The Late Late Show
Encyclopedia
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show
by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish
broadcasting company RTÉ
. The show is broadcast live for over two hours in front of a studio audience at 21.30 on Friday nights between September and May. It is regarded as an Irish television institution, even outside the country, and is considered "Ireland's chat show".
The show, originally conceived as a temporary summer filler programme for a niche audience on Saturday nights at 23:30, began broadcasting on Friday nights in 1962 and was presented by Gay Byrne
for over 35 years, on Saturday evenings for some of that time. For most of its early years, the show was broadcast live from Studio 1 at RTÉ in Dublin. The studio was small and could only accommodate an audience of around 100. Gay Byrne talked about this on a 2008 RTÉ programme called "Gaybo Laughs Back
", which showed classic comedy moments from his tenure as host of the show. In 1995, the show moved into the more spacious and RTÉ's largest television studio, Studio 4, a studio specifically adapted to cater for this flagship production, and Kenny's former chat show, Kenny Live
. The Late Late Show has on three occasions been broadcast externally, most recently from the Wexford Opera House on 5 September 2008. Until recently the chat show was sponsored by Halifax but they declined to renew their sponsorship.
The Late Late Show was first broadcast on Friday, 6 July 1962 at 23:20. Since then its format has remained largely the same, with music, chat, comedy and audience involvement in debates on topical issues. The show's rapid rise to popularity led it to top the ratings consistently on RTÉ for forty years. Some sociologist
s have credited it with influencing Irish attitudes towards many issues, and directing social change in Ireland to construct current Irish societal norms. It has outlasted rivals such as TV3's The Dunphy Show
, averaging 650,000 viewers per episode and is consistently RTÉ's highest rated programme.
Ryan Tubridy
has been host since September 2009, having taken over from Pat Kenny
. Under Tubridy, the show is now sponsored by the Quinn Group
, having failed to secure a sponsor during Kenny's final season. Audience ratings have increased since Tubridy took on the role of host, with some statistics comparing him to Gay Byrne
's time as host.
It was named "Favourite Irish TV Show" at the TV Now Awards
on 22 May 2010.
The show has had three permanent hosts: Gay Byrne
, Pat Kenny
and Ryan Tubridy
. Frank Hall
deputised for Byrne for a one season absence in the 1960s. There have also been three occasions on which another presenter has stepped in to host the show. The first was when Byrne became unexpectedly and seriously ill; frequent panelist Ted Bonner presented instead. The second time was towards the end of a show about feminism
, when Byrne ushered a young Marian Finucane
into his seat to present the rest of the show. The most recent time was on 24 October 2008, when Gerry Ryan
was announced as guest presenter with less than 48 hours' notice, after Kenny's mother died suddenly. Pat Kenny announced live on air during the 27 March 2009 edition of the show that he would quit the post at the end of the season. On 11 May 2009, RTÉ announced that Ryan Tubridy would be the new host for the show.
When the show was launched, its original presenter was Gay Byrne
, a young Irish broadcaster who had been working with Granada Television
in Britain and while there had become the first person to introduce The Beatles
on television on People and Places. The first episode of The Late Late Show was broadcast on 6 July 1962. Byrne came from a family with long associations with the Guinness brewery Dublin, having worked there and having also worked as a sales man before getting involved in television. Byrne remained the presenter for thirty-seven years, retiring in 1999; as of September 2009, this represents the longest period that any one person has hosted a television chat show.
The show relied on two common formats. The first consisted of a series of interviews of celebrity guests. Most of these guests were Irish or British, and involved in the entertainment industry. The second focused on a defined topic, where a panel, and a studio audience got involved in a live discussion. This format tended to be far more weighty in content, with participants in the audience who were directly connected with the topic being discussed. Authority figures were open to criticism in a manner not evident in any other media outlet at the time.
Although the show began as a light summer "filler" in 1962, it soon became a forum for controversial opinion and debate. Topics such as divorce, contraception and a number of hitherto undiscussed areas were debated openly. Much of the population (Ireland was mainly rural and devoutly Roman Catholic) had no previous experience of television and were unprepared for the Late Late Show bringing such discussion into their homes. Indeed, politician Oliver J. Flanagan
, whilst guesting on the show, claimed that there was "no sex in Ireland until Teilifís Éireann went on the air", reflecting the greater openness which The Late Late Show seemed to have brought to Irish society and culture. The show appeared to represent the new liberalism of the 1960s in Ireland when the Archbishop
of Dublin, John Charles McQuaid
, was confronted by a guest in the show's first series—an event which was sensational at the time.
This incident was just one of several which have contributed to the folklore associated with the programme. The Late Late Show, with Byrne as host, was not reluctant to introduce controversial topics. Other controversies include:
, Byrne decided to return to British television, where his career had originally begun. The Late Late Show was passed to another presenter, Frank Hall
. After one year, Byrne agreed to return to RTÉ to present his old show, augmented by his own award-winning radio show.
song "The Late Late Show", which appeared on his 1959 album Big Band Cole.
.
Irish President
Mary McAleese
told Byrne:
There were also glowing tributes for Byrne from then Taoiseach
Bertie Ahern
, comedian Billy Connolly, RTÉ broadcasters Des Cahill
, Larry Gogan
, Mike Murphy, Marian Finucane
, American counterpart Merv Griffin
, former Taoiseach Charles Haughey
and various other celebrities.
There were musical performances on the night from The Corrs
, Christy Moore
, Sarah Brightman
and Rosaleen Linehan
. U2
members Bono
and Larry Mullen presented Byrne with a Harley-Davidson
motorcycle as a retirement present. Byrne was spotted on the bike regularly, until January 2003 when Byrne and U2 jointly auctioned the bike for The Children's Medical & Research Foundation at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin
, Dublin.
succeeded Byrne who had presented the show for 37 years. When Byrne left, The Late Late Show dominated RTÉ's ratings viewership figures, coming in consistently either at number 1 or number 2.
Some suggested in media columns in the Sunday Independent
and The Irish Times
that the show be dropped and that the show's success was too linked with Byrne to work with any other presenter. RTÉ, however, retained the show as it was a powerful brand which attracted extensive advertising revenue. Contemporary media reports speculated that comedians and chat show hosts Patrick Kielty
and Graham Norton
might be asked to present it. However, RTÉ gave the show to Byrne's chat show rival, Pat Kenny
, who for nearly a decade had presented his own Kenny Live
show in the Saturday night time slot. Even after seven years at the helm of the show Kenny was regularly criticised in the media for his style of presentation. One notable occurrence in early 2006 led to the actor Brendan Gleeson
becoming emotional whilst discussing the state of the Irish health service. On 27 March 2009 Pat announced his intention to step down after 10 years, "at a time when the audience figures were never higher". He presented his final show on 29 May 2009 during which he received a guitar from The Edge
of U2
.
as the show's symbol, and a traditional 'toy show' edition, little of the original has not been revamped. Byrne's two catch-phrases, "it started on The Late Late Show", and "one for everyone in the audience" were dropped. The latter of these phrases has been partially revived, but is not in as much use as it was before Kenny's reign as presenter.
Stokes was also reported to have stood outside Kenny's house shouting insults and to have painted threatening messages on walls near the house, although a charge of harassment connected with the case was dropped. Paul Stokes was later sentenced to two years in prison for ramming the RTÉ entrance.
In March 2009, The Late Late Show hosted a debate between twenty senators and journalists John Drennan and Ian O'Doherty
on a proposal to abolish Seanad Éireann
, described as "the first ever for TV" by executive producer Larry Masterson.
of U2
and also featured other guests as well and an outdoor event was set up outside in the grounds of RTÉ. At the end of the show, Joe Duffy
presented Pat Kenny with a cake in the shape of a "10", to mark ten years of hosting The Late Late Show. The number of viewers who tuned in to watch the last show peaked at 996,000, with an average share of 55% of the total TV audience.
emerged as the host of The Late Late Show. Other personalities tipped for the role included Gerry Ryan
and Miriam O’Callaghan. O’Callaghan, who for some media commentators was the favourite to get the job, claims she turned down the role to keep her Prime Time
slot and to spend time with her eight children.
