The Late Late Show's social media team has poked fun at the race for a new host as two of the main contenders dropped out this week, with a clear forerunner emerging.
Ever since Ryan Tubridy revealed that he is stepping down from The Late Late Show at the end of May, speculation has been circulating about who will take the throne of the flagship RTÉ Friday night chat show, Buzz reported.
The team, taking to social media, assured fans that the unveiling of the new host is sure to shock people.
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The next host of the Late Late Show
A number of high-profile names boasting decent odds with the bookies have stated that they are no longer looking for the job.
This week, these have included radio show hosts and TV presenters Claire Byrne and Sarah McInerney.
In the eyes of the bookmakers, that makes comedian Patrick Kielty the firm favourite to replace Tubridy as just the fourth host of The Late Late Show in its more than five decades of broadcasting.
While Kielty is the emerging favourite, others with odds for the seat include Baz Ashmawy, Brendan O'Connor, Tommy Tiernan and Katie Hannon.
Late Late Show producers
Adding fuel to the fire, The Late Late Show social media team has weighed in on the heightened speculation and potential shock factor following the news from Claire Byrne and Sarah McInerney.
Yesterday, a tweet posted to the official Late Late Show account said "When you hear who the new host of the #LateLate is shock-face" They added that even the administrator of the account doesn't know.
On TikTok, the team behind the chat show were even more cryptic by sharing a video that seemed to say they were also dying to know who would be the next host.
The video shows a closed door with a Late Late Show poster on it and a voice asks a man 'What are you doing'.
The man is trying to play it cool while obviously up to no good, suggesting there are some on the Late Late Show's staff who wouldn't mind knowing who the new host will be once and for all.
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