Newstalk radio chiefs were in shock today after a leading presenter died on air.

Tom Dunne, recently poached from rival Today FM, passed away during his popular new morning show. After a segment about whether or not he should keep his winter coat for another year the producer cut to a commercial break which was followed by news and sport headlines.

Tom Dunne

When it was time for Dunne to introduce a small piece about a henpecked former DJ whose wife lays out his clothes for him each day there was nothing but dead air. A frantic work experience lad was sent in to the studio where he found the former Something Happens man dead in his swivelly chair.

The cause of death is not yet known but unconfirmed reports suggest he spontaneously combusted. The Garda forensic team was seen carrying out piles of dust in Yo Sushi! takeaway boxes and anorak fans are speculating that the station’s decision to fill the airtime by playing a series of songs named Burn by artists such as Deep Purple, The Cure, Nine inch nails and Tina Arena (Dunne’s all time favourite) was their way of paying tribute.

Newstalk is now gaining a most unwanted reputation in the Irish radio industry as a number of presenters have died or suffered serious injury in the last few months. Both Orla Barry and Brenda Power were hospitalised after falling from a great height – and the station was forced to move to a new premises after Roisin Ingle burst in the middle of an interview with Luka Bloom, rendering the studio unfit for human use and Bloom a deaf mute.

Only last June soccer correspondant Ken Earley was rushed to hospital after overdosing on his own laconic ginger smarm. Despite the best efforts of doctors he was pronounced dead on arrival.

A memorial service for Tom Dunne is due to be held at Dublin’s pro-cathederal with No Sweat pencilled in to play the Ave Maria.