Claire Byrne has announced that she will not be the next host of the Late Late Show.
The RTE star said that while she was "flattered" to be named as the favourite to take over the coveted slot when Ryan Tubridy steps down on May 26, she will not be taking over the hot seat. She cited her young family and the fact she loves her daily radio programme as the key reasons behind her decision.
The mother-of-three said on her Instagram page: “I have a young family, a busy home life and a full-time radio job that I love, and right now, that is enough for me. While I’d never rule out other TV projects, the Late Late Show should be presented by someone who can give it the time and dedication that it deserves.”
Read more: Caitriona Perry departs RTE after 16 years to join BBC
Ms Byrne said she was “honoured” to have her name linked with “such a prestigious broadcasting role”. She added: “The show is an iconic one which demands huge commitment from the presenter, as demonstrated so well by Ryan, Pat and Gay.”
The announcement is set to come as a shock at the station as it has been widely reported that she had been approached for the gig. It comes as Miriam O’Callaghan ruled herself out of the contest in the days after Tubridy announced his exit.
Patrick Kielty is the latest name to be linked with the job. Byrne has previously spoken about need to take a step back because she wanted to spend more time with family.
She stunned RTE executives by deciding to leave her hugely successful Monday night current affairs programme, Claire Byrne Live, to focus on her family life. Speaking about her decision to pull back from Monday night last year, she said wanted to focus on her radio show.
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