Third blow for RTÉ as Zamparelli quits 2FM
She follows Doireann Garrihy and 2 Johnnies out the door
JENNIFER ZAMPARELLI has become the latest presenter to hang up her mic on RTÉ 2FM in what is seen as another blow to the national broadcaster.
The bombshell announcement comes following confirmation that Doireann Garrihy and the 2 Johnnies will also be leaving the station.
Last month, Ms Zamparelli made a surprise announcement that she was taking an ‘extended’ break to go on holidays, with Laura Fox drafted in to replace her while she was away.
However, after 10 years as a presenter for 2FM, the Dancing With The Stars host confirmed she will be leaving her show so she can spend more time with her children.
‘It has been a really difficult decision to make as I love my team, and of course chatting to you guys [the listeners] every morning,’ she said.
‘From the early starts on Breakfast Republic all those years ago, to opening up the phone lines again from 9am-12pm, I have loved every minute. ‘Within this time I have gotten married and had two kids and now I feel it’s their time. Florence and Enzo are growing up so fast it’s scary and I really feel now is the time to give them a little more of me, so I won’t be returning to my daily radio show.’ This week, the 2 Johnnies announced they’re quitting their drivetime radio slot at the end of the month having just recorded their highest listenership of 151,000. The last Drive It With The 2 Johnnies will air this day week.
Their departure from the national broadcaster comes just two weeks after Doireann Garrihy revealed she was leaving the 2FM Breakfast show after five years for ‘ventures new’.
Ms Zamparelli, Ms Garrihy, and the 2 Johnnies, Johnny Smacks and Johnny B, all have successful careers outside of the station and would have been affected by new rules governing RTÉ employees.
Following the controversial RTÉ payments scandal, there were calls by the Government for RTÉ talent to declare other earnings from side deals.
The broadcaster has now introduced strict rules that could limit stars from enjoying lucrative sponsorship deals.
This has prompted fears that there could be a further exodus of presenters from the national broadcaster.
After extending her gratitude to her team at 2FM, Ms Zamparelli said in a statement released yesterday: ‘I’m so excited to see what happens next with the station... I will be tuning in for sure.’
Head of RTÉ 2FM Dan Healy described the broadcaster as ‘funny, bold, and brave’.
He said: ‘Jen has been front and centre of 2FM from The Breakfast Republic Show to her brilliant own Jennifer Zamparelli Show.
‘In February 2014, 2FM changed direction to appeal to younger audiences and Jen was key to achieving our goal.
‘I want to thank her deeply for her energy and commitment to 2FM. It has been a privilege to work with such an amazingly talented person. I wish Jen, Lau and their gang all the best for the future and will cheer for Jen loudly in the next phase of her sparkling career,’ he said.
RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst said in a staff meeting this week that the 2 Johnnies were ‘nowhere near as big as they are now’ when they joined 2FM.
‘I just want to say these things happen sometimes,’ he said. ‘People come in, they do a couple of years here. They’ve very successful careers outside here.
‘If you think back only two or three years, the 2 Johnnies were nowhere near as big as they are now. You know, Doireann was not nearly as well known as she is now. It’s been a great platform for them, and good luck to them, and what they’re going to do now.’
‘It’s been a great platform for them’