Actor Washington favourite to kick off new 'Late Late Show'

Hollywood star Denzel Washington has emerged as the surprise favourite to be Ryan Tubridy's first guest as he begins his tenure as 'Late Late Show' host.

Bookmaker has the star as odds-on 8/11 favourite to get the new look show off to a star-studded beginning.

Other names include Bono (4/1), Bill Clinton (6/1), Gay Byrne (8/1) and Eddie O’Sullivan (12/1).

Paddy Power is also taking bets on the number of viewers that tune in to Friday nights show with a total audience of between 750,001 - 900,000 their 5/2 favourite. The firm is also make Friday’s show odds-on 1/2 to exceed the viewing figures of any one show last season.

Paddy Power said: "This Friday’s Late Late Show under Ryan will be Irish television history in the making so we expect that RTE will be on a mission to make it really special."

'Late Late Show' First Guest:

8/11 Denzel Washington

4/1 U2/Bono

5/1 Boyzone

6/1 Westlife

6/1 Bill Clinton

8/1 Pat Shortt

8/1 Bob Geldof

8/1 Gay Byrne

8/1 Robbie Keane

10/1 Bertie Ahern

10/1 Bernard Dunne

10/1 Pat Kenny

12/1 Daniel Day Lewis

12/1 Brian Cowen

12/1 Eddie O’Sullivan

14/1 Brendan Gleeson

14/1 Lorraine Keane

16/1 Pierce Brosnan

18/1 Mary McAleese

18/1 Colin Farrell

18/1 Martin King

20/1 Roy Keane

20/1 Padraig Harrington

20/1 Gerry Ryan

20/1 Liam Neeson

25/1 Darren Clarke

25/1 Enya

40/1 Sinead O'Connor

40/1 Steve Staunton

100/1 Oprah

150/1 Gordon Brown

500/1 Barack Obama

1000/1The Queen

1000/1The Pope

Number of viewers for Friday’s Show

11/2 Less than 600,000

10/3 600,000 - 750,000

5/2 750,001 - 900,000

3/1 900,001 - 1,050,000

7/2 1,050,001 - 1,200,000

3/1 More than 1,200,000

Friday’s Show to exceed and viewing figures for last season

1/2 Yes

6/4 No