Tubridy presented his first programme on 4 September 2009 with a custom picked staff, a new set and house band. Tubridy came from behind a red curtain and sat at a wooden desk in the same €3,000+ chair as the actress Meryl Streep
used in the film The Devil Wears Prada
. Original host Gay Byrne gave Tubridy his blessing, saying: "He has all the qualities required, the light deft touch together with a serious mind. I think it's a great adventure that he's setting off on".
On the first show on 4 September 2009, 1.6 million tuned in at some stage of the programme, making it the most watched Late Late Show, outside the toy show, since Gay Byrne's retirement in May 1999. Overall, the programme had an average of 927,000 people watching and an audience share of 62 per cent.
Guests on the first show included Brian Cowen
, Saoirse Ronan
, Brian McFadden
, Joan Collins
, Cherie Blair
, and Niall Quinn
.
In 2010, the show was broadcast on Good Friday
for the first time in 15 years.
The show's former hosts, Gay Byrne
and Pat Kenny
, as well as other RTÉ broadcasters such as Joe Duffy
, Dave Fanning
and Brenda Donohue, appeared on the show to discuss the death of former host and colleague Gerry Ryan
on 30 April 2010.
The Late Late Show has featured many presentation schemes over its long history, with titles, graphics and set changed on a regular basis. In more recent times the show has seen a change in appearance generally every four years. Its most recent revamp was launched on Friday 7 September 2007, featuring a completely new set but retaining the existing title sequence as used since 2003. Designed by Darragh Treacy of RTÉ Production Design, the new set makes for a more complex and layered background than the previous arrangement, and is heavily dependant on saturated lighting and modern construction materials. It is made of metal, timber and polycarbonate
, with carpet as a floor covering. According to Treacy: "I wanted something contemporary that would be architectural and structural, [for example] the horizontal lines and boxes that you see running throughout the set." "The back wall of the [chat area] has textured panels which just take the light beautifully and give a great three-dimensional effect. Then the polycarbonate boxes sit in front of that. The fins – the large timber sections – to the left of the chat area are replicated in the entertainment area as well, and are large pieces of timber with a paint finish that take the light."
A new development in the evolving presentation of the show has been the reintroduction of a desk in the chat area as originally continued on after Byrne's departure in 1999, but disposed of shortly afterwards, in spite of a final-attempt redesign in 2000. Kenny notes: "After eight seasons of sitting around, lounging around, as if in a living room, we decided just for a change that we'd put the desk in and see what difference it made. We'll work with it: I mean if it doesn't work after five or six weeks, it goes - if it does work, well we'll find ways of using it effectively. I mean it does put a little barrier between myself and the guest, but on the other hand it can be very useful for a formal interview where you don't want to be too intimate with your guest if it's a little bit antagonistic, whereas in the past I was always reclining and even if I had to be a bit aggressive with a guest the body language was a little bit confusing in that regard. So we'll see." In an apparent effort to resolve such problems, the new desk is more of a table design with a transparent underside, is angled to be narrower at the guest end, and is composed of thin elegant profiles of timber and glass.
A new entrance flight of steps has also been introduced, somewhat redolent of former Kenny Live sets. "I wanted a grand entrance, but I also wanted an entrance that was part of the background of the set, so they arrive down and join Pat – and it's a feature walk-on for guests" according to Treacy. Kenny approves of the steps, noting: "as you come down the steps, be it myself or a guest, you're slowly revealed: more and more of your body is revealed to the audience until finally you're standing in the 'doorway' as it were. I think it’ll be interesting; a more dramatic entrance than we've had for the past three or four years." New chairs were also specially provided by Irish company Design Classics Direct, made to an original 1929 design of Irish designer Eileen Gray
.
A new set and title sequence was introduced for Ryan Tubridy's first show, with Chris Andrews' 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 the RTÉ Concert Orchestra
.
, an English
indie rock band trashed the studio whilst performing. They were invited back to Ireland by Byrne having performed in the country again.
Boyzone also made their first TV appearance since the death of Stephen Gately
on 12 March 2010.
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
broadcasting company RTÉ
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
. The show is broadcast live for over two hours in front of a studio audience at 21.30 on Friday nights between September and May. It is regarded as an Irish television institution, even outside the country, and is considered "Ireland's chat show".
The show, originally conceived as a temporary summer filler programme for a niche audience on Saturday nights at 23:30, began broadcasting on Friday nights in 1962 and was presented by Gay Byrne
Gay Byrne
Gabriel Mary "Gay" Byrne is a veteran Irish presenter of radio and television. His most notable role was first host of The Late Late Show over a 37-year period spanning 1962 until 1999...
for over 35 years, on Saturday evenings for some of that time. For most of its early years, the show was broadcast live from Studio 1 at RTÉ in Dublin. The studio was small and could only accommodate an audience of around 100. Gay Byrne talked about this on a 2008 RTÉ programme called "Gaybo Laughs Back
Gaybo Laughs Back
Gaybo Laughs Back is an hour-long Irish television special and DVD released in November 2008. It was broadcast on RTÉ One on 9 November 2008 at 18:30, whilst the DVD was released on 15 November 2008, with over forty minutes of bonus material...
", which showed classic comedy moments from his tenure as host of the show. In 1995, the show moved into the more spacious and RTÉ's largest television studio, Studio 4, a studio specifically adapted to cater for this flagship production, and Kenny's former chat show, Kenny Live
Kenny Live
Kenny Live is an Irish weekly chat show on RTÉ that was hosted by Pat Kenny. The show debuted in 1988 and aired every Saturday night, except during the summer months, directly after the main evening news...
. The Late Late Show has on three occasions been broadcast externally, most recently from the Wexford Opera House on 5 September 2008. Until recently the chat show was sponsored by Halifax but they declined to renew their sponsorship.
The Late Late Show was first broadcast on Friday, 6 July 1962 at 23:20. Since then its format has remained largely the same, with music, chat, comedy and audience involvement in debates on topical issues. The show's rapid rise to popularity led it to top the ratings consistently on RTÉ for forty years. Some sociologist
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
s have credited it with influencing Irish attitudes towards many issues, and directing social change in Ireland to construct current Irish societal norms. It has outlasted rivals such as TV3's The Dunphy Show
The Dunphy Show
The Dunphy Show is an Irish chat show hosted by Eamon Dunphy that aired for one series on TV3 in 2003. The programme featured guest interviews, audience participation and live music from guest music groups...
, averaging 650,000 viewers per episode and is consistently RTÉ's highest rated programme.
Ryan Tubridy
Ryan Tubridy
Ryan Tubridy , affectionately known as "Tubs", is an Irish broadcaster and writer, a presenter of live shows on radio and television in Ireland. He has been described as "one of Ireland's most gifted broadcasters"...
has been host since September 2009, having taken over from Pat Kenny
Pat Kenny
Patrick "Pat" Kenny is an Irish broadcaster and former disc jockey and continuity announcer. He is employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is their highest paid presenter. He presents Today with Pat Kenny on RTÉ Radio 1 each weekday morning between 10:00 and midday...
. Under Tubridy, the show is now sponsored by the Quinn Group
Quinn Group
The QUINN group is a business group headquartered in Derrylin, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The privately owned group has ventured into cement and concrete products, container glass, general insurance, radiators, plastics, hotels, and real estate...
