The Late Late Toy Show facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Late Late Toy Show |
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Logo (2009-2012)
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| Presented by |
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| Country of origin | Ireland |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Production location(s) | RTÉ Studio 4, Donnybrook, Dublin 4, Ireland |
| Release | |
| Original network | RTÉ One |
| Original release | 7 December 1974 – present |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | The Late Late Show |
The Late Late Toy Show is an annual, special edition of the Irish chat show The Late Late Show. Airing annually on RTÉ One near the end of November or early December to coincide with the holiday shopping season, the Toy Show showcases the popular toys of the year, as presented by the host and demonstrated by various children on-stage, along with appearances by celebrity guests.
Since its first presentation in 1975, the Toy Show has become a cultural institution in Ireland; it is often the most-watched programme of the year on Irish television (and its overall viewership has increased steadily in recent years), and being featured on the Toy Show has been said to have a major boost to sales of a product heading into the Christmas season. Commercial time during the Toy Show is also prestigious for advertisers; in 2009, a 30-second spot cost €17,000; in comparison, a 30-second spot during the 2010 UEFA Champions League Final cost €9,750. Tickets to its taping are also difficult to come by; in one year, a single ticket was auctioned for €1,500.
Most recently presented by Ryan Tubridy, the show has previously been presented by Gay Byrne and Pat Kenny during their tenures at the helm. Dustin the Turkey, a high-profile entertainment figure in Ireland, made an annual appearance, usually bringing a gift for the presenter. These gifts when produced tended to have a comedy effect and in the past have included a miniature antique chair and a Pat Kenny clock, ominously presented to Kenny's predecessor Byrne. Patrick Kielty is set to present the show following his appointment as host in 2023.
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Jumper
The Toy Show jumper attracts as much attention as the show itself, with viewers sending in their own versions to RTÉ ahead of the night in the hope that the presenter might wear them. Gay Byrne habitually wore a Christmas jumper each year. Audience members also appear in Christmas wear such as hats, antlers and even jumpers.
History
In 1974, Pan Collins a senior researcher and script editor on The Late Late Show pitched the idea of a segment about children's toys to presenter Gay Byrne. Byrne initially turned down the idea but Collins turned to Byrne's assistant Maura Connolly who convinced him to go ahead with it. The first toy segment was to run for a half hour at the end of the programme on 7 December 7, 1974. After the segment achieved high ratings, it was brought back the year after as full special and aired on 13 December 1975. Since then 1976 has been the only year that the Toy Show did not take place as the Late Late team were working on a birthday tribute to Maureen Potter.
In 1994, it was broadcast on 9 December and attracted an audience so high that it did not come close again until the 2010 edition.
2023 edition
The 2023 edition of the Toy Show will air on 24 November 2023, marking the first edition hosted by Patrick Kielty following Tubridy's departure from the show and the 48th edition overall.
Traditions
Aside from the host's Christmas jumper, the Toy Show has a number of (mostly unwritten) traditions, including:
- Since 2009, when Ryan Tubridy became the host, the Toy Show has the theme of a children's movie and features songs from the movie performed by several kids (and Tubridy himself) as an opening number dressed as characters from the movie. After this, Tubridy tears off his costume to reveal his Christmas jumper.
- Performances from the Billie Barry Kids
- Dustin the Turkey making an appearance, and invariably insulting the host (Dustin has not been in the Toy Show since 2007)
- The host soaking members of the audience with a water pistol
- At the end of explaining certain products, the host may announce "there's one for everybody in the audience!" — provided by various sponsors (this also happens in the regular Late Late Show). The number and value of these gifts has become more substantial in recent years. As of 2023, the sponsor must pay €10,000 and provide 240 gifts valued at €150 or more each, and the host reads a promotional script they provide for up to 30 seconds.
- Toddlers are invited to come into the studio earlier in the day and play with the toys; this is recorded and edited before extracts are played back in the show itself
- Reviews and demonstrations of products by older children
- A section where children review a selection of books for all ages.
- The host wearing Christmas jumpers during the show.
- As of 2016, the performers perform a finale music number to close the show.
- The Toy Show is repeated on RTÉ 1, the Saturday afternoon after the original airing, previously it was shown on the Sunday.
See also
- Oprah's Favorite Things, a similarly gift-focused segment of a U.S. television programme
- TV3 Toy Show, a variation of the Toy Show format by RTÉ's rival, TV3
