What were the stand out moments of 2024 for Lunchtime Live? 

The team behind the shows has drawn up a list of the interviews and items that they’ll be thinking about for years to come. 

'I just couldn’t carry it anymore' - Charlene Masterson on speaking out about her father's abuse

Charlene Masterson had a “normal” life and upbringing. It was only when she turned 18 that it took a very dark turn. 

She received a text from an unknown number accusing her of wrongdoing, threatening her and demanding she do certain things for him. Ms Masterson panicked and asked her father for help. 

“He never questioned, ‘What did you do? Did you do anything?’ nothing like that,” she said. 

“It was just, ‘Well, you’re just going to have to do it.’”

The text messages then demanded she commit sexual acts with stangers. 

“I remember sitting and waiting for this stranger to arrive,” Ms Masterson said. 

“And my Dad looking out the window and going, ‘Well, here he comes.’ Hindsight is fantastic - how would you know that that’s the person? 

“I had to be blindfolded and when it was over - there were sexual acts - the ‘person’ left - I use that term loosely - and then my Dad would come in and say, ‘God, are you okay?’”

The ‘stranger’ was in fact her father and the abuse continued for years. 

Finally, after a “tough journey”, a judge sentenced him to 17-years behind bars. 

Charlene Masterson. 31/10/2024. Picture by: Newstalk

Do you like male strippers? 

If so, it turns out you’re not the only one. 

After the Pleasure Boys XXL performed in Belfast, a clip of the event went viral. 

On Lunchtime Live, John Woodward said the group have been “inundated” with calls to return to Ireland.

“We’ve had around 30 requests so far,” he said.

“Not only that, we’ve got well over 200 different messages from girls asking when we are coming back, that they want tickets to the show.

“It’s gone completely mental where people want to book us and want us there as soon as possible as, obviously with all the hype at the moment, they know they will sell all their shows.”

The Pleasure Boys XXL strip act. Image: supplied.

'We really should be disgusted with how we're treating our carers!'

The plight of carers is so often a difficult one and will be familiar to any regular listener of Lunchtime Live.

Time after time, carers call into the station and talk about how difficult it is for them to get respite care, how indifferently the State treats them and how they need more help. 

In June, Andrea let rip. 

Andrea Gilligan and Kieran Cuddihy set new Guinness World Record title

How long does it take to dress someone up as a Christmas tree? 

It turns out, it can take only one minute and nine seconds - and that is now officially a Guinness World record title. 

Earlier this month, presenters Kieran Cuddihy and Andrea Gilligan took on the challenge under the watchful eye of Dave Wilson, an official adjudicator who ensured all guidelines relating to the challenge were followed.

Dave Wilson, Kieran Cuddihy and Andrea Gilligan after setting the Guinness World Record

Kieran began the challenge dressed in just shorts and a t-shirt and it was up to Andrea to dress him in a green long-sleeved dress with either brown tights or trousers.

Andrea then wrapped Kieran in four two-metre lengths of tinsel and attached 12 baubles.

Finally, she placed a star attached to a conical hat on his head.

Main image: Dave Wilson, Kieran Cuddihy and Andrea Gilligan after setting the Guinness World Record for the fastest time to dress a person as a Christmas tree.