The station is putting its faith in the duo - who have been on air together for the past few weeks - to take the fight for ratings up to Spencer Howson on rival 612 ABC Brisbane.

Skippen and Ryan go back a long way.

He co-hosted breakfast on B105 through the 1990s and early 2000s with Jamie Dunn, while Ryan was a newsreader on sister station Triple M.

“When you know someone for so long, it just feels easy, which is the important thing, especially on talkback,” Ryan said.

“Skip says he’s used to playing songs and can’t talk [enough], but he’s doing a very good job of talking!”

Skippen said putting his toe back in the water with a six-week fill-in shift reinvigorated his love of radio after a two year absence.

He said there was renewed vigour at the station.

“Passion can’t be taught, but it can be caught, and from Anthony down there’s passion in the building for 4BC to be something in this marketplace again,” Skippen said.

“I feel that energy, I feel that passion, and that’s why I said I want to be a part of this.”

Ryan has been afternoons co-host for several years and her co-host Moyd Kay will return to sister station 4BH to host breakfast, with current presenter Michael Price moving into the 4BC afternoons slot.

In a surprise move, the station has poached popular 612 ABC Brisbane fill-in presenter Heather Stott to co-host afternoons.

Andre La Porte, who also guests on 612 ABC Brisbane, has been given the weekend breakfast slot.

Former Channel 7 journalists Patrick Condren and Ben Davis had already been revealed as new mornings and drive hosts.

Sports Today presenter Peter Psaltis and Nights host Walter Williams will remain.

Fairfax Radio 4BC general manager Anthony Frangi said he has a strong vision for the station which was matched by each of the presenters.

“The team will focus on subjects which matter in Queensland, with listeners tuning in and starting the day with two of Brisbane's favourite personalities, Ian Skippen, a well-known and much loved presenter and Loretta Ryan who has been such a big part of the Fairfax Radio Network over the years,” he said.

“The refreshed line up places 4BC in the prime position to lead the state's news agenda each day and get to the heart of the issues concerning Queenslanders.”

The revamped 4BC line-up for 2014:

• Breakfast (5am-8.30am) Ian Skippen and Loretta Ryan
• Mornings (8.30am-11.30am) Patrick Condren
• Afternoons (12pm-3pm) Michael Price and Heather Stott
• Drive (3pm-6pm) Ben Davis
• Sports Today (6pm-8pm) Peter Psaltis
• Nights (8pm-12am) Walter Williams
• Weekend Breakfast (5am-8am) Andre La Porte
• Big Backyard (8am-12pm) Chris Adams
• Your Home (Saturday 12pm-2pm) Kevin Turner
• Fresh on Sunday (Sunday 12pm-2pm) Dominique Rizzo
• Saturday and Sunday evenings with John Scott.

* Fairfax Radio 4BC is part of the same company that owns brisbanetimes.com.au.