Fresh 2FM crisis as ANOTHER big name to quit with bosses in ‘complete spiral’

2FM staff are “panicked” as Donncha O’Callaghan is the fifth big-name host to quit in a matter of weeks.

The former Ireland rugby ace co-hosts Breakfast with Carl Mullen and Aifric O’Connell — with the show undergoing a refresh less than a month ago after Doireann Garrihy left.

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But Donncha is now set to follow her out the door — just weeks after Jennifer Zamparelli and The 2 Johnnies also called it a day.

RTE had hoped they could save the brekkie show by adding Aifric to the mix when Doireann left on May 31 after five years at 2FM.

But Donncha’s shock departure has ruined all that.

A RTE insider told The Irish Sun: “How can 2FM Breakfast replace first one, now two presenters?

“The most important show on a radio station is the breakfast. If ­listeners tune in, they stay with the station for the rest of the day.

“I don’t see how 2FM Breakfast can survive this.”

Donncha, 45, will host his last 2FM Breakfast at the end of the month — exactly a month after ­Doireann, 32, departed.

And radio sources say station boss Dan Healy will “have a hell of a job” trying to save the show.

An insider added: “I wouldn’t like to be in Dan’s shoes. With so many presenters leaving, ultimately the responsibility rests with the boss.”

Despite pep talks to staff by RTE Director General Kevin Bakhurst and 2FM boss Dan, insiders say the departures are having a devastating effect on morale at the pop station.

A Montrose source told The Irish Sun: “2fm has gone into a complete spiral. It’s carnage. The staff are panicked because we are losing another star presenter. There have been more emergency meetings.

“There is a huge amount of fear in the office among staff. What is happening to our station?”

Insiders say chief Dan has been busy trying to hire new talent for the station.

They said he was only in the office one day last week as he had meetings with TikTok stars and social media influencers.

Fresh face

The Irish Sun revealed yesterday how TikTok lip sync Kayleigh Trappe, 28, is set to take over the top-rated drivetime slot The 2 Johnnies used to host.

Current host Lottie Ryan, 38, is being axed just three weeks after landing the role.

An insider said: “Bringing in all these TikTok people with huge social media followings sound great. But most of them are new to radio.

“They will all need to be paired up with experienced radio hands who know how to operate a desk.

Radio pairing

“2FM will be depending on underpaid staff to make a success of these people and tell them what to do, many of whom would be really talented radio people who would be earning a fraction of these TikTok stars.

“And if this latest batch of social media stars walk out, it will be the same backroom staff at the station who have to pick up the pieces.”

RTE made no comment when contacted by The Irish Sun.

TRAPPE IN DRIVING SEAT

BOOKIES BoyleSports has suspended betting on the next host of 2FM’s Drivetime after a significant ­gamble on TikTok sensation Kayleigh Trappe.

The Irish Sun revealed yesterday how Lottie Ryan and co-host David O’Reilly would be leaving the RTE station’s top-rated slot — just three weeks after taking over from The 2 Johnnies.

And we exclusively told how Kayleigh, 28, could take over as early as this Friday.

Odds on the Monaghan comedian, who has more than 150,000 followers on TikTok, getting the top 2FM job had previously been high as 40/1.

But they fell to as short as 1/5 yesterday after we broke the news that late station legend Gerry Ryan’s daughter Lottie, 38, was set to depart.

Pals of Lottie told us she was “devastated” and “feels used” by 2FM after being cut.

BoyleSports’ Brian O’Keeffe yesterday said: “We’ve had plenty of drama at RTE HQ this year and it doesn’t seem to be ending.”

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