Ray D’Arcy has announced he is leaving Today FM after 14 years – and returning to RTE.
The 50-year-old has been fronting the Ray D’Arcy Show since 2000, but will now take over Derek Mooney’s afternoon slot on Radio 1 from February 2.
He will not be back on air at Today FM, nor will he get to say goodbye to his listeners at the independent station and Alison Curtis will take over the slot for “the foreseeable future”.
Ray is likely to have been offered a massive sum to move back, given that Mooney is RTE’s seventh-highest paid presenter on €220,000.
He said: “I’m really looking forward to joining RTÉ in 2015. I’m excited about the upcoming challenges in both radio and television. To be honest, it feels a little bit like coming home.”
Leaving: Mooney has quit his Radio 1 show | VIPIRELAND.COM
Previously Ray left the State station for his own show at Today FM in 2000, after 13 years in kids TV at RTE.
Head of RTE Radio 1 Tom McGuire said: “I know that Ray will take the torch from Liveline and it will shine brightly for our audience right through to 4.30.
“As a broadcaster, his programme has been one of the top performers in the country and I know that listeners to Radio 1 and Ray D’Arcy will really enjoy the latest addition to an exciting RTÉ Radio 1 schedule in 2015.”
It is unknown who will take over his morning show, which runs from 9am to 12pm, yet.
New role: Ray is moving back to RTE | VIPIRELAND.COM
Today FM’s chief executive, Peter McPartlin, said the station “are disappointed to lose Ray from our great line-up of talent”
He added: “I understand from Ray that at this time in his career he wishes to work on television again with the State Broadcaster.
“I want to thank him for his great contribution and wish him and his family well with his new venture. We move on as a station and begin the process of establishing another great show on Today FM.”
His wife Jenny Kelly, who produced the show, quit in June this year to be a stay-at-home mum after 14 years alongside her husband.
Co-presenter Mairead Farrell also quit The Ray D’Arcy Show in September to become a role as producer on the Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show.
Latest JNLR radio figures show Ray has 221,000 people listening in.
