A beloved Irish television institution returned to screens Friday night, as Patrick Kielty, from County Down, hosted his third Late Late Toy Show, much to the delight of viewers of all ages.
From the outset, Kielty embraced a festive, if mischievous, spirit, transforming into The Grinch from Dr. Seuss’s classic tale, while the Late Late studio was reimagined as the town of Whoville.
Kielty has expressed his enthusiasm for the role, stating he considers himself “really lucky” to be “in the middle of a show which brings so much joy” rather than feeling pressured.
The program featured surprise appearances from distinguished guests, including Roy Keane, CMAT, and Lewis Capaldi, much to the excitement of the children and audience members.
The Late Late Toy Show, a longstanding tradition since the 1970s, is widely considered the most-watched television event in Ireland and marks the unofficial start of the Christmas season for many across the Republic of Ireland and beyond.
The RTÉ program remains a cherished annual event for countless households throughout the island.
Since its establishment five years ago, the Toy Show Appeal has raised over €26 million (£22.7 million) for charitable causes.
Staying true to tradition, young reviewers were invited to test and offer their candid opinions on the latest toys.
Numerous children from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland showcased their talents in singing and dancing.
The show commenced with a voiceover from Ballymena-born actor Liam Neeson, setting the stage for the evening’s festivities.
Celebrity cameos also included video messages from Scottish musician Louis Capaldi, Irish golfer Shane Lowry, and Northern Irish and Liverpool footballer Conor Bradley.
Irish football legend and former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane made a surprise in-studio appearance.
Irish indie-folk group Kingfishr, known for their viral hit “Killeagh,” performed live, describing their appearance on the show as “the honour of our lives.”
Musician CMAT also made a surprise studio visit, hot off the heels of a performance at Dublin’s 3Arena, to announce that the charity appeal had raised just over €4 million (£3.49m).
In anticipation of the show, Maire from Magilligan, County Londonderry, was among the children who performed on Friday.
Maire shared with BBC Radio Foyle that receiving the phone call to participate was “a dream come true” after her mother had submitted a video of her singing to RTÉ.
“I’ve been singing from I was no age and I just love what it does to me and how others around me react,” she said.
“I can’t say anything about what I’m doing but I will be singing to millions of people and it’s going to be out of this world.”
The 16-year-old said she has been watching The Late Late Toy Show from a young age.
“We always get the sugary snacks out and watch all the laughs and performances. I really hope other young girls watch on Friday night and realise dreams can come true if you push yourself in music or dance.”
Speaking before the broadcast, Patrick Kielty emphasized the show’s unifying appeal.
“The Toy Show is one of those things that you start, you get on-air and off it goes like a rocket. Where it lands, nobody knows,” he told BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster Programme.
“Most of the kids will always have something up their sleeves to try to throw you and make you laugh.”
He lauded the inclusion of children from all 32 counties of Ireland in the show’s parade as one of its “brilliant things.”
“It brings everybody together on the island no matter where they’re from,” he added,
“Last year, we’d Brian Óg from Tyrone, who kind of stole the show. So there’s always a good representation from all four provinces, and I think that that’s something that that also puts a smile on people’s faces.”
Aoibheann, 13, and Aislinn, 14, both students at St Catherine’s College in Armagh, also showcased their singing talents during the broadcast.
Aislinn has been playing the fiddle and taking singing lessons since the age of seven.
“I am very excited to be performing and I know it will be an amazing experience,” she said.
Janine, Aoibheann’s mother, told BBC News NI “we are all so excited and proud of her”.
“The toy show usually marks the start of our Christmas. The tree goes up and the new PJs go on and we all sit down and watch.
“It’s so surreal that Aoibheann will be appearing this year. A few nerves may be kicking in now but overall she is excited.”
Christmas movies have served as a recurring theme since Kielty took over as presenter of The Late Late Show in 2023, continuing this year with his Grinch portrayal.
He previously garnered positive reactions for his Elf show in 2023 and Home Alone in 2024, but this year’s transformation required significantly more prep time.
Kielty revealed that he spent three hours in makeup, employing a combination of cosmetics and prosthetic moulds to become the infamous character.
The removal process was estimated to take approximately an hour and a half.
“Let’s see what happens,” he said.
“Some would say that there’s very, very little transformation required facially for that (the Grinch) to happen.
“So I am very much pushing back on that though.”
The show stands as a perennial favorite in Ireland, regularly attracting well over a million viewers with its Christmas spirit.
Kielty further celebrated the show’s accessibility to a global audience, as it is not geo-blocked.
“I feel that the show… there is a sort of sense that it’s Irish Thanksgiving,” he said.
“It’s that idea that it’s not quite Christmas, but it’s got that people coming together feel and wherever you are in the world, you can you can tune-in and be part of it.
“And that’s another reason why it’s such a special thing to host.”
The Late Late Toy Show began on RTÉ One at 21.35 GMT.
It was also broadcast worldwide on RTÉ Player.