Jen could be going Live if Duffy leaves
JENNIFER Zamparelli could be considered by RTE bosses as a replacement for Joe Duffy if he steps down from Liveline.
RTE Director General Kevin Bakhurst confirmed this week the presenter “made it clear” he doesn’t want his contract renewed after his current one ends next year.
Joe has hinted at a possible U-turn with his decision, saying he hasn’t made up his mind yet.
But a source told us bosses could look beyond presenters Katie Hannon, Philip Boucher Hayes and Colm O Mongain, who fill in for Joe when he is on annual leave or busy filming episodes of The Meaning of Life.
Newstalk’s Andrea Gilligan and Jennifer could be touted as possible replacements as bosses look to protect the legacy of the show, which was originally hosted by the late Marian Finucane.
A source said: “It’s a year-anda-half away. The big thing about Liveline is that it is like The Late Late Show of radio. You just want to protect it and keep its legacy.
“Who would mind the legacy but also move it on?
“Andrea Gilligan kind of does the Newstalk version of Liveline and Jen does a similar programme on 2FM where people phone in and tell their stories and give their views.
“Liveline is about the listeners. The fact you can have so many people stand in for Joe and still do a really good show means it is about the audience, the callers. “There are no definites yet.” Mr Bakhurst told the Irish Mirror Joe “made it clear” he is not looking for a new contract.
But the 68-year-old appeared to do a U-turn this week, telling Liveline listeners: “There’s a story saying I’m going to be shown the door in June 12 months. But that’s the first I’ve heard about it.
“And RTE say he doesn’t want a new contract, that’s the first I heard about that as well.”