TikTok star Kayleigh Trappe responds to 2FM Drivetime rumours

TikTok star Kayleigh Trappe has responded to rumours that she was set to take over as host of Drivetime on 2FM.

Kayleigh, who’s known for her lip-syncing videos on the app, was rumoured to be replacing Lottie Ryan on the drivetime slot on the station following the departure of the 2 Johnnies in May — but the former teacher has since said that she was on a beach in Croatia when she first heard the news.

Coincidentally speaking to her would-be predecessors on the 2 Johnnies podcast, Kayleigh said that she wasn’t in the running for joining 2FM — but received loads of congratulatory messages from friends and family.

TikTok star Kayleigh Trappe has responded to rumours that she was set to take over as host of Drivetime on 2FM. Pic: Instagram

‘It’s not true,’ Kayleigh said. ‘No comment, no comment. What’s going on lads? Did ye put in a good word for me?’

‘One minute I was sipping cocktails in Croatia on the beach, and the next I was due to start on Drivetime at 3 o’clock on Friday… Honestly, it was news to me. My father rang me and said “do you have a minute?” which isn’t something you want to hear from your father. I was like “who’s dead?” [and] he said “are you starting a new job on Friday?”

‘I was like “don’t believe all you hear,” thinking it was a wee thing… but the worst part was the congratulations,’ Kayleigh continued — revealing that family and famous friends even congratulated her — including Ireland AM’s Tommy Bowe, who hails from Monaghan alongside Kayleigh.

‘Tommy sent me this wee poem of congratulations; “doing it for Monaghan Kayleigh, we’re delighted for ya,” and I was like “I feel I’ve let them all down daddy! I’ve let them all down!”‘

Kayleigh added that while she isn’t due to start on 2FM, she’d take a job if it’s going — adding ‘radio is something I’d love to get into, don’t get me wrong [but] I suppose as a lip syncer, what’re the chances when I don’t actually speak for a living?’

Kayleigh rose to fame on TikTok, where she would lip sync famous clips from movies, TV shows and podcasts — gaining enough popularity that she took a career break from her teaching job.

@the2johnniesofficial Kayleigh Trappe tells us the real story behind the rumours about her starting on 2FM drivetime. #kayleightrappe #2johnnies #2johnniespod #2fm #thesun #evoke #irishcelebrity #irishradio #irishgossip #ireland #monaghan #monaghantown #lipsync @kayleightrappe ♬ original sound – The 2 Johnnies

‘COVID hit… I started doing the TikToks and I was comfortable with that because it was me and the camera at home,’ she told EVOKE. ‘So even though thousands and thousands of people were seeing them, I just felt like it was me and my camera until it got bigger and bigger. I was like, right, now is the time to push the boat out.’

She also has a number of celebrity fans, many of whom are those she mimics in her videos including Louis Walsh, who reportedly raved about her impression, as well as Abbey Clancy and Peter Crouch who have also name-checked her — with her also appearing on the Late Late Show.