‘Irreplaceable’ RTE icon Bryan Dobson hailed ahead of bringing ‘wonderful career’ to end as star ‘will be s...

RTE legend Bryan Dobson has been hailed as “irreplaceable” by pal Anne Doyle ahead of his retirement today.

The veteran newsman is hanging up his Montrose microphone this lunchtime after almost 40 years working at the State broadcaster.

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Dobbo, 64, will sign off for one last time this ­afternoon when he wraps up his final edition of RTE Radio One’s News at One.

And the dad-of-two will look back on his long career during an appearance on tonight’s Late Late Show with Patrick Kielty.

But speaking before the big send-off, Dobson’s close friend of many years Anne told The Irish Sun how much the people of ­Ireland would miss him.

The former Nine O’Clock News presenter told us Bryan has been “an absolutely wonderful colleague and a genuine friend”.

She added: “It’s not often you get to use the word irreplaceable but Bryan is irreplaceable. He will be sorely missed by all and what a wonderful career he has had.”

Anne — who stepped down from her own role with RTE after 33 years of service in December 2011 — previously told how she enjoyed catching up with her old pal on the airwaves years after she’d quit.

The 72-year-old admitted: “If I’m around, I’ll listen to Bryan Dobson at lunchtime because I think the News at One with Bryan is ­excellent and it’s very informative.”

Dobson joined the national broadcaster in 1987 as a reporter with RTE Radio One’s This Week programme where he first cut his teeth as a young journalist.

In September 1996, he became a co-host on the Six One News and was subsequently the face of the TV broadcasts for many years.

He reported on major national and international events during his time in the hot seat, including memorably an interview with then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in 2006.

The ex-Fianna Fail leader came close to breaking down while discussing receiving money from friends while Finance Minister.

He also caused a stir when he branded anti-austerity protesters interrupting a live chat “idiots”.

The Dubliner left his position as Six One co-host on October 25, 2017 after 21 years to move to early morning radio on Morning Ireland to spend more time at home.

He then moved to News at One, with Dobson recently telling how he felt the time was right away from his current role given, as an RTE staffer, he’d have to retire once he turned 65 in 2025 anyway.

And announcing his retirement ­earlier this year, Dobbo said: “After 37 fantastic years with RTE the time has come to move on.

“I will miss working with some wonderfully talented and hardworking colleagues.

“RTE journalism depends on teamwork and I have worked with some of the very best. I am ­grateful, too, to the listeners and viewers who have given me their time and attention over the years.”

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