An extract from a programme in the 'Discovery' series taking a look at televsion production at RTÉ. The clip shown here is a behind the scenes look at 'The Late Late Show'.

Presenter Gay Byrne introduces a number of people who are also called 'Gay Byrne' to viewers and the studio audience. The extract includes shots of the studio audience and three television cameras in operation.

'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 broadcast at 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.

The extract shown here is from a 'Late Late Show' from 1965.

'Discovery' from which the clip shown here is taken was a series of documentaries focusing on different aspects of Irish life. Broadcast on the 2 April 1965 'Discovery Television Station' took a behind the scenes look at production at the RTÉ Montrose campus.

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