous spirit of the night to work its magic and Tubridy to provide a top-up amount. Could you suggest a reasonable figure? €500,000? The proceeds from his books?

I wouldn't hold your breath when the Toy Show starts for such an appearance.

You may be sarcastic, I'm not sure, but it'd be great if he did appear, said he was coming back in January and the money would be deducted from future RTE salary.

It would be a masterstroke from Kevin if he could arrange it with Ryan. I know people are cynical, but it'd give the country a fantastic boost as Christmas approaches. And what better way to draw a line under all the unpleasantness of 2023. We could start to look forward as a people to a brighter New Year. In a world where cancel culture is far too common it would be a fantastic statement.

Where did this madness about Tubs returning to do the Toy Show come from? 🤣

I think this will be put to bed when PK does his first one in November. I think it will be a return to the Gay Byrne formula. A genial if somewhat bemused host who cracks a few jokes that go over the kid's heads and gives weary parents a chuckle. That's the winning Toy Show format for me, not some low rent, school musical where the host does 10 costume changes throughout.

Well there's x2 potential news slots immediately available at GB News, now that Wootton & Laurence Fox are suspended.

This should test the mettle of NK's propaganda about their alleged interest in 'The Tubs'. It will definitely be (further) career suicide if he joins that rogues gallery.

Where's your puff piece now Mr Kelly? 🤔

There should be, in the real world, no secrecy where the spending of publico ey is involved.

Hiding behind NDAs is crass and insulting to tax and licence payers who gils these laggers cages.

And Sunny D I head into work chuckling at your optimism and support of Tubs. You're a one🥴🥴☺️

If Tubs was a bargain for any radio station or tv channel at €170,000 per year, he'd be hired by now.

The fact that he's still unemployed shows he isn't as desirable as he, and his agent, thinks he is.

Just shows he was stealing a living for many years, earning far in excess of his actual worth. Same as Joe Duffy, Ray D'Arcy, George Lee, Brendan O'connor, Miriam O'Callaghan etc etc.

The common link, rte and their extravagant spending with our money.

Is Tubs really appearing on the LLS toy show?

Maybe Gary Glitter can appear on the show, and launch his comeback too.