Vincent Browne, the presenter of TV3’s nightly current affairs show, will present his last programme for the station at the end of the month.

The veteran journalist has presented Tonight with Vincent Browne, an unlikely ratings winner given its 11pm starting time, since January 2007. Browne’s contract is due to expire shortly.

The show attracts an average audience of about 120,000, falling to about 80,000 on some nights. It is not known if it will continue following Browne’s departure, although several stand-in presenters have filled in for him in recent years including Ivan Yates, Ger Colleran, Mick Clifford, Sarah McInerney and Sam Smyth. TV3 did not respond to queries.

The show’s success is partly due to its popularity with social-media users, with a section dedicated