Ryan Tubridy says therapy helped him heal from trauma of RTE scandal & admits he won’t ‘burn bridges’ with broadcaster

RYAN Tubridy has lifted the lid on how therapy has helped him “hollow out” after the RTE payments scandal “hit the fan”.

The former Late Late Show host left RTE in 2023 after a series of payment scandals within the organisation became public knowledge.

After facing major scrutiny over the broadcaster scandal, Tubridy moved across the pond to London in 2024 to take a job with Virgin Radio,

Ryan began attending counselling sessions before the RTE scandal hit, and has told how he found it truly helpful when dealing with the fallout.

The 52-year-old told RSVP: “I was seeing a therapist for about six months before the RTE thing. I was hitting 50 and I wanted to get my mind in order as I was heading towards a decision regarding The Late Late Show.

“I met this terrific therapist, and we clicked, so by the time the fan was hit by the excrement, I had somewhere to go to ask what the hell is happening. That helped enormously.”

Although the radio star had professional help along the way, he emphasised that the scandal “wasn’t nice or pleasant”.

He added: “Thankfully, that’s behind me, but the media were relentless in their pursuit of me, ‘Johnny Chatshow’ pitched as the problem for the whole of the RTE organisation.

“They stopped thinking about the fact that I had a mother, or a family or people who would be upset by their coverage. They might say, well it was all your fault and so on.

“But my mother protected her son, my family protected their brother, and my girls protected their father.”

And while the TV host has yet to return to work for the major broadcaster, he has admitted he wouldn’t rule it out yet.

‘HOLLOWED OUT’

He told the RTE Guide: “I wouldn’t burn any bridges anywhere. In recent times, I was asked to do a few TV things for RTE but they weren’t the right project or the right time.”

Now, Tubridy is finally returning to Irish TV screens on Virgin Media’s new series The Assembly – but why now?

The dad-of-two explained: “I had to regroup because I was discombobulated.

“I had to get my confidence back and my happiness back. You get hollowed out, Your face constantly in the newspaper for the guts of a year and I’m thinking I’m just part of a story that is much bigger.”

And with Ryan firmly back home in Ireland, he is more than happy to spend all his time with his new bride, Dr Clare Kambamettu.

The lovebirds exchanged vows at the Abbeyglen Castle Hotel in Clifden, Co Galway.

The couple enjoyed a small ceremony surrounded by their nearest and dearest.

After the civil ceremony, the wedding party moved to the venue’s castle restaurant where guests toasted the newlyweds after a wedding feast and speeches.

One insider said: “Ryan and Clare are regular visitors to the Abbeyglen and know all the staff by name.

“It was lovely and informal.”