PRESENTER IVAN YATES is stepping down from full-time broadcasting at Newstalk and Virgin Media from the end of the month. 

It is understood that an email was sent around to Newstalk staff to say that Yates would be stepping down from full-time radio broadcasting at the end of July.

The Wexford native and his wife Deirdre are moving home to Enniscorthy.

Yates is also stepping down from full-time television broadcasting.

The former businessman began as a presenter for Newstalk in 2009, co-presenting a breakfast show with Claire Byrne.

He left the station in 2012, and then returned in August 2013, co-presenting a breakfast programme with Chris Donoghue.

Yates has been presenting the “straight-taking” “opinion-led” drivetime show The Hard Shoulder from 4-7pm each weekday. According to JNLR figures from October 2019, The Hard Shoulder was by far Newstalk’s most listened to programme, with 182,000 listeners (up 25,000 year-on-year).

He also co-presents The Tonight Show with Matt Cooper on Virgin Media, Monday to Thursday from 10pm. 

In a statement to TheJournal.ie, Newstalk confirmed that Ivan Yates will step down from his role as presenter of The Hard Shoulder, on Friday 24 July.

“Ivan has decided to step back from full time broadcasting and he and his wife are moving home to live in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Ivan for the enormous contribution he has made to the success of the show and to Newstalk.

“We wish him the very best for the future and we look forward to continuing to work with him in various guises across the station.

“Ivan’s replacement on The Hard Shoulder will announced in due course,” the statement said.