George Hook retiring....

giftgrub

Looks like the Hooky Monster will be calling it quits.

From his official Twitter page

Thr Right Hook will end at the end of September 2016 if God spares me

and his TV gig as well

Plan to leave TV after Rugby World Cup 2015 DV

neris

giftgrub wrote: »

Looks like the Hooky Monster will be calling it quits.

From his official Twitter page



and his TV gig as well

That still 2.5 years away dont supose hed go this september

GSF

If Cooper doesn't make it back from North Korea there will be a free slot on Todayfm sooner Neris........

hotmail.com

The long goodbye.

Gaybo "retired" in 1999.

mike65

Interesting, clearly if DO'B Towers have any cop they'll move Cooper across to NT and stick some gobby DJ on Today FM for drive time. Why wait to Sept 2016 though?

L1011

I'll believe it when I hear his replacement on-air.

From memory didn't he give an almost exact date in his autobiography, which he missed and said it was due to his wife staying on in her job - she's retired from Trinity now...

hotmail.com

MYOB wrote: »

I'll believe it when I hear his replacement on-air.

From memory didn't he give an almost exact date in his autobiography, which he missed and said it was due to his wife staying on in her job - she's retired from Trinity now...

I can't see him retiring either. He'll keep going til he's incapacitated or sacked which is what Newstalk should have done years ago.

Itssoeasy

Sure gay Byrne is still on his retirement tour on lyric sure.

TBP

He'll be a big loss when ever he retires. Newstalk will get it up their holes replacing him, no two ways about it.

Losty Dublin

hotmail.com wrote: »

I can't see him retiring either. He'll keep going til he's incapacitated or sacked which is what Newstalk should have done years ago.

Sack their highest listened to and revenue grossing presenter? Good luck to you

Lovely Bloke

TBP wrote: »

He'll be a big loss when ever he retires. Newstalk will get it up their holes replacing him, no two ways about it.

maybe the OTB lads might get a go :D

Gest

I usually listen to matt cooper but when he is not around I usually turn on hook. I don't listen to drivetime. Hook is ok in small doses.

foxtrot101

mike65 wrote: »

Interesting, clearly if DO'B Towers have any cop they'll move Cooper across to NT and stick some gobby DJ on Today FM for drive time. Why wait to Sept 2016 though?

Doesn't Today fm have to have a set percentage of current affairs programming in it's schedule? I'm not sure weakening one station to strengthen another one would be the way to go.

A lot of RTE contracts would up around that time and the verdict on Pat Kenny's move would be in by then. So they could well be looking to poach someone else from Montrose. Which, of course, will do wonders for the RTE "stars" negotiating positions.

Mr Pseudonym

mike65 wrote: »

Interesting, clearly if DO'B Towers have any cop they'll move Cooper across to NT and stick some gobby DJ on Today FM for drive time.

I've been expecting that for a while. I can see why they may have been reluctant to unsettle the slot which had the largest listenership. Q4 JNLR results should confirm, though, that that is no longer the case.

In a way I'll regret when Hook leaves: I think his bombastic and controversialist style is unique in Ireland (maybe Niall Boylan is another example), and if Cooper does head over to Newstalk and is replaced by "some gobby DJ", there'll be less variety on airwaves.

Mr. Rabbit

He'd be perfect for something like talkback on Radio Ulster.

elvis jones

Ivan on breakfast to make the move to afternoons............

I Heart Internet

Gest wrote: »

I usually listen to matt cooper but when he is not around I usually turn on hook. I don't listen to drivetime. Hook is ok in small doses.

I would say I listen to approx: 40% George Hook, 30% Matt Cooper and 30% RTE Drivetime on my way home (a fairly lengthy communte).

I find they all have different strengths and weaknesses that suit my ever-changing mood.

