Karen Koster has shared a sweet tribute to her friend and colleague Ciara Doherty as she finishes up on Ireland AM.
Ciara is officially swapping morning tv for a much later gig. Starting next month, Ciara will host The Tonight Show with Matt Cooper, as she replaces Ivan Yates.
While they’ll still see each other around, Karen will miss her pal dearly.
Taking to social media, Karen shared a snap of the pair together and said, “So Ciara is saying goodbye to the early mornings and here’s what I’ll miss about her…
“The way she says ‘You’re a picture!’ when I’m posing for the daily outfit pic on set. How she always offers her nice coffee from her cafetière. How we have matching appetites for all food and alcohol. How she robs my shoes and still asks if that’s ok when they’ve been on her feet for 20mins already.
“How she never made me feel thick for not knowing something and explaining things in a way my foggy brain could digest. How she could switch from being a total goofball to a news junkie within the space of an ad break.
“How she’s such a softie for her lil girl and always calls her ‘my wee pet’. How she made me fall in love with Donegal even though I’ve never been there.
“I’ve been very lucky to work with Ciara and especially during such a surreal year, I’ll never forget it. Matt Cooper – you better mind her for me! Now go knock it outta the ball park on The Tonight Show!”
Ciara begins her new role on September 1st, and can’t wait to get stuck into it.
“I am delighted to be joining a programme as established as The Tonight Show on Virgin Media One and of course to be working alongside a broadcaster as respected as Matt Cooper,” she beamed.
“It’s exciting to be moving into this role at a time when we are all experiencing such change in our lives and uncertainty in the world around us.”
She continued, “This programme has garnered a reputation for being uncompromising and straight talking and I look forward to continuing that tradition.
“I have been working for this station for over a decade and I can see that now, more than ever, Virgin Media Television viewers are relying on our news and analysis, to give them the facts and truth.
“It’s up to broadcasters to hold people to account and ask the questions our viewers need to be answered. I look forward to taking on that mantle for them. And who knows, we might have some fun along the way”.