, having failed to secure a sponsor during Kenny's final season. Audience ratings have increased since Tubridy took on the role of host, with some statistics comparing him to Gay Byrne
Gay Byrne
Gabriel Mary "Gay" Byrne is a veteran Irish presenter of radio and television. His most notable role was first host of The Late Late Show over a 37-year period spanning 1962 until 1999...
's time as host.
It was named "Favourite Irish TV Show" at the TV Now Awards
TV Now Awards
The TV Now Awards is an annual awards ceremony which takes place in Ireland...
on 22 May 2010.
Hosts
| Host | From | To | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Age | Date | Age | ||
| Gay Byrne Gay Byrne Gabriel Mary "Gay" Byrne is a veteran Irish presenter of radio and television. His most notable role was first host of The Late Late Show over a 37-year period spanning 1962 until 1999... |
July 6, 1962 | 27 | May 30, 1964 | 29 | Also simultaneously hosted Telefís Éireann's first gameshow called Jackpot Jackpot (Irish TV series) Jackpot was an Irish general knowledge quiz show produced by Telefís Éireann between 6 January 1962 and 9 June 1965. Presented firstly by Gay Byrne and later by Terry Wogan, the show remained one of the most popular programmes in the first years of the television station. Jackpot was similar in... |
| Frank Hall Frank Hall Frank Hall was an Irish broadcaster, journalist, satirist and film censor. He is best remembered for his satirical revue programme Hall's Pictorial Weekly.-Early life:... |
September 19, 1964 | 43 | December 19, 1964 | 43 | Replacement host |
| Gay Byrne | January 2, 1965 | 30 | May 21, 1999 | 64 | |
| Pat Kenny Pat Kenny Patrick "Pat" Kenny is an Irish broadcaster and former disc jockey and continuity announcer. He is employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is their highest paid presenter. He presents Today with Pat Kenny on RTÉ Radio 1 each weekday morning between 10:00 and midday... |
September 10, 1999 | 51 | May 29, 2009 | 61 | Previously hosted Kenny Live Kenny Live Kenny Live is an Irish weekly chat show on RTÉ that was hosted by Pat Kenny. The show debuted in 1988 and aired every Saturday night, except during the summer months, directly after the main evening news... |
| Ryan Tubridy Ryan Tubridy Ryan Tubridy , affectionately known as "Tubs", is an Irish broadcaster and writer, a presenter of live shows on radio and television in Ireland. He has been described as "one of Ireland's most gifted broadcasters"... |
September 4, 2009 | 36 | Previously hosted Tubridy Tonight Tubridy Tonight Tubridy Tonight is an Irish chat show hosted by Ryan Tubridy that aired for five series on RTÉ One between 2004 and 2009. The programme featured guest interviews , audience participation and live music from both a guest music group and the house band... |
The show has had three permanent hosts: Gay Byrne
Gay Byrne
Gabriel Mary "Gay" Byrne is a veteran Irish presenter of radio and television. His most notable role was first host of The Late Late Show over a 37-year period spanning 1962 until 1999...
, Pat Kenny
Pat Kenny
Patrick "Pat" Kenny is an Irish broadcaster and former disc jockey and continuity announcer. He is employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is their highest paid presenter. He presents Today with Pat Kenny on RTÉ Radio 1 each weekday morning between 10:00 and midday...
and Ryan Tubridy
Ryan Tubridy
Ryan Tubridy , affectionately known as "Tubs", is an Irish broadcaster and writer, a presenter of live shows on radio and television in Ireland. He has been described as "one of Ireland's most gifted broadcasters"...
. Frank Hall
Frank Hall
Frank Hall was an Irish broadcaster, journalist, satirist and film censor. He is best remembered for his satirical revue programme Hall's Pictorial Weekly.-Early life:...
deputised for Byrne for a one season absence in the 1960s. There have also been three occasions on which another presenter has stepped in to host the show. The first was when Byrne became unexpectedly and seriously ill; frequent panelist Ted Bonner presented instead. The second time was towards the end of a show about feminism
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
, when Byrne ushered a young Marian Finucane
Marian Finucane
Marian Finucane is an Irish broadcaster with Raidió Teilifís Éireann . She has worked with the national broadcaster since in 1976, starting as a continuity announcer. She was the first presenter of Liveline...
into his seat to present the rest of the show. The most recent time was on 24 October 2008, when Gerry Ryan
Gerry Ryan
Gerard "Gerry" Ryan was an Irish presenter of radio and television employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann...
was announced as guest presenter with less than 48 hours' notice, after Kenny's mother died suddenly. Pat Kenny announced live on air during the 27 March 2009 edition of the show that he would quit the post at the end of the season. On 11 May 2009, RTÉ announced that Ryan Tubridy would be the new host for the show.
History
Few of the 1960s editions of The Late Late Show exist, as it was prohibitively expensive to use tape to record shows in those days.Gay Byrne (1961–1968)
Gay Byrne
Gabriel Mary "Gay" Byrne is a veteran Irish presenter of radio and television. His most notable role was first host of The Late Late Show over a 37-year period spanning 1962 until 1999...
, a young Irish broadcaster who had been working with Granada Television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
in Britain and while there had become the first person to introduce The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
on television on People and Places. The first episode of The Late Late Show was broadcast on 6 July 1962. Byrne came from a family with long associations with the Guinness brewery Dublin, having worked there and having also worked as a sales man before getting involved in television. Byrne remained the presenter for thirty-seven years, retiring in 1999; as of September 2009, this represents the longest period that any one person has hosted a television chat show.
The show relied on two common formats. The first consisted of a series of interviews of celebrity guests. Most of these guests were Irish or British, and involved in the entertainment industry. The second focused on a defined topic, where a panel, and a studio audience got involved in a live discussion. This format tended to be far more weighty in content, with participants in the audience who were directly connected with the topic being discussed. Authority figures were open to criticism in a manner not evident in any other media outlet at the time.
Although the show began as a light summer "filler" in 1962, it soon became a forum for controversial opinion and debate. Topics such as divorce, contraception and a number of hitherto undiscussed areas were debated openly. Much of the population (Ireland was mainly rural and devoutly Roman Catholic) had no previous experience of television and were unprepared for the Late Late Show bringing such discussion into their homes. Indeed, politician Oliver J. Flanagan
Oliver J. Flanagan
Oliver J. Flanagan was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served in Dáil Éireann for 43 years and was Minister for Defence for six months. He was elected to the Dáil fourteen times between 1943 and 1982, topping the poll on almost every occasion...
, whilst guesting on the show, claimed that there was "no sex in Ireland until Teilifís Éireann went on the air", reflecting the greater openness which The Late Late Show seemed to have brought to Irish society and culture. The show appeared to represent the new liberalism of the 1960s in Ireland when the Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Dublin, John Charles McQuaid
John Charles McQuaid
John Charles McQuaid, C.S.Sp. was the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland between December 1940 and February 1972.- Early life 1895-1914:...
, was confronted by a guest in the show's first series—an event which was sensational at the time.
This incident was just one of several which have contributed to the folklore associated with the programme. The Late Late Show, with Byrne as host, was not reluctant to introduce controversial topics. Other controversies include:
- "The Playboy incident": In January 1966, Victor Lownes, a representative of PlayboyPlayboyPlayboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
, was expected to appear on The Late Late Show; however, he was axed when he revealed that he hoped to recruit young women to work as Bunnies in Playboy clubs.
