In what was one of the tightest and most hotly contested categories in the Hot Press Readers’ Poll, Tom Dunne of Today FM has pulled off a major coup, grabbing the No.1 DJ slot from 2FM’s Dave Fanning.

Fanning, who remains one of the best-loved and most highly respected DJs on air in Ireland, has dominated the category almost since the inception of Hot Press. However, the increasing competition in the area of rock and rock-related broadcasting has been reflected in the presence of Dunne, Donal Dineen, John Kelly and the late Uaneen Fitzsimons in the poll over the past couple of years.

"I think Tom may have been helped by the fact that his Best Irish Hits album was being blasted out on the television on the run-up to Christmas," one radio insider told hotpress.com. "But there is no doubt that Today FM have been gaining in listeners who really know their music. And the fact that Tom comes on the air earlier than Dave may also work in his favour."

The word from within 2FM, however, is that Fanning will be back on top at this time next year. It will be an interesting 12 months in between. Stay tuned...