Maia Dunphy says Tubridy told her about plan to leave Late Late last August

James Cox

Maia Dunphy has said Ryan Tubridy told her "in confidence" of his plans to leave The Late Late Show last August.

Mr Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly are appearing before the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee and Media Committee on Tuesday.

Mr Tubridy has reiterated on several occasions that his decision to step down as host of RTÉ’s Late Late Show programme was not linked to the discovery of the accounting issues by auditors.

However, this has been questioned by TDs and senators repeatedly at the Oireachtas committees.

Mr Tubridy insisted his decision to leave the Late Late Show "came from my heart and soul" and was a "very personal decision".

TV presenter and broadcaster Maia Dunphy has now backed up Mr Tubridy's claim, in a tweet she said he told her he had plans to step down as presenter of the radio show last August.

She wrote: "Ryan Tubridy told me in confidence last August that after much consideration, he was planning to leave the LLS at the end of the season. I have no skin in this game, but as some seem to think he decided to leave suddenly because of this debacle, I can tell you that’s not true."

Ryan Tubridy told me in confidence last August that after much consideration, he was planning to leave the LLS at the end of the season. I have no skin in this game, but as some seem to think he decided to leave suddenly because of this debacle, I can tell you that’s not true.

— Maïa Dunphy (@MaiaDunphy) July 11, 2023

She added that the conversation took place at the RTÉ Autumn launch.

Ms Dunphy wrote: "It was at the RTE Autumn launch. I’m not usually at it, but had to go to promote a show. I was a bit overwhelmed, as it was the first media event I’d been at since my Mum died. Ryan sensed I was struggling and took me out for some air. He’s good like that. That’s when he told me."