- "The Bishop and the Nightie Affair": A minor furore erupted later in 1966 when the Bishop of Galway condemned The Late Late Show as immoral and Gay Byrne as a promoter of "filth". The condemnation stemmed from a small item on the show in which Byrne was interviewing a number of couples to see how well they knew each other. Byrne asked a Mrs. Fox from TerenureTerenureTerenure is a mainly residential suburb of Dublin, Ireland, largely in the administrative area of Dublin City Council but with parts in the administrative county of South Dublin County .-Location and transport:...
if she could remember what colour her nightdress was on the first night of her married life to her Mr. Fox. The woman first implied it was "transparent" before revealing that she might not have worn an item of clothing to bed that night at all. This response was received with laughter by Byrne and the studio audience, with Mrs. Fox then revealing her nightdress had been white. However, the Bishop either misheard or ignored this, feeling the need to protest against this "filthy" programme and the "filth" which was being televised into the nation's homes. The Bishop of Clonfert sent a telegram: "Disgusted with disgraceful performance", prompting a swift RTÉ apology which the Irish ExaminerIrish ExaminerThe Irish Examiner, formerly The Cork Examiner and then The Examiner, is an Irish national daily newspaper which primarily circulates in the Munster region surrounding its base in Cork, though it is available throughout the country...
states was similar to the apology the same broadcaster issued during the Brian Cowen nude portraits controversyBrian Cowen nude portraits controversyTwo oil paintings depicting Brian Cowen, then-Taoiseach of Ireland, in the nude, were briefly displayed in Dublin art galleries in March 2009 as an act of guerilla art...
in 2009. MeathCounty MeathCounty Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
VEC said it was "anti-national", whilst LoughreaLoughreaLoughrea is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The town lies north of a range of wooded hills, the Slieve Aughty Mountains.The town expanded in recent years as it increasingly becomes a commuter town for the city of Galway.- Name :...
Town Council described it as "a dirty programme that should be abolished altogether". The furore died down after a number of weeks, but is still remembered. When the topic featured on the 2008 documentary How The Irish Have Sex broadcast by rival channel TV3, the Irish IndependentIrish IndependentThe Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
s Damian Corless said Éamon de ValeraÉamon de ValeraÉamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
"won't be turning on, but will instead be turning in his grave".
- Brian Trevaskis: On a March 1966 episode of The Late Late Show a debate was held on the Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. Brian Trevaskis, a young student making his first television appearance, criticised the Bishop of Galway, Michael BrowneMichael Browne (bishop)Michael Browne was an Irish prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh from 1937 to 1976....
for spending so much on a cathedralGalway CathedralThe Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas , commonly known as Galway Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Galway, Ireland and is one of the largest and most impressive buildings in the city.Construction began in 1958 on the site of the old city jail, and in 1965 was finally...
instead of helping the poor. Trevaskis described the building as a "monstrosity" and referred to the Bishop as a "moronMoron (psychology)Moron is a term once used in psychology to denote mild mental retardation. The term was closely tied with the American eugenics movement. Once the term became popularized, it fell out of use by the psychological community, as it was used more commonly as an insult than as a psychological...
". He was invited back on the show the following week, 6 April 1966, to expand on his opinions. The student referred to the fiftieth anniversary of the Easter RisingEaster RisingThe Easter Rising was an insurrection staged in Ireland during Easter Week, 1916. The Rising was mounted by Irish republicans with the aims of ending British rule in Ireland and establishing the Irish Republic at a time when the British Empire was heavily engaged in the First World War...
, a pivotal moment in Irish history, when he expressed his concern over the devotion of money to building churches in a society where women who were impregnated outside marriage were considered outcasts and as such were vulnerable members of society. Trevaskis claimed Ireland was not a ChristianChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
country and told of how, when asked if the bishop knew the meaning of the word "moron", he replied using his uncertainty as to whether the bishop knew the meaning of the word "Christian".
Frank Hall (1964)
In the late 1960s, with the start of BBC 2BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
, Byrne decided to return to British television, where his career had originally begun. The Late Late Show was passed to another presenter, Frank Hall
Frank Hall
Frank Hall was an Irish broadcaster, journalist, satirist and film censor. He is best remembered for his satirical revue programme Hall's Pictorial Weekly.-Early life:...
. After one year, Byrne agreed to return to RTÉ to present his old show, augmented by his own award-winning radio show.
Gay Byrne (1965–1999)
- "Women's rights": Elderly feministFeminismFeminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
campaigner Hillary Boyle criticised the Irish government when she appeared on The Late Late Show during the 1970s, calling them "all so afraid of a belt of the crozierCrosierA crosier is the stylized staff of office carried by high-ranking Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and some Lutheran and Pentecostal prelates...
(the Bishop's stick)".
- "Contraceptive Train": When several women, amongst them June LevineJune LevineJune Levine was an Irish journalist, novelist and feminist, who played a central part in the Irish women's movement. She was born and raised in a Jewish family in Dublin, and wrote her first articles for The Irish Times when she was still a teenager. At the age of eighteen she married Kenneth...
and Nell McCaffertyNell McCaffertyNell McCafferty is an Irish journalist, playwright, civil rights campaigner and feminist. In her journalistic work she has written for The Irish Press, The Irish Times, Sunday Tribune, Hot Press and The Village Voice....
, carried bags of condomCondomA condom is a barrier device most commonly used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy and spreading sexually transmitted diseases . It is put on a man's erect penis and physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering the body of a sexual partner...
s from BelfastBelfastBelfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
on a train in protest at Ireland's strict anti-contraception laws in 1971, The Late Late Show became involved in the incident when one of the women, Mary Kenny, appeared in the studio to say that the law was "pretty damn weird".
- "Lesbian nuns": In 1979, Gay Byrne interviewed a lesbianLesbianLesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
on The Late Late Show, escaping public condemnation in the process. However, when a couple of former nuns who were lesbians were booked to appear in 1985, a High Court case ensued and calls came for The Late Late Show to be axed altogether as it would "greatly undermine Christian moral values" and "the respect of the general public for nuns" to feature the pair on live television. Protestors gathered to recite decades of the RosaryRosaryThe rosary or "garland of roses" is a traditional Catholic devotion. The term denotes the prayer beads used to count the series of prayers that make up the rosary...
, sing hymns as the show got underway.
- "AIDS special": An AIDSAIDSAcquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
special in the 1980s included a controversial demonstration on live television of how to attach a condomCondomA condom is a barrier device most commonly used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy and spreading sexually transmitted diseases . It is put on a man's erect penis and physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering the body of a sexual partner...
to a finger.
- Brian Lenihan: Gay Byrne was a personal friend of Brian Lenihan and presented a tribute show in March 1990 to support the case for Lenihan as a candidate for the office of President of IrelandPresident of IrelandThe President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
in the 1990 presidential electionIrish presidential election, 1990-Aftermath:While the role of the presidency in day to day politics is a very limited one the Robinson presidency is regarded by many observers as a watershed in Irish society symbolising the shift away from the conservative ultracatholic male-dominated Ireland which existed up until the end of the...
.
- Minding the children: In 1992 several female TDs who had been newly elected to Dáil Éireann appeared on the programme, with Gay Byrne wondering who was taking care of their children.
- Annie Murphy: In 1992, Bishop Eamonn Casey resigned when it was revealed that he had broken his vow of celibacy having fathered a child with a young American divorcee named Annie Murphy in 1973 during his tenure as Bishop of Kerry. In April 1993, Murphy appeared on The Late Late Show to speak about the affair and their child, Peter. Eamonn Casey had supported their son financially, but had requested that this be kept quiet to protect his career. At the end of the interview Byrne said if the baby was 'half the man his father was' he would be fine and Annie Murphy replied that the boy's mother (meaning herself) was 'not so bad either', drawing applause from the studio audience. Casey spent most of his time since the scandal outside of Ireland, in an effort to avoid media attention but eventually returned in 2006. Casey himself, was a guest on the show incidentally, on several previous occasions – possibly influencing Byrne's apparent scepticism of Murphy's motives and claims on the show.
