There’s a bumper line-up for The Late Late Show’s Celebration of Irish in Britain Live from London special tomorrow (that’s why we used the shorter title above). The show will be broadcast live from Central Hall, Westminster, tomorrow night at 9.35pm, and celebrates the contributions of Irish people in their adopted country to showbiz and other fields.
Britain’s favourite chatshow host, Cork man Graham Norton will be chatting about his new book 'A Keeper' and telling us why he decided to leave Ireland to chance his fortunes in the UK.
Another man who has made a name for himself on the British telly is Brendan O’Carroll, renowned for his Dublin Mammy Mrs Brown. He joins Ryan to chat about the extraordinary success of the series ‘Mrs Brown’s Boys’ and about what he learned as he travelled across Britain for his upcoming series exploring the impact of the Irish there.
Angela Scanlon, Eamonn Holmes, and Laura Whitmore will also be on to chat about what it is to be an Irish entertainer on the London scene and why Irish voices have always been strongly represented on the British airwaves.
Imelda May and Finbar Furey will be sharing their stories of crossing the water to make it big on the British music scene.
Former ROI manager Mick McCarthy will be telling Ryan what it was like to grow up as the son of an Irish emigrant at a time when relations between Britain and Ireland were defined by the Troubles, and then find himself part of the transformative experience that was Italia 90.
Ryan will also be chatting with former world champion boxer Barry McGuigan about how he became a symbol for peace and neutrality when he fought his way to the WBA featherweight world title.
As Brexit looms, Ryan will be discussing the potential fall-out between Ireland and the UK with remainers Alastair Campbell and Baroness Dee Doocey, and steadfast Brexiteers Nigel Farage and economist and Liam Halligan, debating it out.
Then there’ll be the ultimate Irish ceilí supergroup as Andrea and Caroline Corr, The Chieftains' Paddy Moloney, The Dubliners’ John Sheahan, Clannad’s Moya Brennan and John Spillane come together for a very special performance.