The Late Late Show (Irish talk show)
The Late Late Show, with its title often shortened to The Late Late, is an Irish chat show. It is the world's second longest-running late-night talk show, after the American The Tonight Show, and is the longest-running live talk show.[5] Perceived as the official flagship television programme of RTÉ,[6] it is regarded as an Irish television institution,[7] and is broadcast live across normally two hours in front of a studio audience on Friday nights at 9:30 pm between September and May. Certain segments are sometimes pre-recorded and aired within the live parts of the show.
The Late Late Show
- Gay Byrne (1962–1964, 1965–1999)
- Frank Hall (1964)
- Pat Kenny (1999–2009)
- Ryan Tubridy (2009–2023)
- Patrick Kielty (2023–)
- Stand ins:
- Gerry Ryan (2008)
- Pat Kenny (2013)
- Miriam O'Callaghan (2020)
"To Whom It Concerns" (1960s–1999, 2009–)
"The Late Late Show" by Nat King Cole (Gay Byrne era)
Ireland
English, Irish
50+
More than 500 by 1979[3] (list of episodes)
- Michael Kealy
- Jim Jennings
- Larry Masterson[4]
Studio 4, RTÉ Television Centre, Donnybrook, Dublin 4
90 minutes
6 July 1962 –
present
Having maintained the same name and format continuously, The Late Late Show was first broadcast on Friday, 6 July 1962 at 11:20 pm[8] and in colour from 1976. Originating as temporary summer filler for a niche Saturday night audience (airing at 11:30 pm),[6] it later moved to its current home on Friday night schedules. The format has remained largely the same throughout—interviews, musical performances, discourse on topical issues. It has influenced attitudes of the populace towards approval or disapproval of its chosen topics, directed social change and helped shape Irish societal norms. It averages 650,000 viewers per episode and has consistently achieved RTÉ's highest ratings.[6]
For much of its early life, RTÉ Television Centre's Studio 1 at Montrose in Donnybrook, Dublin 4, was its home; this original studio accommodated a small audience of about 120. In 1995, The Late Late Show transferred to the more spacious Studio 4, adapted specifically to cater for this and Kenny Live. Three external broadcasts have aired, including from the Wexford Opera House on 5 September 2008[9] and, most recently, from London in 2018.[10]
Gay Byrne hosted the show from its inception until 21 May 1999. Pat Kenny was Byrne's successor hosting the show for 10 years between 1999 and 2009. Ryan Tubridy succeeded Kenny in September 2009 and hosted the show for 14 years. Under Tubridy, first Quinn Group and then Sky Broadband added sponsorship deals.[11][12] Tubridy's arrival coincided with a marked increase in audience ratings,[13] with some early statistics comparing him to the Byrne era.[14][15] Patrick Kielty is the current presenter, having succeeded Tubridy in September 2023.[16]
2023–present: Patrick Kielty[edit]
In May 2023, after much speculation, Patrick Kielty was confirmed as Tubridy's replacement, becoming the show's fourth permanent presenter.[106]
On 17 August 2023, it was announced that the running time for each episode of The Late Late Show would be reduced from approximately two hours to an hour and a half, although each episode would still be split into four parts, with three commercial breaks. The Toy Show, however, still retained the two hour slot. The number of episodes per season was also announced to be reduced from approximately 36 to 30.[107]
Kielty's first show as host aired on Friday 15 September 2023.[108][109][110]
Music[edit]
Theme music and opening titles[edit]
Although not the original theme, the theme music most associated with the show is the instrumental introduction from Chris Andrews' 1965 single "To Whom It Concerns", which was in use as early as 1971 and used until Byrne's final show. The version used on the show was proceeded with a distinctive drum roll, followed by a whistle which would then segue into "To Whom It Concerns". This was always accompanied by the spoken introduction: "Ladies and gentlemen, to whom it concerns, it's "The Late Late Show", and here is your host, Gay Byrne". During the same era, a clip from '"The Late Late Show" by Nat King Cole was used as the closing music. The Late Late Show was unusual during Byrne's era in that the show's production credits ran over the opening title sequence, and only a brief still of the show's logo was shown at the end.[117]
During the Kenny era, "To Whom It Concerns" was replaced, although the new theme incorporated elements of the distinctive drum roll from the old theme. Three different arrangements were used during this era. The show's production credits were moved to the end at this point, and the closing theme has been the same as the opening since 1999.[118]
A new set and title sequence was introduced for Ryan Tubridy's first show, with Chris Andrews's "To Whom It Concerns" returning as the theme music after a ten-year absence, albeit in a new arrangement performed by The Late Late Show Band and RTÉ Concert Orchestra.[119][120]
First musical performances[edit]
Below is a list of artists whose first televised performance happened on The Late Late Show.
Accolades[edit]
The Late Late Show was named "Favourite Irish TV Show" at the TV Now Awards on 22 May 2010.[139]