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AS TikTok’s popularity shows no signs of waning, the app has quickly become a hub for promoting and sharing health content – including supposed quick fixes for shedding weight, crammed into bite-sized videos.
From testimonials from people who’ve undergone astounding weight loss transformations, to tip videos on how to achieve a calorie deficit and high-protein meal advice, there’s much to choose from.
Weight loss content on the app can toe the line between informative and dangerous.
TikTok recently went to the lengths of banning #SkinnyTok, a landing page that served as a hub for extreme dieting content, which critics said glamorised thinness and promoted disordered eating.
People using the hashtag will now be redirected to mental health support resources instead.
A number of weight loss ‘hacks‘ shared across TikTok make reference to blockbuster weight loss jabs, claiming to be ‘nature’s Ozempic‘.
According to Lucy Diamond, registered dietitian and clinical director for innovation at NHS weight management provider, Oviva, “none of them achieve the weight loss as a GL-P1 medication would”.
This is especially the case when you compare these supposed ‘hacks’ to medications like tirzepatide (Mounjaro) – known as the ‘King King’ of weight loss jabs – which spur users to drop 15 to 20 per cent of their body weight.
“A lot of them are over-promising and probably would be under-delivering in reality,” Lucy stated, pointing out that many tips shared across the platform also aren’t backed up with scientific evidence.
Concerningly, many of these trends will be put forward by healthcare professionals or people who claim to have nutrition credentials, imbuing viewers with a false sense of trust.
“Using that trust can be dangerous, because you think ‘Well, if it’s been said by a healthcare professional, it must be safe, it must be effective.”
“There is not one [TikTok weight loss hack] out of all of them that I would say is your golden ticket to weight loss.
“A lot of them are lacking robust evidence and not one of them has a direct comparison, a control trial against a GLP-1. So you can’t with any evidence say these are comparable to a GLP-1.”
On top of this, some of the weight loss tips shared across TikTok are just “bizarre”, Lucy added.
“Obesity is complex and simplifying how to treat it in quick fix videos can be really devastating for people who think that is going to be their answer,” she went on.
“And I do have a worry that these videos are appealing to people who don’t need to lose weight.”
For people whose health would be benefitted by weight loss, signposting them to the right support services is key, so they can make lifestyle changes that last in the long term, the dietitian said.
“If you following some of these quick fixes in the long run, I’d be concerned about the impact on health.”
From ‘natural’ supplements claiming to melt weight off like Ozempic and Wegovy, to everyday ingredients like green tea, olive oil and apple cider vinegar, we give the lowdown on seven TikTok weight loss hacks.
A supplement called berberine has been all over social media for a while, with influencers claiming it’s helped them shed stubborn pounds in a matter of weeks.
Some studies do suggest that berberine could aid weight loss and improve overall metabolic health.
A 2020 review of trials found that while the compound seemed to reduce BMI and waist circumference, it didn’t significantly reduce overall body weight.
Another review conducted in 2022 found significant decreases in both weight and BMI in people who took berberine, though the individual studies reviewed were inconsistent and did not allow definite conclusions.
But would Lucy recommend berberine for weight loss?
“Absolutley not,” she told Sun Health.
Common side effects include diarrhoea, constipation, gas and an upset stomach. Large quantities may be fatal.
“It’s sad that it’s deemed as a natural alternative to Ozempic,” Lucy said.
“There is some evidence that it possibly helps lower blood sugar levels slightly – but if you’re not absorbing your food, it is going to have that effect.
“For me, that is not a healthy way to lose weight. Trying to stop your food being absorbed and having awful side effects is not a healthy way to lose weight.
Ozempic is often used as a catch-all term for weight loss drugs, but the drug – whose active ingredient is semaglutide – is actually prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes and has the added benefit of making users lose weight.
Its manufacturer Novo Nordisk later released a higher dose of semaglutide under the brand name Wegovy to treat obesity.
Using Ozempic for weight loss would mean you’re using it ‘off label’ and not for its intended purpose.
Not only could that be dangerous to you, it could also mean you’re depriving diabetes patients from vital medication.
Wegovy and Ozempic are in a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA).
They work by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone produced naturally by your gut when you eat food, which signals to the brain that you’re full and prevents you from overeating.
“There is no big study showing it’s impactful and proven to support weight loss.”
Lucy also took issue with the fact that berberine is often described as the ‘nature’s Ozempic’, the natural alternative to GLP-1 drugs for weight loss.