- Peter Brooke: In 1992 the BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Secretary of State for Northern IrelandSecretary of State for Northern IrelandThe Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, informally the Northern Ireland Secretary, is the principal secretary of state in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State is a Minister of the Crown who is accountable to the Parliament of...
, Peter BrookePeter BrookePeter Leonard Brooke, Baron Brooke of Sutton Mandeville, CH, PC , is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet under Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major, and was a Member of Parliament representing the Cities of London and Westminster from...
appeared on The Late Late Show. After a pleasant interview, Byrne coaxed and goaded the unwilling Brooke, into singing Oh My Darling, ClementineOh My Darling, ClementineOh My Darling, Clementine is an American western folk ballad usually credited to Percy Montrose , although it is sometimes credited to Barker Bradford. The song is believed to have been based on another song called Down by the River Liv'd a Maiden by H. S...
on a day when seven Protestant construction workers had been killed by an IRAProvisional Irish Republican ArmyThe Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
bomb. Unionists were outraged at what seemed to be a moment clearly out of touch with grieving families, and instantly requested the resignation of Brooke. Brooke was humiliated, and subsequently lost his position as Secretary of State to Sir Patrick Mayhew after the 1992 British General ElectionUnited Kingdom general election, 1992The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. This election result was one of the biggest surprises in 20th Century politics, as polling leading up to the day of the election showed Labour under leader Neil...
in April.
- Gerry Adams: As a response to a change in legislation, it became possible for RTÉ to interview Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
leader Gerry AdamsGerry AdamsGerry Adams is an Irish republican politician and Teachta Dála for the constituency of Louth. From 1983 to 1992 and from 1997 to 2011, he was an abstentionist Westminster Member of Parliament for Belfast West. He is the president of Sinn Féin, the second largest political party in Northern...
in 1994. Byrne set up a show, with a panel of public figures, Jim KemmyJim KemmyJim Kemmy was an Irish socialist politician from Limerick, who started his political career in the Labour Party...
, Dermot AhernDermot AhernDermot Christopher Ahern is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Louth constituency from 1987 to 2011...
, Michael McDowellMichael McDowellMichael McDowell is a Senior Counsel in the Bar Council of Ireland and a former politician. A grandson of Irish revolutionary Eoin MacNeill, McDowell was a founding member of the Progressive Democrats political party in the mid-1980s...
, Hugh LeonardHugh LeonardHugh Leonard was an Irish dramatist, television writer and essayist. In a career that spanned 50 years, Leonard wrote more than 18 plays, two volumes of essays and two autobiographies, one novel and numerous screenplays and teleplays, as well as writing a regular newspaper column.-Life and...
and Austin CurrieAustin CurrieAustin Currie is a former politician who was elected to the parliaments of both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland....
. The last three openly loathed Adams. Byrne himself refused to shake hands with Adams. He maintained confrontational body language, and stayed a distance of over three metres away from Adams throughout the show. However, Adams proved more skillful at debate than was expected. During the show a number people phoned in stating that Byrne and the other panellists were acting "hostile and aggressive" towards Adams. Byrne also had to state that nobody was specially invited to the audience. The attempt to damage Adams politically backfired, as it appeared too obvious that he was being 'set up'. Indeed Sinn FéinSinn FéinSinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
's popularity rating in the Republic increased significantly after the interview, with the Irish ExaminerIrish ExaminerThe Irish Examiner, formerly The Cork Examiner and then The Examiner, is an Irish national daily newspaper which primarily circulates in the Munster region surrounding its base in Cork, though it is available throughout the country...
reporting that 70% of people held a favourable view of Adams after the show.
- Pádraig Flynn: In 1999, Pádraig FlynnPadraig FlynnPádraig "Pee" Flynn is a former Irish politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála in 1977. He was returned at each subsequent election until 1993...
, IrelandRepublic of IrelandIreland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
's EU Commissioner, appeared on the show, during which he commented on Tom Gilmartin and a donation of £50,000 to the Fianna FáilFianna FáilFianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
party. Flynn also talked about "the difficulties" in his own life; he talked of having a salary of £100,000 (Irish PúntIrish poundThe Irish pound was the currency of Ireland until 2002. Its ISO 4217 code was IEP, and the usual notation was the prefix £...
) and trying to run three houses, cars and housekeepers along with regular travel. The performance was seen as very out of touch, at a time when house prices in Ireland were rising dramatically, and the average industrial wage was £15,380. This effectively brought to an end any possibility of Flynn returning to a career in politics in Ireland. Flynn also made remarks concerning Tom Gilmartin, a London based Irish builder. In response to Byrne's question that Flynn knew Gilmartin, Flynn answered; "Oh yes, yes. I haven't seen him now for some years. I met him. He's a Sligo man who went to England, made a lot of money, came back, wanted to do a lot of business in Ireland, didn't work out for him, didn't work out for him. He's not well. His wife isn't well. He's out of sorts." Flynn seemed to attack the credibility of Gilmartin at a time when he was being linked in the media to planning irregularities in Dublin. Gilmartin responded by publicising details of meetings with Flynn, and bringing them to the attention of the Planning Tribunal, causing difficulty for Flynn. This "vanity platform" on The Late Late Show saw, as the Irish ExaminerIrish ExaminerThe Irish Examiner, formerly The Cork Examiner and then The Examiner, is an Irish national daily newspaper which primarily circulates in the Munster region surrounding its base in Cork, though it is available throughout the country...
later referred to it, Flynn "managed to get both feet into his mouth and talk at the same time".
- Terry Keane: The Late Late Show continued to cause controversy right up to Byrne's departure. On his second last show he interviewed the gossip columnist Terry KeaneTerry KeaneTerry Keane was an Irish columnist and fashion journalist.Born as Ann Teresa O'Donnell in Guildford, Surrey, UK in 1939, Keane studied medicine at Trinity College, Dublin but dropped out without obtaining a degree. She spent the majority of her career working for the Irish newspaper, the Sunday...
, who went on to reveal a long affair with the former TaoiseachTaoiseachThe Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
, Charles HaugheyCharles HaugheyCharles James "Charlie" Haughey was Taoiseach of Ireland, serving three terms in office . He was also the fourth leader of Fianna Fáil...
. Haughey, a life long acquaintance of Byrne, had intended to be available for the last show, but went into hiding from the media as a result of the revelations. Haughey had appealed to Keane not to reveal her story. Keane was publicising her book covering her life in Irish public life, and her career as a journalist with the Irish Independent newspaper group.
- Bill Murray: One show featured an interview with GhostbustersGhostbustersGhostbusters is a 1984 American science fiction comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. The film stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, and Rick Moranis and follows three eccentric parapsychologists in New York City, who start a...
actor Bill MurrayBill MurrayWilliam James "Bill" Murray is an American actor and comedian. He first gained national exposure on Saturday Night Live in which he earned an Emmy Award and later went on to star in a number of critically and commercially successful comedic films, including Caddyshack , Ghostbusters , and...
. In the audience, comedian Jason ByrneJason Byrne (comedian)Jason Byrne is an Irish comedian born in Ballinteer, Dublin, Ireland. In August 2008, he made his twelfth Edinburgh Fringe Festival appearance and is a regular at the Kilkenny Cat Laughs comedy festival....
masqueraded as a man who had set up a paranormal investigation agency, similar to that in the film. Although this was a joke, Murray appeared to take it seriously.
