Anton Savage to take over Newstalk Breakfast as Ciara Kelly and Shane Coleman move to afternoon slot

NEWSTALK HAS ANNOUNCED a major shakeup to its daytime schedule with Anton Savage to replace Ciara Kelly and Shane Coleman as the host of Newstalk Breakfast.

The change, which will come into effect in February 2026, will see Kelly and Coleman take over The Hard Shoulder, after five years at the helm of the breakfast show.

Savage has been with Newstalk since 2021, hosting The Anton Savage Show, a morning magazine-style programme. 

He will be the first solo presenter in of the breakfast show in over two decades.

Commenting on the new role, Savage said: “I’ve a hard act to follow with Ciara and Shane’s success, but I’m hoping we can pick up where they left off, providing a morning show that gets listeners up to speed for the day in a way that’s fast, informed and fun to listen to”.

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Newstalk Breakfast airs each weekday from, 7am to 9am, while The Hard Shoulder is on between 4pm to 7pm. 

Kieran Cuddihy hosted The Hard Shoulder from 2020 to October of this year when he announced his move to RTÉ to replace Joe Duffy as host of Liveline.

Speaking about their new home on The Hard Shoulder, Ciara Kelly said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be the new co-host of the Hard Shoulder alongside my great pal Shane Coleman!

“I’ve had a really brilliant time on Newstalk Breakfast but since I started out in broadcasting, I’ve truly loved that time slot and now I literally can’t wait to get stuck in. Let the games begin!” 

Shane Coleman said “After nearly a decade of travelling to work with Ireland’s commuters every morning on Newstalk, I am hugely excited at the prospect of now joining them for their journey home on The Hard Shoulder.”

Meanwhile as previously announced, Claire Byrne will host her show at mid-morning as previously announced and Pat Kenny will begin his new weekend show on Saturdays and Sundays on Newstalk in March.

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