‘Icon of broadcasting' Joe Duffy to retire from RTE
The Ballyfermot broadcaster made the announcement on Thursday as he signed off on his radio programme Liveline, which he has presented for 27 years.
The 69-year-old will present his final Liveline programme on Friday June 27.
'After 37 wonderful years here in RTE, and 27 years presenting Liveline, it has been an incredible honour and privilege to be part of a programme that relied entirely on trust: the trust of our listeners,' he said.
'People felt they could pick up the phone, ring Liveline and share their lives, problems, stories – sad, bad, sometimes mad and funny – their struggles, and their victories.
'I never took that for granted, not for a single minute. RTE has been a great place to work. Public service has always been at its heart.
'And now, after many happy years, I've decided the time has come to move on.
'I would like to thank you, the listener, for tuning in each and every day, it has been an honour to sit in this seat and hear your stories.'
Duffy joined RTE originally as a radio producer in 1989 and came to prominence as a reporter on the Gay Byrne Show.
He presented programmes like Soundbyte before taking over Liveline in 1998, and has attracted some 400,000 listeners to the call-in programme.
RTE director-general Kevin Bakhurst paid tribute to Duffy as 'an icon of broadcasting'.
He added: 'Whether breaking stories like the first powerful moments of the 9/11 attacks in the US, or helping the nation navigate the often heart-breaking challenges of a global pandemic, Joe Duffy's Liveline doesn't just have its fingers on the pulse, it is the pulse of the nation.
'Joe navigated controversies, unearthed scandals, exposed scams, fought misinformation and shone a light on topics long ignored, from historical abuse to the menopause and healthcare reform.
'Joe was always the guide, never the story. His journalistic insights were perfectly in balance with his human instincts, and Liveline under Joe became both a sanctuary for those seeking justice, and a public square of which Joe was in full control.
'Joe Duffy is an icon of broadcasting, and will be hugely missed by his listeners, his colleagues, and all who picked up the phone to the nation's hotline.
'I'd like to wish Joe all our best for his retirement and extend my warmest wishes to June and to Joe's family. He might be hanging up on the Liveline, but our loss is surely his family's most welcome gain.'
RTE said it would 'run a process' over the coming months to appoint Duffy's successor and make an announcement in the autumn.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
11 hours ago
- Metro
UK's 10 biggest EuroMillions wins ahead of tonight's £208,000,000 draw
Someone could become the UK's biggest ever lottery winner tonight after the EuroMillions jackpot reached £208,000,0000. It follows Tuesday's £199 million draw, which had no winner. Several UK ticket holders have scooped staggering EuroMillions jackpots, with some, like Joe and Jess Thwaite, from Gloucester going public, while many choose to remain anonymous. Here, we take a look at the UK's 10 biggest wins since the competition begun in 2004. As it stands, the biggest lottery win in the UK was in July 2022, when an anonymous ticket holder scooped £195,707,000. Joe and Jess Thwaite, from Gloucester, scooped a then record-breaking £184,262,899 with a Lucky Dip ticket for the draw on May 10 2022. At the time, Joe was a communications sales engineer, and Jess ran a hairdressing salon with her sister. Joe saw they'd won when he woke early the next morning. He said: 'I saw how much and I didn't know what to do. 'I couldn't go back to sleep, I didn't want to wake Jess up so I just laid there for what seemed like forever. 'I spent some time searching for property with no budget limit, which was a novelty!' When the alarm finally rang, Joe turned to Jess and said: 'I've got a secret, I've got something to tell you.' A single-ticket holder, who chose to remain anonymous, won the £177,033,699 jackpot for the draw on November 26 2024. The winner became immediately wealthier than popstar Dua Lipa, who is worth an estimated £104 million, and Michael Buble, worth around £63 million. Another person who chose to remain anonymous scooped £171,815,297 in the September 23 2022 draw. At the time this was the country's third biggest National Lottery win. The fifth biggest winner of the National Lottery to date scooped £170 million in 2019 after matching all the numbers in a Must Be Won draw on October 8. Colin and Chris Weir, from Largs, North Ayrshire, became the UK's biggest lottery winners the time after winning £162,653,000 on July 12 2011. Colin used £2.5 million of his fortune to invest in his beloved Patrick Thistle Football Club, which led to one of the stands at the stadium being named after him. The former TV camera man later acquired a 55% shareholding