Yates quitting studio for life on the farm..

Host, 60, reveals he will retire in weeks

IVAN Yates has revealed he will hang the mic up on his broadcasting career at Newstalk at the end of the month.

The 60-year-old is also retiring from Virgin Media TV’S The Tonight Show, which he co-hosts with Matt Cooper.

Yates and wife Deirdre, who last week left her job as a primary school teacher, have decided to pack up their Dublin life and move back to his family farm in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.

Opening his show The Hard Shoulder on Newstalk yesterday, the former Fine Gael minister said he was retiring with full agreement with management.

Yates told how he took the job in 2009 when it was coming to “a very difficult time” in his business career and will now present his last programme on July 24.

He said he will return to his “beautiful home” in

Blackstoops after

Deirdre also retired. Yates added: It’s impossible to hold down a full-time broadcasting role while living elsewhere and at 60 it’s about time I got a bit of sense.

“There’s no drama, there’s no intrigue and as I’ve come and gone at various stages, to go to Swansea for bankruptcy and to go to America and so on, people always think after different incarnations I’m actually negotiating for more money.

“I am taking a step back from that full-time role and will pursue other interests and opportunities.”

A memo was issued to Newstalk staff yesterday confirming his resignation.

The dad of four, whose replacement is set to be announced in the coming weeks, praised his team and said he was “really proud” for having “the most successful independent radio programme” on air.

Yates previously hinted he would retire at 60. He will leave The Tonight Show

on July 23.