Mary Wilson lands drivetime radio slot

The experienced legal affairs journalist Mary Wilson is to take up the job of presenting RTE’s Drivetime programme on Radio One, it emerged tonight.

There had been considerable speculation about who would fill the position since the current presenter Rachel English announced she was leaving.

RTE said Mrs Wilson would take over the new Drivetime programme, which will run from from 5pm – 6.30pm, in September.

“She is one of Ireland’s leading journalists and will bring a wealth of experience with her to the job,” said head of Radio One Ana Leddy.

Mrs Wilson will be competing for listeners with Matt Cooper’s The Last Word show on Today FM and The Right Hook, presented by George Hook, on Newstalk 106. She started work at RTÉ’s local radio service in Cork sixteen years ago.

She moved to Dublin where she worked in all areas of the RTÉ Newsroom and became legal affairs correspondent in 1996, before being promoted to legal affairs editor in 2002.

She said she was looking forward to the new challenge.