After 14 years hosting the Late Late Show, Ryan Tubridy has announced he will step down as its presenter. The 49-year-old will present his final show on May 26, two days before he celebrates his 50th birthday. So who could be next to step into the hot seat?
Bookies have tipped Miriam O'Callaghan as the favourite to take over The Late Late Show next season.
The Prime Time and Sunday with Miriam presenter was actually the bookies' favourite to take the Late Late hotseat after Pat Kenny departed the show back in 2009, but lost out to Ryan Tubridy.
READ MORE: Ryan Tubridy admits he 'knew in his heart' it was time to step back from the Late Late Show
The RTÉ star later previously said not getting the gig was her "biggest and most public knockback". The 61-year-old got her chance to host the show, however, two years ago, when Tubridy had to miss two weeks due to Covid 19.
In doing so, the Foxrock native became the first woman to host the chat show in its 58-year run. “I made history,” she told RTÉ Guide, of the long-awaited moment.
According to a recent study by BoyleSports, Miriam is tipped to take over the coveted presenting gig – with odds at 4/6.
Claire Byrne would be a very likely contender for Tubridy's replacement and is backed at 6/1 by Boylesports to take the job.
The 47-year-old currently presents one of the country's flagship current affairs programmes, Today with Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio 1, Monday to Friday from 10am and is the highest paid female presenter at the national broadcaster.
Last May, the host stepped away from her biggest TV role to date, Claire Byrne Live, which she had hosted since January 2015.
At the time, the mother of three said her decision was a result of wanting to spend more time with her family.
Speaking to us at the time she said: "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."
Tubridy teased she could be his replacement on her show Thursday morning, with Claire saying: “You’re talking to a person who walked away from work.”
Ryan questioned: “Would you not consider walking back?”, with Claire responding: “Listen, let’s not go there. Now listen, let's talk about the toy show.”
Jennifer Zamparelli has also been tipped by the bookies at 8/1.
The Dancing With The Stars host has seen a surge of support but she ruled herself out of the running for it last month saying she couldn’t handle the scrutiny.
She told us: “I don't think so. I think there'd be a lot of scrutiny. I don't think it would be for me... I have to say, I'm happy where I am. I really love Dancing with the Stars, we've gotten into a groove with it. I really love my radio show.
“I think there's loads of power. I feel like the most powerful person really because I don't want for anything. I'm really content and happy at the moment. That's a really powerful position to be in,” she said.
Comedian Tommy Tiernan has also been rumoured at 6/1 by Boylesports.
Tommy's unconventional talk-show at one time had more viewers than the Late Late and was striving without an audience.
Brendan O'Connor sits second favourite at 5/2, while Ladbrokes are also taking bets on Greg O’Shea at 18/1, Ireland AM’s Alan Hughes is an outsider shot at 40/1, along with the Six O’Clock show favourite Martin King and Political Correspondent Gavan Reilly who are both at 50/1 as things stand.
Sarah McInerney is currently priced at 18/1 to swap her Radio One afternoon show for the prime-time TV presenter slot.
Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: "Since the news broke that Ryan Tubridy will depart the Late Late Show later this year, fans have been in a frenzy over who will replace the popular RTE broadcaster.
"While only time will tell who will replace ‘Tubs’ in the iconic armchair on Friday nights, with the likes of Miriam O’Callaghan, Claire Byrne and even Marty Morrissey in the mix, there is certainly no shortage of suitable candidates.”
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