Broadcaster and former minister Ivan Yates signed off on his last breakfast show broadcast on Newstalk yesterday morning.
Mr Yates is leaving the radio station’s flagship show after three years to concentrate on sorting out his personal finances. He was “very appreciative of the opportunity” Newstalk gave him, the former Fine Gael TD for Wexford said on air yesterday. “I was due to have my final breakfast tomorrow [Good Friday], but circumstances changed,” he said. It is understood the decision to leave was taken by Mr Yates.
He leaves Newstalk’s top-rated programme, with 135,000 listeners a day – slightly ahead of George Hook’s show. Co-presenter Chris Donoghue yesterday said Mr Yates had been “a pleasure to work with” and was “very passionate about his work”. Donoghue will continue to co-host the show, while Mr Yates will be replaced by the station’s political editor, Shane Coleman, in “the short to medium term”, a spokesman for the Denis O’Brien-owned station said.
Mr Yates is believed to be considering relocating to Britain to have himself declared bankrupt as he battles with AIB over a €3.6 million debt related to the collapse of his business Celtic Bookmakers. Britain has more lenient bankruptcy laws.