Tubridy says he 'wouldn't say never' when asked about returning to RTÉ

Ryan Tubridy with Muireann O'Connell in the Vigrin Media new show 'The Assembly'.

Ryan Tubridy has added to speculation that he could make a return to RTÉ, telling a show on his former employer that he "wouldn't say never".

The former RTÉ presenter has done a number of interviews in recent days, and on the Sunday with Miriam programme, he was asked about a possible return and how he is seen by some of his former colleagues.

“I wouldn’t say never. I don’t think it would be easy. I would say that any of my former colleagues who do have an issue can get in touch with me, and we can go for coffee. 

I love the people I worked with. I’d like to fix it, if that makes sense.” 

Mr Tubridy also said he is “a different person to the one you would have met two and a half years ago”. 

The broadcaster was referring to his departure from RTÉ in 2023 in the wake of revelations about under-reported payments.

Mr Tubridy, who went on to host a radio show on Virgin Radio UK, which has since ended, spoke to presenter Miriam O’Callaghan about the impact of the scandal.

“When the excrement hits the fan, you realise what a friend is and what an acquaintance is,” he said. 

“I lost a few acquaintances. There were a few things planned. I’m thinking of one particular dinner with a semi-public figure that just disappeared, and contact disappeared.

"But most people were very nice and a few people stood up for me, including John Brennan and Maia Dunphy.” 

Mr Tubridy features in Virgin Media’s new show The Assembly, which invites autistic and neurodivergent adults to interview public figures.

Reflecting on the last two and a half years, he said: “I could be sitting here all day talking about regrets and 'what ifs', but it’s not useful to my heart and my soul to ask what I would have done differently. 

"I’m here now. I live a very different life. I’m a very different person from the one you would have met two and a half years ago.

"It was a great trauma, but I’m not going to Crumlin’s Children’s Hospital looking after a child. I’m not fighting for my financial life to pay bills. 

"These are the big issues. I know what a big issue looks like.

"What happened wasn’t beautiful. I didn’t love it, but I’m here now with a new life and great friends. Life can be peculiar and not particularly linear, but you learn, and you get on with it.” 

Since leaving RTÉ, Mr Tubridy has also launched a podcast, announced a new show on Times Radio, and tied the knot with clinical psychologist Dr Claire Kambamettu.