BRIAN Dowling has admitted to feeling “uncomfortable” on his last day on 98FM.
The Virgin Media star revealed on Tuesday that he has called it quits on his radio show after more than two years on air.
Brian had been co-hosting a weekday morning show from 10am to 1pm with Suzanne Kane since March 2023.
However, the pair haven’t hosted the show together in months with Leanne Hanafin replacing Suzanne.
It’s the dad-of-two’s last time co-hosting his 98FM show today and emotions are high in the studio.
When Leanne asked how he feels, Brian said: “Do you know what’s really weird? I always feel last days are kind of uncomfortable. Even when it’s a decision you make and you’re happy about it and you’re excited.
“I just think they’re uncomfortable for everyone. Because I feel like everyone’s like, ‘Oh, yeah, bye’. I don’t really feel this is a goodbye. It’s more like, ‘Talk to you later’.”
The 46-year-old reflected on his radio journey and even revealed one stroppy moment in the studio saying: “Listen, I joined here and I hadn’t a clue what to do.
“One day Suzanne said to me, ‘Could you just lower your headphones down’, I took them off and put them on the ground.
“Honestly, I’ve been in television for years and hosting on my own and live shows and tape shows doing all that.
“But radio for me is so different. I have such a love for it now. Such a passion for it the way I do for telly.”
Brian has felt “utter joy” having “a laugh” on radio for the last two and a half years.
He said: “Even on those tough day, there’s been a few of them, on those bad days – I’ve still laughed. Even when I’ve been crying in between songs with you or when I was with Suzanne, and still laughing and still enjoying the job.
“It’s an honour to sit here. It’s an utter privilege to work in the industry that I work in and to speak to people every day.
“And music is not just music. Music is connected to people. It means something. Songs trigger memories, good, bad and indifferent.
“And for the last nearly two and a half years, I’ve been lucky enough to do that every day.”
‘SUCH A THRILL’
The Kildare native spoke about how he felt like he could be his “authentic self” on radio.
He explained: “I’ve been a certain version of myself for my 20s, 30s now I’m 47 next week.
“But this is the only job honestly, that I’ve ever actually been 100% myself.
“On The Six O’Clock Show, I’m obviously myself but you’re reigned in a bit, it’s live television. It’s very, very different. On this platform, I’m genuinely myself.
“On television, you’re scripted, there’s autocue, there’s this, that. Here you can just be yourself. And it’s been such a thrill to be able to actually be myself.
“I’ve learned so much about myself, about radio, about everything. It’s been such an amazing opportunity to every.”
He added: “To James and to Chris, to Pat, who have just been phenomenal, giving me this opportunity.
“To Suzanne, who sat there, to you, have been with me, to Ciaran. I’ve had such a blast. And this is a good day. This is not a sad day. It’s a day of celebration.”
