“This is a completely new type of show for me,” said the Today with Claire Byrne host.
Amid the speculation of who will host The Late Late Show when Ryan Tubridy leaves, Claire Byrne has been announced as host for a new RTÉ One quiz series, Ireland’s Smartest, from early April.
According to RTÉ, the quiz show is set to “put Ireland’s most intelligent quizzers through their paces.”
“The producers trawled the length and breadth of Ireland to find contestants with the depth of knowledge worthy of the ultimate accolade… Ireland’s Smartest.”
Claire Byrne puts Ireland’s cleverest contestants to the test in a new RTÉ One quiz show "Ireland's Smartest"
The new ten part series starts Sunday, April 2nd at 7:30pm on RTÉ one and @RTEplayer #IrelandsSmartest pic.twitter.com/680oIdR2hN
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) March 22, 2023
“This is a completely new type of show for me, and I was left in awe of these contestants from all over Ireland who can produce correct answers to some really tricky questions under the glare of the lights, in the intensity of the studio, in front of an audience and with the clock ticking all the while,” said Byrne.
“It’s great fun, with lots of tension, and you’ll get to test yourself against the best too from the comfort of your own sofa to see who will be awarded the title of Ireland’s Smartest!”
The announcement comes as Byrne has been one of the names thrown into the hat for Ryan Tubridy’s successor on The Late Late Show.
Another favourite to take over duties, Miriam O’Callaghan, removed herself from the running this week, saying that while the show would be the “jewel in the crown of Irish broadcasting”, she is not prepared to leave Prime Time just yet.
O’Callaghan’s announcement has put Byrne as frontrunner. However, Angela Scanlon and Sarah McInerney have both been mentioned as alternatives. Ryan Tubridy himself has said, last Friday, he wished his successor well “whoever she may be.”
Ireland’s Smartest airs on Sunday, April 2 at 7.30pm on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player.
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