Jennifer Zamparelli has admitted that Breakfast Republic was “taking it’s toll” on her and her co-hosts, Bernard O’Shea and Keith Walsh.
Back in March, RTÉ 2fm announced a brand new schedule – marking the end of an era for Breakfast Republic.
Doireann Garrihy and Eoghan McDermott are now taking over the breakfast slot, and going forward, Jennifer will host her very own show every weekday from 9am-12pm.
Speaking to Goss.ie about Breakfast Republic coming to an end, Jennifer said they were “devastated” to see it go.
She went on to explain: “To get to five years, we’re all really proud, but it just got to the stage where it was taking it’s toll on us because it’s hard going.”
“But we’re still friends,” she said. “Me and Bernard have Pure Class Productions together and I see Keith all the time, he’s gonna be doing something new soon, so I can’t get away from them really,” she joked.
Jennifer’s new slot will be more like a chat show, and it’s the same slot that Gerry Ryan once fronted.
Speaking about being compared to Gerry, who passed away back in 2010, she said: “Every time I hear his name I get palpitations, because to be – not even compared but in the same sentence as him, is unbelievable. Because if I had the 10% of the success he had I’d be happy. However, it’s a very different time, it’s a very different station.”
Although Jennifer is delighted to be compared to Gerry, she wants her show to be entirely authentic.
She said: “I want to start fresh. I want it to be authentic, I’m not going to lose my personality, you know, I’m not going to be Miriam O’Callaghan doing PrimeTime or anything.”
“Hopefully people will want to call in and talk to me, so we’re starting on the 10th of June, it’s frightening because I’ve got to do the bloody desk!”
“It’s mad because I spent five years in the passenger seat of a car chatting, and now I have to bloody drive the car, and talk,” she added.
Watch our interview with Jennifer below:
