Ryan Tubridy is about to get his Friday nights back. After 14 years of celebrity guests, heartbreaking real life stories, Toy Shows, Valentines Specials and more than a few awkward moments, ‘The Late Late Show’ host will say goodnight one final time.
Of course, we couldn’t let Ryan finish up without looking at some of the good, bad (and ugly!) moments of the Tubridy era.
Over 14 series, Ryan has welcomed some massive names to Montrose from Bruce to Bono, the Clintons to Tony Blair and a whole host of Irish talent like Saoirse Ronan, Barry Keoghan, Paul Mescal and Colin Farrell.
But the most memorable moments came from Irish people giving an insight into their own lives, and their struggles. We’ve met the likes of the incredible Vicky Phelan, Charlie Bird, Catherine Corless and the late HPV vaccine campaigner Laura Brennan.
While he’s always handled those interviews well, Ryan hasn’t avoided an awkward moment or two. Who can forget when Linda Martina and Billy McGuinness had it out at Eurosong 2014?
To be fair, Tubs was merely acting as a referee between the two. Though maybe he could have done with a ref when he tried to ask ‘Derry Girls’ star Jamie Lee O’Donnell her age.
Foot.in.mouth. But, he was actually left speechless at this admission from Miriam Margolyes.
Which, weirdly, brings us onto two things that Tubridy has brought us in his years as host. The Country Music and Valentine’s Day special.
One celebrates the best this country has to offer, the other celebrates the ultimate pre-Coppers buzz.
Did it make for amazing telly? No. Did it give us some gems? Yes.
Remember when this Valentine’s Day audience member had her bubble burst by our own Mario Rosenstock?
Or when poor Colm got the fright of his life?
Proper hiding behind the couch telly.
The crowing glory of the Tubridy era will be ‘The Toy Show’. While it’s been around since 1975, Ryan made it very much his own, so much so, it was all anyone was worried about when he announced he was leaving.
He became the first host to perform in the show’s opening number, he launched ‘The Toy Show’ appeal which has raised over €20 million.
Mostly, he has given us some brilliant children. Remember John Joe Brennan?
And Adam King?
There’s been so many kids meeting their idols from Domnhall meeting Robbie Keane to Aimee meeting Ed Sheeran, Michael duetting with Dermot Kennedy and Johnny meeting Evelyn Cusack.
However, there are some idols who mean the world, and this sums up what made The Toy Show so great.
Crying? Thought so.
It hasn’t always been golden, but it has been a part of our lives for a long time and as we welcome Patrick Kielty into our homes, we say ‘thanks Tubs!'
