Northern Ireland

Ryan Tubridy 'really, really happy' about Patrick Kielty taking over Late Late Show

Comedian Patrick Kielty is to take over as Late Late Show host from Ryan Tubridy.
Comedian Patrick Kielty is to take over as Late Late Show host from Ryan Tubridy. Comedian Patrick Kielty is to take over as Late Late Show host from Ryan Tubridy.

Ryan Tubridy has praised the decision to name Patrick Kielty as his successor as presenter of the Late Late Show.

Tubridy said he was "really, really happy about this choice" as he prepares to present his last show this Friday after 14 years, with President Michael D Higgins named as one of the guests.

Former presenter Pat Kenny also commented on the new presenter, arguing the commute from London is not likely to be a major issue.

He also predicted a new format from September may include a comic monologue on running stories, a feature of late night television shows in the United States for decades.

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For the Late Late Show, Kielty will have to juggle the light with the heavy, sometimes dark, a mirror to his life

The reception among even the most sceptical observers of the Dublin broadcast media scene is also largely positive.

The 52-year-old Dundrum, Co Down, native is known in the south but does not have any "baggage" while it is argued he will bring more sparkle to the show as a genuine comedian, but with a serious side.

Patrick Kielty and Cat Deeley arrive on the red carpet ahead of the 20th Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) Awards ceremony at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre
Patrick Kielty and Cat Deeley arrive on the red carpet ahead of the 20th Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) Awards ceremony at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre Patrick Kielty and Cat Deeley arrive on the red carpet ahead of the 20th Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) Awards ceremony at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre

It is also speculated he could draw bigger names from the world of entertainment, including Hollywood.

He and his wife, Cat Deeley, lived in Los Angeles for many years, where she presented the multi-Emmy nominated So You Think You Can Dance. RTÉ has struggled to attract big names in the entertainment world in recent years, observers say.

Tubridy, speaking at the start of his RTÉ Radio 1 show on Monday morning, said: "I want to mention Patrick Kielty because he's going to be the new presenter of the Late Late Show and I'm really, really happy about this choice, I have to say.

Ryan Tubridy is to stand down as host of RTE's The Late, Late Show after 14 years
Ryan Tubridy is to stand down as host of RTE's The Late, Late Show after 14 years Ryan Tubridy is to stand down as host of RTE's The Late, Late Show after 14 years

"I said it before - I think I probably said it off-air - that I was very, very supportive of the suggestion that he might take over the show.

"I just think he has, what they say in the business, the chops."

The presenter echoed the thinking of others when he added: "He can cover the heavy side of things and he's got a background that will inform that, and he will also obviously do the lighter end of things with great skill because he's a comedian, he's a funny guy. He's also, any time I've met him, a really lovely fella with it."

Tubridy also predicted Kielty will be in his element presenting the December Toy Show edition, still the most watched episode of the year. 

"He'll be well able for it as the da to young kids and with a great whip-smart sense of humour. He'll be all over it," said Tubridy of the father-of-two boys.

He added: "I mean, it's not really my thing to be talking about anymore necessarily in any big way because I'm the other, well, nearly, the ex-guy."

Kenny, presenter of the show for a decade, said commuting from London may bring challenges but these will not impact the role.

“There’s a lot of planning in the Late Late but you can do things remotely, as the pandemic showed us,” he told The Irish Independent.

“It won’t be as good as being in Ireland for the whole week, but it’s definitely doable.

Pat Kenny believes commute will not be issue, predicts US-style opening monologue
Pat Kenny believes commute will not be issue, predicts US-style opening monologue Pat Kenny believes commute will not be issue, predicts US-style opening monologue

“What was osmosis for Ryan, will not be for Patrick and he has to keep fully briefed. But that will be fine, I am sure.”

Kenny predicted Kielty will do a stand-up monologue at the start of the show amid promised changes by RTÉ to the format.

“And that stand-up will have to be topical and researchers will have to be kept in the loop. But Patrick has played many times to live audiences."