'Liveline' slot has shed 20,000 of its loyal listeners after Duffy's departure It's an old adage in entertainment: the show is always bigger than its presenter. Yet the latest Joint National Listenership Research (JNLR) figures would strongly suggest otherwise when it comes to one particular show. Since Joe Duffy stepped down last June after presenting the afternoon chat show for 27 years, the Liveline slot has shed a massive 20,000 listeners.
As proof of his star power, figures from the latest Joint National Listenership Research (JNLR's) reveal the huge slump in his show over the summer. The veteran presenter left on Friday, June 27, after 37 years with RTÉ and was replaced with a rotating panel of broadcasters after he retired. It may spell an uphill battle for Kieran Cuddihy when he takes up the reins of the show next Monday as part of the massive Radio 1 reshuffle.