The Ryan Tubridy Show **Mod: Read OP**

Doubtful, given his staunch (constitutional) republican family connections, not only to the historical Sinn Féin, but the current Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil. That said, any good journalist will put their personal prejudices aside for the job. And of course, the Good Friday Agreement and the passing of time has washed away the taboos of Irish nationalists dealing professionally with the British Royals. There is a market for British Royal news here, but he's not the man for the job, and it's not the job for the man.

That said, the "whole JFK thing" opens up some possibilities. There's an assumption amongst some that he'll use his time on Virgin Radio as a springboard back to RTE, but as has been explained before, that makes little sense. The climate here clearly just won't allow it, and I think Tubridy accepts that (maybe reluctantly, but one has to be realistic).

Could there be a future in the US? In terms of TV/Radio hosts, the Irish haven't been so successful in transferring over there (in contrast to our success in Hollywood and music), but there is precedent for presenters who are of mixed popularity in their home countries making big waves in the states: John Oliver, Trevor Noah, James Corden, Piers Morgan. Tubridy has the experience, the Hollywood A-list connections, the Irish charm and - yes, the whole "JFK thing". Whatever about London mid-mornings, you can all imagine that there's a place on CNN or NPR for musings about the "Emerald Isle", lightweight interviews and a bit of inoffensive music. There has to be a market to be tapped that combines nostalgia for "the old country" and Kennedy's Camelot.

It wouldn't be a young market - quite the opposite - but it would be one that has money to spend - an advertiser's dream. And at 50 years of age, Tubridy doesn't need a long career. With the success he's had in Ireland up until his downfall, assuming he's been astute with his investments, a man like him with grown children and a modest lifestyle would not need to work. But he hasn't sunk into writing a memoir and early retirement, like some expected. He's clearly one of those people who's somewhat driven to succeed - hence the move to London, the national UK radio show, the multiple syndications back here, the new newspaper column, etc. etc. If he could get a 10 or 15 year career out of the aging Irish American population, would it be worth his while?

I bet there's someone crunching the numbers on this.

Virgin may well be impressed by the level of interaction from Ireland but if they start losing local listeners who've no interest in hearing congratulatory texts from "Mary, on the Sky Road in Clifden" it will be of little comfort

Are they though? Do you have figures to back up that Irish people are tuning in “religiously” ?

I don't think many here are tuning in for the entertainment value in the way you think they are.

Nothing that a few years of effluent flow under the bridge won't solve...

Remember this is the country that put FF back into power (becoming the largest party in the Dáil) a mere 10-12 years after they wrecked the economy, as well as our reputation. I'm sure Tubbers won't have to wait that long for redemption.

Why the many are tuning in is immaterial.

Used to listen to his rte show on a regular enough basis, but have yet to hear anything from his Virgin shoe yet.

Reading this thread, I'm in no rush.

And he also interviewed them on on a Tuesday/Wednesday afternoon in front of an audience of RTÉ staff…… because there was no way he could get them live in a Friday night…

He's making a hames of a his new job across the water, and is exposing his limitations for all to see. He's not going to come across any better to Americans of any sort. He's not witty or charming, he's not much of a storyteller and he doesn't have red hair. Not a chance!

James Corden has next to nothing going from him, and look at how he took off in the US. Tubridy won't ever reach those heights, but a little of being from "across the pond" can go a long way.

They elected Trump, it was the future once.

There's no universe in which I'm going to defend James Corden but there's really no comparison between him and Tubs. He might be an arsehole but he created, wrote and starred in his own very successful sitcom. I watched a number of his interviews on that US chatshow and while I'd rather drink bleach than watch it regularly, there's no denying Corden belonged in that millieu and was very comfortable rubbing shoulders with A listers. For what he had to do, ie fluff 7 minute entertainment chats and viral video segments, he was adept and didn't look out of place.

Try to imagine Ryan Tubridy catapulted into anything like that. It would be a nightly car crash of awkward lines of questioning, stilted conversation, Irish heavy blather, pissed off guests and an audience increasingly uncomfortable with the ineptitude of the the host who looks completely out of his depth.

Unless Tubridy went on one of the propaganda channels like Fox, where I'm sure an empty "My butler's fourth cousin had an Irish grandfather" schtick would probably be enough to carry a show, then there's no chance he is going to go into US media.