Tracy Clifford to leave 2FM in new schedule shake-up

Tracy Clifford has said she felt "a little nudge for a while now to try new things" as she prepares to leave 2FM after more than a decade on air.

Clifford said The Big Tune Afternoon would be coming to an end "over the next few weeks", describing her time as part of listeners' afternoons as "such a privilege" and something she would "always be so proud of".

She also made clear she is not leaving RTÉ altogether, telling followers: "I’m staying within the RTÉ radio family," before adding that she is also "dipping a toe into telly".

Announcing the changes on Thursday, RTÉ said Clifford "very much remains part of the RTÉ family and details will be announced in due course".

Head of RTÉ 2FM Dan Healy thanked Clifford for her work over the past decade, saying she and her team had produced "great radio" during her time at the station.

Under the new line-up, 2FM Breakfast with Carl Mullan, Roz Purcell and Aisling Bonner will be extended to 10am.

2FM Morning with Doireann Garrihy will then air from 10am.

Broadcasting from RTÉ's Cork studios, Demi Isaac will present 2FM Afternoon alongside Mikey O’Reilly from 12pm, with O’Reilly based in the Dublin studio.

Both were selected through an expressions-of-interest competition that ran across the station last year.

Clifford backed the pair in her Instagram post, saying she was excited for listeners to hear "the next chapter of afternoons on 2FM" with Demi and Mikey.

"From the moment I heard them on air, I knew they had an unmistakable spark," she said, adding that "it’s infectious".

From 3pm, 2FM Drive will be presented by Laura Fox and Katja Mia, who made her radio debut on the station last October when she stepped in to cover weekend programming.

At 6pm on weekdays, Beta Da Silva will front a new music-led show featuring new tunes, projects, gig news and album breakdowns.

RTÉ said the refreshed line-up was informed by listener research and shaped by what younger audiences across Ireland want from radio today.

Healy said the new schedule brings together a range of voices and perspectives, while RTÉ Director of Audio Patricia Monahan said the changes form part of the broadcaster's wider audio strategy and 2FM's continued focus on younger audiences, conversation and music.