Admit it – how excited are you for tonight’s Late Late Toy Show?! There’s no shame in it – kid or adult, the annual chat show special has become somewhat of an institution, and pretty much signals the start of Christmas for most people in Ireland.
As ever, this year’s show was shrouded in mystery until yesterday, when VIP was invited to take a look behind the scenes in the RTE studio ahead of the big night.
Host Ryan Tubridy was in attendance, of course decked out in one of his traditionally outrageous Christmas jumpers, along with many of the kids who will be featuring in the show.
The theme was revealed to be one of the most popular ever Disney musicals, Beauty and the Beast, and Ryan said the opening number is set to be the biggest and most extravagant ever.
In fact, the show itself is on a whole new scale this year: over 285 children will be involved for a night of toys (over 200 of ’em!), singing, dancing and special moments.
Chatting to us, Ryan said he’s hugely excited for tonight, especially as the theme is close to his heart, being one of the favourite movies to watch in his household among him and his kids.
But who will he perform as? Beauty or the Beast!? “I’m going to leave that surprise to the show, because we need some element of mystery,” he teased.
“You will see me as you’ve never seen me before, and as you’ll never want to see me again! It’s been a tough week!”
Attempting to explain why the show is so cherished among Irish viewers, Ryan commented: “The popularity comes from, I think, due to the fact the world has become increasingly less magic, and I think this is magic.
“I believe in that. When people are watching it and they see me beaming from ear to ear and they sense it’s sincere, and the kids are enjoying themselves and it’s all very authentic, there’s something very sweet about it.
“It’s untarnished and I think people suspend their misgivings about places and people and things for one night only!”
So what can we look forward to? Each year seems to have a classic ‘character’ – there’s been horologist John Joe, or last year’s special karaoke moment between Aimee and Ed Sheeran – and it seems 2015 will be no different.
Ryan told us: “There’s an act by a brother and sister, which moved me to tears in rehearsal. I think the show is going to be about the kids more than ever before.
“If you don’t have a moment, you’ll be surprised. There’s a gorgeous innocence to these children, for example there’ll be two boys talking about their toy farms – they’re not one bit stage school, they’re just boys who love cattle, and sheds and fields.
He added: “We have another boy tomorrow – and he’s just a kid – and his thing is the weather. He loves when Met Eireann is on and talking about the weather!”
And of course there will be costume changes on the night; Ryan will be wearing three festive knitted jumpers, having whittled it down from the many created and sent to him by viewers.
So there you have it – it sounds like one hell of a show, eh? Make sure to tune in at 9.35 p.m tonight on RTE One!
