It\u2019s the biggest shake-up at RT\u00c9 Radio 1 in decades, but the prevailing mood on day one of the station\u2019s revamped schedule is business as usual, as presenters take up their new positions with little fanfare: in seeking to reshape Radio 1\u2019s audience, the extensive makeover is a marathon, not a sprint. <\/p>\n
That said, the first programme on the rebooted weekday line-up, Today with David McCullagh, flies out of the blocks, the newly installed host going toe to toe with Ivan Yates<\/a>, the former minister and broadcaster, in headline-grabbing style.<\/p>\n Having exited the Path to Power podcast after his undisclosed coaching of the presidential candidate Jim Gavin, Yates defends himself in robust fashion, saying that he broke no rules<\/a> and relies on his own integrity to ensure impartiality. <\/p>\n Yates\u2019 notion of using a personal honour system for media regulation may be novel, but it makes a splash, ensuring McCullagh<\/a>\u2019s inaugural show gets off to a roaring start: as his guest remarks, no presenter wants a \u201cbland, boring\u201d guest. <\/p>\n The spirited interview also highlights the host\u2019s dry humour, as when Yates suggests McCullagh is taking a pop at his guest\u2019s former employer. \u201cI\u2019m not trying to have a go at Newstalk,\u201d McCullagh replies. \u201cI\u2019m trying to have a go at you.\u201d<\/p>\n [\u00a0Ivan Yates insists he \u2018broke no rules\u2019 in controversy over Jim Gavin media trainingOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n The rest of the show is somewhat anticlimactic, although it does give some hints about how McCullagh\u2019s tenure may pan out. Unsurprisingly for a seasoned journalist, he handles current-affairs items confidently, again with a side order of bite. When the Fianna F\u00e1il TD Peter \u201cChap\u201d Cleere refers repeatedly to his party needing \u201crenewal\u201d, the host deadpans: \u201cIf I was Miche\u00e1l Martin<\/a> I\u2019d be getting nervous.\u201d <\/p>\n In contrast, McCullagh holds back during human-interest stories, as when speaking to parents who care for adult children. It\u2019s a prudent move, at least until the host feels comfortable in such settings.<\/p>\n Of all the changes, the arrival of Kieran Cuddihy<\/a> from Newstalk<\/a> to succeed Joe Duffy as host of Liveline has attracted most attention. But the most ear-catching aspect of Cuddihy\u2019s opening edition is the show\u2019s new theme music, which replaces the Stockton\u2019s Wing tune long associated with the programme.<\/p>\n [\u00a0RT\u00c9\u2019s Radio 1 reboot: \u2018We weren\u2019t aware that this level of a shake-up was on the cards\u2019Opens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n When it comes to content, however, the song remains the same, as callers recount their experience of failings in the health system \u2013 long a Liveline staple.<\/p>\n Some of the stories are harrowing. David and Tina tell of being unable to access psychological care for their autistic teenage son, Senan, who has been traumatised by witnessing the death of his younger sister, Sophia, seven years ago. <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know where to start,\u201d Cuddihy says, sounding shaken by the couple\u2019s tale. \u201cI suspect it\u2019s PTSD for all the family.\u201d <\/p>\n This isn\u2019t new territory for Cuddihy. In his Newstalk role as host of The Hard Shoulder, he regularly decried the chronic shortcomings in services promised by the Disability Act, and he continues to do so here: \u201cThe system shouldn\u2019t be based on who can bang the door loudest.\u201d <\/p>\n If Cuddihy survives being thrown in at the deep end, he now will be even more aware of the challenges of his new role. He may be host of a big brand, but callers still drive the show. <\/p>\n [\u00a0Brendan O\u2019Connor wears his RT\u00c9 Radio 1 crown lightly as the new pretenders arriveOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n Cuddihy eschews his predecessor\u2019s hammy flair for sentiment and outrage \u2013 no bad thing \u2013 but, equally, Liveline\u2019s rigid format offers less opportunity for him to exercise his penchant for spiky asides. It\u2019s a solid start, but it remains to be seen how Cuddihy will place his distinctive stamp on the show.<\/p>\n Katie Hannon<\/a> and Colm \u00d3 Mong\u00e1in<\/a> were both also tipped as potential Liveline hosts. Their new roles as the presenters of Drivetime could be seen as a consolation prize, but they sound the most comfortable performers on the rejigged line-up.<\/p>\n The duo adopt an authoritative yet relaxed tone when covering chunky topics such as housing<\/a>, BBC crises<\/a> and bird-flu<\/a> outbreaks \u2013 and the sensitive issue of breast-cancer awareness is given extra urgency when Hannon talks about having had routine screening earlier in the day.<\/p>\n Wisely, the pair don\u2019t attempt to ape the bickering chemistry of Sarah McInerney<\/a> and Cormac \u00d3 hEadhra<\/a>, the programme\u2019s previous hosts, but their on-air partnership already shows a promising spark. Discussing the appeal of spicy foods, Hannon suggests it\u2019s a \u201cmacho thing\u201d. \u201cWe\u2019re about to find out,\u201d \u00d3 Mong\u00e1in replies, gingerly preparing to nibble some chilis. <\/p>\n