Guess who’s back again? Yes, it’s Ryan Tubridy, returning in a style that perfectly fits his television persona – it’s as if he designed it himself. Indeed, as per his own admission leading up to the programme’s initiation, it was indeed his brainchild. Ryan has been nurturing this idea for some time now, yet the pursuit of time to execute it always seemed elusive. This was until his recent departure from RTÉ provided him ample leisure to create his latest podcast – The Bookshelf with Ryan Tubridy. This show was not only created by Tubridy but seems to be a perfect fit for him – a lover of books with vast interview experience and comfortable radio presence.
Also accessible on YouTube in video format (which I view as a shortcut), was launched early this morning with its very first episode – a 49-minute chat with the highly acclaimed children’s author and comedian, David Walliams. He has an exceptional standing as the most successful children’s author who began writing post 2000. This titling presumably came about to distinguish him from JK Rowling.
The show boasts a clever format: it provides a basic structure to the guest, which then allows them to explore their thoughts freely. Tubridy clarifies this at the outset, mentioning that the conversations will explore the guests’ lives through the lens of three chosen books: a childhood favourite, a tear-jerker and a life-changing read. The production quality, handled by NK Productions (also responsible for Path to Power, hosted by Matt Cooper and Ivan Yates), is top-notch, delivering smooth edits, pleasant sound quality and a beautiful balance between Walliams’s deep baritone and Tubridy’s effervescent tenor.
The eclectic and unexpected collection of books that Walliams introduces offers a tantalising peek into his world. His early fascination with Dr Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham, experienced as a child bravely embarking on a whirlwind of magic and fear with his father by his side, is clear. He then goes on to express the joy he takes in reading classic books by Julia Donaldson to his son, Alfred, revealing that they’re best enjoyed when the characters are brought to life with robust voice inflections inspired by Ray Winstone.
The discussion unfolds further into the world of emotions unleashed through reading, the stark realization of mortality, and then loops back to life as Walliams charts out the book that made a profound impact on him – The Complete Poems of Philip Larkin. Walliams delves deep into the themes of precise language use, truthful emotional expression, and how dealing with sombre themes impacts readers. Tubridy gives Walliams the room to explore these themes in depth, which, in turn, lead to storytelling about his encounters with former Soviet Union leaders and Nobel laureates, demonstrating his fascination with Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Unconsoled.
NK Productions’ The Bookshelf includes far more than just three questions and good-natured charm. It’s a celebration of literature and the creation of unique worlds through their pages. Despite belonging to the group that favoured Toy Show, I believe The Bookshelf could be the best platform yet for Tubridy. Its unique focus and intimacy are not premised on quick wit and swift shifts, but rather on listening. However, I’m hopeful that Tubridy will step out of his comfort zone with his next guest, perhaps moving away from middle-aged white men with similar fashion sense to his own. I, for one, will be tuning in.