On a 'Late Late Show' special, Michael O'Hehir tells Gay Byrne about his audition to be a commentator while still at school, and about advice he got from the BBC's Tommy Woodroffe on practising in the bath.

Gay Byrne plays part of an early O'Hehir radio commentary.

Although Michael O'Hehir and some of the former Kerry players date the game in this clip as being from 1939, it is probably the All-Ireland Football Semi-Final between Kerry and Laois played on 21 August 1938, which would make it O'Hehir's second broadcast.

This episode of 'The Late Late Show' was broadcast on 31 May 1975.

'The Late Late Show' was intended to be a summer "filler" but proved so successful with the public that it became part of the regular schedule. The idea for the programme came from the show's producer, Tom McGrath, who wanted to present an Irish version of the American talk show 'The Tonight Show'.

Gay Byrne was to be the show's presenter and would remain so for the next 37 years. Tom McGrath's original idea was that the show would be informal and have the feel of people dropping in for a chat.

'The Late Late Show' became an important forum for the airing and debating of many issues in a changing Irish society.

The first programme of 'The Late Late Show' was broadcastat 11.20 pm, 6 July 1962. At the time, it was unusual to have a live talk and entertainment show on so late in the day's viewing. On that first show, the guests were Count Cyril McCormack, Ken Gray, George Desmond Hodnett and Harry Thuillier. McGrath would go on to pioneer many other successful variety shows on Irish television.

Pat Kenny replaced Gay Byrne as presenter in 1999 and remained in that position for 10 years.The programme is still running today and is presented by Ryan Tubridy.

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