Men dominate new line-up for Newstalk

TODAY FM has lost one of its leading radio presenters, Tom Dunne, to fellow commercial station Newstalk.

Dunne is currently on paternity leave from Today FM, and returns there briefly next week before hosting a three-hour weekday morning show on Newstalk from September 1st.

His 9am to noon show will replace Your Call with Brenda Powerand Life with Orla Barry, providing Newstalk with an all-male line-up from morning to night, with the exception of Claire Byrne who co-presents The Breakfast Showwith Ger Gilroy.

The predominance of male presenters in Newstalk's winter schedule is a reflection of what is happening on the winter schedules of other national radio stations.

Both Brenda Power and Orla Barry will be staying on at Newstalk where they will continue to broadcast.

Last night Brenda Power told The Irish Times"there's to be a change of direction in the morning schedule. I loved it, but after two years it was time to move on." She hoped now to get back into "scripted radio, which I really, really love doing".

An experienced broadcaster with Today FM and former front man with the group, Something Happens, Dunne said: "I'm very excited about the move to Newstalk. The station has carved out a real talk alternative in Irish radio. I'm looking forward to joining a great team, presenting a really exciting show and can't wait to get started."

Both Today FM and Newstalk are owned by Denis O'Brien's media firm Communicorp, which also owns 98FM, Dublin youth station Spin 103 and regional station Spin SouthWest.

Welcoming him to Newstalk, chief executive Elaine Geraghty said "This show marks a new departure for Newstalk's morning schedule. Tom is a fantastic addition to our line-up of presenters and he fits perfectly with Newstalk's commitment of delivering great talk radio. We are confident that this new programme presented by Tom in his own inimitable way will continue to grow our national audience."