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WHO ARE WE kidding? The Late Late Toy Show isn’t really for the kids anymore, is it? It’s not even about the toys, either. Be brutally honest now, who is more excited in your household for this annual Irish ritual, as revered in our nation and as intertwined with our Irishness as a cup of Barry’s tea and a packet of Taytos?
Is it your very young children who are actually making Santa lists this year and living in their magical era? Or is it you, the grown-ups in the room, who are dying to play Late Late Toy Show drinking bingo and taking a swing every time Patrick Kielty says “There’s one for everyone in the audience”, while you scroll on Twitter/Bluesky for people’s reaction to that hilarious kid who upstages him at every opportunity?
I’d wager a bet it’s the latter because, in the last decade or so, the Late Late Toy Show has morphed from a low-key TV special that genuinely showcased children’s toys before Christmas, into something of a cultural behemoth. Now it is simply a way for Christmas jumper-wearing adults like me, to vicariously relive the nostalgia of their childhood and to reminisce back to the days of Bosco, the Den, Zig and Zag and Gaybo holding the hand of the nation.
It all feels a bit like a cult, one you can slag nicely, but never constructively criticise for fear of being labelled a Grinch or worse a traitor to your nation. But let’s be honest, the show is mostly made up of cringe-inducing moments you’re half watching behind your cushion and wondering how much of your licence fee is funding it all?
It inhabits the very specific sphere of so-bad-it’s-good TV that’s so niche there’s not much else that can equal it. Even if you don’t sit down and watch it all, and I cannot think of anyone who does, you’ll likely flick it on for a little bit for fear of missing out.
Before it became the cultural juggernaut it is now, the Toy Show used to be a more pared-back affair that didn’t bring a nation to a standstill. There were no Late Late Toy Show snack boxes, matching PJs or baby grows. It was a piece of television that focused on the toys themselves and the children road-testing them.
These days, when the credits roll, we never end up talking about the toys anymore; they are simply a footnote. What makes the headlines the next day are the celebrity special guests, the over-the-top budget or outlandish theme, and the child who brilliantly upstages the host.
Outsiders who watch it cannot for the life of them understand the iron grip and enduring appeal of something that’s not got the budget to be a big-scale grandiose TV spectacle and yet is not quite focussed enough on the toys to be an actual toy show. It’s neither one thing nor the other.
Plus chucking it on at 9.30pm because that’s when the Late Late Show is always on and so that’s what we’re doing, regardless of the fact that the very small children who the show is supposedly aimed at are already in bed or so close to sleep they will conk within about 20 minutes of the opening, is hard to understand.
Also, do your young children even find it entertaining? I’ve tried and failed for many successive years to get my two children (now 5 and 8) into the Toy Show with no luck, because like you, I’m desperate to relive the nostalgia with them.
The only thing they got swept up in was the hype surrounding it. The Toy show treat boxes, the PJs and the merch, but once the show was put on, even the next day when they weren’t exhausted, it didn’t hold their attention for more than 10 minutes and they soon lost interest, confused about what exactly the show as supposed to be?
“Mammy, can we watch Netflix instead?”
Netflix indeed. Gaybo would be horrified.
At its core, though, there’s something good to be found in the Late Late Toy Show. A touch of magic in a challenging world.
One of the best things to come out of it in recent years is the Toy Show Appeal. Launched in 2020, spearheaded by the bravery of the late Saoirse Ruane, who sadly passed away this year at the age of just 12, her extraordinary legacy has helped raise millions of euros to help hundreds of children around the country.
It may be baffling to some, but the Late Late Toy Show remains one of the most watched TV events of the year, and there’s no reason to doubt that this year’s show will change much from previous iterations.
Still, I can’t help thinking that it wouldn’t hurt to give it a bit of an overhaul, at the very least trim some of the fat, and get the next generation of kids watching it so they too can relieve their slice of nostalgia when the time comes. That said, I’ll be like many around the country tomorrow night, PJ-clad, excited children beside me (for a few minutes at least), glad to have something positive to watch for a short time. It could be worse.
Niamh O’Reilly is a freelance writer and wrangler of two small boys, who is winging her way through motherhood, her forties and her eyeliner.
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No toys anymore
@Fintan Pox: Don’t let your children be confused/harmed by the boots advertisement during what is supposed to be a children’s show that has a man made up as a woman.
Wonder how much the ‘toy show appeal’ goes to RTE staff
@Fintan Pox: what charities receive and how much get featured in various news articles.
For example, Journal wrote about the 2021 appeal funds being applied here https://www.thejournal.ie/late-late-toy-show-appeal-grants-5790404-Jun2022/
@Fintan Pox: poxy comment
Is a boy’s bicycle acceptable to buy for a girl, she might not like it, and want to choose her inner self over material stuff
@Fintan Pox: Weirdo
@Anthony Curran: why am I a weirdo?
@Fintan Pox: because you write a semi-coherent comment that has nothing to do with the article. Which suggests you live in some world which so preoccupies you that you are incapable of recognising relevance and just barge around the place yelling ‘my concerns, my concerns’ at the top of your voice.
