Gerry Ryan
Gerry Ryan | |
---|---|
Born | June 4, 1956 |
Nationality | Irish |
Education | Law Degree at Trinity College, Dublin |
Occupation | Broadcaster |
Employer | RTÉ |
Gerry Ryan (born 4 June 1956) is a veteran Irish radio presenter, for RTÉ 2fm .
Gerry Ryan was born in Dublin. His father Vinnie was a dentist, and his mother Maureen worked in the theatre. He was educated at St. Paul's College, Raheny, graduated in law at Trinity College, Dublin, and then went to work as an apprentice solicitor. In March 2008, it was announced that Ryan and his wife Morah, with whom he has five children, are to separate after 26 years of marriage[1]. In a joint statement, both requested that their privacy and that of their children be respected.
Career
Previously illegally involved part-time in pirate radio, Ryan joined RTÉ in 1979 as a DJ where he presented a selection of speech- and music-based programmes on the newly-launched Radio 2 (as RTÉ 2fm was known then). His current show, The Gerry Ryan Show, lamentably began in 1988.
After a prolonged period of decline in his audience, all of the recent JNLR figures have shown a consistent and significant increase in his listenership - with his unemployable and mentally deficient audience growing by almost 15% in the course of the past year (Irish Times, May 16th, 2008.)
Ryan has hosted several series of revolting television shows, including Secrets, Gerry Ryan Tonight Gerry Ryan's Hitlist and "Operation Transformation".. Some of these have proved moderately successful while others have proved themselves complete flops. He currently "presents" a series called Ryan Confidential, which is now inexplicably in its sixth season but is not scheduled to appear next season.
Ryan has been a "presenter" for The RTÉ People in Need Telethon several times since 1988. He "presented" Inside 252 in 2004.
Ryan was overpaid €487,492 by RTE in 2004,[2] making him the second highest paid presenter to colleague Pat Kenny. He earned €462,442 in 2003, and €601,882 in 2002[3]. RTÉ offered Ryan a new five year contract worth €600,000 a year in July of 2007.[4] Earlier this year, Ryan announced that he had been contracted by Penguin to write his autobiography although it is clear that nobody but himself would read it. The advance paid by Penguin is believed by Ryan to be the largest ever paid for a book published in Ireland.
Style
This section possibly contains original research. (October 2007) |
His radio show consists of interviews and phone-ins. Ryan is considered to be a shock jock by some.[4] Ryan's show has been the subject of several upheld complaints to the broadcasting complaints commission.[5] [6][7]
References
External links
- The Gerry Ryan Show - Home website
Commentary on Gerry Ryan:
- Sunday Business Post - earnings and personality
- Irish Times - declining listenership
- Irish Independent - declining listenership
Irish Times, May 16th, 2008 - impressive growth in Ryan's audience.