An emotional Ryan Tubridy dedicated his final Late Late Show to his family, saying: “They are my constant. I love them so much.”
He described his last edition as host of the RTE chat show as “a night of endings and new beginnings”. He’s looking forward to his finale – on the weekend he turns 50 – with a star-studded line-up led by President Michael D Higgins.
The broadcaster – who has presented the Friday night show since 2009 – said: “I sit looking at my desk this morning at about 300 or 400 cards and letters from people I don’t even know. They have come from all around Ireland and in some cases all around the world. I am humbled, grateful and excited because this is the end of one phase of this extraordinarily exciting life I have had so far.
Read more: Patrick Kielty turned down the role of Late Late Show presenter more than two decades ago
“I will turn the big 5-0 on Sunday so it’s the perfect time to look ahead and welcome a new chapter. Until I am ready to share that next chapter, I am going to take some time off. My final words about my final Late Late Show are ‘Thank You’. I’ll be saying a lot of goodbyes for my last Late Late Show but it will also be a night of gratitude.
“Gratitude to all the people I have worked with and continue to work with, and their families. And enormous gratitude to the guests, artists, singers and the doers who have come through the door and graced us with their presence. And of course to my family who have been so loving and patient and my greatest supporters.
“They are the ones to whom I dedicate my last show. I also want to say thank you to the viewers who stuck with me, with us, and the show, for the past 14 years. Their loyalty, decency, kindness and generosity has taken my breath away.”
It’s all hands on deck at Montrose as colleagues and pals pull out all the stops to give Tubridy a memorable send-off. Corrs star Andrea Corr and Clannad’s Moya Brennan will lead a trad supergroup. The Dubliners’ John Sheahan, Steve Wickham from The Waterboys, Sharon Shannon, Colm Mac Con Iomaire from The Frames, The Stunning’s Jim Higgins and Horslips’ Jim Lockhart will also be involved.
RTE bosses promised there would be special, surprise guests which left fans guessing whether Bono would make a surprise appearance or maybe Beatles’ superfan Tubridy’s dream guest Paul McCartney.
The host – known for his epic Toy Shows – will don his Christmas jumper one last time. And some of the Toy Show’s favourite youngsters from over the years are dropping by for a reunion. Ryan, dad to Ella, 23 and 17-year-old Julia, will catch up with the kids who became overnight stars.
Viewers will enjoy a look back over standout moments from surprise celebrity visits, walkouts, family reunions and jaw-droppingly talented kids.
President Higgins, another Late Late regular, will do his final chat with Tubs from Aras an Uachtarain. He will share his thoughts about where the nation is at, as the country moves on from the Centenary commemorations and why we must not forget lessons of the past.
Viewers are wondering if Bono and Larry Mullen will keep with tradition and make an appearance as they did for Gay Byrne and Pat Kenny. They roared into the Late Late studio on a Harley Davidson motorbike on Byrne’s last night in May 1999 and gave the bike to a shocked Gaybo as a farewell gift. For Kenny’s last night after his decade in the chair, U2 dropped in and gave him a Gibson Les Paul guitar and a cool pair of shades.
Explaining his decision for stepping down, Tubs said: “My life was lived in the glare of the limelight for 20 years so yes, that was one of the reasons. I had my fill of being public property at that level.” Comedian Patrick Kielty will take over the role from the new season in September.
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