in the club, which was to be passed into the hands of the local community upon his death. The couple, who set up the Weir Charitable Trust in 2013 and donated £1 million to the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, divorced in 2019. They had been married 38 years. Colin died of sepsis and an acute kidney injury a few months later at the age of 71. Adrian and Gillian won £148,656,000 in a EuroMillions draw on August 10, 2012. The couple bought a Grade II-listed estate in Cambridgeshire, complete with cinema and billiards room, but it was sold in 2021, some years after the pair divorced. Gillian now has a conviction for threatening her ex-boyfriend, domestic abuse charity worker Gavin Innes, who she pushed and shouted at in 2017. She then married convicted fraudster Brian Deans, before ending their ending their relationship, claiming he asked for more and more money after blowing the monthly allowance she gave him on cars, watches and trips with friends. Adrian, meanwhile, started a relationship with ex-horse groom Samantha Burbidge, a woman 16 years younger than him, in 2017. He also dated waitress Lisa Kemp, but she dumped him after discovering saucy messages sent to his ex Marta Jarosz. More Trending In 2019, Adrian said he ate 50 Cornish pasties delivered to his mansion each week to cope with his loneliness. One ticket holder got lucky with a Superdraw rollover jackpot of £123,458,008 on June 11 2019, and decided to remain anonymous. Another ticket holder scooped more than £122 million in April 2021, but didn't go public. And the 10th biggest lottery winner in the UK won their fortune in April 2018, and chose to remain anonymous. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Tonight's EuroMillions £208,000,000 jackpot will be the biggest UK has ever seen MORE: 'I won the National Lottery – this is what I now do day to day' MORE: Experts reveal how you could win Friday's £208,000,000 EuroMillions jackpot
Metro
12 hours ago
- Metro
Jessie J reveals hidden pain after biopsy procedure following cancer diagnosis
Jessie J has given an update to fans after revealing she was diagnosed with 'early breast cancer' a few months ago. The 37-year-old singer is best known for hits including Price Tag, Domino and Bang Bang, as well as appearing on The Voice UK, The Voice Australia and The Voice Kids UK. However, Jessie – real name Jessica Ellen Cornish – has given an update after being diagnosed with cancer. She shared a video on her page of herself performing at the London jazz club Ronnie Scott's. The caption revealed that she was struggling not to overshare while performing and had just undergone five surgeries. 'I had 5 breast biopsies the night before this show, I was in some discomfort but so hyped to do it and I didn't want to cancel. The more I watch this show back I can see my brain working in complete over drive trying not to blurt it all out = 😂🧟♀️🥴 'Laughing and making jokes in hard times 🤝🏻 me She then joked about her comments in the video and added: 'And I am in-fact under your bed.' In the video, the star was her usual upbeat self, despite what was going on in her private life. She joked that she was uncomfortable because she drank a Joe and the Juice. 'Anyone here from Joe & The Juice?' she asked. 'On my first album, Who You Are, I know a lot of people called it Who Are You, which completely changed the meaning. Who are you? Where have you been? Pet peeve – people asking me, 'Where have you been?' Where the f**k have you been?' She later said: 'Being truthful in who you are – not your mates or your family or everyone else, but like what you love and who you are. What makes you special. That's all I wanna focus on.' She then referenced her boobs as she said: 'And my huge, perfect t**s. You know what I mean?' Announcing the news of her diagnosis on Instagram, Jessie explained she received the health news just before the release of her song No Secrets in April. 'Before No Secrets came out, I was diagnosed with early breast cancer,' she explained. 'I'm highlighting the word early. Cancer sucks in any form but I'm holding on to the word early.' More Trending She added that she had been 'in and out of tests' and dispute debating whether to tell people about her diagnosis, she decided to be open. 'I just wanted to be open and share it because selfishly, I do not talk about it enough,' she went on. 'I'm not processing it because I'm working so hard. I also know how much sharing in the past has helped me with other people giving me their love and support, and also their own stories. 'I'm an open book. It breaks my heart that so many people are going through so much. Similar and worse.' She then turned to humour as she said: 'I'm getting to keep my nipples … that's good. It's a very dramatic way to get a boob job!' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: TV presenter, 74, shocked as he's diagnosed with skin cancer live on-air MORE: Like Jessie J, I was told I had early breast cancer MORE: Jessie J 'going to disappear for a bit' after being diagnosed with breast cancer
