The Afternoon Show

The Afternoon Show is Raidió Teilifís Éireann's former live flagship daytime show. It ran from 2004 until May 2010. The programme was dropped by RTÉ as part of its new season of television in 2010, to be replaced by two afternoon programmes 4 Daily presented by Maura Derrane and The Daily Show hosted by Dáithí Ó Sé and Claire Byrne.

The television show, the last season of which was presented by Sheana Keane and Maura Derrane, was a mix of lifestyle, information and fun items. The show included cookery, fashion, health, fitness, parenting, life-coaching and celebrity gossip. Viewers also had the opportunity to text, phone and e-mail in interjections, views, experiences and opinions, and they were given a chance to win prizes in a daily quiz.

The Afternoon Show had met with a mixed reaction since it first appeared on screens in 2004, presented by Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh and Anna Nolan. This was partly because it replaced the hugely popular show Open House. There was speculation that the show has not proved as successful as its predecessor and that it would not return for a second season. However, a second series began in 2005, although one of the former presenters, Sheana Keane, did not return.

In 2006, the show returned for a third season. This time Anna Nolan left the show and was replaced by Sheana Keane, who returned after taking a year off to focus on her first child.

There was speculation that the show was possibly going to end. When the last series ended, Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh said the programme would continue in 2009. It was confirmed though, in August 2009 that the programme would return "later and longer". The programme returned on 7 September 2009 beginning at 16:00 until 17:45.

Síle Seoige was to temporarily replace Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh in September 2009. Later in the month, Ní Chofaigh revealed she would not be returning to the programme.