Love was in the air on The Late Late Show on Friday night's Valentine special – and the night got off to a great start with a 'yes'.
SHE SAID YES!! 😭😭😭 #LateLate pic.twitter.com/UG9tQbXMUY
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) February 11, 2022
As Ryan put it at the top of the show: "Love is real!" And despite the audience wearing masks, they were certainly up for a bit of craic and ripe for romance.
After a game of Still Standing, Ray and Claire from Mullingar, who are in business together, were the last couple left standing in the audience.
After Ryan invited them down to the front, they told Ryan that they’ve been a couple for three years. Then Ray turned to Claire . . .
"Ever since the first day I met you, I knew I loved you," he told her. "So Claire, tonight, I’m going to ask you to be my wife. Will you marry me?"
Ray got down on one knee, and Claire accepted. Ryan didn’t hear her though, and asked: "Did you say yes?" Claire smiled and confirmed: "I said yes!"
Afterwards, Ryan summed it up: "Wasn’t that lovely?" It was the ideal start to the show and really set the romantic tone for the night.
Later, architect and TV star Dermot Bannon turned up to talk about his romantic life – and Ryan dug up a gem from his past, showing a clip of Dermot when he was a floppy-haired contestant on the legendary Blind Date show, hosted by Cilla Black.
Ryan also did some blind dating of his own, bringing singles in the audience together. And, of course, there was a little something for "everyone in the audience".
Then there was the Veiled Singer (like a mini Late Late version of The Masked Singer), who turned out to be Cliona Hagan. The big clue being the fact that she sang Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You.
Cliona told Ryan about her upcoming Dolly Parton tour, and also about her wedding, which will be taking place in May. "I’m so excited," she admitted.
And where is she going on her honeymoon? "We’re going to Dollywood," she revealed.
