Radio: All a bit of a croc

The Drivetime slot was the only daily programme in the new autumn RTÉ Radio 1 schedule ready to start on Monday 4 September. Derek Mooney and Páraic Breathnach are yet to get to the starting line, so we're getting Rattlebag specials and early Late Dates until they are.

There are three new Drivetime programmes, not one as RTÉ Radio 1 is trying to con listeners into believing. On the RTÉ website, the programmes have three different names: Drivetime 5-6.30pm; Drivetime Sport, 6.30-7pm and Drivetime with Dave [Fanning], 7-8pm. Looks like three different programmes, sounds like three different programmes – they are three different programmes. But for the listenership figures, it's presented as one. Because listenership figures are broken down into 15-minute segments, the Drivetime listenership figures will total 12 segments (over three hours). Therefore, it will be very hard for them not to be up from Five Seven Live figures, as they were based on a total of eight segments (over two hours).

Anyway, listenership figures aside, Mary Wilson got off to a pretty dull start. Maybe it's not fair to judge it on day one, and it will be revisited regularly here. The programme started with coverage of the death of Australian crocodile-hunting TV star Steve Irwin, who was killed while filming an underwater documentary. Was the early death by stingray of an Aussie entertainer and conservationist really the best way to start the new news show? Irwin's death had been covered by most other shows since Morning Ireland and was covered again by Dave Fanning later and in a more interesting way.

Then there was a grand report by Fergal Keane in Westport about Bertie's shoe-shopping and the Fianna Fáil think-in, followed by easy interviews with the Taoiseach and Micheál Martin, both talking like converted Green Party members and each full of anti-opposition soundbites. Neither of them were challenged much and Rachel English's interviewing techniques were missed. Then a good five minutes of Des Cahill on golf, hurling and tennis.

Alas, he has not been confined to the 6.30-7pm slot and listeners had the joy of listening to him laughing at his own jokes about how the Kilkenny supporters were more "pussies than cats" if they didn't go out in the rain to welcome their team home. Oh, come on.

Then back to Mary Wilson and a very dull discussion on the taxi strike that provided nothing more than what was on the same day's Today With Pat Kenny and News at One. There was the usual business news, which focused on the property market (yawn) plus traffic news and dreary features on the Tidy Towns competition and where beef comes from. Yawn, yawn, yawn. No foreign news, except an interview with Dennis Staunton about the forthcoming US congress elections. No mention of the 40 found dead in Baghdad that day, no new news stories, no political, economic nor social insight into Ireland on 4 September 2006. Not a good omen, but it was day one and it can only get better.

Drivetime Sport followed for 30 long minutes. And then there was Drivetime with Dave. An upbeat review of the Electric Picnic festival and a good selection of tunes followed light but interesting chinwag led by Dave Fanning's experienced and comforting brogue. Listen to Dave Fanning. It could be worth it.p