It’s misleading to compare the supplement to Ozempic or its weight loss medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro.
These medications work by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone produced naturally by your gut when you eat food, to control blood sugar levels, slow down digestion of food and reduce hunger pangs.
Berberine – a supplement derived from plant compounds – can’t achieve the same pharmaceutical effect and it’s unlikely to be a quick and easy fix for weight loss.
“We’re often sold on needing to be healthy and organic and [berberine] sells itself as being the healthier route to weight loss instead of a GLP-1 medication,” Lucy pointed out.
“For someone that really needs the GLP-1 treatment, is it delaying or causing someone to go down that path when actually there is a safe alternative route that might be right for them, that’s medically supervised, supported with diet and lifestyle changes and has long term health benefits?”
Creators claim diluting a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in water and guzzling this down at the start of the day or before meals could reduce your appetite, bring down bloating and help burn fat – as well as regulate blood sugar levels.
A widely quoted study from 2009 followed 175 people who consumed a drink containing one or two tablespoons of vinegar each day.
After three months, those who consumed vinegar lost very modest amounts of weight – about two to four pounds.
Another small study found that vinegar consumption might help suppress appetite – but it did so by making participants feel sick.
But according to Lucy, “there is no evidence that shows us that apple cider vinegar is proven to have a fat burning effect”.
“I think there is some suggesting it might slightly lower your post-meal rise in glucose, but not enough to be a convincing story that this can help with preventing diabetes, treating diabetes and be effective for weight loss,” she went on.
“For me, the more worrying thing about [taking apple cider vinegar for weight loss] is the effect it might have on the stomach in the long run.”
The condiment’s “high acid level” could irritate the stomach and “possibly” be damaging in the long-term.
Sipping on a cup of green tea is a healthy habit – especially if you’re having it instead of sweet or fizzy drinks.
But can it help melt off pounds, like some TikTok creators claim? The evidence remains unclear, according to Lucy.
One creator – who bills herself as a holistic chef and certified nutrition coach – claimed “green tea is one of the best beverages for getting fat off the body”, advising viewers to drink “three to five cups to notice a difference”.
Another – this one a fat loss dietitian – claimed the polyphenols in the tea helped stimulate GLP-1, the fullness hormone weight loss jabs mimic.
Others link green tea’s caffeine content to its fat loss potential, with some creators claiming that drinking the stuff on an empty stomach could help burn fat, according to Lucy.
The drink has also been the subject of extensive research, but evidence remains shaky, the dietitian stated.
“The evidence base is just not there,” she said.
“And if you’re comparing [green tea] to a GLP-1 – which can bring on 15 to 20 percent body weight loss – this is not going to get you there.”
At most, drinking green tea will amount to “a couple of percentages of fat on the weight loss front”.
She called out “the unrealistic expectations of overpromising something supplementary to your diet that’s going to help lose your weight”.
“It may alongside a healthy balanced diet, but it’s the healthy balanced diet and lifestyle changes that’s driving weight loss,” the dietician stated.
Another form of tea called Yerba Mate has also been linked to weight loss on the app.
Like green and black tea, the traditional South American brew contains caffeine. It can be consumed both warm and cold.
Creators – one of them a plastic surgeon – claim the brew can help increase the metabolism, thus leading to weight loss.
Another said drinking Yerba Mate had “snatched” her waist after having kids, so much so that her relatives questioned whether she was taking weight loss jabs. She touted the brew as a “natural” solution to weight loss.
While Yerba Mate might feel “newer on the market”, Lucy said: “I think it’s just your next green tea.
“It’s the shiny new version of your green tea in the weight loss arena because it’s claiming the same things: it’s going to speed up your metabolism, it’s going to reduce your appetite.
“And yes, some of us experience suppression of appetite for a short period after caffeine.
“But that is not going to be a great energy expenditure to lead to impactful weight loss in the short term or long term.”
She took issue to health professionals peddling the product on the app without sufficient evidence.
“As a dietitian, the title is protected and we’re on a health care professionals council, so we have to be really careful that anything we say externally is always backed by evidence.
“Have we got a big trial or a big study that can tell us that, yes, this is factually correct, this is going to be your answer to weight loss?
“If we don’t have that, we have to tread very carefully and ensure that everything we do say is evidence based.
“And ideally, the study will not be just in a small cohort and not in animals, but a larger, robust clinical trial in humans that shows some great outcomes in humans.”
The so-called ‘Slavic girl diet’ has been making the rounds on TikTok since last year.
