Next Host Of The Late Late Show Odds: Claire Byrne Favourite After Tubridy Exit
Betting sites have installed Claire Byrne as the 6/4 favourite to be the next permanent host of RTÉ’s The Late Late Show.
That comes after Ryan Tubridy announced he is set to vacate his Late Late hot seat after 13 years at the end of the current season of the show.
RTÉ have said they are yet to decide on Tubridy's successor, but speculation is rampant on who the next host of the programme will be.
Byrne Now Favoured Over Scanlon As O’Callaghan Withdraws
Following previous stints at TV3 (now rebranded as Virgin Media Television) and Newstalk, Laois woman Claire Byrne joined RTÉ in 2010.
She has worked steadily across television and radio in that time, including serving as a Prime Time co-presenter alongside O’Callaghan and Kenny.
She can currently be found on the airwaves on Today with Claire Byrne and was also seen on TV screens as the host of Claire Byrne Live from 2015 to 2022.
Byrne has been backed in from 6/1 since betting commenced, with her current price of 6/4 putting her ahead of original favourite Miriam O'Callaghan.
A native of Foxrock in Dublin, O’Callaghan made history in 2020 when she became the first female presenter to host a full episode of the Late Late since the show first aired in 1962.
This was due to the fact that Tubridy had tested positive for Covid-19 and was forced to self-isolate as a result.
The late Marian Finucane had presented part of an episode alongside Gay Byrne in November 1980, but O’Callaghan moved a step further.
On the face of it, it is easy to see why O’Callaghan has been earmarked as Tubridy’s eventual successor.
For the past 27 years, she has been a co-host of the current affairs programme Prime Time and she had her own summer talk show - Saturday Night with Miriam - that was broadcast on and off from 2005 to 2017.
Given The Late Late Show covers subjects that regularly featured in these programmes, O’Callaghan has already established she has the chops to handle Irish television’s most coveted gig.
However, O’Callaghan has now firmly ruled herself out of the running for the post in an emotional post on Twitter in which she reaffirmed her commitment to staying on has host of Prime Time.
A little news - just to stop all the questions, including from my wonderful Mum 🥰 pic.twitter.com/9nTp5A5baW
— Miriam O'Callaghan (@MiriamOCal) March 21, 2023
Despite her post on the social media platform, bookmakers still believe her arm could be twisted and she is remains listed as a heavy favourite for the gig at a price of 9/2.
She is joined on those odds by Angela Scanlon, who at the age of 39 could well be the fresh face the show needs to ensure even further its longevity.
Scanlon has experience of working on both sides of the Irish Sea having previously be a reported on and presented The One Show for the BBC.
While back at home she has also fronted shows like Xposé and Off the Rails for RTÉ, where she was last seen hosting Angela Scanlon’s Ask Me Anything.
McInerney Gaining Support in the Betting
Hailing from Barna in Galway, Sarah McInerney has - like the aforementioned Claire Byrne - worked for both Newstalk and TV3 in the past. To continue this connection, she is also a current co-presenter of Prime Time.
She is still relatively new to RTÉ having joined the broadcaster in May 2020.
She spent the following few months as host of the radio programme Today With Sarah McInerney as an interim replacement for previous presenter Sean O’Rourke, before Claire Byrne eventually took over this slot.
She is now the presenter of evening commute programme Drivetime and first joined the Prime Team in April 2021.
According to BoyleSports, she is now 9/2 to become the next host of The Late Late Show having been 16/1 last week.
Tiernan Worthy Of Consideration
Coming next in the betting at 9/1 is Tommy Tiernan.
Though more commonly known as a comedian, Tiernan has been hosting a self-titled chat show since January 2017.
It is a programme with a very unique format as neither Tiernan or the studio audience has any idea who the guest will be until they walk onto the stage.
While there are several faces that Tiernan is familiar with - such as his former teacher and current Meath Gaelic Football manager Colm O’Rourke - he often finds himself going on a voyage of discovery during a given episode.
The fact that he is producing such compelling television without the benefit of research and pre-prepared questions makes him a strong contender for The Late Late Show.
His independent spirit might not be suited to a massive undertaking like The Late Late, but he could provide RTÉ with an opportunity to bring the programme in an entirely new direction.
O’Connor Also Figures Highly In Late Late Show Betting
Coming in as fifth favourite as the next Late Late Show host is Cork man Brendan O’Connor. Like Kenny and Tubridy, he has previous experience on the Saturday night talk show circuit.
From 2010 to 2015, he hosted The Saturday Night Show. Broadcast every week during the autumn-spring season, O’Connor often garnered as much attention for his interviews as Tubridy did during his opening five years as Late Late Show host.
He went on from there to present the panel show Cutting Edge, is a regular presenter on RTÉ radio every Saturday and Sunday, and is also heavily involved in the newspaper industry with The Sunday Independent.
The 53-year-old is currently rated at 12/1 with BoyleSports and looks to be a viable candidate as a potential replacement for Tubridy.
That price puts him just ahead of RTÉ 2fm Breakfast Show presenter Carl Mullen, who is available at 16/1 in the market.
Mullen has television experience thanks to shows like Go Outside and Play and Takeaway Titans, but this might be a bridge too far for his budding TV career.
Alternative Betting Options
Elsewhere, some new betting sites have priced Today co-presenter Dáithí Ó Sé at 18/1 to replace Tubridy.
He is already the face of one show that Gay Byrne previously presented - The Rose of Tralee - and can’t be ruled out of the equation for a second of the late, great Dubliner’s previous jobs.
Meanwhile, you'll find former Republic Of Telly star and current Dancing With The Stars host Jennifer Zamparelli as an intriguing 20/1 shot in the prices.
She would certainly bring a more fun feel to the show, but it could be a lack of current affairs experience that hurts her chances.
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
D’Arcy And Ó Briain Potential Dark Horses
Outside of these main contenders, the UK-based Dara Ó Briain ruled himself out of the running when Pat Kenny left the programme in 2009, but he can be found at 33/1 to have a change of heart.
Ray D’Arcy (a host of several television and radio programmes over a long career) has slipped to 100/1 with betting apps to become the next Late Late Show host after being as low as 16/1 last week.
Finally, if you are so inclined you’ll find Gary Lineker, Vincent Browne, George Hook and a return for Pat Kenny all priced at a whopping 500/1.
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