Now 2 Johnnies quit as exodus at 2fm continues
RTÉ 2fm is losing its most listened-to show, as The 2 Johnnies have announced they will be walking away from their drivetime slot at the station at the end of the month.
The last Drive It With The 2 Johnnies will air on Friday, May 31, having just recorded its highest ever ratings figure of 151,000 daily listeners.
The Tipperary duo, who hosted the show for two years, said they were sad to go but that they are looking forward to their busiest summer yet, with an album release, a world tour and a successful podcast to continue.
Their departure comes just two weeks after Doireann Garrihy revealed she was leaving the 2fm breakfast show after five years for ‘ventures new’.
Ms Garrihy, Johnny Smacks and Johnny B all have successful careers outside of the station, and would have been affected by new rules governing RTÉ employees, which could potentially limit stars from enjoying lucrative sponsorship deals. Employees and
‘Need a rest from all the laughing’
contractors are now required to declare gifts valued at more than €50, and must declare any conflicts of interest.
It has prompted fears there could be a further exodus of presenters. Jennifer Zamparelli made a surprise announcement early last month that she was taking an ‘extended’ break from her radio show to go on holidays, with Laura Fox drafted in to replace her during her absence.
There has been no date announced yet for the return of Ms Zamparelli – who also presents Dancing With The Stars.
Next Friday will see the release of The 2 Johnnies’ debut album, Small Town Heroes.
They will be performing songs such as St Patrick Drove A Honda Civic and signing albums at record stores around the country, including outlets in Dublin, Cork and Limerick.
On June 8, they will host their own festival at St Anne’s Park in Dublin, before heading off on a world tour encompassing America and Australia. They will then be back to play the Galway Sessions and an all-ages show in Limerick’s Gaelic Grounds. An RTÉ spokesperson said: ‘This, plus the country’s number-one podcast on Spotify, means this summer will be non-stop for the lads.’
Johnny B said: ‘We’ve loved our time on the show. The team are legends... Our listeners have been the funniest, maddest, soundest crowd alive. The stories they’ve come on air to tell have been outrageous. It’s made me proud to be Irish to talk with the nation every evening. The Parish Quiz has thrown up some wild characters, we’ve tried to reach every inch of the island of Ireland.
‘That journey continues on The 2 Johnnies Podcast every week. We’ll keep the mixer going and the ball pucked out.’
Johnny Smacks added: ‘We came into 2fm with the idea of having a laugh on the afternoons, cheering people up and getting more mad scones on the radio from every county in Ireland telling stories and auld yarns. After two-and-ahalf years of unreal craic, my jaws need a rest from all the laughing... Who knows, we may be back on the radio some day but for now as we say on the show: “We’re out the gap.”’
Dan Healy, head of RTÉ 2fm, said: ‘The listenership for the drivetime show has been very strong from the very start and the most recent listenership results continued that trend.
‘They’ve been a great part of the 2fm family here and we’ll be sad to see them go but wish them well as they continue their adventures.’