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 a super popular yearly TV special in Ireland. It's part of the famous The Late Late Show. This special show airs on RTÉ One every year. It usually happens in late November or early December. This timing is perfect for Christmas shopping!
The Toy Show features the coolest toys of the year. The host and lots of kids show off these toys on stage. Sometimes, famous guests even pop in! Since it started in 1975, the Toy Show has become a huge part of Irish culture. It's often the most-watched TV show in Ireland each year. When a toy is shown on the Toy Show, its sales often go way up for Christmas. Even advertising spots during the show are very expensive. Tickets to be in the audience are also very hard to get.
Many different presenters have hosted the show. These include Gay Byrne, Pat Kenny, and Ryan Tubridy. Patrick Kielty is the current host, starting in 2023. A funny character called Dustin the Turkey used to appear every year. He would often bring a funny gift for the host.
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The Famous Toy Show Jumper
The Toy Show jumper is almost as famous as the show itself! Viewers often send their own special jumpers to RTÉ. They hope the presenter might wear one on the night. Gay Byrne always wore a fun Christmas jumper each year. People in the audience also dress up in Christmas clothes. You might see them wearing hats, antlers, or even their own festive jumpers.
How the Toy Show Started
The idea for the Toy Show came from Pan Collins in 1974. She was a senior researcher for The Late Late Show. Pan suggested a segment about children's toys to the host, Gay Byrne. At first, Gay Byrne wasn't sure about the idea. But his assistant, Maura Connolly, convinced him to try it.
The very first toy segment was only half an hour long. It aired at the end of the main show on December 7, 1974. People loved it so much that it got very high ratings. Because it was so popular, it came back the next year as a full special. That first full special aired on December 13, 1975. The only year the Toy Show didn't happen was 1976. That year, the team was busy with a special tribute to Maureen Potter.
In 1994, the show had a huge audience. It was so popular that its viewership wasn't matched again until 2010.
The 2023 Show
The 2023 edition of the Toy Show aired on November 24, 2023. This was a special year because it was the first time Patrick Kielty hosted the show. It was the 48th Toy Show overall.
Fun Toy Show Traditions
Besides the host's Christmas jumper, the Toy Show has many fun traditions. Most of these are unwritten rules that everyone expects:
- Since 2009, the Toy Show has a theme from a children's movie. The show opens with songs from that movie. Kids (and the host!) dress up as characters and perform. After the opening, the host often tears off their costume to show their Christmas jumper.
- Performances by the talented Billie Barry Kids.
- Dustin the Turkey used to make an appearance. He would always make jokes about the host. (Dustin hasn't been on the Toy Show since 2007).
- The host might spray audience members with a water pistol for fun.
- After showing some products, the host might announce, "there's one for everybody in the audience!" This means everyone in the audience gets a gift. These gifts come from different sponsors. The gifts have become much bigger and more valuable over the years.
- Young children are invited to the studio earlier in the day. They get to play with the toys. This is recorded, and funny parts are shown during the main show.
- Older children review and demonstrate different products.
- A section where children review a selection of books for all ages.
- The host always wears Christmas jumpers during the show.
- Since 2016, all the performers do a big music number to end the show.
- The Toy Show is repeated on RTÉ 1. It used to be shown on Sunday, but now it's on the Saturday afternoon after the original airing.
See also
- Oprah's Favorite Things, a similar gift-focused segment from a U.S. TV show.
- TV3 Toy Show, a similar show made by RTÉ's rival, TV3.
