Jennifer Zamparelli’s official replacement on RTÉ 2FM has been confirmed by the station’s boss Dan Healy.
The popular presenter confirmed she was leaving the station on Thursday evening, following the exit announcements of Doireann Garrihy and The 2 Johnnies.
While a host of names had been tipped to take over from Jennifer, including Lottie Ryan, bosses have already decided on her replacement.
During a fiery debate with Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio 1 today, 2FM boss Dan Healy confirmed Laura Fox will be replacing Jennifer full-time in the 9-12pm slot.
He said: “Today I am here to announce that Laura Fox replaces Jen. Laura Fox is someone who was in Pulse five years ago. And we contracted her two years ago.”
Laura, who usually hosts her own show on the weekends, had been filling in for Jennifer over the past few weeks while she was on extended leave.
Replacements for Doireann Garrihy and The 2 Johnnies have yet to be announced.
With many names being thrown in the hat to replace some of the station’s top stars, bosses at 2FM are keeping any possible replacements firmly under wraps.
But with Doireann and The 2 Johnnies finishing up at the end of this month, the pressure is on to fill their spots quickly.
Since the news broke, a host of famous faces have been rumoured as potential replacements – including former 2FM hosts Lucy Kennedy and Baz Ashmawy.
Lucy and Baz co-presented the Saturday and Sunday slots, from 7am – 10am, on 2FM for two years until their show was axed in 2012.
At the time, RTÉ told the Irish Independent that the show’s cancellation was “part of the ongoing project to reduce the cost base at 2fm”.
While Lucy and Baz were devastated over the decision at the time, the pair have no interest in returning to the station.
Speaking to Goss.ie, Lucy confirmed she has no plans to leave her breakfast show on Classic Hits Radio, which she co-hosts with Colm Hayes.
She said: “We’ve heard the rumours but myself and Colm are currently happy doing the breakfast show at Classic Hits Radio.”
Meanwhile, a well-placed source told us Baz won’t be returning either.
“It won’t be Baz,” the insider admitted. “Baz is devoted to his TV show DIY SOS and has other projects ongoing including his new TV series Faithless, he won’t be returning to 2FM.”
