Claire: I made a Smart move in my career

RTE presenter plays down Late Late Show job rumour

- SANDRA MALLON

RTE star Claire Byrne has played down rumours she will be the next host of The Late Late Show - saying she is "exactly where I want to be" in her career.

The presenter is frontrunner to take over from Ryan Tubridy when he steps down on May 26.

The 47-year-old from Co Laois opened up about the role but refused to be drawn on whether or not she would be the chat show's next host.

Instead, the star - who hosts new quiz show Ireland's Smartest from next month - said she never told people she would be quitting TV after she stepped down from her current affairs show Claire Byrne Live.

She added: "I was taking a bit of a break from television but I never said I would never do TV again.

"It is that time slot was very demanding in terms of the rest of my schedule.