@Alan: I read that twice, just in case I was reading absolute nonsense, it’s funnier the second time lol
@Fintan Pox: why not read it again then lol. Eventually, you might come around to understanding the post. In the meantime, you could always comment on the article.
@Fintan Pox: Oh Jesus Christ Fintan!
@Fintan Pox: you still banned for going near schools and parks
It’s completely woke now, ruined by the woke brigade. Tragic.
@Basildon Joe: Would you adam and eve it, this cockney has watched the late late…lol twice
@Clare Power: ah to be sure to be sure I love it now you old gee bag
@Basildon Joe: why did it take u so long to reply…looking up the cockney dictionary lol
@Basildon Joe: Another “everything is woke” clown!
@Basildon Joe: you won’t see me with a rainbow flag either. But the toy show isn’t woke, lol. It’s as traditional as it gets.
@James MC: last year they had someone who identified as a ‘cat’ and wore a tail. Then start talking about their sexual orientation as if anyone cares. All this on a kids show is diabolical.
@Maximilian Kolbe: it’s gone too far now, kids talking about being cats. No more I say. Woke woke woke nonsense.
@Anthony Curran: This comment aged well given the first act this year
I’m presuming the fraud squad haven’t caught up with D4orbes for a chat yet?
@Michael o connor: incredible that the show continued without their valuable 400,000€ pa “talent”
It’s all about consumerism, and that’s not what Christmas is supposed to be about.
@Andrew Harrington: end of year celebrations have always included excess.
Your point about consumerism is valid.
I heard Jesus might have been born in September.
Strange world. It’s like permanent distraction is normal.
@offside again: the Brazilian soccer player, he’s with arsenal now?
@offside again: even the Church says it’s not his actual birthday. It’s a celebration of the Son superimposed on a previous pagan celebration of the sun. Jesus is, after all, a sun god. It all just mythology reimagined
@Kevvy kerrr: Bad Gones now. I think Jesus played for Argentina. It seems God was involved as well. It’s so long ago. I thought the English had a good team too.
Jesus might have played for Brazil as well. And turned out for Portugal and Spain. The guy gets around.
@Dermot Blaine: Are you denying that Jesus Christ even existed?
@offside again: if he was Jewish, why does he have a Spanish name?
@Alan: how would I know ?
@Maximilian Kolbe: yep
Never the same since Gay Byrne days
@Frank Mc Carthy: like the article says, nostalgia.
@ecrowley ecrowley: guess they won’t try that ‘toy show musical’ stunt after the € 2.25million loss they ‘generated’ last time round
Dross. I am really annoyed by the exploitation of sick children!
Over analysis. Leave it be.
Definitely not
“Even if you don’t sit down and watch it all, and I cannot think of anyone who does,” … such a self centred condescending comment. I watch it all with the kids and tons of my friends do too. Now you’re making me feel self conscious about it :-(
Tip, Astro night light only 30 Euro, well worth it projects Galaxy on to ceiling.
My grandkids, 8 and 5, have absolutely no interest in it. It’s just a nostalgia trip for parents these days.
@Dermot Blaine: wen tubs was doing it, it became the tubs ego show but much improved last year I thought…more toys and back to basics
@Dermot Blaine: nostalgia for the good old days of half arsed musical numbers and gauche patronising of ill children?
Did the Author say actually Christmas instead of winter holiday. Brendon quick, we have one.
@Dan Murphy: isn’t that ‘Clare power’ account one of brennys??
@Frank Mc Carthy: no frank/kevvy…loving the new saintly you though…straight in with the platitudes on every article….
The way the country is going down the pan these days, I wouldn’t be surprised if Roddy O’Gorman & his best mate Thatchell were due to host it.
I’m an outsider with no kids, and I have been watching it for the past 7 years. I even had the tree up in time just for it, even when having the tree up was too early. I get it.
I would not inflict that innane rubbish on my children.
@Gavan Hogan: I concur, car crash television. Was fine in 80s when the format was just straight forward… TOYS.
Its not about toys anymore..thats all i wanted to see wen i was a kid so not surprised my kids have no interest in it…
It’s pure commercialism. Is Dee Forbes better? Joe Jennings better? I rest my case !
@Ger Byrne: Jim Jennings?
The LLTS is hell. Pure hell. “Talented” boggers and cringe-inducing interactions. Its horrible.
Wtf ? Plastic
It used to be good many years ago. It’s not worth watching now at all, waste of time.
Certainly not age appropriate. Manipulative like all things RTE.
Not much about toys
When will this woke phase pass. Pure rubbish
Agreed it’s garbage. No toys, just farcical musical productions and patronising sludge. Essentially a microcosm of RTE. And why is it on 9:30 in the evening if it’s ’for kids’.
On too late…
@St. Mary’s Special School: I used to feel the same way when my kids were younger. Used to record it, then watch it the following day…!
They are now 10 & 14 and happily stay up late, sit on the couch and still watch it together.
It’s the time spent together looking forward to it and actually watching and laughing in front of telly that counts to me more than anything. It’s a blessing really.
P.S; loved the show! I thought Patrick was natural and so kind to all the kids.
My kinds said it’s boring.
Can i bloxk these stories??
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