It rests on the premise that Eastern European and Russian women stay slim thanks to humble staples like buckwheat and pickled vegetables.
Videos made under the hashtag have captions like “Slavic girls know the ultimate trick to staying skinny is buckwheat” and “debloating secrets of Slavic women”.
“The Slavic diet is full of de-bloating foods that keep your waist tiny and skin glowing,” one creator claimed.
Lucy was slower to dismiss this trend compared to others, saying it “sits on the fence” when it comes to weight loss research.
Buckwheat – small, nugget-like grains that can be eaten in the same way as rice – is gluten free and high in protein and fibre.
“We know that a high-protein, high-fibre diet – like buckwheat – really does aid satiety, so it keeps you fuller for longer and is digested more slowly by the stomach,” she said.
“Increasing your fibre and increasing your protein are the right things to do to help with satiety and are also a foundation for a healthy way to lose weight.
“There are really robust clinical trials that support that a high fibre diet helps with weight loss, but also helps with your overall health. It actually reduces the risk of certain cancers, improves your cardiovascular health
“So part of me kind of agrees with this, but not fully.”
The dietitian noted that “any monogenic diet is not your answer”.
Simply eating more buckwheat won’t be the key to healthier habits and weight loss. Instead, you should be upping your fibre with other foods, such as beans, lentils and pulses, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Aim for at least 25 grams a day.
But do go easy on the fibre at first, Lucy advised
While foods with the nutrient can help with bloating and constipation, increasing it too quickly – especially if you’re not drinking enough water or exercising regularly – can “have the reverse effect”.
“So I think it comes with some terms and conditions that are not advertised by the shiny flat stomach” in TikTok videos, Lucy said.
Were you to browse through weight loss content on TikTok, it’s likely that creators will include drinking lots of water in their lists of tips.
Some will advise keeping a filled water bottle on you at all times, while others prescribe amounts such as three litres or gallon a day – which to Lucy seemed ludicrous.
“There are benefits to hydration from a concentration perspective, from a bowel perspective.
“So, for me hydration is key – but healthy hydration in line with the guidance, six to eight glasses a day.
“From a weight loss perspective, I don’t think there is any solid evidence to be recommending it.”
She mentioned that some creators claim drinking water will help ‘flush out’ your digestive system.
“It’s rare, but it can be dangerous to be flushing huge amounts through your body, through your kidney,” Lucy warned.
But the dietitian did acknowledge that “sometimes hunger cues can be confused with thirst”, so staying well hydrated throughout the day is key.
“It’s quite an old school [tip], have a glass of water before your meal,” she said, pointing out that there is some “small evidence” that having water before a meal may result in modest weight loss – but only “in combination with following calorie reduced diets”.
Another study from 2009 showed that people ate fewer calories if they water before meals.
“Hydration is great, overhydration is crazy,” Lucy stressed.
Social media users have claimed that taking a shot of olive oil in the morning could “kickstart” your metabolism and help with weight loss.
But Lucy wasn’t so sure about the unorthodox hack.
“Olive oil has its health benefits – from a cardiovascular disease perspective it definitely has its place at the table.
“But when it comes to a weight loss tool, I have not seen convincing evidence for it.
“It isn’t a magic quick fix because a tablespoon of olive oil is the same calorie-wise as a tablespoon of fat, so it’s not saving you any calories.”
It probably won’t do much for your gut health either – fibrous food and probiotics are much more likely to help, the dietitian went on.
Stick to drizzling olive oil on your salad rather than shotting it, Lucy advised.
ELON Musk sent the internet into a crazy spiral on Thursday as he publicly lashed out at former friend Donald Trump on X.
The US president was quick to hit back at the Tesla boss with several bitter barbs of his own as their feud suddenly reignited in front of the world.
The internet had been eagerly watching the nuclear dispute as it unfolded after hours of outlandish Jefferey Epstein claims and brutal impeachment barbs by Musk.
Trump hit back on Truth Social saying Elon was “wearing thin” around the White House.
He later warned the US government could end all federal contracts with Musk’s companies if the insults continued to fly.
Here are social media’s best reactions to the intense clash between the two mega powers.
Famous 2004 film Mean Girls has managed to create a long lasting legacy online with the Trump/Musk feud now even being linked to the movie.
The picture shared online is taken from the perspective of Musk who is looking at the iconic “Burn Book” from the film.
Trump’s face has been added to the page in place of Mean Girl’s villain Regina George.
