Today FM star Matt Cooper believes Ray D’Arcy was pushed to leave the station after seeing co-stars flee his programme.
The TV3 broadcaster – who hosts an afternoon show on the station – admits he “didn’t believe” Ray would be leaving his slot when he first heard.
But Matt, 48, said he doesn’t believe it was “such a surprise” that Ray would leave after the departure of producer wife Jenny and Mairead Farrell to an earlier show.
Left: Matt believes Mairead’s departure to Ian Dempsey was part of decision | VIPIRELAND.COM
He told Goss.ie: “When you start thinking about it, maybe it wasn’t such a surprise after Ray had seen Jenny leaving the programme, when Mairead had moved to Ian Dempsey.
“Maybe all of those things coming together had meant it was the right time for him to move on with doing that.”
But Matt admits that the first time he was told the news – the day before it was announced by RTE – he never expected it.
He added: “You know what, on Saturday afternoon I was told by somebody that this was happening – a prominent person in RTE that I couldn’t name – and I didn’t believe it.
“I actually forgot about it. And then on Sunday afternoon I saw I had a missed phone call from Peter McPartlin, our chief executive.
Goodbye: Ray used to call on Jenny as producer | VIPIRELAND.COM
“And I looked at the call and I thought, why is he ringing me on a Sunday? And then I went, ‘Oh Jesus, what I was told yesterday was actually true! Ray must be going!'”
And Matt told Goss.ie that he has been asked by Today FM not to say who he wants to take over Ray’s morning slot – but does have someone in mind.
He said: “I’ve been asked not to say. I would have a specific preference but I’m not going to be drawn on who that actually is.”
He added: “That is life. People do move jobs, people move on to new challenges and the challenge for Today FM now is to find the appropriate person to fit into the schedule to benefit that timeslot and the entire station.
“So we’re all looking forward to seeing whoever it is, is chosen – and then we all, as the other presenters, do our best to welcome that person and make him or her very comfortable in the chair as part of the overall station offering.”
