The winner of 'The Late Late Show' postal quiz is surprised when Santa Claus visits.
Viewers of ‘The Late Late Show’ on 13 December 1985 were given the chance to win a Subaru Mini Jumbo 5-door hatchback worth £6,000. Postal quiz entrants had to correctly answer five questions revealed during the programme, and mail them in using a coupon in the RTÉ Guide.
Directly after his Tuesday morning radio show, Gay Byrne leaves RTÉ by helicopter. The journey takes him west, over Maynooth, and onwards across counties Meath, Westmeath and Leitrim. The helicopter pilot makes a quick stop on a playing field on the outskirts of Sligo, where director of ‘The Late Late Show’ Claire Duignan is waiting with a Santa costume.
Once Gay Byrne is in costume, he takes to the skies once more. His destination is the Atlasta factory, the workplace of postal quiz winner Ailish Mitchell.
Employees at Atlasta are astounded to see a helicopter land in the factory car park. They are hailed by an incognito Gay Byrne, who encourages them to shout,
Welcome Daddy Christmas to Sligo.
Daddy Christmas is introduced to Ailish Mitchell. She is shocked to learn she is the winner of the postal quiz. Her husband Dermot and their three children are on hand to offer their congratulations. Before Dermot Mitchell gets any ideas, Daddy Christmas reminds him,
The postal quiz coupon was sent in by your wife, so she is the winner.
To the shock of the Mitchell family, Daddy Christmas removes his hat and beard to reveal himself as Gay Byrne.
This episode of ‘The Late Late Show’ was broadcast on 20 December 1985. The presenter is Gay Byrne.