The text above the image is the exact same as in the movie which says: “This girl is the nastiest skank b***h I’ve ever met. Do NOT TRUST HER. She is a fugly s***!”
One of the quickest memes to emerge from the explosive fallout was an expertly AI generated image of a steely-faced Trump dressed as Soviet tyrant Joseph Stalin.
A smiley Musk was stood next to him.
But a second image posted alongside it showed Musk suddenly disappearing from the picture.
The two-part joke was hinting at a possible “Great Purge” being ordered by Trump similar to what Stalin ordered in the mid 1930s.
The purge – also known as the Great Terror – is a damning historical period which saw Stalin axe dozens of his political allies in the Soviet Union.
Any threat to Stalin’s regime was made to go through sham trials which resulted in them being removed from any form of power.
The government claimed they were getting rid of suspected party dissenters.
The meme was posted shortly after Trump announced on Truth Social that he in fact asked Musk to leave his role within the US government.
The president said the SpaceX chief was “wearing thin” and “went crazy” during his final weeks close to the White House.
Musk is a famously persuasive man with him even claiming on Thursday he is the main reason why America re-elected Trump.
This created a whole load of hilarious comments and tweets on X as some jokingly ordered Musk to launch a coup on Washington.
One of the viral posts featured an image of the billionaire in a khaki jacket pointing at the camera.
The pose had a striking similarity to the iconic Uncle Sam poster from the early 19th century.
It was followed by the caption: “Reports that Muskovite forces led by Elon Musk are preparing to march on Washington.”
The term Muskovite has been used before by Russian state television.
In October 2023, they hailed the world’s richest man after he posted a meme of himself ridiculing Ukraine for asking for US aid during the war.
In response, Kremlin TV presenter Olga Skabeyeva described the tech mogul as “Elon the Muscovite” on Russia-1.
As Trump and Musk’s relationship capitulated before the internet’s eyes, many users jumped at the chance to speculate on a potential replacement to join Trump’s inner circle.
The leading candidate was Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
The Zuck and Elon already share a number of similarities.
They both sit at the very top of the official world’s rich list with Musk at number one and Zuckerberg sat just behind in second.
And both men own major social media platforms.
Musk famously acquired Twitter and transformed it into X whereas Zuckerberg created Facebook, now Meta, in 2004.
Trump already has a growing relationship with Zuckerberg after Meta donated $1m (£786,000) to an inauguration fund for the president.
The pair also shared dinner together at Mar-a-Lago in November.
But much like with Musk, the two have shared a turbulent past.
In 2017, Trump hit out at Facebook for being “anti-Trump” after the platform banned his account following the Capitol riots on January, 6, 2021.
Two of the most liked memes circulating around the internet on Thursday featured Tesla Cybertrucks.
The powerful beasts are the brainchild of Musk and his remarkable staff at Tesla factories across the US.
But for one unlucky motorist his Cybertruck may be forced to stay in the garage forever after the public spat.
An image shows a parked up Tesla with the American flag emblazoned on the side in truly patriotic fashion.
But superimposed over the top is the image of a defiant Trump just seconds after he was shot in the ear at a rally in Pennsylvania last year.
The legendary photo shows the bleeding Republican with his fist raised high in the air as secret service agents crowd around him.
The moment is notable in regards to the Trump/Musk feud as the assassination attempt is believed to be one of the main reasons why Musk joined team Trump.
It has even been revealed that Trump is yet to remove the Cybertruck he was gifted by Musk from the White House parking garage.
The second Tesla related meme shows the burning wreckage of a Cybertruck sat next to Trump Hotel in Las Vegas.
The image is taken from the tragic New Year’s Day incident when former soldier Matthew Livelsberger shot himself in the head just seconds before blowing up the Tesla.
The X user suggests the flaming Cybertruck is comparable to how Musk has ignited a fiery feud with Trump.
LIONS duo Josh van der Flier and Hugo Keenan are absent for Leinster for tomorrow’s URC semi-final with Glasgow.
But boss Leo Cullen insisted that both are okay for the Lions, and could resume training next week IF Leinster can secure a final date at Croke Park.
Van der Flier limped out of last week’s 33-21 victory over Scarlets with a hamstring issue while Keenan has a slight calf issue that flared up during the week.
And that meant both miss out and join fellow Lions’ Tadhg Furlong and Garry Ringrose (both calf) in the treatment room, though all four are expected to be fit soon.
Cullen said: “Josh went off at the weekend so he’s not back for this weekend. It’s tight. It’s coming a little bit too soon.
