Who could be the next Liveline presenter?
Here's a list of the runners and riders for the next Liveline hose.
Alamy / RollingNews / RTÉ / The Journal
Alamy / RollingNews / RTÉ / The Journal / RollingNews / RTÉ / The Journal
TALK TO WHOM?
That is the question on the lips of bosses at RTÉ Radio One looking to fill the Joe Duffy-sized hole at the presenter chair of Liveline.
Duffy, who
announced that he will retire at the end of June after 27 years hosting one of the most-popular radio programmes in the country
, is, it's fair to say, a much-admired broadcaster renowned for having the 'common touch' with callers and an innate ability to make a connection down the phoneline.
So, who is best suited to take over the reins of Liveline? Or will the broadcaster scrap the 40-year-old programme?
Katie Hannon
Hannon regularly fills in for Duffy during the summer holidays and manages the unpredictability of the show well.
She is currently the bookies' favourite for the role. The journalist's schedule might be full with her role on 'Upfront' and the station's new podcast series.
The Irish Times' radio reviewer Mick Heaney has said the Co Kerry native seems '
at home
' answering the public's calls, and labelled her a '
natural in the Liveline seat
' in 2021.
Colm Ó Mongáin
Ó Mongáin has 19 years of experience at RTÉ and a record of hosting shows such as the Late Debate and his weekend programmes, that sometimes share a similar unpredictable nature in debate and discussion.
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He first filled in for Duffy on Liveline in 2023 and has returned to present the show a number of times since, but his career has been defined in roles in the hard-news section of RTÉ – making him a less-likely candidate.
Philip Boucher Hayes
Boucher Hayes has also been a stand-in for Duffy and, like the exiting presenter, has a history of challenging and questioning to get to the bottom of a story.
In recent years the presenter has been reporting on Ireland's climate action and presenting programmes on climate change. Boucher Hayes has also conducted a number of
well-received
'deep dive' podcasts and radio programmes.
Jennifer Zamparelli
The Irish Mirror
reported today
that Zamparelli is in contention for the role as Duffy's replacement. She previously told the same newspaper that she would be honoured to do so. She has, however, accepted that it would be 'very difficult shoes to fill'.
Ryan Tubridy
Who knows? Maybe Tubridy and RTÉ Radio One will bury the hatchet. The broadcaster, who left the station following the 2023 payments scandal, is being tipped as an outside shot by bookmakers.
Miriam O'Callaghan
Broadcaster O'Callaghan is one of the few presenters on this list who has not expressed an interest in or filled in for Duffy's job before.
The Dubliner might have her hands full presenting current affairs show Prime Time and a Sunday RTÉ Radio One programme, but that has not stopped punters from placing their bets on the presenter.
No one
As Duffy himself said upon the announcement of his retirement yesterday, the programme has been running for 40 years, 27 of which he has been in the hotseat for.
With that, it can be hard to think of someone who might be capable enough to fill his shoes full time. Separately, as the
Irish Independent reported last year
, there is a significantly different mood at the station since the 2023 payments scandal.
RTÉ is also currently in its
first round of voluntary layoffs
and approaches the deadline to
implement salary caps
later on this year. It could be easier for the station to cut its losses and celebrate the victory of Liveline, and leave it at that.
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Irish Independent
5 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Think you could be the new Joe Duffy? RTÉ has just advertised his job
The popular broadcaster will step down from his show in two weeks time after 27 years helming the flagship RTÉ Radio 1 lunchtime show and 37 years with the national broadcaster. RTÉ today released details of its 'expressions of interest' process for two new roles. This is on foot of a recommendation by the Government's expert advisory committee and as part of RTÉ's New Direction strategy. The national broadcaster has said it is looking for two key presenters, namely one for Liveline and another for its News & Current Affairs division. 'We would like to hear from presenters interested in areas including news, current affairs, general speech programming, entertainment, sport, music and the arts,' it said. A long list of potential presenters in each of these areas will be created as a result of this process and then refreshed every two years. 'When a presenting role becomes available, this longlist will be used as part of the process to identify suitable candidates. A shortlist will be created using a weighted criteria suitable for the specific role,' it said. Those shortlisted will be required to enter a further selection process for specific roles. The details of this process will be communicated at the appropriate time but may include an interview and or piloting, the statement added. RTÉ said it welcomed people with a 'positive outlook' to Irish, in addition to those with diverse backgrounds. 'Diversity and Inclusion are at the heart of what we do – both on-air and behind the scenes. We are committed to building a more inclusive environment and tackling under-representation while embedding inclusion at every stage of the employee journey,' it said. 'We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, without regard to gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, social experience, race and ethnicity, disability, civil and family status, religious belief and membership of the Traveler Community.'


Irish Post
5 hours ago
- Irish Post
Mercedes-Benz announced as car partner for The Traitors Ireland
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RTÉ News
6 hours ago
- RTÉ News
RTÉ seeks expressions of interest for presenter roles for radio and news
As broadcaster Joe Duffy prepares to retire from Liveline on RTÉ Radio 1 on Friday 27 June, RTÉ has announced it is running an open internal and external 'expressions of interest' process for interested potential on-air presenters across RTÉ Radio 1 and News and Current Affairs. Signed by Patricia Monahan, Director of Audio and Deirdre McCarthy, Director of News and Current Affairs, they confirm that "candidates both inside and outside RTÉ" are being invited to apply across a "wide variety of areas". The advertisement confirms that this process fulfils one of the key recommendations of the Government's Expert Advisory Committee in its 2024 report. This follows a similar process run for RTÉ's 2fm last year, where external presenters including: Benny Bracken, Mikey O'Reilly, Demi Isaac and Hugh Carr, have been appointed to on-air roles on the station. The announcement confirms that the broadcaster is now launching an expressions of interest for candidates "interested in on-air presenting roles" including News, Current Affairs, General Speech Programming, Entertainment, Sport, Music and the Arts. The job advertisement references RTÉ Radio 1's position as the "most listened to radio station in Ireland" and that is it a "centre of excellent in Public Service Broadcasting". The statement points to potential presenting opportunities, including a reference to Mr Duffy's retirement saying that "as you know RTÉ Radio 1 currently has a role available for a presenter of Liveline," and also includes reference to RTÉ News and Current Affairs also having "a vacancy for a presenter with an initial assignment in radio news programmes and podcasting". The advertisement outlines the process in more detail, clarifying that a "long list of potential presenters" in each of the areas outlined will be created as a result of this process, and will be refreshed every two years. There is a reference though to the results of this call out being just "part" of the system to be appointed as a presenter, with the advert stating that when a presenting role becomes available, the longlist will be used as "part of the process" to identify suitable candidates. Cuirfear fáilte roimh iarratais ó dhaoine go bhfuil dearcadh dearfach acu i leith na Gaeilge. The salary is not disclosed, but the successful candidates will be based in Donnybrook in Dublin or "as required". The details are contained in the vacancies section on the RTÉ website, where potential interested candidates are invited to submit a cover letter, CV and a link to a show reel (maximum 10 mins) specifying their area(s) of interest. The advert details that those shortlisted will be required to enter a further selection process for specific roles, and that the details of this process will be communicated at the appropriate time but "may include interview and/or piloting". The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday, 4 July.