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Gay Byrne and Charlotte Church on The Late Late Toy Show in 1998

How Gay Byrne invented The Late Late Toy Show

Gay Byrne was many things during his long career - father confessor, voice of a nation, and master of radio and television - but perhaps his most unlikely role was as the man who helped dream up the national institution that is The Late Late Toy Show

Late Late Toy Show • 25 Nov 20

Oh what a night! 10 of the Toy Show's best moments

We're counting down to Friday's Late Late Toy Show with our favourite moments from down the decades. See if you agree!

Late Late Toy Show • 26 Nov 20

Broadcasting great Gay Byrne is remembered on his first anniverary

'Dear friend' Gay Byrne remembered on first anniversary

RTÉ colleagues and friends have paid tribute to broadcasting great Gay Byrne on the first anniversary of his death.

Gay Byrne • 04 Nov 20

Ryan Tubridy and Kathleen Watkins on Friday's Late Late

Gay's Late Late Toy Show jumper to raise charity funds

The late Gay Byrne's presence was very much felt on Friday's Late Late Show as his widow Kathleen Watkins offered one of his legendary Toy Show jumpers to raise money for homeless charities this winter.

Late Late Toy Show • 09 Oct 20

What's on? 10 top telly tips for Sunday August 30

JK Rowling's Strike is back, as is Britain's Got Talent, there's Harry Hill and Van Morrison, while it's the end of the line for Gay Byrne's Late Late Moments . . .

Television • 30 Aug 20

What's on? 10 top telly tips for Sunday

Harry Hill's back with a unique look at various TV genres, The Movies is a new series on the history of Hollywood, there's the Champions League Final, Gay Byrne and lots more . . .

Television • 23 Aug 20

What's on? 10 top telly tips for Sunday August 9

There's a documentary about John Hume, more of Gay Byrne's Late Late Moments, some James Brown, and coverage of the final night from Fleadh2020 . . .

Television • 09 Aug 20

What's on? 10 top telly tips for Sunday July 26

There's a new period drama called A Suitable Boy, Gay Byrne's Late Late Moments, US shows MacGyver and SWAT are back on the box, and there's a look back at Michael O'Neill's amazing time in charge of the Northern Ireland football team . . .

Television • 26 Jul 20

The Late Late Show, Friday, 9:35pm, RTÉ One

Tubridy reveals guests for last Late Late of season

President Michael D Higgins will be among Ryan Tubridy's guests on the last Late Late Show of the current season on RTÉ One on Friday night.

Television • 25 May 20

Gay Byrne: anyone for the last few Mediterranean fruits?

Gay Byrne envisaged exotic fruits and a ban on fraffic

The late Gay Byrne's predictions of what life would be like in 2020 have been revealed after a time capsule letter penned in 1995 was made public.

Gay Byrne • 04 Feb 20

The Late Late toy Show melted hearts and sent viewing figures soaring last Christmas

RTÉ shows clinch 42 spots in Top 50 most-watched of '19

The Late Late Toy Show has once again topped TAM Ireland's ratings as the most-watched television programme of the year, with an average of over 1.54 million tuning in on RTÉ One for the extravaganza last November.

Television • 12 Jan 20

What's on? TV highlights for Monday Dec 30

There's a documentary about Shane Lowry's Open win last summer, Frankie Boyle returns with his New World Order end-of-year special, and a look at the tricks that retailers use to get shoppers to spend . . .

Television • 30 Dec 19

"This year, viewers will get a sense of family, drawing from Anna and Elsa in Frozen and Frozen 2"

Something Elsa! Frozen fun for Late Late Toy Show

Frozen is the inspiration behind this year's Late Late Toy Show, with Ryan Tubridy promising his "most outrageous" opening number yet on Friday night on RTÉ One.