“It’s coming a little bit too soon for Garry obviously, Hugo has picked up a niggle as well, so he’s out.”
But Tommy O’Brien returns to the side after missing out last week through injury while flanker Scott Penney gets his shot in the back row in place of van der Flier.
Leinster: J O’Brien, T O’Brien, J Osborne, J Barrett, J Lowe, S Prendergast, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, D Sheenan, T Clarkson, J McCarthy, J Ryan, R Baird, S Penny, J Conan.
Replacements: R Kelleher, J Boyle, R Slimani, RG Snyman, M Deegan, L McGrath, R Byrne, C Frawley.
CHILDCARE fees for around 190,000 parents across Ireland will be capped at just under €200 each week, it has been confirmed.
Minister for Children Norma Foley said parents paying the highest fees could save a whopping €1,500 each year under the new plan.
And the Fianna Fail TD said the move marks “important steps” towards the commitment to reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child over the course of this Government’s five-year term.
A new maximum fee cap will now be introduced for all new services availing of State funding through the Core Funding scheme from this September.
This will lower the maximum fees that can be charged depending on the number of hours provided.
Under these new maximum fee caps, the highest possible fees will be no more than €295 per week for a full day place of between 40-50 hours per week.
This will bring these fees closer to the average weekly fee of €197 for full day care.
These fees for parents are then reduced by State subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme and the free, universal two-year Early Childhood Care and Education preschool programme.
A parent being charged the maximum permissible fee of €295 per week for a full day place would be entitled to receive the universal National Childcare Scheme subsidy of €96.30.
This means a parents co-payment would be no more than €198.70 each week.
However, it has been confirmed that “higher subsidies are available for many parents”, depending on their level of income and the age and number of children in their family.
Confirming the new caps, Minister Foley said: “Since 2020, the amount of State funding in this area has increased from around €600 million to €1.37 billion this year.
“That has led to a 50 per cent reduction in the cost faced by parents on average and a record number of children – approximately 190,000 have benefitted from the National Childcare Scheme this year.
“So there has been progress. But I know that the cost of early learning and childcare is still far too high for many parents.”
In addition to the new fee cap, funds available through Core Funding will ensure the existing fee freeze, introduced in 2022, will remain in place for participating services.
Minister Foley said: “The extension of maximum fee caps to all services participating in Core Funding will reduce costs for families facing the highest fees in the country.
“It will address some of the extreme fee disparities across the sector in a meaningful way, so that there are more consistent rates in place for families in their local areas.
“It is another step along the way to achieving the commitment in the Programme for Government to a maximum payment by parents of €200 per child per month for early learning and childcare during the lifetime of this government.
“Core Funding has enjoyed high participation rates to date, with 92 per cent of services taking part.”
MAXIMUM fee caps were introduced for Partner Services joining Core Funding for the first time in September of last year.
Today’s announcement means that maximum fee caps will apply to all new and existing Partner Services from September.
Any fees above these caps will now be lowered.
Now, a parent availing of 45 hours of care for their child, and who is also in receipt of the maximum NCS subsidy, will not pay any more than €198.70 out of pocket costs.
The Fianna Fail TD also confirmed that a planned €60 million increase in State funding for this scheme over the next two years will bring the total amount of funding to a record €390 million.
She said: “I am confident that the increased funding available from September will allow for the continued partnership with early learning and childcare services.”
The additional €60 million includes €45 million specifically ring-fenced to support the outcomes of the committee made up of employer and employee representatives from the childcare sector.
Foley said: “We want the best of people caring for and educating children in the sector. To do that, and to keep them in the sector, they need to be paid fairly.
“This new €45 million in funding will be contingent on increased minimum pay rates for the sector being agreed by the Joint Labour Committee.
“Once new Employment Regulation Orders for the sector are agreed, this funding will specifically support employers to meet the costs of these increases to the minimum rates of pay in the sector.”
A MAJOR probe is under way after dozens of fake training results were allegedly submitted to a Government body.
The investigation was launched in April after a complaint was made to Blanchardstown Garda station over the issuing of up to 70 ‘Private Security Authority’ licenses.
The licence is issued to people who are seeking employment once they have completed a registered training course.
But Gardai now suspect PSA licences were issued after fraudsters supplied bogus training certificates from registered companies.
It’s understood schemers were selling the dodgy certificates for €400. It’s also believed the scam started in 2023.
The PSA confirmed an investigation was underway.
