Ex-Examiner reporter gets Tubridy slot

JOHN MURRAY, who worked as a reporter with the then Cork Examiner, will fill the RTÉ Radio 1 slot being vacated by Ryan Tubridy.

Murray, who has been working on Morning Ireland and The Business radio programmes will front a new programme daily from 9am to 10am.

“The John Murray Show will focus on broader lifestyle and entertainment items,” RTÉ stated.

The show “will take its cue not from the headlines but from real stories beyond the newsbeat”.

The radio slot became vacant when Ryan Tubridy landed the role as the new presenter for RTÉ 2fm’s flagship morning show long associated with the late Gerry Ryan.

“The challenges don’t come much bigger than this but it’s a challenge I take on with relish. I hope the experience I’ve gained on Morning Ireland and The Business will give me what it takes to command the 9 to 10am slot, to create good, captivating radio, and build on the already strong listenership in the slot. It’s going to be fun, on-air and off. I’m delighted to front this new show,” Mr Murray said.

Morning Ireland, Ireland’s top-rating programme, continues in the 7am to 9am slot, while Today with Pat Kenny, described by RTÉ as “the undisputed radio leader in debate, comment and analysis”, will run from 10am to noon.

“I am thrilled that John Murray will be entertaining us all between 9 and 10. I’m a big fan. My primary concern has always been that RTÉ Radio 1 put its best foot forward in the new 9am slot and I said I’d be prepared to do what’s needed.

“Keeping Today with Pat Kenny at 10am provides listeners with a great morning schedule. The public have been telling us they like what we do on the show, and the show will go on,” Pat Kenny said.

Ana Leddy, head of Radio 1, said in re-configuring the morning schedules on RTÉ Radio 1, “the challenge was to innovate while maintaining quality and a focus on what it is that Radio 1 does best: cutting-edge news and comment, analysis and debate, with some entertainment along the way”.