I like the rambling, chatty nature of The Right Hook at times (especially on a Friday), I like many of Matt Cooper's topics and interview style, RTE cover some serious topics very well (and very thoroughly), but there's only so much "Healthy Policy Analysis" I can handle (I can't believe that they bring in a "Health Policy Analyst" to talk about the HSE every single week...regardless, it seems to me, if there is a news story or not. "So, Miss Health Policy Analyst" what random, obscure report or tweak to internal HSE policy will we be discussing this week?"

On topic: I have a soft spot for Gearge Hook. Rambling and ill-informed as he may be, he means well and his stories about Brother Athanasius deserve a show all of their own.

force eleven

I believe he should have left the 4.30pm weekday show and move to a light entertainment slot at the weekend - similar to his Friday edition show, which is mainly chat and light entertainment. He lumbers about too much on the show now, and pontificates ad nauseum. Give the slot to Shane Coleman, even more right wing than George admittedly , but well able to handle it. Ivan wouldn't like the hours Id say, interfere with the sports etc.

stoneill

His right wing west brit snorting slurred speech will not be missed by me.

I Heart Internet

stoneill wrote: »

His right wing west brit snorting slurred speech will not be missed by me.

I like that he thinks a little differently to many "media heads" and upsets a few people. I really don't see him as a "west brit" or that he's particularly right-wing.

blue4ever

Losty Dublin wrote: »

Sack their highest listened to and revenue grossing presenter? Good luck to you

Second Highest and second grossing i'd wager within a few months (if not already)

Foxhound38

I'll miss him when he goes. I have no idea why I find him and his show as amusing as I do - but I do.

I Heart Internet

Foxhound38 wrote: »

I'll miss him when he goes. I have no idea why I find him and his show as amusing as I do - but I do.

That's it - he's not a brilliant interviewer (good chat but not probing interviewer) but he does a good show. I think he's a genuine guy - lived a full life before getting on the radio so speaks with a different voice to many others.

More Music

stoneill wrote: »

His right wing west brit snorting slurred speech will not be missed by me.

Not sure about the West Brit, but he does snort and slur his speech.

Also annoys me when he "ummhs" & "ahhs" while trying to formulate a question.

He'll then stop mid sentence when he thinks of a better completely different question.

mike65

I Heart Internet wrote: »

RTE cover some serious topics very well (and very thoroughly), but there's only so much "Healthy Policy Analysis" I can handle (I can't believe that they bring in a "Health Policy Analyst" to talk about the HSE every single week...regardless, it seems to me, if there is a news story or not. "So, Miss Health Policy Analyst" what random, obscure report or tweak to internal HSE policy will we be discussing this week?"

Heh, I spotted that and wondered why RTE has such a correspondent then realised a semi-state broadcaster would indeed employ someone to comment on a wildly ineffective and wasteful publicly funded body. Its Sara Burke who has that cushy number.

I Heart Internet

mike65 wrote: »

Heh, I spotted that and wondered why RTE has such a correspondent then realised a semi-state broadcaster would indeed employ someone to comment on a wildly ineffective and wasteful publicly funded body. Its Sara Burke who has that cushy number.

In fairness, Sara Burke is (I think) an independent (not an employee of RTE) and knows her stuff very, very well. It can be boring though. RTE Drivetime have a regular "Healthy Policy Analysis" slot where other drivetime shows have regular movie or travel slots.

Heroditas

stoneill wrote: »

His right wing west brit snorting slurred speech will not be missed by me.

Cork accent = West Brit? :rolleyes:

DEFTLEFTHAND

elvis jones wrote: »

Ivan on breakfast to make the move to afternoons............

That could happen alright. I've heard Ivan express interest in the Afternoon slot before. I remember a couple of years back there was talk of Hook moving to breakfast as he wanted to work mornings and Ivan moving in the other direction.

blue4ever

Heroditas wrote: »

Cork accent = West Brit? :rolleyes:

South West Brit

Heroditas

blue4ever wrote: »

South West Brit

Whatever that's actually supposed to mean... :rolleyes:

Foxhound38

I Heart Internet wrote: »

That's it - he's not a brilliant interviewer (good chat but not probing interviewer) but he does a good show. I think he's a genuine guy - lived a full life before getting on the radio so speaks with a different voice to many others.

