Miriam O’Callaghan has told RTÉ top brass that she is pulling out of the race to replace Sean O’Rourke.
The ‘Prime Time’ presenter was one of three big names in the mix to take over the reins of the flagship ‘Today’ radio programme.
While current host Sarah McInerney remains a serious contender, Claire Byrne has become the favourite to land the permanent gig in September.
Miriam was one of the front-runners when it came to landing the high-profile job.
But according to an RTÉ source, the mum-of-eight recently told management she wasn’t interested.
“Miriam had been one of the first names attached to the show but actually she approached management during lockdown and informed them that she wasn’t interested in the position,” said the RTÉ source.
“She came to the decision just days after she had presented the Late Late Show for those two weekends when Ryan was off sick.
“At that time, she was on-air with Prime Time, three nights a week, covering the Covid crisis and she had the weekend radio show as well.
“It became clear to her then that it would be just impossible to do five mornings a week on radio and then also three nights on television.
“To take on that sort of a workload would mean that she would never see her young teenage boys from dawn to dusk.
“She also told management that she would not be prepared to give up PrimeTime and as a result was pulling out of the race to replace Sean O’Rourke.”
The successor to the popular broadcaster, who stepped down from his radio show in May when he reached his 65th birthday will not be announced until the end of August.
On Monday an RTÉ source revealed how Claire Byrne was top of the list to take the reins of the weekday ‘Today’ programme, which is currently being helmed by Sarah McInerney.
While the former Newstalk anchor has been praised by critics for her no-nonsense approach with Government ministers, the source said it was “unlikely but not impossible” that she would keep the job.
“The ‘Today’ programme is one of the biggest programmes in the radio schedule and, to be honest, Claire is a shoo-in,” the source added.
The appointment is part of a major reshuffle and rebrand of various RTÉ current affairs shows.
With David McCullagh joining Caitríona Perry on the ‘Six One News’, a slot has been left vacant alongside O’Callaghan on ‘Prime Time’.
It is understood executives are keen to pair O’Callaghan with another female lead on the programme.
