It was a shock, but she confirmed that she had made the decision to leave the show to spend more time with her family.
Now, she will be making her return to our screens.
However, it is in a very different capacity.
It has been confirmed that Claire will be presenting a series called Ireland’s Smartest.
Claire will put Ireland’s most intelligent quizzers through their paces. The producers trawled the length and breadth of Ireland to find contestants with the depth of knowledge worthy of the ultimate accolade… Ireland’s Smartest.
Presenter Claire Byrne said: “Ireland’s Smartest has found the cleverest people in this country to compete in a quiz that tests their knowledge and their nerve to the limit.
“This is a completely new type of show for me, and I was left in awe of these contestants from all over Ireland who can produce correct answers to some really tricky questions under the glare of the lights, in the intensity of the studio, in front of an audience and with the clock ticking all the while. It’s great fun, with lots of tension and you’ll get to test yourself against the best too from the comfort of your own sofa to see who will be awarded the title of Ireland’s Smartest!”
This is a show that’s not just about knowledge – it’s about holding your nerve as well! It’s a delicate balance between speed and strategy.
After Claire announced her departure from her beloved series that she hosted since 2015, RTÉ confirmed that Katie Hannon would take over.
Upfront with Katie Hannon began in January with Kate moderating a live programme where the public come face to face with the people whose decisions impact directly on their lives.
The programme takes audiences beyond the headlines of the big stories of the day to those who are living that story. As well as a live studio audience, there is a wider social audience, where the public can directly engage with the programme live on air.
Tune into Ireland’s Smartest on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Sunday April 2nd at 7:30pm