Scottish Sun
17 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Joe Swash reveals the two things he and wife Stacey Solomon can't go on holiday without
JOE Swash has revealed the two things he and Stacey Solomon can't go on holiday without, as the family gear up for their summer getaway. The 43-year-old former EastEnders star and his X Factor contestant wife are planning to jet off to sunnier climates in the coming months - but haven't landed on a location yet. 5 Joe Swash has revealed the two things he and Stacey Solomon can't go on holiday without Credit: SWNS 5 The former EastEnders star and his X Factor contestant wife are planning to jet off to sunnier climates in the coming months Credit: Instagram / @staceysolomon But no matter where they go, they'll end up packing two things as they always do - a crafts box to keep their young children entertained, and flotation devices to keep them safe in the water. Joe said: "Stacey likes to travel with a craft box so the kids can stick out things together and do a bit of drawing. "But we also like to do things with the younger ones, Belle and Rose. Rex not so much now as he's a bit older and he can swim really well, but we make sure we get the armbands for swimming properly. "You can go on holiday and then it's a nightmare if you can't get the right ones. We always want to make sure they have the right swimming equipment so they're safe before we go, so we know that box is ticked." Joe revealed the family are weighing up where to go – but that decision is out of his hands and will be down to the kids. Joe said: 'We do like to go away with a lot of family as well so I'm sure there's going to be more than just us lot. 'We like to go to Turkey as that's where the kids love. We're not 100 per cent sure where it'll be, but there's going to be a lot of us. 'We are driven by what the kids love – wherever they want to go, we do.' Stacey Solomon hits back at cruel troll who branded her a 'horse mouth' He added: 'Our kids have never loved kids club, but they love water parks, swimming, playing sports, football and tennis. 'They've got huge amounts of energy to burn off and because we've got so many of them, there's never a dull moment. "I always say to Stacey that we need a holiday after the holiday.' One thing which never changes is the drenching one another with water when the sun is out. And as summer approaches, Joe has teamed up with Jammie Dodgers, to unveil a limited-edition Super Soaker made in collaboration with Nerf, which has been created to inspire kids to get outside in the sun, and 100 are up being given away every day until 31 July. 'We're always trying to get the kids out into the garden and we're chucking water at each other so it's right up my street. 'I usually come out on top because I can carry the most water.' Discussing his collaboration with the biscuit brand Joe said: 'Jammie Dodgers have been in my family for years - I grew up with them, they were something my mum used to buy and it's something our kids love having as well.' He also revealed his and Stacey's plans to turn their Pickle Cottage to Animal Farm – by getting in goats, pigs and other farmyard animals. The 43-year-old former EastEnders star and his wife have been busy with home and garden improvements to their Essex abode, with one of the latest additions including a beehive. But not settling there, Joe opened the door for the possibility of more animals joining their growing family, which already includes dogs, ducks and fish. 'We had more chickens arrive the other day and I've heard rumours there might be rabbits on the way. 'There's always something new. I wouldn't be surprised if a goat popped up, or a pig. I feel like we're at that stage now.' The first bits of honey were extracted from their beehive recently, and so far, none of the family has been stung – although their dog Peanut did get nipped. 'I think he might have got a bit too close the other day, but he won't be doing that again,' Joe said. Joe and Stacey's interest in becoming more sustainable has spilled over into growing more fruit and vegetables and is something the whole family take part in. Growing fruit and veg in the garden has provided the perfect learning experience for their young children Rex, five, Rose, three, and Belle, two, to learn about where food comes from. Joe said: 'The question is what Stacey isn't growing, that would be easier to answer. She's really transformed the garden and really found a passion for it.' 5 As summer approaches Joe has teamed up with Jammie Dodgers to unveil a limited-edition Super Soaker Credit: BBC 5 The couple will end up packing two things as they always do - a crafts box and flotation devices Credit: BBC
