Ryan Tubridy has revealed his plans for the future as the popular RTE host is set to retire from the Late Late Show.
Ryan's announcement made shockwaves this morning as he is due to step down from the iconic talk show after 14 years. The Dubliner said he had many long walks and talks but is ultimately "comfortable" with the decision.
Ryan, 49, said: "When I was talking to my daughters about this and I said you know when you’re at a party and you’re enjoying it. You look around and everyone’s having a good time and the music’s really good. What I’ve done is, I’m at that party still but I’m reaching into my pocket and ordering a taxi on my phone.
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"I don’t want to be sticking around when someone turns off the music and says: ‘You’re still here?’" Speaking to Claire Byrne on RTE Radio One, Ryan said although he enjoyed the fame that came with presenting the Late Late Show, he wanted to put his family first.
He said: "When you’re the Late Late Show presenter, you belong to a lot of people and that means whether it’s on the street, in the pub, or in the coffee shop. That’s part of the joys of it when you’re the guy but when you’re the family of that person and they didn’t buy into that, it’s always a little trickier for them.
"I think another five or ten years of that would be punishment for them."
Ryan, who will be turning 50 in May, said he is really excited for the next part of his life. he said: "I’ve got so many ideas. I love books, history, politics, Ireland, museums, and travel. Combining all these things for documentaries. I’d like to write again. I’d like to go back to academia part-time."
When asked about the Late Late Toy Show, Ryan said it will be hard to say goodbye to the annual Christmas tradition. He said: "That Toy Show is magic. There’s magic in the air.
"That will be hard to say goodbye to. But I know when it’s time to say goodbye and the phone says it is indeed time to say goodbye."
Ryan reassured fans that he will not be leaving broadcasting entirely as he will continue to host his radio show five days a week. He said: "I'm not leaving RTE. I love the intimacy of it. I love how relaxed it is. You can be much more of yourself on the radio than on TV."
Ryan's final Late Late Show will air at 9.35pm on Friday, May 26 on RTE One.
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