RTE insiders tipped mum-of-two Jennifer, 44, as a hugely popular name to take over the slot after we revealed that Joe Duffy had asked RTE not to renew his contract with the station when the time comes, prompting speculation he will step down next year.
Speaking exclusively to the Irish Mirror at the launch of the Bands for Barretstown fundraising drive, which begins on Monday, Jen admitted she would be “honoured”. She said: “Will I go back to radio at some stage? Who knows.
It would have to be Liveline. Talk to Jen – it’s easy. It would be very difficult shoes to fill and I love Joe.
To be honest, Joe is one of the most supportive people in the business. He is so lovely and so supportive from the beginning. And he has always been so lovely to me.
He is a real gentleman. It would be an honour to fill his shoes if that chance ever came around. But I’m not there now and I’m just enjoying growing tomatoes.”
Jennifer's Radio Departure
The ex-2FM star has confirmed she will return to co-host Dancing With The Stars with Doireann Garrihy in January, months after quitting her radio show after 10 years at the helm.
The Dubliner revealed her decision was cemented when her father got sick this year and she took unexpected extended leave from the station.
She said: “I needed a break from the monotony.
I was kind of stuck. It all came to a head over the realisation when my dad got sick and that’s why I took time off initially and he was in hospital.
And I needed to be with the family and be around to do the drop offs and pop in to see my dad.
I was at a stage where I wanted more of this and that’s what it was.”
But Jen said when she told 2FM boss Dan Healy of her intentions of quitting her radio show, she said “it felt right”.
She added: “It felt it was the right time. It really did. I had the best summer.
I was saying yes to everything and going everywhere.
I’ve had a summer with the kids that I would’ve never had and might not have the opportunity to do again so it’s been nice.
I’ve been self-employed since I was 18. I had freedom and now I have freedom that I haven’t had in 10 years.
If you want to be successful in radio, you have to be there every day.
People want to hear you at 9.10am doing a certain competition because that’s when they get into the car to go to work and they need that.
People like that. They need to know you.
To be able to travel and go away with my family and do projects that I would’ve never had the opportunity to do if I was on the radio has been lovely. Although I really miss the team.
But the freedom has been unbelievable, and this is why I’ve worked 20 years in the business.
I’ve worked hard to get to a stage where I can do this [Bands for Barretstown fundraising drive].”
Jennifer's Take on Liveline
Jennifer Zamparelli has joked that she would only return to radio if it were to host RTE's Liveline.
The broadcaster left 2fm earlier this summer, following names like Doireann Garrihy and the 2 Johnnies who also departed the station.
It was reported earlier this year that Joe Duffy had asked RTE’s Director General Kevin Bakhurst not to renew his contract with the station when the time comes, prompting speculation the host will step down from Liveline sometime next year.
Insiders tipped Jennifer as a hugely popular name to take over the Radio 1 slot.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror at the upcoming Bands for Barretstown fundraising drive on Monday, the mum-of-two admitted she would be “honoured” to take over the hit radio slot. She said: “Will I go back to radio at some stage? Who knows. It would have to be Liveline,” she said laughing. “Talk to Jen – it’s easy.
It would be very difficult shoes to fill and I love Joe. To be honest, Joe is one of the most supportive people in the business. He is so lovely and so supportive from the beginning. And he has always been so lovely to me. He is a real gentleman.
It would be an honour to fill his shoes if that chance ever came around but I’m not there now but I’m just enjoying growing tomatoes.”
From 2FM to Dancing With The Stars
The Dubliner revealed her decision to quit her 2fm show was cemented after her father got sick earlier this year and the star took some unexpected extended leave from the station. She said: “I needed a break from the monotony.
I was kind of stuck. It all came to a head over the realisation when my dad got sick and that’s why I took time off initially and he was in hospital and I needed to be with the family and be around to do the drop offs and pop in to see my dad.
I was at a stage where I wanted more of this and that’s what it was.”
But Jen said when she told 2FM boss Dan Healy of her intentions of quitting her radio show, “it felt right”.
“It felt right. It felt it was the right time. It really did. I had the best summer. I was saying yes to everything and going everywhere. I’ve had a summer with the kids that I would’ve never had and might not have the opportunity to do again so it’s been nice. I’ve been self-employed since I was 18… I had freedom and now I have freedom that I haven’t had in ten years.
If you want to be successful in radio, you have to be there every day. People want to hear you at 9:10am doing a certain competition because that’s when they get into the car to go to work and they need that.
People like that. They need to know you. To be able to travel and go away with my family and do projects that I would’ve never had the opportunity to do if I was on the radio has been lovely. Although I really miss the team.
