'I can't wait to say goodbye to 2023' Ryan Tubridy kicks off new Irish radio show

FORMER RTÉ broadcaster Ryan Tubridy has kicked off his new mid-morning radio show on UK and Irish radio.

Tuesday, January 2, saw the ex-Late Late host start his new hosting job on the mid-morning slot on Virgin Radio UK.

His show will fill the 10am t0 1pm slot every week Monday to Friday, which is also simulcast on Dublin's Q102.

Despite the move to London, he opened his show with a pointed Irish reference, with Pride (in the Name of Love) by U2 as his first song.

He introduced himself to his new UK audience as someone who'd been broadcasting in Ireland for the last 20 years on radio and TV, including "working away quietly on an Irish television show called The Late Late Show."

For those of you in Ireland you know what I'm talking about, for those who aren't - I know what you're gonna do all day now. You can look up old clips, that's what I would do," he quipped.

While describing his work in RTÉ as "the loveliest job ever", he did state that he couldn't wait to say goodbye to 2023, a possible subtle mention of his less than gracious departure from the Irish broadcaster last June in the wake of the RTÉ payments scandal.

It was a star-studded opener, with Russell Crowe as Tubridy's first on-air guest, dialing in from Australia.

Tubridy will also host a weekend show on Sunday mornings from 10am to 12pm. This show will be broadcast in Ireland on Q102, Limerick's Live95, LMFM (Louth/Meath) and Cork's 96FM.