The Late Late Toy Show Unwrapped
Monday, November 23rd, RTÉ One at 7pm
Wednesday, November 25th, RTÉ One at 7pm
Friday, November 27th, RTÉ One at 7pm
Close to 1.4 million people watched The Late Late Toy Show making it the most watched show on Irish television last year. In fact, the six most watched shows on Irish television since the turn of the millennium have been the last six Toy Shows.
The Late Late Toy Show Unwrapped is a three part documentary that looks at the history of the programme, going right back to its introduction with Gay Byrne as presenter in the 70s right up to the present day, and looks at why it is now the television event of the year.
Featuring interviews with all three Toy Show presenters – Gay Byrne, Pat Kenny and Ryan Tubridy – and familiar faces who are proud to have begun their careers on the show including singer Imelda May, actress Angeline Ball and comedian Al Porter.
We’ll hear from well-known personalities including Joe Duffy, Mario Rosenstock, Jennifer Gibney and Eileen Dunne about what the Toy Show means to them. Mrs Brown’s Boys star Brendan O’Carroll while share his fond recollection of the night both his sons appeared on the show and things didn’t quite go according to plan.
Over the course of three episodes – running at 7pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the week of this year’s Toy Show – we’ll look at the birth of the programme under Gay Byrne’s stewardship before handing over the baton to Pat Kenny in 1998.
The series will also feature the likes Joe Duffy, Mario Rosenstock, Jennifer Gibney and Eileen Dunne to name but a few. Brendan O’Carroll also recalls the time both his son’s were demonstrators on the toy show and how all didn’t go to plan on the night. We’ll see how the Toy Show has evolved since then to become the phenomenon it currently is under the assured hand of the all-singing all-dancing Ryan Tubridy.
We’ll also hear from many of the children who stole our hearts on the show including Aimee Keogh who was surprised last year by Ed Sheeran, himself equally enchanted by the show.
Monday’s episode will feature the Gay Byrne years. Wednesday’s will look at the handover to Pat Kenny and his time at the helm and, finally, Friday will turn the spotlight on Ryan Tubridy’s time in the Christmas jumper.
This trip down memory lane will set viewers up nicely for this year’s spectacular show.