Why is there no Late Late Show on RTÉ this week?

Viewers are expected to switch over to RTÉ2 instead

Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty is taking a rare Friday night off

Viewers of last Friday’s Late Late Show may have missed a brief notice just before the show aired in relation to this week’s schedule.

It announced there will be a break from the regular schedule this Friday, March 6, with host Patrick Kielty and co taking a rare Friday night off. There was no explanation at the time, but RTÉ has confirmed to the Irish Examiner that they expect regular viewers will instead be cheering on the rugby at that time.

An RTÉ spokesperson said:  "The Late Late Show will not air this Friday night as Ireland take on Wales in the Six Nations. Coverage of the match begins on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 7pm, where rugby fans can get behind the boys in green.” 

Wales will take on the Ireland squad at the Aviva Stadium on Friday night, and Ireland have not lost at home to Wales in the Six Nations since 2012.

The Late Late Show resumes on Friday, March 13, for a St Patrick's Day-themed episode. Picture: Andres Poveda

RTÉ added that regular scheduling will resume next week, on Friday, March 13, when the Late Late Show returns with a St Patrick’s Day special. In its place, It’s Complicated, a romantic comedy starring Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin, will air this Friday on RTÉ One at 9.35pm.

It’s not the first time there has been a Late Late Show-shaped gap in the schedule — last year, for example, the long-running talk show did not run on Good Friday.

Last week’s Late Late Show guests featured Oscar-nominated actor Jessie Buckley, golfer Padraig Harrington, and a tribute to the late Home of the Year judge Hugh Wallace.