RTÉ 2FM IS to replace The Gerry Ryan Show from Monday with stand-in presenters Colm Hayes and Lucy Kennedy. The pair will act as presenters for the three-hour show for four weeks in which time it is hoped that a permanent successor can be put in place.
Hayes co-presents The Colm and Jim-Jim Breakfast Show on 2fm with Jim Nugent while Lucy Kennedy is a recent addition to the 2fm schedule.
Head of 2fm John McMahon said it was “particularly painful to have to turn our minds to practicalities” regarding finding a successor to Ryan.
The slot from 9am to midday is the most critical in the 2fm schedule both in terms of audience figures and advertising revenue.
Some names in the frame to replace Ryan include Dave Fanning, Ryan Tubridy, Ray D’Arcy, Ian Dempsey, Sean Moncrieff and The Gerry Ryan Show reporter Evelyn O’Rourke, who has hosted some of the tribute shows to the broadcaster who died on Friday of last week.
The large production team on Ryan’s show, along with favourite items such as Nob Nation and the interaction with listeners calling in to discuss their concerns, will remain. RTÉ is hoping that providing a sense of continuity to the schedule will retain the 300,000- plus daily listeners that Ryan had.
Replacing the irreplaceable?: Weekend Review: page 5
