The two presenters have confirmed that an election special tomorrow night will be their last time hosting the flagship show.
Claire Brock is to leave The Tonight Show
THE two presenters of Virgin Media’s Tonight Show are to leave the station after this weekend’s election coverage.
Ciara Doherty and Claire Brock both confirmed that tomorrow night will be their last time fronting the late night politics programme.
The move comes after Virgin Media reduced the number of episodes per week from four to two on the eve of the general election being called.
Ms Doherty, who has been with the broadcaster for 14 years, said she has decided “to move on from late nights and early mornings to begin a new adventure”.
She was previously a presenter on the station’s flagship breakfast show Ireland AM.
Ms Brock said: “This weekend I will present my last Tonight Show, as I’ve made the decision to move on from the role, and form Virgin Media Television.
Claire Brock is to leave The Tonight Show
“It’s been a privilege to work alongside brilliant colleagues and friends over many years in Ballymount.”
Both women thanked the teams who worked with them as well as viewers.
Their last night in the Tonight Show studio will be tomorrow night when they front a show on the fallout from the general election. It is expected that temporary hosts will be put in place for the coming weeks.
At the end of October Virgin Media told staff that it was reducing its current affairs output, partly blaming government decisions around funding for rivals RTÉ.
Managing Director Áine Ní Chaoindealbháin said at the time: “Virgin Media Television remains committed to public service broadcasting and will continue to invest in our news and current affairs output.
“However, due to challenging market conditions and the fact that our ask of government to financially support our public service content has not been met, we have been forced to make the difficult decision to reduce The Tonight Show weekly output.”
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Posting on Instagram, Ms Doherty thanks her “incredible colleagues and friends” as well as the guests and viewers “who joined me along the way”.
“Before I depart there’s the small matter of an election. See you all tonight at 10.35pm for our election special.”
In a post which appeared at the same time on her social media, Ms Brock also thanked “the viewers who watched and supported us”.
“Now is the time for fresh opportunities, few late nights… and I’m genuinely looking forward to what’s ahead. Before that, an election!”
