RTÉ 2FM this week has announced that the Drive It with The 2 Johnnies is to come to an end on 31 May.
Head of RTÉ 2Fm, Dan Healy:
“After two very successful years, The 2 Johnnies are leaving 2FM. Johnny B and Johnny Smacks have brought their original South Tipp humour and interesting music choices to 2FM audiences right across Ireland. The listenership for the drivetime show has been very strong from the very start and the most recent listenership results continued that trend. They’ve been a great part of the 2FM family here and we’ll be sad to see them go but wish them well as they continue their adventures”.
The departure of ‘the 2 Jonnies’ on the drive time show is the latest in changes at the station. Earlier this month it was announced that Doireann Garrihy was leaving the network. Doireann will also present her final 2FM Breakfast with Doireann, Donncha and Carl on RTÉ 2FM on Friday 31st May.
Garrihy presents alongside Donncha O’Callaghan and Carl Mullan. Doireann also presents Dancing with The Stars Ireland on RTÉ One, the Irish version of Strictly Come Dancing.
There has been newspaper speculation as to why the popular broadcasters are quitting the RTÉ station, which is a Public Service Broadcaster akin to the BBC in the UK. The latest drive time departure despite having “the most listened to show on 2FM” had led to suggestions it is down to changes at the broadcaster following the Ryan Tubridy pay scandal last year.
RSVP Live note ‘Presenters like Doireann and the 2 Johnnies would have been subject to a rule change which places restrictions on their commercial activities outside of work. From January, new rules require certain RTE staff to register their interest and external activities by making an annual return, which RTE plans to publish on a quarterly basis.’ the article adds, ‘The rule changes include an approval process for external activities.’
Johnny Smacks:
“We’ve had unreal craic over the last two and half years working on 2FM. We came in with the idea to have a laugh on the afternoons and cheer people up and get more mad scones on the radio from every county in Ireland telling stories and auld yarns. After two and a half years my jaws need a rest from all the laughing. Thank you to our unbelievable team who backed us and brought our crazy ideas to life with us, to our brother Aindriú de Paor, our producers/mammies Anita and Caroline and to our on-air sister Aifric O’Connell, the show wouldn’t be what it is without you thank you so much.
“And the biggest thank you of all is for you the listeners, the show was all about ye, ye made it what it was. So, to Bob in Waterford, geezer John, Mouse and the lads, Pip in Toronto and all our listeners, thanks for laughing along with us. There’s great people working in 2FM and we wish them all the success in the world. Who knows, we may be back on the radio someday, but for now as we say on the show… We’re out the gap!”
Johnny B:
“We’ve loved our time on the show. The team are legends, our sister Aifric O Connell, the great Aindriú de Paor, Producers Caroline, and Anita.Our listeners have been the funniest, maddest, soundest crowd alive. The stories they’ve come on air to tell have been outrageous. It’s made me proud to be Irish to talk with the nation every evening. The Parish Quiz has thrown up some wild characters, we’ve tried to reach every inch of the island of Ireland. We’ll keep the mixer going and the ball pucked out”.
