RTE bosses are searching for an "entirely different format" after Claire Byrne announced her shock departure from her current affairs TV show, The Star has learned.
The RTE star announced on Friday she was quitting her weekly current affairs TV show after seven years – but will continue to host her radio show each day on RTE Radio One.
The Star has learned RTE producers are looking to create an entirely different show to fill the Monday night slot in their schedule – and are open to everything.
Read More: Inside Claire Byrne's career and family life as her RTE show comes to an end
An insider told us: “Once the season finishes, they will then start to develop new ideas for a new programme to replace it so it’s kind of a blank.
“They’re being really open about it. They’re looking for new ideas.”
It is understood bosses won’t be hoping for the new show to be developed for September but will instead take their time to create something new.
“To be honest, I think they will want to develop something and take their time with it to get it really right. They had seven great years of Claire Byrne Live and it was a great success. They’re not going to rush something just to put something out unless it’s ready to go.,
“It’ll be a while yet and I think there could be lots of different things. They’re open to everything.”
Claire Byrne Live had been on air since 2015.
Ms Byrne has previously spoken publicly of the challenge of presenting both a daily radio show and a late-night TV programme, and has now decided to focus on Today with Claire Byrne.
She told the RTE Guide last year that she didn’t want to have regrets like Gay Byrne, who had said he wished he had spent more time with his family. “I need to ask myself how I want to live my life,” she said. “I’m not embarrassed to say it’s taking its toll on me. Of course I realise I’m in a really privileged position.”
"When we started Claire Byrne Live in 2015, we wanted it to be a forum for people in Ireland to shape the news, respond to unfolding events and most importantly, to have their say," Ms Byrne said on Friday in a statement.
"We came through two general elections, two hugely significant referendums and one global pandemic in the time that we have been on air," she added.
Ms Byrne said she was "hugely proud" of the show and said she was "humbled to work with" the team and editors Aoife Stokes, Jane Murphy and Hugh Ormond.
"I have made the decision now to focus on my radio show and I am very much looking forward, in time, to working on other television projects for RTE," she added.
Jon Williams, Managing Director of RTÉ News & Current Affairs, paid tribute to Claire Byrne and the programme.
"For seven years, Claire has hosted Ireland's biggest conversation, giving the audience a voice on the key issues of the day," he said.
"From her extraordinary interview with the family of Clodagh Hawe, to the drama of the Leaders' Debates in two General Elections and breaking news throughout the pandemic, Claire Byrne Live has shown that current affairs can be both popular and engaging. I want to thank Claire for a truly remarkable run," he added.
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