[Gary Baldy]

not to mention that (IIRC) Wogan and especially Norton had to prove themselves, they didn't just waltz from the top of Irish broadcasting into similar jobs in the UK.

He would be "Ryan who?" to anyone who isn't from Ireland, especially since people in GB can't receive Irish TV (well not without being on the west coast anyway). I also doubt the BBC would be willing to get the chequebook out when its own talent spend has been criticised and no doubt will do so again with today's annual report.

We can’t receive Irish TV via satellite, no, but there are a few dodgy boxes you can get with foreign channels on.