RTÉ looks beyond Montrose to fill ‘Liveline' void, as redundancies loom

Irish Independent

11-05-2025

While presenter Katie Hannon has been mentioned by some as a ­'favourite' to take over Liveline — having occupied the 'Talk to Joe' seat in his absence — a well-placed insider said that it's far from a done deal.
The Sunday Independent has learnt that conversations are taking place between some presenters and Patricia Monahan, director of audio at RTÉ, as a plan is made to revamp the station's two main schedules.
There is growing intrigue behind the scenes as presenters on six-figure salaries plot their next move, but sources say no show or team is safe across the RTÉ Radio 1 schedule.
Potential changes could affect shows across the entire day including the slots of Oliver Callan, Claire Byrne, Louise Duffy, Ray D'Arcy and Drivetime.
Whoever succeeds Mr Duffy is likely to be on some €100,000 less than he was paid, who last reportedly earned in the region of €350,000.
RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst has repeatedly said that no star would be paid more than €250,000.
It would also mean reductions for presenters including Claire Byrne and Miriam O'Callaghan, who were last reported to be on up to €30,000 above that threshold, whenever their contract is due for renewal or renegotiation, but RTÉ refused to be drawn on these details.
Outside names being mentioned as possibilities to join the schedule include Kieran Cuddihy, who was nurtured by Ms Monahan when she worked in Newstalk. His show was crowned 'Best Current Affairs Show' at the recent IMRO Radio Awards.
Fellow Newstalk presenter Andrea Gilligan was also nurtured by Ms Monahan at Newstalk and is being suggested as another name that could pop up in RTÉ.
Speaking to the Sunday ­Independent, one source said: 'Don't rule out a reimagining of the schedule altogether. It's interesting times. You just wouldn't know who will walk in the door.'
They added: 'Patricia has a clean slate to bring in anyone she likes. Dermot Whelan filling in for Oliver Callan for a few weeks is an example. So expect to see some interesting people being brought in for a run over the summer.'
A separate source said Ms Monahan is currently holding talks with people both inside and outside the station 'including stars that are not in either Newstalk and Today FM'.
They said she wants to make RTÉ Radio 'more conversational like ­Newstalk, while still being a public service broadcaster'. The same source said the new radio boss is keen to attract younger listeners to RTÉ Radio 1 and has spoken to people outside the station in her hunt for talent.
'There are already conversations taking place with people outside the station and that includes people outside Newstalk and Today FM.'
Kathryn Thomas, who left RTÉ to join Dublin's Q102, could be brought back into the fold. 'Kathryn is not long out of the parish and I wouldn't be surprised if she is being considered, not for Liveline but another slot.'
The same source said: 'The plan is for a new schedule to be ­implemented by the end of the year. It won't be a 'tweak' here and there. The schedule will look very different this time next year.'
Ms Monahan has held focus groups to tap into listeners' tastes and preferences, but a third source said: 'Patricia knows the direction of travel. She hasn't waited until Joe's announcement to talk to other candidates, which would put her on the back foot. She's keeping her cards close to her chest, but I ­guarantee you she has a clear plan in mind.'
The news comes after Duffy's announcement on Thursday afternoon that he was retiring next month after 37 years.
Mr Duffy was paid €351,000 in 2023, making him the highest-paid on-air presenter after the departure of Ryan Tubridy — the former holder of that title.
In February of last year, Mr Bakhurst said that he believed Mr Duffy would not be seeking a new contract.
He said: 'Joe Duffy has made it clear he is not looking for a new contract when he finishes this contract. You have to ask him. I don't want to start talking out of school.'
Mr Duffy also told listeners previously: 'The way I look at it is my negotiations in 2019 which will go on now to 2025 are more than likely the last time I'll be negotiating with RTÉ, unless God decides otherwise or RTÉ decides otherwise. I'm not getting any younger.'
Duffy (69) said that he wrote to Ms Monahan last November to tell her that, having extended his contract for two years, he would be finishing with Liveline on June 27.
'I hope, in some small way, through Liveline and through RTÉ, we made people feel heard. And now, after many happy years, I've decided the time has come to move on,' he said.
Following the announcement, there was some speculation that Duffy will enter the race for Áras an Uachtaráin. One insider said: 'Joe's an intellectual, he understands poetry, art, literature but in a very accessible way. He doesn't lord it over people.
'For three decades he has run the national conversation, particularly around people whose stories weren't being heard. He would walk into the Áras. The question is: does he want it?'
However, a separate source close to Duffy told the Sunday Independent that the role is definitely 'not his bag'.
The announcement for Duffy's replacement is due with the unveiling of the new schedule in the autumn.
The deadline for applying for RTÉ's voluntary redundancy scheme is May 23, with some 100 redundancies at least to be sought by the end of the year, or more if funds allow, insiders said, with 400 jobs to go overall under its five-year plan.