Jennifer Zamparelli has revealed who she thinks should be the next presenter of The Late Late Show and whether or not she thinks it should be a woman.
In a new interview with the RTÉ Guide, current host Ryan Tubridy said it would be "only a matter of time" before a female presenter would take the mantle, although he hopes to stay for "as long as they will have me".
Speaking on her morning show on 2FM on Tuesday, Zamparelli commented: "I don't think you can say 'the next presenter of The Late Late Show should be a woman'.
"I think the next presenter for The Late Late Show should be the best person for the job."
When asked if she would take the post, the presenter replied: "But if they want to give it to me...honestly I wouldn't take it.
"It's one of those gigs...This industry is great when you have potential. You don't want to be at the top, that's a place you do not want to be, because there's only one way to go and that is down.
"Your life changes dramatically when you're at that level. Imagine me doing a political segment, imagine me doing that. I'd be ripping the piss, it just wouldn't work."
After producer Eithne Kelly warned her not to talk herself out of the job, Zamparelli said: "Listen, maybe in ten years time, if the money's right, maybe."
She continued: "I honestly believe Joe Duffy should have it next.
"He's not a woman and maybe the right thing to say would be to say a woman [should get the job] and I think they're all great, but I think Joe would be amazing.
"He has empathy, he's good craic, he's clever, he can do both, which is important."
The Late Late Show has had three regular hosts since it began in 1962; Gay Byrne, Pat Kenny and the current presenter Ryan Tubridy.
When it was put to her that the show should consider putting a woman at the helm, Zamparelli responded: "To move things along, I think definitely a woman should have an opportunity to screen-test but I think the job should go to the best person.
"Will I be cancelled for saying that? That's not anti-feminist, whatever you might identify as a woman or a man, whatever you are, it just has to go to the best person, because it's such a difficult gig to handle."
Jennifer Zamparelli airs on RTÉ 2fm weekdays from 9am-12pm.
