Maura Derrane has confirmed her return to RTÉ Radio One after becoming the favourite for Ryan Tubridy’s old job in the past week.
The RTÉ Today presenter made her radio debut on The Nine O’Clock Show on Radio One on Monday as she became the next big name to try to impress RTÉ bosses.
Since Ryan left the station following the fallout from the RTÉ payment scandal came to light in June, his morning slot has not had a permanent host.
Taking to the airwaves once more on Friday morning, Maua revealed she’s getting another week in front of the microphone as she thanked her listeners for their support.
‘Thank you so much guys for being with me all week on my first week flying solo on the airwaves. I shall be back with you at nine o’clock next Monday morning. See you then,’ she said.
Maura’s stint with the station has been such a success that Ladbrokes priced her as the 2/1 favourite for the hotly-contested race for the job.
Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: ‘Maura Derrane will be hosting the Nine O’Clock Show for the next couple of weeks and following a rapturous response from the show’s listeners, we have installed her as the frontrunner to win the race for the morning radio hot seat.’
Despite being the bookies choice, Maura is due to return to her Today Show duties with Daithi O’Se and Sinead Kennedy on Monday, September 25.
With the daytime show filmed in Cork, it remains unclear if Maura would be able to present the show from the rebel county if she’s given the nod.
Following Ryan’s exit, the show has been filled in mainly by comedian Oliver Callan and Keys To My Life presenter Brendan Courtney.
Admitting she was ‘nervous’ ahead of her first show, Maura shared the words of wisdom her nine-year-old son offered her ahead of her debut.
‘I was driving down to Galway on Friday with my nine-year-old son, Cal, and I was quite nervous and I was telling him that it is a big deal that I’m doing radio… And he goes: “Oh no, I hope you’re not going to turn into puke girl.” and I said: “What?!”‘ she shared, before explaining that she then realized the child was on about Puke Girl in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movie.
‘We went to see it with him about a month ago, the new film, and there was this budding journalist high-school kid and she had to stand up in front of her school, she wanted to be on air on their TV channel and she threw up,’ she said.
Maura added: ‘Fast forward to the end of the movie, and she has to tell the world that the Ninja turtles are good guys; they’re not the bad guy. So she gets in front of the TV screen again; turns green; gets sick again, but this time she continues on and manages to get through it.’
