One of Irish afternoon television's most familiar programmes, the Open House magazine show presented by Marty Whelan and Mary Kennedy, is to be dropped.
The programme, produced by Tyrone Productions for RTÉ, will not have its contract renewed when the current season comes to a close on April 8th. The presenters and staff of 31 were given the news on Tuesday.
Ms Kennedy told The Irish Times last night she was "disappointed and sad" the show was coming to the end of its six-year run.
"It's a pity. But it has to be said that it's been a wonderful six years. I know I can speak for Marty as well when I say that.
"I think people are well served by a programme like Open House, and we get a great reaction from people when we go around the country with it. The phone lines are open and we get a wonderful response from the audience."
Open House attracts somewhere between 110,000 and 120,000 viewers between 3.30 p.m. and 4.50 p.m. each afternoon. It is understood the figures have recently shown an increase.
A spokeswoman for Tyrone Productions said it had been known the contract for Open House was due to end in April.
RTÉ had decided not to bring the show back after its current season, and she understood the station was reviewing its afternoon schedules.
However, she acknowledged it was "always a shock" when a programme was discontinued.
A spokeswoman for RTÉ said it had an obligation to viewers to make sure it kept "refreshing" the schedule and giving viewers a choice of programming.