Producer
The flexibility of the show was augmented by Byrne's position not merely as the show's presenter but also as its producer for much of his period with the show. He intentionally reminded the viewer that the show was being broadcast live through his interaction with people working behind the scenes. Cameras were visible, and if an audience member was invited to speak, the boom microphone could be seen swing in overhead. Some of Byrne's phrases became well known; when instructing that a piece of videotape be played, he invariably announced 'you can roll it there, Colette', chat to the floor manager, inquiring as to what telephone line a caller was ringing in on, and on some shows would extend its running time by fifteen or thirty minutes, discussing the extra running time with the floor staff and production team as an 'aside' during an interview. The effect of all these mannerisms was said to add to the sense of realism in the show, that, as the theme music at the end of the show stated, 'it started on The Late Late Show.' This was a clip of a Nat King ColeNat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
song "The Late Late Show", which appeared on his 1959 album Big Band Cole.
Gay Byrne's final show
Byrne presented his last Late Late Show on 21 May 1999. The show, beginning at 21:30 lasted four hours, twice as long as a normal Late Late Show at the time. The tributes flooded in for the host from all quarters. There were many high-profile guests on his final show, including Salman Rushdie and Billy ConnollyBilly Connolly
William "Billy" Connolly, Jr., CBE is a Scottish comedian, musician, presenter and actor. He is sometimes known, especially in his native Scotland, by the nickname The Big Yin...
.
Irish President
President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
Mary McAleese
Mary McAleese
Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...
told Byrne:
There were also glowing tributes for Byrne from then Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
, comedian Billy Connolly, RTÉ broadcasters Des Cahill
Des Cahill
Desmond 'Des' Cahill is an Irish sports presenter and commentator with national broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. He presents a daily radio programme called Drivetime Sport on RTÉ Radio 1, while on television he has presented The Sunday Game, The Road to Croker, Play It Again, Des, and Up for...
, Larry Gogan
Larry Gogan
Laurence 'Larry' Gogan is an Irish broadcaster working for Raidió Teilifís Éireann . He is a disc jockey on RTÉ 2fm. His show is The Golden Hour, during which Larry plays old favourites and classic songs from yesteryear. Gogan spun the first disc on Radio 2, Like Clockwork by The Boomtown Rats...
, Mike Murphy, Marian Finucane
Marian Finucane
Marian Finucane is an Irish broadcaster with Raidió Teilifís Éireann . She has worked with the national broadcaster since in 1976, starting as a continuity announcer. She was the first presenter of Liveline...
, American counterpart Merv Griffin
Merv Griffin
Mervyn Edward "Merv" Griffin, Jr. was an American television host, musician, actor, and media mogul. He began his career as a radio and big band singer who went on to appear in movies and on Broadway. From 1965 to 1986 Griffin hosted his own talk show, The Merv Griffin Show on Group W Broadcasting...
, former Taoiseach Charles Haughey
Charles Haughey
Charles James "Charlie" Haughey was Taoiseach of Ireland, serving three terms in office . He was also the fourth leader of Fianna Fáil...
and various other celebrities.
There were musical performances on the night from The Corrs
The Corrs
The Corrs are an Irish band which combine pop rock with traditional Celtic folk music. The brother and sisters are from Dundalk, Ireland. The group consists of the Corr siblings: Andrea ; Sharon ; Caroline ; and Jim .The Corrs came to international prominence with their performance at the...
, Christy Moore
Christy Moore
Christopher Andrew "Christy" Moore is a popular Irish folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is well known as one of the founding members of Planxty and Moving Hearts...
, Sarah Brightman
Sarah Brightman
Sarah Brightman is an English classical crossover soprano, actress, songwriter and dancer. She is famous for possessing a vocal range of over 3 octaves and singing in the whistle register...
and Rosaleen Linehan
Rosaleen Linehan
Rosaleen Linehan is an Irish stage, screen and television actress.She has appeared in many comedy revues written by her husband Fergus...
. U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
members Bono
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
and Larry Mullen presented Byrne with a Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
motorcycle as a retirement present. Byrne was spotted on the bike regularly, until January 2003 when Byrne and U2 jointly auctioned the bike for The Children's Medical & Research Foundation at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin
Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin
Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, Dublin is Ireland's largest and best known paediatric hospital. It has been caring for Ireland's youth since 1956. It has almost 1200 staff and 243 beds all dedicated to the care of children.-External links:...
, Dublin.
Pat Kenny (1999–2009)
In 1999 Pat KennyPat Kenny
Patrick "Pat" Kenny is an Irish broadcaster and former disc jockey and continuity announcer. He is employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is their highest paid presenter. He presents Today with Pat Kenny on RTÉ Radio 1 each weekday morning between 10:00 and midday...
succeeded Byrne who had presented the show for 37 years. When Byrne left, The Late Late Show dominated RTÉ's ratings viewership figures, coming in consistently either at number 1 or number 2.
Some suggested in media columns in the Sunday Independent
Sunday Independent
The Sunday Independent is a broadsheet Sunday newspaper published in Ireland by Independent News and Media plc. The newspaper is edited by Aengus Fanning, and is the biggest selling Irish Sunday newspaper by a large margin ; average circulation of 291,323 between June 2004 and January 2005,...
and The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
that the show be dropped and that the show's success was too linked with Byrne to work with any other presenter. RTÉ, however, retained the show as it was a powerful brand which attracted extensive advertising revenue. Contemporary media reports speculated that comedians and chat show hosts Patrick Kielty
Patrick Kielty
Patrick Kielty is an Irish comedian and television personality from Dundrum, Northern Ireland.-Background:He was affected by The Troubles in Northern Ireland. On 25 January 1988 his father, businessman Jack Kielty, was shot dead by the Ulster Defence Association /"Ulster Freedom Fighters" , a...
and Graham Norton
Graham Norton
Graham William Walker, known by his stage name Graham Norton , is an Irish actor, comedian, television presenter and columnist...
might be asked to present it. However, RTÉ gave the show to Byrne's chat show rival, Pat Kenny
Pat Kenny
Patrick "Pat" Kenny is an Irish broadcaster and former disc jockey and continuity announcer. He is employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is their highest paid presenter. He presents Today with Pat Kenny on RTÉ Radio 1 each weekday morning between 10:00 and midday...
, who for nearly a decade had presented his own Kenny Live
Kenny Live
Kenny Live is an Irish weekly chat show on RTÉ that was hosted by Pat Kenny. The show debuted in 1988 and aired every Saturday night, except during the summer months, directly after the main evening news...
show in the Saturday night time slot. Even after seven years at the helm of the show Kenny was regularly criticised in the media for his style of presentation. One notable occurrence in early 2006 led to the actor Brendan Gleeson
Brendan Gleeson
Brendan Gleeson is an Irish actor. His best-known films include Braveheart, Gangs of New York, In Bruges, 28 Days Later, the Harry Potter films, The Guard and the role of Michael Collins in The Treaty...
becoming emotional whilst discussing the state of the Irish health service. On 27 March 2009 Pat announced his intention to step down after 10 years, "at a time when the audience figures were never higher". He presented his final show on 29 May 2009 during which he received a guitar from The Edge
The Edge
David Howell Evans , more widely known by his stage name The Edge , is a musician best known as the guitarist, backing vocalist, and keyboardist of the Irish rock band U2. A member of the group since its inception, he has recorded 12 studio albums with the band and has released one solo record...
of U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
.
Changes
Kenny and his staff changed many aspects of The Late Late Show. Its distinctive title music was changed, as was the set design and studio layout. Guests, instead of remaining on, were to be only involved in their own segment of the show. The new set abandoned the traditional presenter's desk. Unlike Byrne, Kenny had his guests announced in advance. Other than the name and the use of an owlOwl
Owls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions . Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish...
as the show's symbol, and a traditional 'toy show' edition, little of the original has not been revamped. Byrne's two catch-phrases, "it started on The Late Late Show", and "one for everyone in the audience" were dropped. The latter of these phrases has been partially revived, but is not in as much use as it was before Kenny's reign as presenter.
