It's all go over in Newstalk towers today as some major changes to the schedule have been announced, including the addition of two female journalists to their 7am-7pm lineup. We're big fans of Newstalk here, but there has always been a distinct lack of female presenters on the station during the week, so great to see that beginning to be amended.

The ladies in question are TV3's Colette Fitzpatrick, who already hosts a weekend show on the station, and Sunday Times political correspondent Sarah McInerney. Not only that, but Ireland's most famous crime correspondent Paul Williams has also found a home for himself in Newstalk, as well as former rugby star Alan Quinlan.

Fitzpatrick, Williams and Quinlan will host the Breakfast Show alongside Newstalk's Shane Coleman, following the news in April that Ivan Yates was departing the station due to personal reasons.

His co-host Chris Donoghue will move to a drivetime programme which he will present with Sarah McInerney.

George Hook then will head to a lunchtime spot, replacing Jonathan Healy, while Pat Kenny will get an extra hour added to his show, which will begin now at 9am. The Moncrieff Show will also lose an hour and now be broadcast from 2pm-4pm.

Garrett Harte, Newstalk's Editor-In-Chief, said; "We’re delighted to welcome Colette, Paul, Sarah and Alan on board. They bring energy, curiosity and the dynamism to complement the great team of presenters we already have at the station."

The new schedule will come into effect from Monday, September 5th.

Via Newstalk