Irelands Late Late Show

Fifty five percent of Ireland, or close to 1.4 million viewers were tuned in to watch Pat Kenny’s last ever Late Late Show last Friday night. Kenny is ending his ten year run as host of the longest running chat show in the world and being replaced by Ryan Tubridy who is ending his Tubridy Tonight show.

The final show featured actor Gabriel Byrne, singer Imelda May, promoter Louis Walsh, comedian Pat Shortt and U2.

Managing Director of Television Noel Curran said of Tubridy’s appointment: “Taking on the mantle of presenting the longest-running chat show in the world and a key entertainment brand for RTÉ is no easy task. We have thought long and hard about who the right presenter is to bring ‘The Late Late Show’ into its 48th year…’The Late Late Show’ is a unique programme that involves entertainment, comedy, audience interaction and social discussion. Ryan has shown time and time again on Television and on his RTÉ Radio One show that he can handle the range of interviews required of a Late Late Show presenter, with both skill and insight. He’s a great broadcaster and we know he’ll make the show his own.”

The RTÉ chief also hinted at a shakeup in the Late Late format saying; “Announcing a new presenter also allows us to look again at ‘the Late Late Show’. We want to keep the mix of entertainment and social discussion that are at its core but we also want to look at new ways of harnessing Ryan’s enormous strengths. He has a huge energy and passion for the show and we all look forward to working with him and playing to those strengths on air.”