PEOPLE of all ages across Ireland will swap the strict Covid-19 clampdown for some Christmas cheer when the Late Late Toy Show is broadcast on RTE tonight.
Host Ryan Tubridy has admitted that the popular extravaganza "nearly didn't happen".
This year the toy show will be themed on the work of children's author Roald Dahl and is intended to reflect the "determination and resilience" of Ireland in 2020.
Mr Tubridy said several plans have been drawn up and scrapped in order to make this year's event take place.
Although social distancing rules will be in place, children from across Ireland will be in the studio to take part in what is sure to be a fiesta of festive fun.
The host said a lot of work has gone in to making the show happen.
"Only for grit, determination, diligence and an absolute need to keep the show on the road for the Irish children at home and abroad we wouldn't be here today talking," he said.
"We'd be running a movie [instead]. But we weren't going anywhere; we weren't having any of it and we just had to keep going."
The broadcaster said that several plans have been developed and shelved.
"We had a different theme picked and then March happened," he said.
"We had a different plan ready to go and then 'lockdown 2' happened.
"We met speed bump after speed bump after speed bump, and we keep climbing over them to get to Friday night. So this show is about determination and resilience and this show reflects, in those words, what Irish people have been about all year."
He described the show as "everything" for both him and his team.
Mr Tubridy said everything has been done to make sure the show will be Covid-19 compliant.
"From what I'm getting from people, they don't want the Toy Show this year - they need it," he said.
"And that is a baffling prospect, because we have great expectations on us all, and my dream is to make this beautiful.
"Never before did the children, their parents and their grandparents deserve a Toy Show like the one they're going to get on Friday."
He said the show is about people of all ages.
"This Toy Show is about coming home," he said.
"Back on the couch, get the chocolates going and get busy laughing at me, and occasionally with me.
"But laughing, because there hasn't been enough of it. So let's bring that to the table on Friday night."
The Late Late Toy Show will be on RTE One tonight at 9.35pm.
