RTE’s Today With Maura And Daithi will be extended into the summer after its jump in viewership numbers.
Meanwhile, the Late Late Show will come to it’s season end next Friday - despite huge figures tuning in to the flagship show each week.
As summer swings in, TV and radio’s top shows will phase out – marking an end of a busy showbiz schedule for the summer.
But as the pandemic has seen a surge in those watching TV daily, RTE are extending the eight season of Today With Maura And Daithi by two weeks.
The show, which has experienced a massive jump in viewership was originally due to finish up this Friday, it will now continue until June 5.
Explaining the decision, RTE reported the first four weeks of restrictions saw a 12% increase on the previous month before lockdown, with an average of 116,000 tuning in from March 16 to April 12.
The most recent three week period of data April 20 to May 10, share for the programme is 17.1%, up 3.8 points versus the same period last year.
Host Daithi O Se said: “We are thrilled to be staying on for the extra few weeks, the response from the public in the past few weeks has been brilliant.
“Even though we are just doing our job, it’s great to know that we are some sort of comfort in these extraordinary times.”
Co-host Maura Derrane added: “We are delighted to be in our viewers’ living rooms into June.
“We really appreciate how the audience have embraced our changes and we have enjoyed evolving the show.
“We’ll continue to bring all your favourite items and will have many more entertaining guests.”
It comes as O Se said he’d happily give up his summer holidays to continue entertaining the country on TV everyday during the pandemic.
The Kerryman told Irish Daily Mirror: “Listen if RTE say we are going to go on I’d be delighted to stay working.
“I’m getting messages from all different corners saying we hope the show continues, so it is great that that support it there at the moment.”
“We are there in the afternoon and I think people really like it and the normality of it, with the craziness that is happening around us.”
Meanwhile, a series of compilations and repeats of The Late Late Show will run for four or five weeks when the show comes to a season end next Friday.
And Ryan Tubridy admitted he is looking forward to a break after a hectic season.
He said: “I don’t feel tired or wrecked from it this year, the workload has changed dramatically, for the better for me at least,
“When I stop I think I’ll be happy to get the head rewired for next season.”
