Ryan Tubridy will make a shock return to Irish TV this month

"He does mention the words Late Late Show twice in it."

Ryan Tubridy is lined up to return to Irish TV screens shortly in a shock return since his last appearance as Late Late Show host in May. The newly appointed Virgin Radio host is set to begin his radio duties in January, it was announced last month. It has now been revealed that the former RTÉ presenter will appear on Virgin Media television later this month alongside former colleague Dave Fanning for his show Fanning At Whelan's. However, it won't be the RTÉ bashing that some might hope, as Fanning makes clear there's a wide berth on the topic in the conversation.

Ryan Tubridy to return to Irish TV this month

Tubridy will appear as a guest on the music show, where he will name his six favourite songs of all time and what they mean to him. Speaking to the Sunday World, Fanning said: "I’m not talking to him about RTÉ, it’s just about the music. He does mention the words Late Late Show twice in it. I don’t go near it [RTÉ’s hidden payments controversy involving Tubridy]. "I just want to talk to him about his music and wish him good luck on Virgin Radio and all that type of thing. I’m not interested in using Ryan to bash RTÉ, it doesn’t make sense, he’s on the programme talking music … next." The eight-week series will feature up-and-coming artists, while also featuring conversations around the late Christy Dignam, Sinéad O'Connor and Shane MacGowan. The series also features a 15-minute unedited interview between Fanning and O'Connor from 2000, with the presenter saying: "I just talk to her about the album and in doing that she talks about who she is. She’s erudite, she looks good and she’s up for it…and I thought, just do it for the year that’s in it." Fanning At Whelan's will air on Saturdays at 10 pm on Virgin Media Two and repeated on Thursdays at 11 pm on Virgin Media One.