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Popular broadcaster Gerry Kelly is to present a new weekly programme on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Ulster.

Gerry, well known to Northern Ireland television and radio audiences for 30 years, will bring his considerable broadcasting experience and expertise to Radio Ulster every Saturday from 4 April 2009.

In this new programme, on Saturdays from 12.30 to 2.00pm, Gerry will be inviting Radio Ulster listeners to call, text and email into the programme to share their Saturday with him.

Simply entitled Gerry Kelly, the programme will also see Gerry catching up with old friends, engaging in some celebrity chat and providing listeners with a soundtrack to their Saturday.

He'll play his own irresistible range of music and listener requests, with everything from Girls Aloud to Glen Campbell and Duffy to Dean Martin sure to make an appearance on the playlist.

Gerry says: "I can't tell you how much Im looking forward to joining the Radio Ulster weekend team. Having studiously avoided a camera or a microphone for the past 12 months, the time is now right for me to get back to what I love doing best. So, when the opportunity arose to become part of Northern Ireland's most successful radio station, I didn't hesitate.

"While most of my professional life has been spent in front of a television camera, I love the freedom and intimacy that radio can offer. I am excited about this new chapter in my life and look forward to working alongside many of my broadcasting friends in the ´óÏó´«Ã½.

"Hopefully, along with ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Ulster's loyal listeners, we'll make Saturday afternoons special. I'm sure everyone can remember a time in their life when Saturday was the most looked-forward-to day of the week. Remember? Well, that's the feeling we want to recreate on the show."

Susan Lovell, Head of Radio Ulster, says: "Gerry Kelly is one of the biggest names in broadcasting in Northern Ireland. We are so pleased he is joining Radio Ulster and we are very much looking forward to inviting him into the team.

"Gerry is a great addition to an already popular line-up of Saturday programmes on Radio Ulster and we hope our listeners will make him as much a part of their busy Saturday as they have our other programmes. We're sure his relaxed and infectious style of broadcasting and his warm personality will prove popular with our listeners."

Notes to Editors

Gerry is not immediately available for interview. Please contact the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Northern Ireland Press Office with any interview requests and we will endeavour to facilitate an interview with Gerry as soon as possible.

JM4