The daughter of the late Gay Byrne has said she would prefer "someone younger" to host the Late Late Show after host Ryan Tubridy steps down.
Crona Byrne, daughter of the late legendary broadcaster, said a younger host would give the Friday night chat show a boost.
It comes after bookies Boylesports revealed Miriam O’Callaghan was the favourite to take over from Ryan whenever he decides to leave.
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She told us: “Personally if Ryan was to leave, I would like to see someone a bit younger coming in and giving the show a boost, which may in turn bring back some of the younger audience figures.”
Although Tubridy has yet to mention anything about stepping away from the camera, as the second-longest serving presenter of the popular show, people are beginning to speculate who would replace him when the time comes.
BoyleSports has made Miriam O’Callaghan the odds-on favourite to be his replacement after being introduced as the even-money favourite. “Support has already started to arrive with her odds now clipped into 4/6,” a spokesperson said.
Another existing RTE presenter who has some support behind her is Claire Byrne. She has also received approval for the hot seat and is being backed into 3/1 from 6/1.
Other names in the mix include radio host and former presenter of The Den, Ray D’Arcy at 10/1 and Westlife star Nicky Byrne at 25/1.
Sarah Kinsella, from BoyleSports, said: “Miriam became the first woman to present a full episode of the Late Late Show a few years ago and judging by the betting, it won’t be the last time she graces our screens on a Friday night.”
Meanwhile, Miriam’s husband Steve Carson is also in the running to land another top job at RTE. At 4/1, he’s among the frontrunners to be the next Director General of the national broadcaster, however, at this point, An Post’s David McRedmond heads the betting at 7/4.
Speaking last year, Tubridy said he is “so deep” into the Late Late Show, he isn’t thinking of stepping down at the helm just yet.
He said he hasn’t put a number on how long more he might do as host of Ireland’s longest running chat show.
“I’m so deep into the Late Late Show but of course I’m going to think about life after, it’s just not today or tomorrow. But certainly, more TV, more radio.
“I haven’t put a number on it.”
He admitted he felt “too needy” to step away from the limelight.
“I think I’m still too needy, attention seeking to think about going quieter. I think I’ve too much energy and neediness but I have given thought to that moment…. But I am just not there yet. If I need it I take holidays and I can take time off for myself.
“I’ve got a small amount of friends and family and I love them and some of them love me so yeah I keep it tight, I keep my circle pretty tight and my friends tight.”
He said sacrificing some areas of his own private life “comes with the territory”.
“What I didn’t realise when I started was phones would become movie cameras. If you don’t want to be filmed on phones or photographed, you can stay in or go to a country where no one knows where you are.”
But the father-of-two admitted people filming him on the street had become “more intense”.
“I always say yes (to a picture) but when it’s the surreptitious filming on the Dart or the queue at the airport, it can be a little bit invasive. But there are bigger problems in the world.
“And then when I do finish up my job on TV as Late Late Show presenter that will all just die down. That’ll go away eventually so I know ultimately I can turn off that if I want to but I don’t want to yet because I’m still so needy.”
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