Kevin Bakhurst insists departure of top stars from 2FM means ‘great opportunities’ for young talent

Mr Bakhurst rowed in behind 2FM after a tumultuous week in which three more high-profile presenters quit the radio station, the latest being Jennifer Zamparelli.

Mr Bakhurst said 2FM would always have stars like Doireann Garrihy and The 2 Johnnies who stay for a couple of years, use RTÉ to build their profile and then move on.

Laura Fox was yesterday confirmed as Zamparelli’s replacement.

The Ireland’s Fittest Family host has her own weekend show on 2FM and had been acting as Zamparelli’s daily stand-in since she went on leave in April.

The exodus of talent from 2FM comes as RTÉ is due to publish a report on how it nurtures and provides career pathways for broadcasters. A spokesperson for Media Minister Catherine Martin last night said that the report was “expected in the coming weeks”.

Meanwhile, it has also emerged that the return of Garrihy and Zamparelli to RTÉ TV screens later this winter could be at risk because the broadcaster may not be able to afford to put on another season of Dancing with the Stars. The producer behind the flagship dance contest confirmed that both of the outgoing 2FM presenters would be coming back to front the show, but only if RTÉ’s “finances are addressed”.

Earlier this month, Garrihy became the first of a number of 2FM presenters to make the shock announcement that she would be leaving the station, where her co-presenters Carl Mullan and Donncha O’Callaghan still host the breakfast slot. She was followed this week by The 2 Johnnies, who announced their 2FM drivetime show was coming to an end.

On Thursday, Zamparelli revealed she would not be returning to 2FM after being on extended leave from the radio station, where she worked for a decade. It represents the loss of at least one presenter from all three of 2FM’s most popular radio shows, and creates a vacancy in each of the most important slots in its weekday schedule.

"I have great belief in RTÉ 2FM. We are, of course, disappointed to see Jennifer Zamparelli, Doireann Garrihy and The 2 Johnnies leave, and we wish them all the best with their plans,” Mr Bakhurst said.

“While Jennifer has been with RTÉ and 2FM for a long time, I think with a station like 2FM, this is going to happen. People will come to RTÉ and to 2FM from time to time with an existing fan base, either through social media or through a podcast or both and they will stay with us for two or three years and then move on to pursue other interests.

“We have enjoyed working with them and we have created some great radio together. It is also true to say that 2FM and RTÉ have provided a really good platform which has helped all of them build on their popularity and reach new audiences, not just on radio but also on our television screens and online platforms. Their departures now provide great opportunities on 2FM for young talent, both inside and outside RTÉ.

“We now have a chance to do something exciting with these slots as we look to launch a new schedule on 2FM later this year."

2FM boss Dan Healy said yesterday that new rules requiring broadcasters to publish a register of interests and declare gifts had “played a role to a certain extent, but it's not the reason" for the departures. Mr Healy is due to unveil 2FM’s new summer schedule next week.

An expert report ordered by the Government into RTÉ in the wake of last year’s payments scandal, recommended that RTÉ “prioritise an in-house review of its existing development of on-air presenters and their potential”, which would be “dedicated to managing potential presenting careers and developing a progression pathway within RTÉ".

A spokesperson for Ms Martin said that while “individuals are at liberty to make career choices for personal or professional reasons”, it was “important to note the recent report... [which] called for RTÉ to develop frameworks for developing talent and establishing career pathways”.

In an interview on 2FM yesterday with Fox, who is inheriting Zamparelli’s slot, the outgoing presenter said that while she was leaving 2FM, she was not finished working for RTÉ. “I am just going to do projects that fit in with my family life and I am in a position to do that, which is very exciting,” Zamparelli said.

ShinAwil, the production company behind Dancing With the Stars, has confirmed that both Zamparelli and Garrihy are due to return to present the next season – but only if RTÉ can afford to return the series.

“As of now, RTÉ have not as yet commissioned another series of DWTS. Until RTÉ finances are addressed, they cannot commit to the scale of DWTS in over six months’ time,” executive producer Larry Bass said.

“If we are to do the show, I shall be looking forward to working with both Jen and Doireann again. They are both fantastic to work with, utter professionals to the bone, they are one of the reasons the Irish public love DWTS in such high numbers. Both ladies’ contracts with us were outside their 2FM contracts. So we will be delighted to welcome both presenters back if we are lucky enough to be asked to produce the nation’s favourite show again.”

Mr Bass confirmed that DWTS would usually be commissioned by RTÉ “before the summer”, otherwise the series could not be made.

“So hopefully the Government will make some funding decisions before they all go on holidays,” he said.