It's 25 years since Dr Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas was released in cinemas, and now the creature who hates all things Christmas was unleashed again for The Late Late Toy Show - lock up your presents Paddy!
The movie was directed by Ron Howard and stars Jim Carrey. It's a tale of seasonal sabotage where the Grinch decides to bring his own Christmas calamity to the townsfolk of Whoville. But it's not a whodunnit, as the Who's of Whoville know exactly who did it - it was the Grinch!
Years before, the scrooge moved north of Whoville to live on the side of Mount Crumpit, with only his poor dog Max to keep him company - just as he likes it! And, at this time of year, he looks down on the town hating all the festive fun - something has to be done!
But is he really all that bad? Is this the origin story of a villain, or can a little girl named Cindy Lou Who bring him back from the brink?
To tell the full story of the anti-Claus we need to go way back to 1957, when children's author Dr Seuss created the character for his book How the Grinch Stole Christmas! It was written in rhymed verse with illustrations by the author too.
His creator said: "The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season! Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason. It could be his head wasn't screwed on just right. It could be, perhaps his shoes were too tight. But I think that the most likely reason of all may have been that his heart was two sizes too small."
The character is a pop culture hit and continues to be a star. In 1966 there was a feature-lenght cartoon, then the live-action movie in 2000 and another animated movie starring Benedict Cumberbatch simply named The Grinch came out in 2018.
The man who made The Grinch
According to his biography, Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known to his millions of fans as Dr Seuss, was born the son of a park superintendent in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1904. He studied at Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, and later attended the famous Oxford University in England.
He worked in magazines as a cartoonist, and in advertising before he answered his true calling - becoming a children's author. As a writer and cartoonist, Dr Seuss published over 60 books. His first children's book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, under the pen name Dr Seuss hit the shelves in 1937.
Next came a string of bestsellers, including two big hits published in 1957 - The Cat in the Hat and How The Grinch Stole Christmas! There was more success with The Lorax in 1971. He passed away in 1991 leaving a legacy of joy and fun. Dr Seuss' books have continued to inspire cartoons and movies - and now The Late Late Toy Show!
The Late Late Toy Show 2025 is streaming now on RTÉ Player!
