'The Late Show with Ryan Tubridy': Presenter to host new YouTube series in 2026

'The Late Show with Ryan Tubridy' will be a new standalone YouTube channel hosting interviews that will also be broadcast on Times Radio. File photo

Ryan Tubridy is leaving Virgin Radio UK this month but will remain with parent company News Broadcasting to launch a new YouTube channel in 2026.

The Late Show with Ryan Tubridy will be a new standalone YouTube channel hosting interviews that will also be broadcast on Times Radio.

The series will look back on the lives "of the biggest stars in film, music, sport and television, where Ryan chats with the journalists, authors and experts who knew them best".

Mr Tubridy started on Virgin Radio UK in January 2024, with the show syndicated on Dublin’s Q102. His move to UK radio came after a controversial departure from RTÉ in the wake of the secret payments scandal in 2023.

Mr Tubridy was to be paid a total €225,000 over three years by the national broadcaster as part of a deal to top up his salary, which was not disclosed by RTÉ.

The former  Late Late Show presenter was paid two instalments of €75,000 by RTÉ for personal appearances for commercial sponsor Renault as part of the contentious deal.

The deal involved Mr Tubridy making three appearances per year at Renault events. RTÉ executives previously said Renault paid Mr Tubridy the first €75,000 payment, but then pulled out of the tripartite deal.

The payments were not disclosed by RTÉ in its annual accounts as salary payments. Mr Tubridy left the national broadcaster following weeks of controversy relating to the organisation publicly under-reporting payments to him.

Earlier this year, Mr Tubridy repaid RTÉ the €150,000 he received as part of the controversial payment deal. 

Tubridy set for talkSPORT

Meanwhile, 2026 will also see Mr Tubridy develop a new show for talkSPORT, a UK sports news and opinion network, and will continue to host a weekend show on the Onic network radio stations in Ireland.

The stations include Cork’s 96FM, Dublin’s Q102, Limerick’s Live 95, and LMFM across Louth and Meath.

“I am extremely excited about today’s news and the opportunity to work again in the world of speech radio, with YouTube channels and with the Onic network in Ireland," Mr Tubridy said.

"As we saw earlier this week with the Oscars ceremony moving to YouTube, the media world is changing so fast and this is an opportunity to do what I do best with the best content creators in the world.

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“It is with great gratitude that I finish my two years at Virgin Radio UK, where I had the time of my life with the greatest bunch of people. They made me feel welcome and valued which I will never forget, but I can’t wait to get started on these shows. Here’s to 2026!” 

Onic managing director Sean Barry said: “I am delighted to confirm the continuation of our relationship with Ryan, one of Ireland’s finest broadcasters. This new show will lean into Ryan’s strengths with a speech-led offering, complemented with a perfect Sunday morning music accompaniment.” 

Mr Tubridy's final show on Virgin Radio UK and Dublin’s Q102 is today.