New ‘Late Late Show’ must follow the three Rs for success

RTÉ must announce a new Late Late presenter very soon, but they also must do three things to give it a new lease of life.

Ryan Tubridy has done a very good job of keeping the ship afloat for the Late Late Show, in particular during the pandemic. Picture: Andres Poveda

When The Late Late Show was conceived by producer Tom McGrath back in 1962, it was based on a Canadian talk show prototype with some cosy chat, intermixed with music — nothing too cerebral or too challenging. 

A young 26-year-old host Gay Byrne changed all that and in time, the show tethered on being denounced on a weekly basis from the pulpit, to being heralded as a ventilator and commentator on public morals and mores. It never strayed far from the headlines.