A spokesperson for the PSA said: “In April, the Private Security Authority become aware of an issue involving the submission of forged training results forms by some applicants when applying to the PSA for a security guard licence.
“The PSA took immediate steps to ensure that a licence issues only when an applicant has successfully completed the requisite training.
“Applicants who have submitted forged training results will have their application refused.
“The PSA is checking older applications and revoking licences obtained using a forged training results form.
“Details of applications supported by forgeries are being passed to the Gardaí for investigation and possible prosecution. Given that ongoing investigation, the PSA has no further comment at this time.”
One security source said: “The criminals are offering fraudulent forms to individuals and telling them they don’t have to attend the PSA approved course.
“There are people out there who have received no training yet they have the PSA licenses.
“The individuals who have obtained these licenses through bogus training certificates have no training in fire safety protocols, no training for physical intervention and no training for false arrest avoidance.
“A number of companies have been affected by this scam and something needs to be done about it.
“This is clearly an organised scam.”
At present, 41,447 PSA licences have been issued in Ireland.
The most popular PSA licence is the ‘Guarding Licence’ which allows individuals to work in areas of security where alcohol is not sold.
Other stats show that 12,702 licences were issued to people allowing them to work in pubs and clubs.
BRIAN Dowling has admitted he’s had a “tough” time recently as he fought back the tears in his emotional farewell statement on 98FM.
After more than two years at the helm, Brian called it quits on his radio show.
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 was the dad-of-two’s last time co-hosting his 98FM show today and emotions were at an all time high in the studio.
Brian got teary-eyed as he signed off saying: “I promised myself I wasn’t going to get upset. You’re tearing up, don’t tear up!
“I have had the best time here for nearly two and a half years. It’s been an absolute blast. It’s been an honour to sit in this chair for the length of time I have.
“I’m sure a lot of people thought, ‘Oh, Brian Dowling got a job – He’ll be in it six weeks and he’ll be gone’. I have given this show absolutely everything.
“I became a dad on this show. I’ve had television success on this show. I’ve had it all on this show.”
Brian has yet to disclose the reasons behind his decision to leave – as has his former co-host Suzanne.
The 46-year-old told listeners: “I can’t lie. It’s been tough recently, but I’ve tried to stay strong.
“I’ve stayed focused. I did my best. I’ve loved doing this. I’ve loved playing the music we’ve been playing.
“I’ve loved coming in every morning and chatting with Gavin and with Pat and with Nick and with Cathal and with Russell.”
Speaking to Leanne, who has filled in for Suzanne for the last four months, Brian said: “Thank you so much for sitting here since February beside me, holding my hand most days.
“This has been like my free therapy. Thank you.”
Leanne praised Brian saying: “It’s been a pleasure. We love you. You brought so much energy, such enthusiasm to what you do.
“I think you’ve proven so many people wrong as well. I think that that is the biggest, biggest thing. And you’re just, you’re a great person.
“We love spending time with you. All our listeners this morning have been sending in so many texts, so many WhatsApps saying the very same thing about how much you have kept them company over the last two years and how much you will be missed.”
Brian replied: “Listen, I’m lucky enough to meet our listeners on a daily basis. They are the salt of the earth, lovely people. I’ve had a laugh every single day.
“I’ve never taken the job for granted. I’ve appreciated every day. I’ve been sat in front of this mic and I’m being myself and I don’t regret any of it.
“I don’t believe you should have regrets in life.”
The Kildare native revealed that he “took a risk” taking on the job initially as he had never worked on radio prior.
He explained: “I probably didn’t give myself enough credit. I was like, ‘I’ve signed up for this now. It’s over two years, what are we going to do?’
“But also to anyone, I joined the show when I was like 44 or 45-years-old, – never be afraid to take a risk. Never be afraid to say yes.
“I said yes to something that I couldn’t do. But I was very much like, ‘I’m going to learn how to do it’.”
And while Brian “still hadn’t ever ran the desk”, he was given the privilege of pressing the button “for the last time” as the segment came to a close.
Brian chose Oops!… I Did It Again by Britney Spears to play him out.
He got choked up as he finished off his time on air saying: “You’ve been listening to Brian Dowling on 98FM. I’ll talk to you later.”
Gachiakuta, the upcoming anime series, has got the entire anime community buzzing with anticipation. Ever since the anime adaptation for the series was announced, fans have been calling it a potential powerhouse in the 2025 awards season. While Dandadan and Solo Leveling won several awards in the Crunchyroll Anime Awards and cemented themselves as the […]
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