Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
OVER 1.5 MILLION people watched the Late Late Toy Show live on Friday night and across the weekend on catch-up services, according to figures released by RTÉ.
The Greatest Showman themed Toy Show had a 74% share of the audience watching television on Friday night, with an average of 1.3 million people watching the show live.
A further 141,700 viewers watched their recording of the show on Saturday and 51,900 viewers did the same on Sunday.
In addition, 113,000 watched the repeat of the show on RTÉ One on Saturday morning.
Viewership on the RTÉ player was up 33% on last year with over 116,000 live streams and over 100,000 people watching on catch up over the weekend.
The show was watched in over 100 countries outside of Ireland with people watching in countries like Myanmar, Burundi, Haiti and Mongolia.
Some of the show highlights came from the story of Scott who donated bone marrow to his cousin Grace and from Kerry GAA fan Michael meeting his hero Davy Fitz.
If the video won’t play, click here.
Highlight clips from the show have also gained traction online, with videos on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube receiving up to 1.5 million views to date.
Commenting on the Toy Show’s viewership, host Ryan Tubridy said he is always “blown away” every year at the reception the show receives.
“As a team, we are so honoured that people open their arms and welcome us in for such a magical night, and I sincerely hope it was as much fun for our viewers as it was for me on Friday.
“The production team and the children are what make the Toy Show special and memorable and I want to thank everyone involved, from little star Michael to our heroes Grace and Scott, to the set and costume designers. I’m delighted viewers loved it as much as we did.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
While I enjoyed the toy show,I found the music element is not very( actually not at all) festive. If not for the backdrop toy focus and audience costumes then the show could pass for any time of year, maybe I am old fashioned but sleigh bells and frosty etc do bring old memories. I do like the greatest show but Christmas is only once a year and a few carols/festive songs would be nice.
@Honeybee: I for one was glad there were no Carol’s. This time of year can be really tough for many people and the carols can bring up so much heartache so I was glad there was none
It really is a load of old tripe that show. Precious Billy Barry children of pushy parents on one hand and kids from farming communities getting laughed at for speaking like Peig – surely the collective minds of the country could come up with something better than a taxpayer funded 2 hr ad for smyths toys
@Dara O’Brien: “I’m an irish celeb get me outa here”.
@Dara O’Brien: You are very much in the minority with that viewpoint Dara. Based on the staggering numbers that it pulls in every year and the clamour for tickets it is exactly what the viewing public at large want to see. Any change to the format would be a big mistake.
@Pádraig Debhál: 2.5m of the population didn’t watch it – now, correct me if I’m wrong but that’s not ‘very much in the minority’ according to my reckoning anyway?
@Pádraig Debhál: the ‘staggering’ numbers are made up in small part by the parents whose children are convinced by all the hype. The same children who watch because it’ll be talked about in school on Monday, and who don’t even enjoy it all that much. The quality or otherwise of the show is immaterial.
@Dara O’Brien: you are wrong,the Toy show had a 73% reach off the available audience on Friday night and that’s not counting the youtube and Facebook streams since it was broadcast.So that’s leaves those who didn’t watch it in the minority
@Dara O’Brien: How many of those 1.5m televisions had more than one person watching? Most of them i reckon!
@Kershie: they don’t count the televisions they count the number in the household so if there’s 10 in the house and one watches it they consider that 10 people.
And RTÉ still can’t break even. If they were the only station in town they still couldn’t turn a shilling – outside of their own bloated salaries.
Brilliant show by Ryan Turbidy and all involved..
Some might say it’s cringe. But fair play, they always make a great job of it. It was the traditional start to Christmas in our house as kids with Gaybo. Now Ryan for my kids. No other country has it and the characters we see every year keep us entertained. Well done. I’d love to be in the audience…. So much free stuff!
@Mark H: I’m not what could ever be described as a fan of Ryan Tubridy, having said that the one thing he does well is the Toy Show, he has a way with children and, no, I don’t mean that as an insult. Credit where it’s due.
People must remember this isn’t about lavish set designs or how much free stuff they can get off the host, it’s not about glitz and glamour. It’s not even about perfectly scripted and choreographed moves going to plan – it’s more about when they don’t go to plan.
First and foremost it’s about the children, of all ages. W.C. Fields famously said “Never work with Children of Animals.” They are scene stealing and completely unpredictable. Whatever about animals, there’s nothing we enjoy more than seeing a child steal the show, and there was no shortage on Friday night. Long may it continue.
@Arch Angel: Yes, I’ve just noticed the typo. Should be “Never work with children or animals.” Oh for an edit function…
Tells all you need to know about RTE terrible programs and even worse overpaid presenters.
Three hours of pure product placement with ad breaks. Winning!
It’s not a toy show anymore, it’s all about the kids, singing, dancing etc etc…. no real showcasing toys anymore, nothing to shout about anymore. It’s nowhere as good as it used to be.
