Gareth O'Callaghan: Bakhurst has proven no brand is bigger than RTÉ

It's quite clear from this week's events that on Kevin Bakhurst's watch, nothing will ever "just go away" again

From what I understand, Kevin Bakhurst (pictured) wanted Tubridy back on air. So did tens of thousands of his listeners who genuinely miss his daily presence in their lives. But then, it all went horribly wrong. File photo: Niall Carson/PA

When you consider the hero's send-off that he received at the end of his final Late Late Show last May, Ryan Tubridy must be waking up this morning in shock — wondering how it all could go so horribly wrong in the space of what must feel like a few hours.

That's if he has been able to sleep at all since Thursday, when RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst called him to inform him that discussions aimed at reinstating him to his Radio 1 morning show would no longer be taking place.