Broadcaster Lottie Ryan is transitioning to Virgin Media to co-present The Six O’Clock Show, marking a significant career move after over 15 years with RTÉ. The departure comes as her son, Wolf, begins Junior Infants, a milestone that evoked strong emotions for Ryan. "I was full-on bawling," she admitted.
Ryan's career at RTÉ was deeply intertwined with her family history, as her late father, Gerry Ryan, was a founding broadcaster at Radio 2. She noted that her mother also visited Gerry's memorial plaque at Montrose as part of her own farewell to the broadcaster.
The period surrounding the RTÉ payments controversy in 2023 was particularly challenging. Ryan recalled the intense public scrutiny and how it affected the morale of her colleagues. "There was suddenly a massive magnifying glass over everyone," she stated, describing the difficulty of maintaining a public-facing role under such pressure.
Ryan has established strict boundaries regarding online criticism, stemming from a difficult childhood experience with bullying. "I was bullied horrifically in secondary school and I’ve no intention of allowing it to happen to me again with people I’ve never even met," she said. She prioritizes the opinions of her family and colleagues, choosing not to engage with unsolicited online comments.
However, motherhood has introduced a new dimension to public interaction. Ryan described parents as "the most judgmental group" and has encountered intrusive comments regarding her personal choices, including breastfeeding and decisions about having more children. In response, she has begun sharing more personal details about her experiences, such as a traumatic pregnancy and birth, to address judgmental remarks.
Ryan also reflected on her time at RTÉ, highlighting her co-hosting stint on Breakfast Republic and winning Dancing With The Stars in 2020 as career peaks. Her transition to Virgin Media includes working alongside Brian Dowling, whom she first met as a competitor on Dancing With The Stars. She expressed enthusiasm for her new role and the team.
Ryan, who turns 41, expressed a greater sense of comfort and a reduced tolerance for judgment that comes with age. She also discussed her long-term relationship with husband Fabio Aprile, emphasizing the importance of laughter and his cooking skills. Ryan continues to host the podcast No One Else Will Listen with her sister Bonnie, discussing the challenges of early parenthood and the evolving audio landscape.