Loretta Ryan
Loretta Ryan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1965 |
| Occupation | Radio broadcaster |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Known for | Co-host of Breakfast on ABC Radio Brisbane |
Loretta Ryan (born in 1965) is a prominent Australian radio broadcaster recognized for her role as a co-host on breakfast shows at 4BH, 4BC, and ABC Radio Brisbane. Since 2018, she has been the co-presenter of Breakfast on ABC Radio Brisbane alongside Craig Zonca.
Career
Ryan launched her professional journey in 1983, starting as an advertising schedules clerk at Radio Ten after previously working at David Jones. She later moved into production roles, working with Billy J. Smith, before earning a newsroom cadetship that led to her initial on-air position. Throughout the station’s rebranding phases, including Stereo Ten and 4IP, she remained a consistent presence.
Following the station’s transformation into a racing-focused channel named 4TAB, Ryan transitioned to Triple M Brisbane. There, she dedicated 16 years to delivering news, eventually becoming news director and hosting the drive-time program Blood, Sweat and Beers during the late 1990s.
In 2006, Ryan took on the role of breakfast co-host at 4BH before shifting to 4BC to lead the afternoon show. By 2014, she was co-hosting 4BC’s breakfast segment alongside Ian Skippen. After the 2015 merger between Fairfax Media and the Macquarie Radio Network, Ryan and several other local presenters were let go due to 4BC adopting networked programming sourced from Sydney's 2GB.
Subsequently, Ryan joined ABC Radio Brisbane as a producer in 2015. She progressed to become the regional drive presenter in 2016 and took on weekend hosting duties in 2018. Later that year, she succeeded Rebecca Levingston as co-host of the Breakfast program.
In addition to radio, Ryan has appeared on television, including guest hosting Extra in 2007 and appearing as an extra on the series Paradise Beach.
Personal life
A practicing Catholic, Ryan regularly attends mass. Her education includes St Pius' Primary School in Banyo and St Rita's College in Clayfield. She has expressed a protective stance toward the Catholic Church when it faces media scrutiny, describing some criticism as "vicious."
In an interview conducted in 2020, Ryan remarked: "I'm proud to say that I'm Catholic... it's natural for me to pray, go to Church, and treat people nicely – everything you learn about in religion." She finds solace through prayer during challenging periods.
Ryan was engaged in her late twenties; however, the wedding did not take place. By 2018, she revealed she had been single for a decade and attributed her prolonged single status as a factor contributing to her extensive 36-year career in radio. She also voiced frustration over being labeled "too picky" as an explanation for remaining unmarried.
In November 2021, Ryan became a target of fraudsters who created counterfeit Facebook profiles using her name and images to mislead listeners. After one fraudulent account was removed, another surfaced offering a bogus prize. Ryan described these incidents as "scary" and expressed empathy for those who were deceived.