Ray D'arcy on RTE Radio 1 **Mod Warning post 1** 27th Jan Forward

Haven't listened to Ray since his TodayFM days. Towards the end of that time, he had become contrary and set in his ways and I had switched off. Runs daily, never a coffee after a certain time etc. Like a vegan but worse if you get the reference. He was never a good interviewer but had been entertaining. He had an offer from RTE a year before his actual departure. That's when I thought his show nose dived. Reading this thread, it seems money didn't improve matters.

He was paid on the basis of bringing the TodayFM audience with him. That didn't materialise. It would seem commercial suicide by RTE to not put goals in place before payment.

As for the eventual replacement. Their pay should be based on the market rate of the other national stations. So if TodayFM or newstalk are willing for fork out €250k or more for that slot, then that's the rate. It should not be based on the outgoing incumbent. Same for Tubs when he eventually returns (which he will).

It's hard to see where he will go without a bit of humility and also loosing him team. Credit to RTE if someone finally grabbed the nettle and decided it's their way or no way. There is a shake up going on but who knows how it will change. The target audience is probably not the boards demographic.

Ray was stealing a living for at least 11yrs.

He has been found out, finally.

Id be very surprised to hear him back on any of the main radio stations in ireland, unless hes prepared to work for a fraction of what he was earning off rte.

🤣

Sorry, I got a vision of him just like Alan Partridge.

Delete

Yes but you would have to wonder at her decision to go back to newstalk, she would now be a queen in RTE land being a woman and all. That is hard currency there especially with all the turmoil with Ray D'Arcy leaving and all the other ones retiring

Not sure RTE handled it very well. Sounds like they offered him a different time slot and on a reduced salary in a 'take it or leave it' fashion. All of that is fair enough, but it seems like it was sprung on him and the team at extremely short notice - note how Joe Duffy was given weeks to prepare his exit from Liveline.

My issue is more with the timescale than the substance. The new boss says 'D'Arcy no longer works for RTE' ; did they terminate his contract with immediate effect when talks broke down this week and he didn't agree to a new slot?

I’d assume, like many of their presenters, he’s employed by a production company rather than by RTE. While those arrangements can have upsides, the downside is if the schedule gets reshuffled or they decide to axe a show, it’s just a simple business to business relationship, not employer and employee. Show business can be a very tough game when it comes to that kind of contract negotiation. It still basically retains the old theatre approach to hiring and firing actors on a whim, which is very unusual in the modern world tbh.

Show business can be a very tough game when it comes to that kind of contract negotiation. It still basically retains the old theatre approach to hiring and firing actors on a whim, which is very unusual in the modern world tbh.

Kieran cuddihy would want to remember that aswell, he is the man of the moment now but so was ray D'Arcy, in the late 90s he was wanted by everyone.

I think it is a mistake for cuddihy to move to liveline, you need the common touch and a sense of humour to be dealing with callers and listeners to liveline, most of them are in the 60+ retired demographic. At this stage in his career if he flops at liveline his whole career will be messed up, he will quickly be yesterday's man like so many have found to their cost.

Oddly enough Ray D'Arcy might have been a better fit he is well able to talk rubbish with the common man or woman. Cuddihy I think went for the time slot more than the show, living in kilkenny with a young family he probably wasn't able to go back to early mornings again

I am confused. What is the A.M. Kelly stuff?

A.M Kelly is his wife, she moved from Today FM with him to RTÉ. I am surprised she didn't become RTÉ staff.

Anyway typical boards.ie poor Ray, and nobody here to defend him like Tubs. I'd try to help but I don't see to be able to re-hash the same arguments about how good he was and well deserving of the pay that he got and sure wouldn't you take that kind of pay if it was offered to you etc etc

Makes you think about those posters and who they were, but they seemed to have stayed clear with this pile on Ray thread.

A M Kelly was Ann-Marie Kelly who was on the 5-7AM slot back in the 'better' days of Today FM. She moved to Midlands 103 where she presented the breakfast show for a number of years.

Jenny Kelly is Ray's wife, so maybe you're confusing the two Kellys.

Maybe a new show with an entirely different team or a podcast with Zig & Zag and Dustin or a YouTube channel and he could finish out his career in a more positive

Yes it's a wonder nobody else has grabbed dustin or zig and zag for a show of their own. There was a good article in the Irish Times about how zig and zag flopped in the UK. They were saying that the reason it worked with Ray D'Arcy is because he would let zig and zag and Dustin be the stars of the show and he would be the straight guy that would laugh at their jokes. Whereas in the UK the presenters Denise van outen etc were trying to grab the limelight themselves and were not prepared to let the puppets be the stars of the show.

HHowever also it's pulling power was that it was on RTE, establishment media, and it was dangerous as they were liable to say anything. Whereas a youtube channel would be too free and loose there would be no real danger in that.