feels like home: tubridy says he often mistakes interviewing couch for his own
Saturday August 09 2008
DESPITE a shaky start to his television career, Tubridy Tonight host Ryan Tubridy has revealed he's now so at home on the interviewing couch that he sometimes gets it confused with his own living room.
The quirky RTE star returns to the small screen this year for his fifth season presenting the popular Saturday night show and is looking forward to unveiling a brand new-look set.
"I've had a bit of a hand in the design and I'm really happy with it, I can't wait to get back on air to try it out."
After a five-week break from the airwaves, Tubridy says, "I absolutely cannot wait to get back to work. Before I went on holidays I was so exhausted and really needed the down time but now I'm just looking forward to getting back to it.
During his time off, the popular host enjoyed a luxury trip abroad for pal Kathryn Thomas' programme No Frontiers.
However, now it's time to get back to reality for the down-to-earth star who says, "I have lots of exciting new guests lined up this season.
guests
"At this point I know what it's all about and how to approach it, I feel comfortable talking to the guests and grilling them about their life stories," he added.
In fact the father-of-two enjoys his role as a television presenter so much he says, "When I go in there to present Tubridy Tonight, I just sit back on the couch and relax and enjoy my evening."
Joking he says, "Sometimes I get so into it that I forget myself and get confused and think I'm sitting in my own home waiting on a Chinese and then a guest arrives and I snap to it."
However it hasn't been all plain sailing for the Dublin man since he made the transition from radio to television, with the highly publicised breakdown of his marriage to RTE producer Anne-Marie Power in 2006.
The couple met at RTE in 1997 when Mr Tubridy spotted Anne Marie in an RTE studio. He later said: "My head turned and my life changed. I pursued her relentlessly. I was quite taken by her."
Speaking of his love life nowadays the chat show host says, "There's no one special in my life right now. I'm just taking it easy concentrating on my daughters and my career but when the time is right I'm sure someone will come along."
- Lorna Nolan