Notable incidents
- Joe O'Reilly: In late October 2004, three weeks after the murder of Rachel O'Reilly (31), who had been bludgeoned to death in her home in the NaulNaul, DublinNaul , is a village in the administrative area of Fingal, County Dublin, Ireland. The name also encompasses the townlands which surround the village: southward as far as Hollywood Rath, and northward to the River Delvin beside the village, which marks the boundary between County Dublin and County...
, north County DublinCounty DublinCounty Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
, the husband of the victim, Joe O'Reilly, and her mother, Rose Callaly, appeared on the show. Callaly did not look at O'Reilly during the interview and was obviously traumatised. In contrast, O'Reilly was calm and composed, fueling speculation that he had murdered his wife and staged the botched burglary. O'Reilly was later arrested and, two years later, convicted of the murder of his wife Rachel.
- Paul Stokes: Pat Kenny was surprised on 24 November 2006 when an intruder, Mr Paul Stokes from Monkstown, County Dublin, interrupted that evening's edition of The Late Late Show. The man managed to break on to the set and confronted Kenny as he was about to begin interviewing You're a StarYou're A StarYou're a Star was a singing contest in Ireland,similar to th X Factor in the United Kingdom and American Idol in the USA created by Screentime ShinAwiL and Radio Telefís Éireann. It was shown weekly on RTÉ One over the winter months of each year...
judges Thomas Black, Linda MartinLinda MartinLinda Martin is an Irish singer and television presenter. She is best known in Europe as the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1992, with the song "Why Me?", and in Ireland as a member of the 1970s/1980s band, Chips.-Chips:Martin started off her musical career when she joined the band Chips...
, and Brendan O'ConnorBrendan O'ConnorBrendan Patrick O'Connor , Australian politician, has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since November 2001, representing the Division of Burke, Victoria 2001–04 and the Division of Gorton since October 2004...
. He shouted insults in Kenny's face, saying, "Howye Pat! You're a censor! How dare you! Gay Byrne and you are ... [grunt] ... you're insufferable arseholes. You arsehole, you piece of shit, you piece of shit," live and, ironically, uncensored on air as the guests and audience watched on. The startled presenter uttered "thank you" repeatedly. The show was prematurely transferred to a commercial break while the man was removed from the set. When the show came back on Kenny told the viewers 'Sorry for that rude interruption' and continued with the interview. Stokes was arrested and later released from custody. The Today FMToday FMRadio Ireland Ltd, trading as 100-102 Today FM is an Irish commercial FM radio station which is available nationally. The station, which commenced broadcasting on Saint Patrick's Day in 1997, can be received nationally and carries a mix of music and talk...
presenter Jenny KellyJenny KellyJennifer "Jenny" Kelly is an Irish radio personality famed for her partnership to the presenter Ray D'Arcy, a household name in Ireland. She is D'Arcy's producer and co-presenter on The Ray D'Arcy Show on Today FM...
famously went into labour whilst laughing at the incident on her television screen, her initial intention having been to "bore the baby into arriving". It was later revealed that his daughter is a member of The Late Late Show crew. Shortly after the initial incident, Stokes rammed his vehicle into the front entrance of RTÉ in Donnybrook; no-one was injured.
Stokes was also reported to have stood outside Kenny's house shouting insults and to have painted threatening messages on walls near the house, although a charge of harassment connected with the case was dropped. Paul Stokes was later sentenced to two years in prison for ramming the RTÉ entrance.
In March 2009, The Late Late Show hosted a debate between twenty senators and journalists John Drennan and Ian O'Doherty
Ian O'Doherty
Ian O'Doherty is a columnist who works for the Irish Independent. His "iSpy" column is published Monday – Thursday and contains news articles blended with comedy and opinion. On Fridays O'Doherty publishes a rather more serious column containing his opinion on a chosen subject in "The World...
on a proposal to abolish Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
, described as "the first ever for TV" by executive producer Larry Masterson.
Pat Kenny's final show
Pat Kenny presented The Late Late Show for the last time on 29 May 2009, when he received a guitar and glasses from The EdgeThe Edge
David Howell Evans , more widely known by his stage name The Edge , is a musician best known as the guitarist, backing vocalist, and keyboardist of the Irish rock band U2. A member of the group since its inception, he has recorded 12 studio albums with the band and has released one solo record...
of U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
and also featured other guests as well and an outdoor event was set up outside in the grounds of RTÉ. At the end of the show, Joe Duffy
Joe Duffy
Joseph "Joe" Duffy is an Irish broadcaster employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann . A Jacob's Award winner, he is the current presenter of Liveline, which is broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1, Monday - Fridays between 13:45 and 15:00.Duffy has a history as a student activist; he was President of the Union of...
presented Pat Kenny with a cake in the shape of a "10", to mark ten years of hosting The Late Late Show. The number of viewers who tuned in to watch the last show peaked at 996,000, with an average share of 55% of the total TV audience.
Ryan Tubridy (2009–present)
After two months of speculation, Ryan TubridyRyan Tubridy
Ryan Tubridy , affectionately known as "Tubs", is an Irish broadcaster and writer, a presenter of live shows on radio and television in Ireland. He has been described as "one of Ireland's most gifted broadcasters"...
emerged as the host of The Late Late Show. Other personalities tipped for the role included Gerry Ryan
Gerry Ryan
Gerard "Gerry" Ryan was an Irish presenter of radio and television employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann...
and Miriam O’Callaghan. O’Callaghan, who for some media commentators was the favourite to get the job, claims she turned down the role to keep her Prime Time
Prime Time
Prime Time is an Irish news analysis, current affairs and politics programme. It is broadcast on RTÉ One on Tuesday and Thursday nights between 21:30 and 22:10. It is currently presented by Miriam O'Callaghan, who has presented the programme since its commencement in 1996...
slot and to spend time with her eight children.
Tubridy presented his first programme on 4 September 2009 with a custom picked staff, a new set and house band. Tubridy came from behind a red curtain and sat at a wooden desk in the same €3,000+ chair as the actress Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep
Mary Louise "Meryl" Streep is an American actress who has worked in theatre, television and film.Streep made her professional stage debut in 1971's The Playboy of Seville, before her screen debut in the television movie The Deadliest Season in 1977. In that same year, she made her film debut with...
used in the film The Devil Wears Prada
The Devil Wears Prada (film)
The Devil Wears Prada is a 2006 comedy-drama film, a loose screen adaptation of Lauren Weisberger's 2003 novel of the same name. It stars Anne Hathaway as Andrea Sachs, a recent college graduate who goes to New York City and gets a job as a co-assistant to powerful and demanding fashion magazine...
. Original host Gay Byrne gave Tubridy his blessing, saying: "He has all the qualities required, the light deft touch together with a serious mind. I think it's a great adventure that he's setting off on".
On the first show on 4 September 2009, 1.6 million tuned in at some stage of the programme, making it the most watched Late Late Show, outside the toy show, since Gay Byrne's retirement in May 1999. Overall, the programme had an average of 927,000 people watching and an audience share of 62 per cent.
Guests on the first show included Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May...
, Saoirse Ronan
Saoirse Ronan
Saoirse Una Ronan is an Irish film actress. She began her career as a child and came to international prominence in 2007 after co-starring in the film Atonement, which gained her nominations for a BAFTA, a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.Ronan has since appeared in...
, Brian McFadden
Brian McFadden
Brian Nicholas McFadden , is an Irish singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the late 1990s as a member of the Irish boyband Westlife...
, Joan Collins
Joan Collins
Joan Henrietta Collins, OBE , is an English actress, author, and columnist. Born in Paddington and raised in Maida Vale, Collins grew up during the Second World War. At the age of nine, she made her stage debut in A Doll's House and after attending school, she was classically trained as an actress...
