RTE star Claire Byrne has given a candid interview on her decision to quit her RTE TV show, revealing that the national broadcaster wasn't able to accommodate her schedule.
The current affairs show Claire Byrne Live came to an end this year, with the host saying she decided to step away from the TV gig to focus on her radio show and to spend more time with her three children. Claire spoke to the Sunday Independent this weekend saying her husband Gerry helped guide her to make the decision.
"My husband said very little about it. But he did say this one thing: 'I don’t mind if you do 57 programmes a week, it’s entirely up to you. But we, here at home, have to write you off on a Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, and then you are back with us on a Wednesday. But, whatever makes you happy, go and do it.’"
Read more: RTE Claire Byrne listeners reveal annoying bad habits that cause chaos at home
"I realised I could do the TV show five nights a week and my family would say ‘that’s fine’. But it means something. It changes the dynamic of your life," she said.
The broadcaster went on to reveal how the huge workload was have an impact on her family life.
"My children accept that I am gone every morning before they wake up. But my youngest never accepted that I had to walk back out the door on a Monday - having only spent an hour with them on a Monday afternoon. She cried every time I left the house on a Monday. Every time. It broke my heart. She is five years old and she is starting school next week."
While Claire tried to work with RTE to adjust the schedule, in the end the TV and radio host was forced to step back from her Monday night show. She says she was "left in a situation where I have to make a decision. And I decided not to continue. Big call."
"My guess is that it wasn’t expected in RTE. But I feel very strong and I feel like it took guts and courage. I feel like I took back my own power in making that call."
"I think it is a pity that RTE has lost the Claire Byrne Live brand. I do think that’s a pity. But I can’t influence their decision. I am not naïve about how TV schedules work and I would be mistaken if I thought they were going to move something in order to save it and ultimately they didn’t and that’s how we arrived here."
But does Claire feel that RTE regret the decision? She went on to say: "If I were RTE, I would probably regret losing that Claire Byrne Live brand. Because I do think it was a good programme and I think the audience like it. So maybe there is potential for the programme to come back down in line in a different place or in a different way."
Today with Claire Byrne is on RTE Radio 1 weekdays at 10am.
Read next:
- Jennifer Zamparelli breaks silence after Nicky Byrne quits Dancing With The Stars
- Rosanna Davison 'cried a little bit’ after leaving daughter at school gates for first time
- I visited the most underrated European capital and I would highly recommend it
- Vogue Williams hits out at troll who called her baby ugly after plane seat 'joke'
- Boyzone’s Shane Lynch 'can't afford to go on tour' and quits showbiz for good
