RTÉ is getting a new Late Late host ready for when Ryan Tubridy leaves

We could see this...

Ryan Tubridy looks fairly comfortable in his seat on The Late Late Show every Friday night - but someone else waiting in the wings to take over when he does decide to step down. Claire Byrne is is being lined up to host RTÉ's flagship chat show, according to a new report. The national broadcaster is eager to have a woman at the helm of the show and reckon Claire would be perfect for the role.

"A woman’s never presented RTE’s biggest show and that has to change," a source told The Sun.

"Gender equality is such a hot issue right now and our State broadcaster has to be seen to be listening.”

Claire currently hosts a current affairs programme, which the insider reckons could have an influence the Late Late.

"Claire Byrne Live is essentially a chat show so doing the Late Late wouldn’t be so different.

"Under Gay Byrne the Late Late was a forum and catalyst for national conversation but in recent years the show has moved more towards celebrity chat.”

The move is dependent on how long Ryan decides to stay in the job, the source continued.

"If he does another five or seven years, that could change things again. Claire would be hitting 50.

"And because RTE are obsessed with the youth audience, it means someone like Angela Scanlon, who's in her mid-30s now, could be a contender.”