That's exactly it - he got into radio (and the public eye in general) very late in his life, when he was a failed businessman, at a time when he could barely pay the electricity bills. He's lived an inspiring life, he doesn't care who he pi$$es off with his views and rants and he isn't afraid to call things as he sees them.

I'd be on the political left myself, I don't often find myself agreeing with him - sometimes in truth I feel like ripping the radio out of the car and throwing it out the window when I'm listening to him! But I do respect him, and I think he's one of the few truly honest (including about his own shortcomings) public commentators we have in this country.

I remember hearing a story once (not on his show or by him) about a guy who texted in to him saying the black dog was following him around for the last few weeks and he felt like giving up. George (who suffered from depression himself at various stages in his life) called him back off-air and arranged to meet him for a coffee and talk about it.

Crotchety old man or not, someone who undertook a gesture like that deserves my respect at least.

Also, he does say things I agree with sometimes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqIlTv9Nd6A

I Heart Internet

Foxhound -

I've also heard him tell listeners - after a piece about depression:

"If you're feeling down at the moment and can't think of a reason to be cheerful/go on, send me a text here at (53106) and I'll get back to you on how you matter and are important in this world."

Something along those lines.

George is a class act.

CountyHurler

I agree with the above.. I love the way George reads out THE most negative texts sent in to the show.. most of them starting with something like "George, you fat, aged old fool"... Could imagine Tubridy or Joe Duffy reading out such stuff about themselves ?.. RTE censor the texts that come in to the top stars, which compounds the sense of aloofness that they have. Maybe if they read out a few negative texts about themselves, it would help the listeners relate to them... particularly Tubridy..

DeanAustin

Agree with the above posts. I don't often agree with Hook but he does come across as a very genuine guy who doesn't take himself too seriously.

kenco

Yep he's and annoying auld bo!!ox but hes our version of same!

I have always been impressed around his openness in relation to his depression and how he genuinely wants to help those who face similar challenges. I really think there is no one else on the airways at the moment who could do this (only when you have been to the depths, etc, etc)

Love it when he is interviewing Vinnie B! Grumpy old men Irish style! We wont all agree with him all of the time but we have to respect his honesty and single mindedness in the bleak airways of modern Irish radio.

It will be a loss when he goes but Im sure Ivan will take on that burden and bring his own version of grumpiness and belligerence to drive time!

jimmyw

I've grown to like Georgy boy for a few years now.Dont always agree with him on different matters but I enjoy his show in the main.I even listen to the Friday show on podcast if I don't hear it live, (thats how sad I am:D).When he is off for whatever reason, I tend to find myself drifting away from the show.

But, if Shane Coleman for instance takes over his show when he retires, then I am GONE!!

Skrynesaver

Listening to it for the first time in years, so delighted the mouth poo is going

PeterTheNinth

So annoyed that George is leaving.

Good bye George, thanks for the memories.

thesultan

Think he is very good

Mr Snow

George hook is moving to lunch time.
his time be 12 to 2 from spetmber

Will Alison Spittle ever see the inside of a radio studio again?

Maybe 2 FM are hiring.

L1011

Mr Snow wrote: »

George hook is moving to lunch time.
his time be 12 to 2 from spetmber

I would not be surprised if he backs out of that. Retirement will likely suit him

Loafing Oaf

Deedsie wrote: »

What are you basing that on? He has avoided retirement at all costs. I'd say he will work till he can longer manage it.

Yeah reckon he noticed the void in his life once he quit the telly. Can see him carrying on for a good while yet if this lunchtime gig works out...

Cazale

People are going on as if he has died including George himself. He is just moving a few hours earlier.

I reckon so. If you were going to use an irreverent surname you'd probably come up with something funnier than that.

I just started following her on Twitter. I have to admit this was very funny

https://twitter.com/AlisonSpittle/status/726365277462626304

zell12

He's really retiring finally in December 2018 when his contract ends