She’s not leaving Prime Time.
Miriam O’Callaghan has pulled out of the running to be the host of The Late Late Show.
Currently presenting Prime Time, she was the favourite to be announced as Ryan Tubridy’s replacement on the show after he announced he would be leaving at the end of the season.
The 63 year old revealed today that while the show would be the “jewel in the crown of Irish broadcasting”, she is not prepared to leave Prime Time just yet.
“Interestingly, last night I found the letter I wrote 14 years ago, the last time the role of presenter of The Late Late Show was up for grabs.
“In it, I told management that I was withdrawing my name from the ring on that occasion too, saying I no longer wanted to be considered for the job if I had to leave Prime Time, and the position – 14 years on – remains exactly the same,” she said.
‘I’m not prepared to give that up for any show’ – Miriam O’Callaghan
In a statement, Miriam O’Callaghan added: “Although the speculation about me being one of the favourites to take over the Late Late Show is very flattering, that won’t be happening as I’m not throwing my hate in to the ring to be considered.
“It’s what I love doing most of all as a broadcast journalist, and I’m not prepared to give that up for any show.
“Just this week for instance, I am in New York interviewing Bill and Hillary Clinton to mark 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement, which brought peace to our shared island. It may be an imperfect peace, but the horrific violence of the past is gone. These are the kind of interviews and story that matter to me.”
Following her decision to leave, it now puts Claire Byrne as the frontrunner to take over the position, although 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.”
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