Today FM is introducing a new Sunday schedule next month, with the addition of comedian Mario Rosenstock and the axing of the Sunday Business Show.
Mario, creator and star of Gift Grub on The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show, will host a brand new lunchtime show between 11am and 1pm from July 8th.
The Sunday Business Show, currently 10am till 11am, and Songs in the Key of Life will air for the last time this weekend, Sunday 1st July. Hector is also leaving the regular schedule but will cover for Ian Dempsey on Breakfast throughout the year.
Other changes to the line up include The Very Best of The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show (7am-8am), where listeners can catch up on the week that was, while Alison Curtis extends her Weekend Breakfast show by an hour with a new show time of 8-11am.
Ed Smith will extend his Sunday evening alternative music show ‘Ed’s Songs of Praise’ by an hour (7pm-10pm). Ed has also taken over Louise Duffy’s evening show ‘Lost in Music’ for the next 6 months as Louise heads off on maternity leave.
Declan Pierce, who joined Today FM in 2017, takes over the hot seat from Hector to present a 3-hour music programme on Sunday afternoons (4pm-7pm).
Phil Cawley continues his three-hour music and chat show (moved to 1pm-4pm) while Kelly-Anne Byrne’s The Beat Goes On also remains in its current Sunday timeslot, 10pm-12am (also Saturdays from 9pm-12am).
Today FM Content Director, Adelle Nolan commented: “We’re thrilled to welcome Mario to the Sunday line-up, his profile, enthusiasm, creativity and widespread appeal will bring an infectious energy to our weekend schedule. Mario has been a huge part of Today FM’s growth and success with Gift Grub and this new show offers listeners an opportunity to see another side of Mario.”
Commenting on the exciting announcement, Mario said: “For 20 years, I’ve been looking at life through the eyes of lots of different characters from Enda Kenny to Michael D to Miriam O’Callaghan and that’s been my filter… but the one person that I never examined stories through, is me! I’m looking forward to getting stuck in. I’ve recently presented some TV as myself and really enjoyed the experience. I’d like to think that, after 20 years here, I know what the Today FM listener enjoys and I look forward to giving them just that.”
Adelle Nolan continued: I’m confident that our refreshed Sunday schedule is one that will continue to grow our core audience of 25-44 year olds and build on the success of our primetime lineup, which currently entertains almost 900,000 people across Ireland every week.”