RTE star Claire Byrne has broken her silence since she was rumoured to be the next host of the Late Late Show – saying she is “exactly where I want to be” in her career.
The presenter is currently the frontrunner to take over from Ryan Tubridy when he steps down from the show on May 26.
The Laois native opened up about the role, but refused to be drawn in on whether or not she would be the chat show’s next host.
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Instead, Claire – who hosts new quiz show Ireland’s Smartest from next month - said she never told people she would be quitting TV after she stepped down from her current affairs show, Claire Byrne Live.
She said: "I was taking a bit of a break from television, but I never said I would never do TV again.
"It is just that time slot was very demanding in terms of the rest of my schedule.
"This is very different in that you can record these shows in a block together, so it is not placing a demand on you every single week."
Opening up about Ryan stepping down from the Late Late Show, she said: “I was as surprised as anyone to hear the news of Ryan's decision but when I interviewed him on the radio I could tell he was very happy with his choice and that really is the most important thing.
"He has given The Late Late Show his heart and soul for 14 years and left an incredible mark on Irish TV history.
"I am delighted that he is going to get to do all the things he loves now, and I am as excited as anyone to see what it is."
Dancing around the subject of the next Late Late Show host, Claire told the RTÉ Guide: "I think over the years, if someone asked me what my first love is within my work, I would automatically say radio. Now I question that.
"I love radio and I have always loved it. I love the intimacy of radio but there is a buzz with television as well. It is different. I think a bit of both is a healthy mix.
"I suppose I made the decision to take TV out of my life for a time. Radio is my day to day, my bread and butter job.
"I probably would find it very difficult if someone said to me, 'No you can't do the radio anymore'.
"So maybe that is my answer, it is my first love, but I can't say that TV is the poor relation or anything. I have a great fondness for TV as well.
“My radio job is my dream job in many respects, and I feel very comfortable in saying that.
“I feel like I have a good rhythm in it now. I can pick and choose in terms of television what I want to do, so that’s a really great place to be, to be able to say and to be able to say no. I am exactly where I want to be, and I feel everything is in balance and I know now that I did the right thing,” she added.
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