RTÉ 2FM has announced that Jennifer Zamparelli is leaving her daily show on the station.
In a statement issued on Thursday evening, the broadcaster said: “Jennifer has presented her own show from 9-12pm weekdays on RTÉ 2FM since May 2019. She joined the station in February 2014.”
It is the third high-profile departure in recent weeks from the station, after The 2 Johnnies and Doireann Garrihy announced they were also leaving RTÉ 2FM.
“I have been working in 2FM for 10 amazing years and now it’s time for me to move on,” said Zamparelli.
“It has been a really difficult decision to make, as I love my team, and of course chatting to you guys (the listeners) every morning.
“From the early starts on Breakfast Republic all those years ago, to opening up the phone lines again from 9[am]-12pm, I have loved every minute.
“Within this time, I have gotten married and had two kids and now I feel it’s their time. Florence and Enzo are growing up so fast it’s scary and I really feel now is the time to give them a little more of me, so I won’t be returning to my daily radio show.
“Thank you to all the producers and BCOs (broadcast co-ordinators) who helped over the years. Thank you to my team for all the support and the laughs. Thanks to Paul Russell and Dan Healy for being so understanding of me needing my family time and for the opportunity to be on 2FM for 10 years. I’m so excited to see what happens next with the station … I will be tuning in for sure.”
Head of RTÉ 2FM Dan Healy said: “After an amazing 10 years on 2FM, Jen has decided to leave the station. Funny, bold and brave, Jen has been front and centre of 2FM from The Breakfast Republic Show to her brilliant own Jennifer Zamparelli Show.
“In February 2014, 2FM changed direction to appeal to younger audiences and Jen was key to achieving our goal.
“I want to thank her deeply for her energy and commitment to 2FM. It has been a privilege to work with such an amazingly talented person. I wish Jen, Lau and their gang all the best for the future and will cheer for Jen loudly in the next phase of her sparkling career.”
Healy added: “Also a big thanks to the producers who worked with Jen over the years, Dave Sherry on Breakfast Republic and Kate Proctor, Eithne Kelly, Anita Ward and Jon Jon Mehigan on The Jen Zamparelli Show and of course the rest of our colleagues who worked so hard on the shows.”
