Impressionist Mario Rosenstock says if Ryan Tubridy has to go, then all of RTE has to go with him.
The satirist - who has been sending up the RTE payments scandal all week with sketches on his Today FM slot Gift Grub - reckons Tubs will survive the controversy.
He told the Irish Mirror: “My view on this is the same as everyone else’s. I pay my licence fee every year and I am pissed off and angry about it.
Read More: RTE says it's 'impossible' for Ryan Tubridy to return to air 'at the moment'
“I am pi**ed off paying it and having to watch Mrs Brown’s Boys’ Christmas Special repeats in July. The controversy is a massive betrayal of trust.”
But he added: “Ryan Tubridy is a fundamentally decent person. He’s old-school and very busy and I think he dropped the ball on this one.
“He should have had better advice. Good advice would have been: ‘You know those published figures aren’t the figures you’re getting. You’re leaving yourself wide open here.’
“But I think he will survive. The decency of the Irish people will decide it’s not worth ruining his entire career over.
“I think if Ryan is wiped out, then RTE has to go. If they make him a sacrificial lamb for something they did, then RTE itself has to be disbanded.”
He said there is no evidence big broadcasters such has Tubridy - the highest-paid at the station - could get any more money in the private sector.
And he reckons what really hit home was the sight of renowned RTE journalists protesting over it on the grounds of the state broadcaster.
His response was to lampoon it as part of his Gift Grub sketch series on Today FM’s Ian Dempsey show. His two skits have gone viral - and there will be more to come.
With fellow satirist Oliver Callan covering for off-air Tubridy on his morning RTE Radio One show, Rosenstock is the only one currently in a position to do so.
He said: “This is where satire comes into its own. This is its function. Satire must be at the forefront of the response to this.
“We have done two sketches in two days on this, which is unusual, and the audience response was enormous. Thousands of people responded to the sketches.
“They are asking to be done. There is an appetite for it. We’ll keep it going.
“Someone tweeted this morning saying: ‘Last I saw, you were a guest on the Late Late Show. You’re quick for turning.’
“I can be on friendly terms with the show - but it doesn’t stop me doing my job.
“My job is to hold anyone to account by satire if they are in the public arena.”
Join the Irish Mirror's new WhatsApp community! Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