They’re impressive numbers. I thought the layout of the studio was poor. There was no atmosphere with the audience being so spread out.
anyone who voluntarily turns their tv to RTÉ to watch anything on it is certifiably insane. .
@Dean Anderson: All Ireland finals ok with you to watch?
@Danny G: I’m sure he watches them on Sky now.
Its not the Toy Show anymore, its Kids Xfactor. Let RTE do a kids talent show if they want, but god almighty, bring back the toy show.
All about Ryan! Kids didn’t get a look in. Hard to post a comment as the system filters toxicity!
@Caroline O’Rourke: True!!
@Austin Rock: some miserable joyless gits posting
All about Tubridy, more Cringe than Grinch, sad.
*watched. How are these simple things not checked before publishing?
I love RTE.
Terrible show all about Ryan!!
While I enjoyed watching it, I have to agree with other posters…. it didn’t feel very festive at all. Lacked a Christmas feeling somehow. Previous few years were closer to the mark I think… Hopefully they can improve on that point for next year.
The fact of the matter is that we’re quite a patriotic and loyal lot in this country. So while I firmly believe that most people under 50 in this country would truly believe that the Late Late Show should be put out to pasture, due to a warped sense of loyalty, a huge percentage of the population watch the toy show.
@Aging Lothario: I actually watch the toy show to see the child performers, children are magic and so talented,I think all children should be given an opportunity to learn an instrument/sing/dance. Many of the little ones are so entertaining when presenting their ‘toy’slot and it is nice to see children from every background included especially the tots from hospitals/hospices who face their own challenges and remind us that we have much to be grateful for in our lives.
All about Ryan! Kids didn’t get a look in. Hard to post a comment without it being perceived as toxic!
How do they know?
@John Walker: Nielsen houses record what they are watching and it then uses that as a basis for saying how many across the country watched.
@Rob Cahill: ffs – while everyone else is watching Netflix on their tablets!!
Nobody ever knocked at my door to fined out weather I wat He the late late or not beggars belief how they come up with theses inflated numbers for the record I watch one of the greatest movies ever made once upon a time in America and boy was it long and add free
@liam ward60: you should ask Santa for a bag of commas and capital letters for Christmas.
@Of a break. Of a Kitkat.: and spelling.
Think you need to fix your header.
Was really tired Friday night – just wanted to go to bed. Watched for a while, then just couldn’t leave it. I love this show. It is a celebration of innocence and raw talent. Ryan did a wonderful job, chatting to the kids, putting them at their ease. The kids were the stars, not the toys. ( I can remember when my children were young, the Late Late would show toys that Santa hadn’t budgeted for. Crisis when they rewrote their letters to Santa! The focus was on the toys). Nowadays, it is on the talent and character. AA
what a good way to create the next generation of consumers. The late late toy show, an iconic reminder of the slave-like apathetic mentality of the Irish ☘️ Tiocfaidh ár lá ☘️
Agree – it’s all about Ryan and how great he is !! It’s only self-promotion for himself. Hated the jeans showing his skinny ass etc. – very revealing – should be more appropriate. Just because so many tuned in – does not mean something
is good !! They may be tuning in – in the hope that it will be good. Ryan tries too hard. Cannot stand all the messing with children who are trying to show their toys, like the little girl from Galway making the chocolates – Ryan totally disrupted her by stuffing sweets into his mouth and wrecking here little display. A total child himself I think. Gay was way better and alot mor mature.
How this programme gets the plaudits is beyond me.It is without doubt the most depressing,embarrassing spectacle ever visited on Irish TV audiences and that is saying something given the piffle that RTE has dished out over the years.I mean,how in the name of God do Irish viewers seemingly watch this muck in their tens of thousands.Mind numbing stuff
Agree – it’s all about Ryan and how great he is !! It’s only self-promotion for himself. Hated the jeans showing his skinny ass etc. – very revealing – should be more appropriate. Just because so many tuned in – does not mean something
is good !! They may be tuning in – in the hope that it will be good. Ryan tries too hard. Cannot stand all the messing with children who are trying to show their toys, like the little girl from Galway making the chocolates – Ryan totally disrupted her by stuffing sweets into his mouth and wrecking here little display. A total child himself I think. Gay was way better and alot mor mature.
My god. That show is so bad its good.
The usual bunch of miserable gits out in force here as usual…
Watched it with the kids, they enjoyed it. Especially the dancing and music.
Most of the toys were crap. Some didn’t work correctly and others the kids didn’t have a clue how to use. Worst toy show ever. All kids want these days is technology. They toy show probably showed the worst tech toy ever with that cardboard box video game.
Theme was a mistake. Ryan was excellent. Kids were excellent. Maybe they should scrap the toy show and replace with an Xmas panto type thing. That girl who sang alone was fantastic.
have your say