RTÉ admits paying Tubridy €345,000 more than declared

The most telling thing about Tubridy, to me anyway, was the discussion at the PAC about the money he was paid for Renault gigs which had not happened yet (100k, or 150k? can't remember which).

Tubridy's stance was - if the gigs don't happen, I'll give the money back. It was inferred by a number of PAC members that the gigs were unlikely to happen, given the controversy which had occurred, but Tubridy stuck to the same line that if he got confirmation that the gigs would definitely not happen, then the money would go back.

I don't think Tubridy (or NK Managment) are idiots. Surely they knew that it would have been a far better look to have arrived at the PAC and announced that the money had been repaid. It could then have been rightly paid to Tubridy if/when the gigs did happen, and not before.

But, no. In reality, Tubs and NK knew full well that the gigs were dead in the water. They knew that if they money went back, they would never have sight of it ever again. They also knew that the chances of them being pursued for the money was low.

They were willing to risk Tub's potential future earnings, for the sake of keeping that 100k. Future earnings which would have been in the hundreds of thousands, even at a rate vastly reduced from his Late Late peak.

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe they are idiots after all.

So it’s plainly obvious now that Tubs or Noel Kelly or both of them were leaking private conversations to Fionnán Sheehan and explains his remarkable change of heart on matters.

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/revealed-what-ryan-tubridy-told-kevin-bakhurst-hours-before-rte-boss-ended-talks-for-radio-return/a736919415.html

Tubs couldn’t even give it a few hours before leaking the legal email exchanges. The man is truly pathetic, so is Sheehan for that matter, who’s gone into overdrive with articles about how badly wronged Tubridy has been.

Reminds me of the opinion polls they used to do in the UK in the early 90's. Consistently, the country's most liked presenter was Terry Wogan. At the same time, the most hated presenter was ... Terry Wogan.

I think Tubridy has a huge fanbase, which to many of us is intriguing and bonkers in equal measure. I hope he and his fans find each other again - as long as it's not funded by the public purse. 

Today's the day I stop commenting on Tubridy for good. I hope never to have to mention his name again.

You may find that difficult! A bit like another narcissistic balloon in US politics, Tubridy I suspect, will not go gently into that good night.

It is absurd to compare Tubs with Wogan.

Wogan was witty, charming, handsome, self-deprecating, genuine. His was the most popular radio show in Britain for decades with almost 8 million listeners daily, yeah 30 times Tubridy’s ratings. His TV shows were massive hits and he invented the humorous Eurovision commentary which people now associate with Graham Norton.

Was Wogan the only example of a successful RTÉ export? And that was over 50 years ago!

I don’t count Gabriel Byrne - he was more of an escapee.😏

was it not paid to him by RTE through a number of agencies/companies. He needs to pay it back and declare it publicly if only to continue proving his HONESTY and to be seen by THECHILDREN OF IRELAND whom he loves

Yes it was paid to tubs via RTÉ, very little to do with Reaualt, not sure why they agreed to it.

If we leave aside all that has gone on re who did/said what and look at RT removed from all that then what have we left re RT? Well we have at least the following:-

(1) it is clear that a lot of his colleagues/RTE staff are still very angry over the whole debacle - RT remaining quiet about his . KB even referred to it yesterday as an issue

(2) If RT returned, the RTE staff would have a daily reminder of the debacle walking around the place and his presence would seep into the subconscious mind and have a negative impact on work output, level of cooperation , etc.

(3) IMO , he would be a significantly toxic investment in the eyes of potential sponsors?

(4) now a significant loss of revenue due to licences not being renewed.

(5) the loss of thrust during negotiations with KB and the leaking of information during that period. kB said that it was not him so who could it have been!,!!!

Any one of the above are serious issues,. So put them all together and KB had an EXTREMELY STRONG CASE to not take RT back

Available soon from all good book shops!

Bertie still can’t spell it seems……..

It was a huge error for Tubridy and his agent to issue a statement on Wednesday evening. Negotiations with RTE were at an advanced stage (and a very delicate one) and he comes out still trying to win a PR battle and attempting to make himself look good to the public. It's no wonder Bakhurst hit the roof when he heard about the statement.

He’s been trying to endear himself to the public since the public enquiry with that nonsense about children of Ireland - he may as well have said he wanted to be seen as the Queen of people’s hearts 🤪

He just couldn’t stop this nonsense image branding and he’s paid for it

His 'children of Ireland' nonsense at the committee was vomit inducing. Not to mention the "kind letters" he got. Self important twit!

And much of what you have said applies to Bakhurst ... he seems to have been willing to ignore the staff and public wrath and licence fee drop.

I think this was the fear of Bakhurst in fact, that the whole affair would rumble on, with Tubridy still spinning and trying to potray himself in a good light. I've heard too that the new DG was fuming when he heard that Tubridy had issued a statement without giving RTE any advance warning.