RTE's `Arts Show' will end in May with the retirement of presenter Mike Murphy

One of RTE Radio's most popular programmes, the Arts Show, will end in May with the decision by its presenter, Mike Murphy, to retire from the show. It will be replaced by a new arts magazine with a new presenter from June.

RTE says Murphy and Radio 1 are now working on "an ambitious Irish literary series for the autumn which Mike will present".

Murphy (58) joined RTE in the 1960s, initially as an announcer, then as a presenter and in 1971 hosted the National Song Contest.

He said of his pending retirement: "The time has come to move on." Having first become known as a personality, he was well aware that many objected to such a relative "lightweight" fronting an arts programme.

"I didn't go to university and I've never been involved in the arts, but I have always been interested in the visual arts and in fiction. I am a long-standing member of the board of IMMA, although I've always felt uneasy about opening nights when I attend exhibitions and plays."

Much of his success as a presenter on The Arts Show has been due to his enthusiasm and the fact he has never claimed expertise. Always maintaining the "man-in-the-street" stance, he admits to being particularly weak on classical music.

The Arts Show was extremely effective in the promotion of poetry. Fine interviews included those with Eavan Boland, Seamus Heaney, whose first appearance as a Nobel prize-winner was on the programme, John Montague and show regular Brendan Kennelly.

It could also be controversial - a memorable item featured Irish language poet Cathal O'Sharkey, who spoke frankly about growing up gay in rural Ireland.

Murphy selected John McGahern as another engaging subject. Among international writers interviewed were Richard Ford, Don de Lillo, Annie Proux, Jonathan Raban, Nadine Gordimer, Salman Rushdie, Martin Amis and Vikram Seth, while a recent interview with novelist and arts commentator Melvyn Bragg was compelling as Bragg recalled interviewing the dying Dennis Potter.

Asked to name difficult guests, Murphy said: "Patrick O'Brian was arrogant and disparaging of everyone and everything."

When the show's evening slot was transferred three years ago to the mid-afternoon, it was feared its audience would be lost. "We did lose our core evening listeners but our figures trebled as we discovered a completely new audience."

Of its success, Murphy says: "The Arts Show has done very well because I always had brilliant researchers."