Patrick Kielty to return as host of The Late Late Show

Patrick Kielty to return as host of The Late Late ShowImage source, RTÉImage caption, Patrick Kielty first stepped into the role in September 2023ByClaire QuinnBBC News NIPublished5 hours agoPatrick Kielty will return to host The Late Late Show this September, RTÉ has announced.There had been speculation about his future on Ireland's longest-running chat show, but the Irish broadcaster confirmed he will continue as the host until 2028.Kielty, who is from Dundrum in County Down, said hosting the chat-show is "one of the greatest gigs in the world and the past three years have been a joy and a privilege".He first stepped into the role in September 2023, succeeding Ryan Tubridy and becoming the fourth permanent presenter of the programme, following Gay Byrne, Pat Kenny and Tubridy.The show is an Irish institution, having started only months after the 1962 launch of Irish TV.Kielty started out at a Belfast comedy club, going on to present local shows like BBC NI's PK Tonight, and later, Love Island, This Morning and BBC Radio 4's The News Quiz as well as other comedy and theatre shows.Among the guests the show welcomed last year included Jessie Buckley, Priscilla Presley, Colin Farrell, Margot Robbie, Coleen Rooney, Aisling Bea, John Bon Jovi, Westlife, Gabriel Byrne, Katie Taylor, and Shane Lowry.Last season had an average of 385,000 viewers per episode, with a 38.2% share and over 1.46 million streams on RTÉ Player, an increase on the previous year.On The Late Late Show social media platforms, last season saw 6.8 million engagements, an increase of 53%, and 88.7 million video views, increasing19% on the previous season.Image source, PA MediaImage caption, The Late Late Toy Show is described as the "biggest telly night of the year"Alan Tyler, RTÉ Group Head of Entertainment and Music said he was "absolutely delighted" Kielty will remain as host for a further three years."Under his stewardship we have been able to give a...