'He's very generous' - New Virgin Radio presenter Ryan Tubridy on the gifts Bono has given him

Virgin Radio

16 Nov 2023, 15:20

Virgin Radio’s newest presenter Ryan Tubridy took a trip down memory lane with us for Virgin Radio's Firsts, during which he spoke about the generosity of Bono and U2, and also talked about his love of a certain Chris Evans.

It has just been announced that the legendary Irish presenter will helm the mid-morning show on Virgin Radio UK from 10am to 1pm, Monday to Friday, starting in January. 

As well as joining the Chris Evans Breakfast Show with cinch this morning (16th November) for the exciting news, Ryan also took the time to reminisce with us. Talking about his first memory of listening to the radio, he said: “[It] was in my kitchen. Because in my house, there were radios everywhere. There was a radio in the bathroom, in the kitchen, in the garden, in the living room, in the car, everywhere.

“It was always on. It was the soundtrack to my life.”

The broadcaster has interviewed U2’s Bono on his radio show and on Ireland's massively popular The Late Late Show across the years. On the gifts that the singer has given him, he said: “This could take some time, because he's very generous. I got a book of poetry from Seamus Heaney. I got a very nice bottle of wine one day after a night out. But my favourite one is, Bono and the boys, the last time I presented a TV show in Ireland called The Late Late Show, they gifted me an electric Vespa! I'm a Vespa guy.

“It's red, it’s shiny, it's beautiful, and I'm so grateful and I love it. And I might try and get it over here to London so I can stand out in the crowd." 

He added: “I can only listen to The Jam when I'm thinking about it.”

Ryan also spoke in glowing terms about our own Chris Evans. Recalling the first time the two met, he said: “I was presenting The Late Late Show. Chris arrived in, and if you can remember Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, that time when the tornado is coming in Kansas and she's getting all nervous and battening down the hatches, that's what it was like, a human tornado with glasses arrived in. 

“He was so keen to learn about the TV show, the radio show that I was doing at the time, and he was so interested. And then he gifted me this ticket from a Beatles concert that wasn't played that he bought at an auction, and he gave it to me on air and I was so moved.”

Ryan enthused: “He's a mentor, he's a pal. He's a legend. And yes, he is considered very, very well in the Tubirdy household, and I know in lots of our households.”

The newest member of the Virgin Radio family also revealed his first record, first gig, the poster he had on his wall, and the TV shows he enjoyed as a kid.

Have a look here: 

Read all about how “desperately excited” Virgin Radio’s newest presenter is to “start a new job in a new city in a wonderful station in a few weeks time” here. 

Tune into Ryan Tubridy’s brand new mid-morning show, 10am to 1pm, on Virgin Radio UK from January 2024.

For more great interviews listen to  The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with cinch weekdays from 6:30am on Virgin Radio, or catch up on-demand here.