Many loyal Ryan Tubridy fans were left crestfallen on Monday when the RTE host didn't appear for his regular morning slot.
And it took Tubs until today to reveal the reason for his absence – Christmas shopping.
If we were disappointed not to hear the Dubliner's dulcet tones earlier this week, then the pay-off came today with a surreal story involving Ryan, a "nerdy" store – and Bruno Mars.
The 47-year-old regaled listeners with a madcap tale he picked up while visiting Retro Nation, a shop in Dublin city centre, while completing "a year's worth of shopping."
There, he said, the shop assistant told him he's not the first celebrity to set foot in the store – and he's certainly not the one with the most bizarre story.
While Taylor Swift is among the A-listers to have shopped at Retro Nation, Bruno Mars definitely has claim to the most unusual experience in there.
After approaching the counter with his purchases, Bruno was crestfallen to discover he only had dollars in his wallet.
And his shopkeeper had to send him to the local ATM to pick up euros so he could pay for the items.
Recounting the story, Tubs chortled: "Bruno Mars comes into the shop, and he says: 'I want this, this, this and this.'
"Your man packs it up, and he says: 'Thanks very much, Bruno.'
"And Bruno says thanks very much. And he takes his wallet, and he only has dollars. And the guy says: 'I'm really sorry.'
"He had to send poor old Bruno to the cash machine to get euro so he could pay the man!"
It was a story worth that was worth the wait, and it wasn't the only funny moment on Tubs's radio slot this morning.
He also told listeners about the "schoolboy error" he committed this morning – calling a colleague "mum."
The RTE host said he went "bright red" after making the mistake.
