Change of guard at 98.5 FM: columnist Patrick Lagacé will replace host Paul Arcand at the helm of his morning show in a year and a half, Since you have to get up.
Quebec’s biggest “morning man” presented his successor on the air on Wednesday morning. Columnist at The PressPatrick Lagacé will take over the microphone of the daily morning show in August 2024.
Paul Arcand announced last summer that he would not renew his contract, wishing to “move on to something else”, almost 20 years after taking the helm of Since you have to get up.
PHOTO PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Paul Arcand was at the helm of Since you have to get up during almost 20 years.
Behind the scenes, Patrick Lagacé sat at the top of the list of names considered for the position.
The late afternoon show host Quebec now says that “the conversation started a long time ago” with Pierre Martineau, vice-president of 98.5 and regional stations Cogeco Media.
“The first time we talked about it formally, I said ‘listen, I’m not closing the door’, which was a way of closing the door by keeping it a little ajar. For what ? Because it’s a big challenge. Will you get up at this time? By dint of thinking, having discussions with Pierre, talking about it to my relatives, finally I said yes, ”he says.
Despite his new mandate, Patrick Lagacé has no intention of leaving The Press. The columnist assures that he will continue to sign texts there, probably in fewer numbers. Once in office, he will also take writing leave until January 2025.
“I established with the readers of The Press a conversation that has been going on for years, which is rich and which I like very much, so I have no intention of leaving”, he underlines, before adding that “being at The Press makes him “a better journalist.”
As for the show Two Golden Men and Rosalie, which he co-hosts on Télé-Québec with Pierre-Yves Lord and Rosalie Bonenfant, the outcome is not yet clear. “I’m going to have discussions with the broadcaster, that’s for sure,” notes Patrick Lagacé. For his part, Pierre-Yves Lord has already announced that he will leave the show at the end of this season.
“A huge challenge”
The columnist recognizes the scope of the mandate: he will lead the most listened to radio program in Montreal… from the number one station in the country.
Fortunately, he has a year and a half to prepare for it.
“It’s a huge challenge, and we have a year and a half to build a team of on-air and off-air collaborators. A year and a half to see what we will keep from the show and what we will decide not to keep, ”he continues.
In the interview, he does not fail to underline the “genius” of Paul Arcand, who can conduct a robust interview before moving on to a lighter segment. Does he dread the comparison with his predecessor, much appreciated by the public?
“I’m comfortable with it. I can’t control this. All I can do is do what I do all the time, come prepared,” the 51-year-old host replies.