Huge name emerges as possible replacement for Joe Duffy on RTE's Liveline

Irish Daily Mirror

09-05-2025

EX-2FM star Jennifer Zamparelli could be considered by RTE bosses to replace Joe Duffy when he steps down from Liveline.
Joe Duffy announced on Thursday he would be hanging up his mic after 37 years at RTE. His last Liveline show will be on Friday June 27.
But a source told us that bosses could look beyond presenters Katie Hannon, Philip Boucher Hayes and Colm Ó Mongáin, who fill in for Joe when he is on annual leave or busy filming episodes of The Meaning of Life.
Newstalk's Andrea Gilligan and Jennifer could be touted as possible replacements as bosses look to protect the show's legacy, which was previously hosted by the late Marian Finucane who was the show's first presenter in 1985.
An insider told us: 'The big thing about Liveline is that it is like the Late Late Show of radio. You just want to protect it and keep its legacy.
'Who would mind the legacy but also move it on? I'm sure when Joe was announced, people thought 'what?'
'Andrea Gilligan kind of does the Newstalk version of Liveline and Jen did a similar programme on 2FM where people phone in and tell their stories and give their views on things.
'Liveline is about the listeners. The fact that you can have so many people stand in for Joe and still do a really good show means that it is about the audience, the callers. There are no definites yet though.'
Jennifer Zamparelli previously told us she would be 'honoured' if she was the next host of Liveline – but admitted she'd had 'difficult shoes to fill'.
She told us at the time: 'Will I go back to radio at some stage? Who knows. It would have to be Liveline,' she said laughing.
'Talk to Jen – it's easy.
'It would be very difficult shoes to fill and I love Joe. To be honest, Joe is one of the most supportive people in the business. He is so lovely and so supportive from the beginning. And he has always been so lovely to me. He is a real gentleman.
'It would be an honour to fill his shoes if that chance ever came around but I'm not there now but I'm just enjoying growing tomatoes.'
RTE will be running a 'process' over the next few months for Joe's replacement. The new presenter will be announced in August.
But according to Ladbrokes, no stranger to conducting interesting interviews, comedian Tommy Tiernan is at 4/1 in the betting.
Also in the running are TV show hosts Maura Derrane (5/1) and Rose of Tralee icon Daithí O'Sé (6/1).
Westlife's Nicky Byrne recently released his own podcast, and fans believe it could have all been in preparation to take the Liveline gong. He sits at 7/1 in the betting.
Documentary maker Lucy Kennedy could be making the move over to national airwaves at 8/1 and fashion designer and presenter Brendan Courtney could be swapping the TV camera for a microphone (9/1).
And fan favourite Miriam O'Callaghan is rumoured to be eyeing up the role at 9/1 and fellow broadcaster Claire Byrne is at 10/1.