Doireann & Jennifer’s DWTS future in doubt as RTE bosses left fuming over exit

RTE bosses are watching Doireann Garrihy and ­Jennifer Zamparelli’s next moves before deciding on their futures as hosts of Dancing With The Stars.

Station chiefs were left ­reeling after the popular duo both left 2FM last month — with former show winner ­Lottie Ryan now tipped to take over from Doireann.

Despite calling time on their RTE radio programmes, ­Jennifer, 44, and Doireann, 32, hope to return as hosts of the top-rated Sunday night dance show.

However, their shock departures have stung wounded RTE execs.

An insider told The Irish Sun on Sunday: “Doireann and Jennifer make a strong team and did ­brilliantly on DWTS last season. But TV is a very fickle business.

“All it would take is someone from RTE to say ‘we need to refresh the talent’ and you could be looking at new hosts. It really depends on what Doireann and Jennifer do next.”

Influencer Doireann said she left her 2FM breakfast show as she wanted to “pursue projects she had been dreaming about”.

And former mid-morning host Jennifer said she was resigning to spend more time with her two children, Florence and Enzo.

An RTE source said: “People will be watching to see if Jennifer doesn’t have a change of heart about doing no more work at this time.

“She stands a much better chance of returning if she doesn’t decide to go back to work and take on a new role such as hosting on ­Virgin, which has been speculated.”

But Doireann faces a bigger struggle to return.

The insider told us: “In RTE there could be a ­feeling Doireann has let the team down leaving 2FM. The first thing Doireann did after she left 2FM was a podcast with Ryan Tubridy.

“That certainly wouldn’t have done her any favour with RTE bosses. In fairness Ryan was ­previously on Doireann’s podcast and she was only returning the favour but it didn’t look great.”

Sources say Doireann could face again competition from 2020 Glitterball winner Lottie to host the 2025 series of DWTS.

The daughter of late 2FM ­legend Gerry Ryan lost out to Doireann in the battle to replace Nicky Byrne in 2022.

But Lottie could have a ­better chance now given she succeeded the 2 Johnnies as one of the new hosts of 2FM’s drivetime show. And RTE bosses know ­Lottie has a chemistry with Jen as the pair host a podcast together.

On person backing Lottie to host DWTS will be 2FM boss Dan Healy who told The Irish Sun he was “gutted” that the mum of one lost to Doireann after they both auditioned to replace Westlife star Nicky.

Dan previously told us: “I personally would have voted for Lottie.

“Thankfully sequins and fake tan aren’t my thing.

“I’m certain that the ­people who had to make the decision, made the right decision but both of them are super talented.”

In 2023, Lottie — who won DWTS with Pasquale La Rocca — told us she would take the DWTS job “in a heartbeat”.