Ray D’Arcy’s Saturday Night Show to end two months early amid axe rumours

RTE is pulling the plug on Ray D’Arcy’s Saturday Night Show, the Irish Sun can reveal.

Staff have been told that the chat show will now end its run in March rather than late May as it did in 2018.

The move comes after station chiefs refused to rule out rumours of swinging the axe.

An insider said: “It’s hardly a surprise Ray’s show is being cut short.

"It’s been a huge disappointment, and I don’t think viewers will be taking to the streets over it.”

However, the decision will not necessarily prevent Ray, who welcomes Noel Edmonds on to his show tonight, from returning for a fifth series in September.

Our source added: “I wouldn’t rule it out. If RTE don’t have another show in line, he’ll be coming back.”

Tommy Tiernan, whose hit chat show returns in the spring, has been touted as a possible replacement, with channel boss Adrian Lynch said to be a fan.

Topical US porn star Stormy Daniels, Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle’s half-sister Samantha, and UK chat show royalty, Michael Parkinson were among guests on the Ray D’Arcy Show this season.

But last weekend while Ryan Tubridy had guests including Saoirse Ronan, John C Reilly and Steve Coogan on the Late Late, Ray’s big names were singer Peter Andre, Dr Eva Orsmond and Dave McSavage.

The former Today FM star has been a success on RTE Radio with 219,000 people tuning in — 9,000 more than a year ago — but his Saturday night chat show has been less successful.

Confirming the show would finish in March rather than May, an RTE spokeswoman said: “The show came back earlier in the autumn and will finish earlier.”

The Ray Darcy show began on Saturday September 8, the same weekend as the Late Late Show.