Newstalk presenter Kieran Cuddihy is set to be the new host of RTÉ Radio 1’s Liveline, the national broadcaster has announced.
There was much speculation that Cuddihy would take on the role after Newstalk announced he was leaving the station on Thursday night.
RTÉ confirmed on Friday morning that Cuddihy would replace Joe Duffy as host of Liveline following the veteran broadcaster’s retirement last June.
The news of Cuddihy’s move to RTÉ comes after staff at Newstalk were informed on Thursday night of his departure.
An email sent by senior management at the radio station announcing Cuddihy’s departure stated that his Thursday show was his final time hosting on the station.
The announcement came just hours after RTÉ announced that broadcaster Ray D’Arcy is leaving RTÉ Radio 1 after 11 years presenting his daily afternoon show.
It is understood that Cuddihy will no longer present The Tonight Show on Virgin Media Television. The Irish Times has contacted Cuddihy and Virgin Media for comment.
A number of other changes are being made to the RTÉ Radio 1 schedule including the new Today with David McCullagh show from 9am to 11am, with Oliver Callan moving to a longer time slot of 11am to 1pm.
The News at One and Livelive will retain their 1pm and 1.45pm slots, respectively.
Louise Duffy will move to a midafternoon slot of 3pm to 4pm.
Katie Hannon and Colm Ó Mongáin will host Drivetime from 4pm to 6pm, taking over from Sarah McInerney and Cormac Ó hEadhra. There will also be a new daily sports show at 6pm.
Patricia Monahan, RTÉ’s director of audio, said the new schedule “marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter” and has been “designed to meet the changing listening habits of audiences”.
She said McInerney and Ó hEadhra will “continue to be a regular presence on RTÉ and Radio 1″ with their new roles announced in the coming weeks.
Tara Campbell, head of RTÉ Radio 1, said the new schedule “introduces some new and younger voices while seeing many of our award-winning presenters move into new presenting duties”.
[ Ray D’Arcy’s parting outburst atypical of broadcaster who shunned the limelightOpens in new window ]
Cuddihy has been working at Newstalk since 2011. He has presented The Hard Shoulder, a daily news and current affairs programme, since 2020.
The broadcaster has also been at the helm of the television programme The Tonight Show on Virgin Media since February.
He recently moderated the first broadcast presidential debate on Virgin Media last month.
Who is Kieran Cuddihy? Read our recent interview here.