The 'essential' early morning routines of breakfast radio and TV presenters

By the time most of us turn off the bedside alarm, early morning presenters have already put in hours at work. So what are their secrets for getting up and out before dawn?

Fri, 08 Sep, 2023 - 02:00

Mary Cate Smith

Looking to switch up your morning routine and use those extra hours in the morning as some much-needed me-time?

Whether it’s to take an hour for yourself while the family is still in bed or to be productive, the feedback from early morning risers is definitive — getting up in the wee hours needs planning.

It’s all part of the job for early morning breakfast show presenters. While we may assume that it’s second nature for these early birds, we were surprised to learn that it’s more about routine than ritual.

Cultivating a strict practice can make all the difference in the morning. Here’s how:

Doireann Garrihy

Doireann kick-started her broadcasting career presenting AA Roadwatch and soon shot to stardom with her hilarious impressions of celebrities on social media and subsequently on television.

Something as simple as planning your outfit the night before helps to eliminate stress for Doireann who needs to keep things running on a tight schedule.

“I hop out of bed at 4.50am. I shower, brush my teeth and hop into the clothes I’ve laid out the night before. It’s essential.”

Surround yourself with morning people

As soon as she gets to work and chats with her co-presenters, she says the energy becomes infectious.

“Either Donncha (O’Callaghan) or Carl (Mullan) are straight on coffee duty — it’s usually Donncha. Carl is a total morning person, so will be very busy chatting to Grace and Willem on the production team about his latest scientific findings, cool drone footage he’s spotted on YouTube, that kind of thing.”

Make time for the gym

The healthiest part of Doireann’s routine is weight training and she’s looking forward to taking it up again this autumn/winter.

“It makes me feel stronger, fitter and far more energetic than any other form of exercise. I think it’s something that will stand to me as I age too.”

Night owls can still apply

Before Doireann started the breakfast show with 2fm, she went to bed and rose a lot later.

“Naturally, I am far more of a night owl. So before 2fm Breakfast, I stayed up until at least midnight watching TV or working on ideas for radio, podcasting or Instagram. I would get up at around 8am, walk the dog, get a coffee and take on the day at my ease.” Enjoy the weekends

Doireann describes her weekends as “chalk and cheese” compared to the usual Monday to Friday.

“Although my alarm goes off at 4.50am on weekdays, it’s as though my body clock completely forgets about it on Saturday and Sunday. I could sleep until 10am and it is pure bliss.”

Donncha O’Callaghan

The Corkman first came to public attention as a towering Munster and Ireland player (he’s also known for ripping his shorts before a line-out but we won’t get into that).

Stick to a routine

For Donncha, it’s all about simplicity.

“My morning routine is very straightforward during the week, I’m up at 5am and into the studio in Cork for the breakfast show. If I’m in Dublin it’s a 3am wake-up.”

Keep it simple

He finds his mind can sometimes go into overdrive — something he is constantly working on.

“I’m not sure if overthinking is a habit but I would like to get better at controlling thoughts.”

His routine hasn’t changed significantly since his rugby days.

“To be honest, it is very similar. Rugby is early starts, allowing for recovery. Rugby is early starts, allowing for recovery.”

The main difference for Donncha is that he isn’t monitoring and measuring the variables in his routine as he would as a professional athlete.”

Carve out time for your family

The healthiest thing he does is to “stay off the phone in front of the kids”. He also makes sure that weekends are filled with family activities.

2FM Breakfast with Doireann, Donncha and Carl airs Monday to Friday from 6am to 9am

Ciara Kelly

Newstalk presenter Ciara Kelly is known for her no-nonsense approach to life but is she as regimented in her morning routine as she is in her work life? The answer is a simple yes.

Read the papers

Ciara’s first port of call before getting up (and after hitting that snooze button - “the key is to set several alarms”) is to read the papers.

“I lie in bed with my phone open and flick through all of the papers on the apps.”

Wash and go

After 20 or 30 minutes of reading the news, she “leaps out of bed.”

“I have a very speedy shower. I never wash my hair in the morning. It has to be super fast.”

Use your commute wisely

Ciara listens to the six o’clock news in the car before her phone rings for a conference call about the running order of the show. She has her phone on hands-free, so chats while driving.

Tune into your body

While acknowledging that breakfast is an important meal, she says eating very early in the morning can make her feel nauseous so she waits a few hours before tucking into food. But she makes sure to hydrate.

“Usually I will either have a bottle of sparkling water or slimline tonic water by my bed.”

Make it minimalist

“I need to be on the road somewhere between 5.30 and 5.45am. It’s a domino effect — if anything goes wrong, the whole morning will be screwed. I don’t allow any window for error. It’s really efficient and down to the wire. There’s no leisurely bowl of porridge and journaling.”

Ciara has her coat hanging on the banister and her bag ready to go. “It’s like I’m on a military operation. If it’s not absolutely necessary, I don’t do it.”

Keep caffeinated

“I have a double espresso before I go on air and another within 15 minutes of going on air. I know I’m a doctor but don’t take this as health advice. This is what I do.”
Maximise your time

“I do makeup at my desk when I’m in a meeting. I wouldn’t be wearing it at all except for there’s a camera. If I don’t wear it, people send me messages asking: ‘You OK, hun?”.

Ciara Kelly presents the Newstalk breakfast show with Shane Coleman

Muireann O’Connell

The TV presenter says she is “actually pretty good” at getting up when her alarm goes off.

“Once the wrist starts vibrating, I know it’s time to get up.”

Drink water and take vitamins

“I have a pint of water and then brush my teeth and go onto news websites immediately.

“I take all the vitamins in the evening so I can be out of the house like a ninja in the mornings.”

Minimise your beauty regimen

Muireann finds putting on fake tan can slow her down in the mornings.

“A more prepared person would have that done the night before but developer tan doesn’t work on me. I’m much calmer in fresh pyjamas and washed the night before.”

Known for her glowing skin and fresh looks, Muireann uses a vitamin C cleanser, followed by a serum. She then layers on a 30 SPF moisturiser and a vitamin E cream.

Incorporate exercise at a time that works

Working out the night before is an integral part of her routine.

“I normally go to the gym straight after work. A few times when I’ve got insomnia, I would go to the gym before work — that happens very rarely. I sleep a lot better when I go to the gym after I’ve finished the show.”

Muireann O’Connell presents Ireland AM weekdays with Tommy Bowe

Rachael English

Keep it regimented

“I think you must be pretty regimented because otherwise, it would be fairly chaotic. I set the alarm for 10 to four. I normally wake up before that. I’m not unlike a school child in that I have everything set out the night before.”

Be prepared

Rachael checks her emails for updates, newsletters, and any new relevant information first thing in the morning. “I either put Sky News or the Word Service on at 4am and I have a bowl of cereal.”

Get your steps in

Walking to work is one of the healthiest things she does during the day.

“It takes me about 35 minutes and I find it really helpful. It clears my head. It gives me a bit of time to think about the interviews and what I’ve read on the news sites.”

Get your caffeine hit

Rachael drinks “far more coffee than is probably advisable” but acknowledges that her thoughts can be slower in the morning without it.

Move quickly

The most important thing for Rachael is to eliminate any “dilly-dallying”. She doesn’t want to wake her husband so she moves quietly and stealthily. “I get up, and get out the door as soon as possible.”