Byrne clear favourite to replace Kenny at RTÉ

Claire Byrne was last night installed as odds-on favourite to replace Pat Kenny on his mid-morning radio slot after his surprise announcement that he was defecting to Newstalk Radio.

One bookmakers even admitted it may have to stop taking bets “sooner rather than later” because the 36-year-old former TV3 presenter was being so hotly tipped.

That was because messaging sites such as Twitter were alive, not only with people calling for her to be appointed to the job, but also with rumours that it had already been offered to her.