, Cherie Blair
Cherie Blair
Cherie Blair , known professionally as Cherie Booth QC, is a British barrister working in the legal system of England and Wales. She is married to the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair; the couple have three sons and one daughter...
, and Niall Quinn
Niall Quinn
Niall John Quinn honorary MBE is a former Irish international footballer, and the ex-chairman of Sunderland AFC. He still works at the club as an overseas manager. He is also heavily involved in the management side of horse racing...
.
In 2010, the show was broadcast on Good Friday
Good Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
for the first time in 15 years.
The show's former hosts, Gay Byrne
Gay Byrne
Gabriel Mary "Gay" Byrne is a veteran Irish presenter of radio and television. His most notable role was first host of The Late Late Show over a 37-year period spanning 1962 until 1999...
and Pat Kenny
Pat Kenny
Patrick "Pat" Kenny is an Irish broadcaster and former disc jockey and continuity announcer. He is employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is their highest paid presenter. He presents Today with Pat Kenny on RTÉ Radio 1 each weekday morning between 10:00 and midday...
, as well as other RTÉ broadcasters such as Joe Duffy
Joe Duffy
Joseph "Joe" Duffy is an Irish broadcaster employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann . A Jacob's Award winner, he is the current presenter of Liveline, which is broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1, Monday - Fridays between 13:45 and 15:00.Duffy has a history as a student activist; he was President of the Union of...
, Dave Fanning
Dave Fanning
Dave Fanning is an Irish rock journalist, DJ, retired film critic and veteran broadcaster. He currently hosts The 11th Hour on RTÉ Two and two radio shows: Drivetime with Dave on RTÉ Radio 1 and The Dave Fanning Show on RTÉ 2fm. He also fills in for other presenters on RTÉ Radio, including acting...
and Brenda Donohue, appeared on the show to discuss the death of former host and colleague Gerry Ryan
Gerry Ryan
Gerard "Gerry" Ryan was an Irish presenter of radio and television employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann...
on 30 April 2010.
Presentation
Polycarbonate
PolycarbonatePhysical PropertiesDensity 1.20–1.22 g/cm3Abbe number 34.0Refractive index 1.584–1.586FlammabilityV0-V2Limiting oxygen index25–27%Water absorption – Equilibrium0.16–0.35%Water absorption – over 24 hours0.1%...
, with carpet as a floor covering. According to Treacy: "I wanted something contemporary that would be architectural and structural, [for example] the horizontal lines and boxes that you see running throughout the set." "The back wall of the [chat area] has textured panels which just take the light beautifully and give a great three-dimensional effect. Then the polycarbonate boxes sit in front of that. The fins – the large timber sections – to the left of the chat area are replicated in the entertainment area as well, and are large pieces of timber with a paint finish that take the light."
A new development in the evolving presentation of the show has been the reintroduction of a desk in the chat area as originally continued on after Byrne's departure in 1999, but disposed of shortly afterwards, in spite of a final-attempt redesign in 2000. Kenny notes: "After eight seasons of sitting around, lounging around, as if in a living room, we decided just for a change that we'd put the desk in and see what difference it made. We'll work with it: I mean if it doesn't work after five or six weeks, it goes - if it does work, well we'll find ways of using it effectively. I mean it does put a little barrier between myself and the guest, but on the other hand it can be very useful for a formal interview where you don't want to be too intimate with your guest if it's a little bit antagonistic, whereas in the past I was always reclining and even if I had to be a bit aggressive with a guest the body language was a little bit confusing in that regard. So we'll see." In an apparent effort to resolve such problems, the new desk is more of a table design with a transparent underside, is angled to be narrower at the guest end, and is composed of thin elegant profiles of timber and glass.
A new entrance flight of steps has also been introduced, somewhat redolent of former Kenny Live sets. "I wanted a grand entrance, but I also wanted an entrance that was part of the background of the set, so they arrive down and join Pat – and it's a feature walk-on for guests" according to Treacy. Kenny approves of the steps, noting: "as you come down the steps, be it myself or a guest, you're slowly revealed: more and more of your body is revealed to the audience until finally you're standing in the 'doorway' as it were. I think it’ll be interesting; a more dramatic entrance than we've had for the past three or four years." New chairs were also specially provided by Irish company Design Classics Direct, made to an original 1929 design of Irish designer Eileen Gray
Eileen Gray
Kathleen Eileen Moray Gray was an Irish furniture designer and architect and a pioneer of the Modern Movement in architecture.- Biography :...
.
A new set and title sequence was introduced for Ryan Tubridy's first show, with Chris Andrews' 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 the RTÉ Concert Orchestra
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
The RTÉ Concert Orchestra is one of the two full time professional orchestras in Ireland that are part of RTÉ, the national broadcasting station. Since its formation as the Radio Éireann Light Orchestra in 1948, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, has grown from a small studio-based recording group to...
.
Music
In 1995, Pop Will Eat ItselfPop Will Eat Itself
Pop Will Eat Itself are an English alternative rock band, originally formed in Stourbridge in 1986, with members from Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country. Initially known as a Grebo act, their style changed to incorporate sample driven indie and industrial rock...
, an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
indie rock band trashed the studio whilst performing. They were invited back to Ireland by Byrne having performed in the country again.
First musical performances
Artists whose television debut occurred on The Late Late Show are included alongside other relevant information in the table below.| Band | Song | Date of appearance |
| The Boomtown Rats The Boomtown Rats The Boomtown Rats were an Irish punk rock band that had a series of Irish and UK hits between 1977 and 1985. They were led by vocalist Bob Geldof.-Biography:All six members were originally from Dún Laoghaire, Ireland... |
Mary of the Fourth Form | 1977 |
| Boyzone Boyzone Boyzone are an Irish boy band comprising Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating,Shane Lynch, and formerly Stephen Gately. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK charts and 21 singles in the Ire charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12... |
||
| Mary Coughlan Mary Coughlan (singer) Mary Coughlan is an Irish jazz and folk singer and actress. She has received great acclamation in her native country, for her emotional and heartfelt jazzy musical renditions.-Background:... |
1985 | |
| Crystal Swing Crystal Swing Crystal Swing is a new wave Country and Western and Country and Irish musical group, from Lisgoold, Cork, Ireland. The family group is made up of mother Mary Murray-Burke and her teenage children Dervla and Derek Burke.... |
"He Drinks Tequila" | 12 March 2010 |
| Hothouse Flowers Hothouse Flowers The Hothouse Flowers are an Irish rock group that combines traditional Irish music with influences from soul, gospel and rock.-Career:The group first formed in 1985 when Liam Ó Maonlaí and Fiachna Ó Braonáin began performing as street musicians, or buskers, on the streets of Dublin,Ireland as "The... |
||
| Sinéad O'Connor Sinéad O'Connor Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra and achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a cover of the song "Nothing Compares 2 U".... |
||
| U2 U2 U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music... |
"Stories for Boys" | January 1980 |
| Finbar Wright Finbar Wright Edward Finbar Wright , known popularly as Finbar Wright, is a popular music singer, songwriter, poet from County Cork, Ireland.... |
||
| Wonderland Wonderland (band) Wonderland were an Irish/British girlband, formed by Louis Walsh and Westlife band-member Kian Egan. The band were put together after auditions were held for five females in July 2008. Its five members were Jodi Albert, Sharon Condon, Corrina Durran, Leigh Learmont and Kasey Smith... |
Boyzone also made their first TV appearance since the death of Stephen Gately
Stephen Gately
Stephen Patrick David Gately was an Irish pop singer–songwriter, actor, dancer, musician and author, who, with Ronan Keating, was one of two lead singers of the pop group Boyzone. All of Boyzone's studio albums hit number one in the United Kingdom, their third being their most successful...
on 12 March 2010.