RTÉ has killed speculation stone dead regarding the likely successor to Derek Mooney, in the RTÉ Radio One schedule, with the announcement that Ray D’Arcy will be rejoining the national broadcaster. It was revealed last week that Mooney would be taking up a role in production, as RTÉ’s head of nature programming.

In a press release issued today, the station confirmed that the former Today FM stalwart will present a daily mid-afternoon programme on RTÉ Radio One, some fourteen years after he left the national broadcaster. In making the statement, the national broadcaster killed off the rumour, which had gained considerable traction, both in RTE and more widely, that Ryan Tubridy would be shifted from RTE 2fm, to fill the vacancy in the Radio One schedule.

D’Arcy was ebullient about the move, which should also open up new opportunities for him on TV in Montrose..
“I'm really looking forward to joining RTÉ in 2015,” he said. "I'm excited about the upcoming challenges in both radio and television. To be honest, it feels a little bit like coming home.”
Tom McGuire, Head of Radio One, welcomed D’Arcy back to RTÉ with open arms.
“It’s great to welcome Ray D’Arcy back to RTÉ,” he said. "I look forward to him being at the heart of our afternoon schedule on Radio One. 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 (on Today FM) has been one of the top performers in the country and I know that listeners to Radio One and Ray D’Arcy will really enjoy the latest addition to an exciting RTÉ Radio 1 schedule in 2015."
The announcement suggests that RTÉ are beginning to strike back against the encroachment of the independents. Latterly, the talent traffic has tended to be in the other direction, with Pat Kenny – one of RTÉ’s most successful ever broadcasters – leaving the national broadcaster to join Today FM’s sister station, Newstalk: both stations are owned by Denis O’Brien’s Communicorps group. However, Today FM CEO, Peter McPartlin, was philosophical about the loss of the man who fronted his most successful programme.
“We are disappointed to lose Ray from our great line-up of talent,” he commented. "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.”
Reaction to the announcement within the media industry was generally positive. The news, first revealed on hotpress.com last week, that RTÉ were considering extending the Joe Duffy-led Liveline show seem to have been confirmed by the revelation that D’Arcy’s new show will begin at 3pm.
“The big question now is: what exactly do RTÉ intend to do with the 30 minutes between when Liveline currently goes off air and Ray D’Arcy begins?” one media buyer said. “The RTÉ press release talks about a handover between Liveline and Ray, so the impression is that they are simply going to extend the Joe Duffy show by half an hour. Or might they extend the news to 2pm, and give Joe a 60 minute slot? It is on decisions like this that the viability of a schedule can depend."
The Ray D’Arcy Show will air on weekdays on RTÉ Radio One, at 3pm. The first show will be on February 2, 2015. There is no news on his likely replacement at Today FM – though that too will doubtless be the focus for intense speculation over the coming weeks...