Give Aoibhinn a show of her own at RTE says Tubs

Laura Butler

RTE might be slashing his pay to save money -- but Ryan Tubridy thinks they should give his on/off girlfriend her own show.

Despite cutbacks in RTE and an uncertain afternoon programming schedule, the Late Late Show host has revealed that gaeilgeoir Aoibhinn could do extremely well at the helm of her own show at the Montrose station.

"I think she'd knock the ball out of the park if she had her own show. I think she has a natural warmth, charm, ability, intellect, there's nothing she cannot do," divulged 38-year-old Ryan, who met Ms Ni Shuilleabhain in February 2009.

Mayo native Aoibhinn (27) recently told the Herald that she'd jump at the chance if RTE offered her her own on-air educational project for kids.

"It would be great, we'll see what's down the pipeline. Obviously I'd love to present a science show because that's my main interest," she said.

Notoriously private Tubs was full of praise for Aoibhinn at the launch of the Great Garda Run in Dublin's Aviva Stadium. The dad-of-two opened up about the former Rose of Tralee's generosity and kindness and humorously noted that while he was promoting his best-selling book about JFK in New York, the brunette beauty was helping impoverished children for Trocaire.

"I was over in New York talking about JFK on the Today Show. Aoibhinn was in Africa, and I joked with her, 'that says a lot about who we are, you're a pretty impressive woman'. That's typical of her that she would go over to Uganda for Trocaire and spend the time there and do the right thing. She's extraordinary," he added.

Meanwhile, Tubs has admitted that he'd like to make a return to the BBC this summer, but is not putting pressure on himself if he doesn't get the call.

"If they didn't ask me back I'd understand. If they do, they do, and if it works -- great. So here's hoping. I don't feel pressure at all, I just do my thing -- if they ask me to go and it suits me, great ... I'm quite chilled out about these things."

And in the meantime, the Dubliner said he'll be taking fashion tips with RTE colleague Marty Whelan, VIP magazine's newly crowned Most Stylish Man in Ireland.

"I need some [fashion advice] and now I know where to go ... I get on great with Marty, we share a great interest in American politics, he's a big fan too."

Ryan is currently writing his second book, after enjoying best-selling success with his hardback on JFK's visit to Ireland.

labutler@herald.ie