Late Late Toy Show • 29 Nov 19

In tribute to Toy Show trailblazer Gay Byrne, here are some of his best Toy Show moments from over the years

Gay's gold - Toy Show moments from years gone by

As a tribute to broadcasting great and Toy Show trailblazer Gay Byrne, we look back at some heartwarming moments, and stars of the future, from Toy Shows past.

Late Late Toy Show • 27 Nov 19

Gay Byrne with Bono on the broadcasting great's final Late Late Show in May 1999

U2 pay tribute to Gay Byrne with poignant tweet

U2 have paid tribute to the late Gay Byrne by tweeting a series of photos of the legendary broadcaster's final Late Late Show in May 1999 when the band's Bono and Larry Mullen Jnr were among his guests.

Gay Byrne • 08 Nov 19

Late Late Show's moving musical tribute to Gay Byrne

Finbar Furey, John Sheahan of The Dubliners, Sharon Shannon, Donal Lunny and Mary Black lead an emotional rendition of The Parting Glass in honour of Gay Byrne.

Gay Byrne • 06 Nov 19

Ryan Tubridy with President Michael D Higgins

Late Late Show guests share special Gay Byrne memories

It was a night filled with laughs, love and tears as friends, colleagues, previous guests and famous faces gathered together in The Late Late Show studio to remember and pay tribute to Gay Byrne.

Gay Byrne • 06 Nov 19

Larry Mullen Jr and Bono present Gay Byrne with a Harley Davidson on his last Late Late Show in May 1999

Bono: "it was nice to have Gay join the Hell's Angels"

Bono has recalled the night that U2 gave Gay Byrne a Harley Davidson on the veteran broadcaster's final night as host of the Late Late Show, joking that "it was a nice thing to have Gay join the Hell's Angels".

Gay Byrne • 06 Nov 19

Pat Kenny with Ryan Tubridy and Mike Muprhy on The Late Late Show

Pat Kenny once tried to prank kidnap Gay Byrne

Former Late Late Show presenter Pat Kenny has revealed that he once tried to kidnap veteran Late Late Show host Gay Byrne as part of a student prank back in the 1960s and hold him to ransom to RTÉ.

Gay Byrne • 06 Nov 19

Gay Byrne passed away on Monday after a long illness

RTÉ to air coverage of funeral of Gay Byrne

RTÉ will air live coverage on television and online of the funeral of broadcaster Gay Byrne, which takes place at midday this Friday, November 8.

Gay Byrne • 05 Nov 19

Graham Norton - "There was no sense of him being a presenter; he just was Gay Byrne on the television"

Gay Byrne 'allowed people to exist', says Graham Norton

Graham Norton has paid tribute to how Gay Byrne changed Ireland, telling Ryan Tubridy on RTÉ Radio 1 that the late broadcaster "allowed people to exist - people who hadn't existed before".

Gay Byrne • 05 Nov 19

The Late Late Show Tribute to Gay Byrne, Tuesday, RTÉ One, 9:35pm and on the RTÉ Player

Late Late remembers Gay on 'really special' show

Ryan Tubridy has promised that tonight's Late Late Show tribute to Gay Byrne will be "really special".

Gay Byrne • 05 Nov 19

RTÉ airing Late Late Show Gay Byrne tribute tonight

RTÉ will air a special Late Late Show in tribute to Gay Byrne tonight.

Gay Byrne • 05 Nov 19

Gay Byrne on the radio was essential listening

The Gay Byrne Show began in 1973 as The Gay Byrne Hour and from the start, the only way was up for the programme, which ran for 25 years until its final live edition on Christmas Eve 1998

Gay Byrne • 05 Nov 19

Gay Byrne meets with Terry Wogan for his The Meaning of Life interview in 2014.

Gay Byrne: 'We are searching for a kind of certainty'

In October 2014, Paddy Kehoe spoke to Gay Byrne during a visit to Our Lady's Hospital in Crumlin, Dublin. The second volume of The Meaning of Life interviews, edited from the TV programme, had just appeared in book form.

Gay Byrne • 05 Nov 19