RTE star Ryan Tubridy has said he "loves" hosting the Late Late Show - and dismissed rumours that he plans to step down.
Earlier this week, bookies Boylesports revealed odds on who might replace Tubridy on the Friday night chat show when he decides to step down as host. But speaking on Friday, the RTE Radio 1 host rubbished rumours he plans to step down from a job he "loves" doing.
He told us: "I don’t know where this is coming from, the story comes up every year or two. I am here talking to you today with a view to go straight back into the job I love.
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"The bookies will ask what colour jumper I am going to wear and put the odds on that. It is not that weird, it has happened a load of times. Every now and again, they get restless."
Ryan also declined to comment on his €440,000 salary at the national broadcaster after RTE revealed he was still the highest paid broadcaster at the station. "I don’t get into it. I don’t discuss it. It gets out there and it gets discussed and I leave it at that."
But he opened up about turning 50 this May, admitting he feels "nervous" approaching the milestone birthday. He said: "I was appalled when I got a card from Liz Nugent yesterday, who I had just finished interviewing for her new book.
"On the card it said ‘50’ and I was wondering why she was sending me a card that said ‘50’. I am pretending to laugh at it, but inside I am nervous. If I make it to May I will be happy.
"Weirdly, I have been reflecting for the year going into my 50s. I have spent the last remnants of my 40s thinking about life and the universe.
"I have had great thoughts and I feel very confident about the next bit. Since Christmas, in particular, I have been enjoying life and it is going to get better and better," he added.
Ryan was speaking at Liz and Noel's Chernobyl lunch at the InterContinental Dublin in Ballsbridge on Friday afternoon. The father-of-two was on hand to lend his support to the charity in aid of Chernobyl Children International (CCI).
Bono's wife Ali Hewson is a board member of CCI and spoke about the devastation the war on Ukraine is having on vulnerable children and their families in Belarus. She said: "Now more than ever, between Covid and before, we need support to continue to look after the children of Belarus.
"The Irish are the best. The response to the Ukrainian crisis has been amazing." Founder and Voluntary CEO of CCI Adi Roche said that nobody thought the war on Ukraine would be a "prolonged war".
"This is a different war that we have known to today because there is the nuclear element in there. They invaded Chernobyl in the very early hours of February 24 last year and now they've taken over.
"I suppose what is really important is that the world refers to it as a war crime and that we look for internationally a no war zone around these facilities because the risks are too great.
"We know from our work for 37 years of looking at Chernobyl survivors the long term impact if something like this goes nuclear.
"Our message is to make peace possible and today is about sending out a message of love. It is about sending out a message of hope, saying that we are brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. Their suffering is also our suffering and that Ireland has a significant role to play- small island but big heart."
Adi paid thanks to the guests whose donations will go directly towards vital programmes in Ukraine, and shared how the intensifying war has brought “Chernobyl centre-stage for all the wrong reasons”;
“Thank you for your loyalty and kindness over so many years. There are so many deserving charities at home and abroad and yet you have remained constant and generous, so on behalf of the countless children and their families that you have saved and have restored...thank you! "You are our inspiration that helps us to carry on this life saving work...without you we would be lost...míle míle buiochas.”
Guests also heard from international Cardiac surgeon, Dr William Novick, who leads CCI’s Cardiac Surgery missions in Ukraine. Despite a myriad of challenges, Dr Novick has led numerous missions over the past year to war-torn Ukraine, running the gauntlet to save the lives of babies suffering from conditions such as ‘Chernobyl Heart’.
The funds raised at the lunch will go directly to CCI’s humanitarian response in Ukraine, including the next Cardiac Mission at the end of March.
Irish Distillers kindly sponsored a prosecco reception before guests were seated and soprano Emer Barry entertained with her elegant repertoire as guests dined.
Businesses from all over the country showed their support for the charity lunch with weekend breaks at a selection of luxury resorts, beauty treatments and jewellery all up for grabs in the raffle on the day.
A selection of exclusive auction items including a Damien Hirst Painting went under the hammer, in hopes of raising as much funds for the charity as possible.
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