'The Late Late Show' returns after its summer break tonight

The new season of 'The Late Late Show' kicks off tonight with Ryan Tubridy entering his second decade at the helm.

There has been many a standout moment on the show over the course of Ryan's years as host - for good reasons and for bad - so we've attempted to narrow them down in the list below.


1. Ronan O'Gara says too much

Rog may have found himself in hot water at home a few years back when he appeared on 'The Late Late Show's Valentine Special' and told a rowdy audience, "I wouldn't be nervous getting up on Jessica but I would be nervous kicking a ball."

Ryan's face says it all.

Ronan later apologised for the remark saying:

 

2. Russell Crowe calling out the audience for their woeful clapping

If there is one thing all Late Late Show audiences LOVE, it's a good clap along. Doesn't matter if it's singing or dancing, if it's possible to clap-along, they'll do it, and it doesn't even have to be in time either.

Never a man to mince his words, Russell Crowe was not into this jovial clapping at all, and when he sporadically jumped up to join the band during his interview, he cut off the song at the start telling the audience; "If you're going to clap, clap in time."

That's them told.

 

3. Linda Martin vs Billy from Aslan

This was Late Late Show GOLD. What started as a simple Eurosong competition ended up with Linda Martin and Billy Aslan facing off against each other with poor Ryan playing bouncer trying to get them apart. It all kicked off because Billy maintained that Louis, and indeed Linda, shouldn't be on the panel because they would favour Eoghan Quigg and not his act, Laura O'Neill. And then, well, it escalated.

Neither Eoghan nor Laura won by the way, it was Kasey's Smith with her song 'Heartbeat'.

 

4. Daniel O'Donnell's uberfan

Back in 2016, one Late Late Show audience member was left very visibly disappointed when Ryan announced Daniel O'Donnell as a guest and out came Mario Rosenstock dressed as the Donegal crooner.

Her reaction soon went viral, and wee Daniel saw it and invited her to one of his shows to meet him, which she did.

She's now in prison for running a cocaine lab but eh, less said about that the better.

 

5. Frances vs the Duvet

In what was peak-Late Late Show-ness, Francis Brennan was tasked with getting a duvet cover on using the handy inside-out trick. However, he soon found himself in over his head (literally) as the duvet simply refused to co-operate. A heckling audience member was then asked to come down and assist and sure it was gas altogether.

Francis went on the show a year later and defended himself as the team were supposed to have left the duvet cover inside-out for him.

Excuses, excuses Francis.

 

6. Joanne O'Riordan

Back in 2011, the nation had the pleasure of being introduced to the legend that is Joanne O'Riordan. Joanne, who was just 15 at the time, chatted to Ryan about her condition Total Amelia Syndrome and her upbeat nature and crackin' sense of humour soon won his heart and the whole country's too. In interviews, Ryan regularly cites Joanne as one of his all-time favourite guests, and it's easy to see why.

 

7. A Toy Show reunion

Tissues at the ready for this one. 'The Late Late Show' has managed to pull off some great reunions over the years, but the absolute best by far was on 2017's Toy Show when Cork siblings Adam and Kayla Burke were reunited with their army dad Graham just in time for Christmas.

There wasn't a dry eye in the house.

 

8. JohnJoe Brennan

Okay, okay, okay, we could have a whole list of our favourite Toy Show moments (oh wait, we do) and we're sorry Amy meeting Ed Sheeran didn't make the final cut or young Domhnall meeting Robbie Keane, but JohnJoe the horologist chatting to Ryan is one of our all-time very moments of Irish TV.

JohnJoe stole the show back in 2009 when he rocked up in the body of an eight-year-old but the mind of a sixty-year-old intellectual who had perhaps been at the sherry.

It's thanks to JohnJoe we all now know what a horologist is too.

 

9. The Snow Show

If ever 'The Late Late Show' demonstrated their resilience in the face of adversity it was in 2018 during The Beast from the East' when Ryan and the team decided the show must go on despite the entire country being on lockdown. It pretty much consisted of anyone who was in walking distance of RTÉ and a handful of guests, but full marks for a solid effort.

 

10. Tribute to Gerry Ryan

Friday, April 30th 2010 was an emotional day in Ireland as the country heard the news that legendary broadcaster Gerry Ryan had died suddenly at age 53. Any plans that may have been in place for the opening of 'The Late Late Show' that night were thrown out the window as Ryan instead paid tribute to his good friend and colleague with help from Gay Byrne, Pat Kenny, Dave Fanning and Brenda Donohue. Almost fighting back tears at times, they chatted about Gerry, shared memories of their time with him and gave the nation a wake for a man so many felt like they knew too.

 

Bonus moment: Deano. Need we say more?