Ex-RTE fave issues TV warning for departing stars as Lottie Ryan lands own show

JUBILANT Lottie Ryan has been named as the replacement for The 2 Johnnies in 2FM’s new summer schedule — finally landing her own show to follow in her Dad’s footsteps.

The Dancing with the Stars winner — the daughter of airways legend Gerry — and 2FM showbiz reporter will team up with David O’Reilly to co-host Drive with Lottie and David each weekday 3pm to 6pm.

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It comes amid turmoil at the ­station that has seen Jennifer Zamparelli and Doireann Garrihy join Johnny McMahon and Johnny B O’Brien on the way out the door.

One former station DJ, Keith Walsh, has warned the departing talent that they may never appear on RTE television again — citing how Ian Dempsey and Damien McCaul have not made a reappearance on RTE as presenters since leaving 2FM.

RTE, meanwhile, promised that “ultimate messers, Lottie and David” would be setting out to “make the nation’s commute a lot brighter and happier with great tunes, giveaways and giggles all the way home”.

She will have a lot to live up to as her dad, famed for his “the Ryan line is open” catchphrase, helmed The Gerry Ryan Show for 22 years from 1988 until hours before his ­sudden death in 2010.

Station bosses also confirmed that Garrihy will be replaced on the 2FM Breakfast show by Aifric O’Connell who will join Carl Mullan and Donncha O’Callaghan from 6am.

Following the Laura Fox show at 9am, as revealed by 2FM boss Dan Healy last week, Tracy Clifford will continue from noon to 3pm.

Head of RTE 2FM Dan Healy said: “We are very happy that for the summer we are strengthening our schedule with 2FM home-grown talent with Aifric, Lottie and David.

“We’ve always been programmed with a mix of presenters who have learnt their craft here with personalities from outside who have built a profile with younger audiences.

“It always starts with the audience first and this summer’s schedule is built with only them in mind.”

Jennifer and the 2 Johnnies have vowed they will be back on RTÉ TV, Jennifer on Dancing with the Stars, and McMahon and O’Brien on their own TV show, later in the year.

In a recent post, Jennifer stated she “hasn’t left RTE, just 2FM” hinting that her tenure as Dancing with the Stars host was not over.

The 2 Johnnies have also said they will be back presenting on RTE TV following their final show on 2FM yesterday.

Former DJ Keith told The Irish Sun yesterday: “I would love to see those presenters being allowed to do their TV shows.

“There seems to be no hard feelings on either side and that’s why the presenters feel they will be able to hang on — but there’s no evidence of it happening before at RTE. So, I challenge RTE to show they have changed by letting them continue to host the RTE shows they do so well.

‘Big moments’

“These are big moments when RTE can demonstrate they have changed.

“It’s really going to depend on how much power the producers of Dancing with the Stars have.

“But going on previous examples of what happens when you leave 2FM, it simply doesn’t work like that.”

Father-of-two Keith advised the departing stars to be sceptical of any promises of future work at RTE.

‘Show never materialised’

He told The Irish Sun: “The way they got me off the 2FM Breakfast Show was they told me I would be ­presenting a show on just after drive-time on 2FM.

“But once they had got me off breakfast, that show never then materialised”.

He went on: “I would never say to those talented presenters, they won’t be back on RTE TV.

“But generally that seems to be the way that RTE have behaved up until now.

Promote their own

“They promote the people they have in house (on 2FM) on TV.

“For instance I don’t think Ryan Tubridy is going to be presenting a documentary series on RTE TV any time soon.

“For RTE it’s cost effective as well because they already have these people under contract”.

Keith, who hosted 2FM’s The Breakfast Republic with Jennifer and Bernard O’Shea was axed back in 2020.

Incorrect classification

A Department of Social Protection (DSP) investigation later discovered that he had been wrongly classified as a self-employed contractor while working at RTE.

As such his entitlement to worker benefits including social insurance, a pension, holiday and sick pay and paternity leave were affected.

He has gone on record to say that he may sue the national broadcasters for hundreds of thousands of euros of benefits he says he missed out on.

Keith said he had been notified that the broadcaster had lodged an appeal in relation to the DSP’s decision that he was actually an employee.

Host fights tears

Meanwhile, Doireann Garrihy choked back tears as she signed off on her final 2FM breakfast show yesterday.

Her co-presenters Donncha O’Callaghan and Carl Mullan gave moving ­tributes to the departing presenter who described them as “brothers for life”.

Doireann said: “I want to thank the both of you from the bottom of my heart for every single day. It’s been the time of my life, I’ve enjoyed every second of it.

“And thank you to everyone outside the glass. I love you all and thank you for being so welcoming all the way back in 2019 when I came in the door and I didn’t know anyone.

‘Amazing place to work’

“It’s an amazing place to work, the listeners you’ve been through thick and thin — phenomenal every single morning.

“But mainly you guys, and everyone who’s worked on the show, it’s been the time of my life. With you guys I’ve found brothers for life and I am so grateful.”

Co-host Donncha, a former Irish international rugby star, said: “You are an incredible teammate. You’ve been like a sister to the two of us.

“When we need someone at our back you’re always there.

“I’ve had brilliant teammates but you’re right up there, an unbelievable talent, a work rate like no one else has, your ability to keep going is incredible.”

RTE had “no comment” when contacted by the Irish Sun

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