The Late Late Show (Irish TV series)
| The Late Late Show | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Also known as | 'The Late Late, LLS' |
| Directed by | Niamh White |
| Presented by |
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| Theme music composer | Chris Andrews, arranged by Brian Byrne |
| Opening theme | To Whom It Concerns (instrumental section) (1970s–1999, 2009–present) |
| Ending theme | The Late Late Show by Nat King Cole (until 1999) |
| Country of origin | Ireland |
| Original language(s) | English, Irish |
| No. of seasons | 50+ |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
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| Location(s) | Studio 4 RTÉ Television Centre Donnybrook, Dublin 4 |
| Running time | 110-120 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | RTÉ One |
| Original release | 6 July 1962 – present |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | |
| External links | |
| Website | |
The Late Late Show, with its title often shortened to The Late Late, is an Irish chat show. It is the world's second longest-running chat show, after the American The Tonight Show. Perceived as the official flagship television programme of Ireland's public service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ), it is regarded as an Irish television institution (even abroad) and is broadcast live across two hours plus in front of a studio audience on Friday nights between September and May at 21.30.
Having maintained the same name and format continuously, The Late Late Show was first broadcast on Friday, 6 July 1962 at 23.20 and in colour from 1976. Originating as temporary summer filler for a niche Saturday night audience (airing at 23.30), it later moved to its current home on Friday night schedules. The format has remained largely the same throughout—dialogue, comic sketches, musical performances, discourse on topical issues. It has influenced attitudes of the populace towards approval or disapproval of its chosen topics, directed social change and helped shape Irish societal norms. It averages 650,000 viewers per episode and has consistently achieved RTÉ's highest ratings.
For much of its early life, RTÉ Television Centre's Studio 1 in Donnybrook, Dublin was its home—this original studio accommodated a small audience of about 120. In 1995, The Late Late Show transferred to the more spacious Studio 4, adapted specifically to cater for this and Kenny Live. Three external broadcasts have aired, most recently from the Wexford Opera House on 5 September 2008.
Original host Gay Byrne presented for nearly 40 years, holding out until the end of the millennium. Pat Kenny was Byrne's successor hosting the show for 10 years between 1999-2009. Ryan Tubridy now fills the role of presenter, having succeeded Kenny in September 2009. Under Tubridy, first Quinn Group and then Sky Broadband (Seán Quinn having filed for bankruptcy) added sponsorship deals—after a sterile final season with Kenny at the helm. Tubridy's arrival coincided with a marked increase in audience ratings with some early statistics comparing him to the Byrne era. Kenny was to make an unexpected return as host on 1 February 2013, announced RTÉ on 30 January.
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