Joe Duffy is leaving Liveline, but who will replace him?

From the end of June, the people of Ireland will no longer be able to pick up the phone and talk to Joe.

Last week, Joe Duffy announced he was leaving his role as presenter of the RTÉ radio phone-in show after 27 years in the hot seat.

The 69-year-old broadcaster, whose contract was due to expire this summer, said he was “deeply privileged and eternally grateful” to have worked for so long presenting the programme. He also said he hoped Liveline had “made people feel heard”. 

Over nearly three decades, Duffy presided over Ireland’s court of public opinion, while his tagline, ‘talk to Joe’, could be seen as either an invitation or a threat.

His weekday radio slot gave a platform to issues that were sometimes ignored by the rest of the media. And some of the most unintentionally hilarious, totally unplanned, moments on Irish radio also emerged through the Liveline phone lines. 

What legacy does Duffy leave behind and who has the experience, and kudos, to fill his shoes?

Today, on In The News, Joe Duffy is leaving but who will replace him?

Irish Times radio columnist Mick Heaney discusses the history of Liveline, Duffy’s career and the names already in the mix for the much-coveted afternoon slot.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by John Casey. 

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