The Late Late Show (season 49)
The 49th season of The Late Late Show, the world's longest-running[1] chat show, began on 3 September 2010 and concluded on 27 May 2011. Ryan Tubridy's second season as host, it aired on RTÉ One each Friday evening from 21:30. Viewing figures hit a 12-year high during this season.[2]
The first guest of the season was former British prime minister Tony Blair. The live interview occurred the night before a book signing at Eason's which attracted international attention when Blair was pelted with shoes and eggs and successfully evaded an attempted citizen's arrest on charges of war crimes.[3][4][5][6][7]
Other guests this season included Bob Geldof, Philip Nitschke, Gordon Brown, Eamon Gilmore (before he became Tánaiste), Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Giovanni Trapattoni, Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Brendan O'Carroll, Michael Parkinson, Maureen O'Hara, Rhys Ifans and Howard Marks. Golfers Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy were interviewed in separate episodes (in September and in March), as were Ireland football forwards Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle (in December with wife Claudine and in April). First Irish interviews were granted by Neil Diamond and Kate and Gerry McCann. Musical guests this season included Clannad, Lighthouse Family, Villagers, Suede, Thin Lizzy, Elbow, Ronnie Wood, Republic of Loose, Bell X1, Mary Black, The Script, Tom Jones, Two Door Cinema Club and Imelda May.
The season's conclusion coincided with a tumultuous week in the history of the Irish state, with the death of former Taoiseach Dr. Garret FitzGerald occurring between the state visits of Queen Elizabeth II and Barack Obama. John Bowman and An Taoiseach himself, Enda Kenny, were on hand to offer advice to viewers of The Late Late Show on these matters.
Contents
Tony Blair interview
Former British prime minister Tony Blair was the first guest of the season. It was Blair's first live television interview since the publication of his memoirs, A Journey (Pat Kenny obtained the first radio interview for Today with Pat Kenny but this was broadcast after the televised interview).[8] Blair is believed to have taken this decision as he had hoped it would divert attention away from the more negative aspects of his foreign policy as UK prime minister, i.e. Afghanistan and Iraq.[9] Tubridy spent an entire week studying Blair in preparation for the interview,[8] and sought advice from Jon Snow of the UK's Channel 4 on which manner he ought to adopt in dealing with Blair.[9][10] Snow vowed that anything interesting obtained during the interview would be broadcast on Channel 4 News.[10] Blair wore a tie, though initially seemed reluctant to do so.[11] Blair arrived to the sounds of dozens of protesters who had gathered outside the TV studio.[9] 10 minutes were spent discussing Blair's role in the Northern Ireland peace process.[11] Then the conversation turned to Blair's part in the wars of Afghanistan and Iraq.[11] Tubridy asked Blair if he was a war criminal; however, Blair denied his belief in such a thing.[11] He also denied having "blood on his hands" and looked generally quite annoyed at such questions.[9] Blair stated his lack of desire to take decisions "based on [the wants of] those that [sic] shout most".[9] He also stated that military action against Iran should not be ruled out.[12] Blair was later photographed amusing himself in the company of Jedward, also guests on the same episode.[9][13] Other guests that night included Donncha O'Callaghan and Imelda May.[14]
Second episode
Willie O'Dea, who resigned as Minister for Defence in some controversy, announced during his appearance on the second show of the season that he would be standing for re-election.[15] He maintained his seat, as his party Fianna Fáil collapsed around him.
Fifth episode
Rhys Ifans and Howard Marks appeared on The Late Late Show on 1 October 2010 to discuss Mr. Nice, the British independent film in which Ifans portrayed Marks. During the interview Ifans was playful with host Ryan Tubridy, at one point referring to him as a "dainty little bugger" in reference to his cross-legged manner. Netizens on boards.ie to this day refer to Tubridy as "DLB" in tribute to this incident.[16]
The incident followed on from Ifans's playful request to buy Tubridy a drink. Tubridy said, "Uh absolutely" then tried to ask Ifans about his latest film. Ifans said, "It's called Neverland and uh, it's a prequel to Peter Pan. Yeah? OK? Are you familiar with that?" "I sure am" said Tubridy. Because you've got very Peter Panny feet" Ifans continued. Tubridy thanked him for the compliment then Ifans smiled and said "Dainty little bugger" to laughter from the studio audience.[17]
Eighth episode
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On the episode shown on 22 October 2010, the winner of the controversial poll was revealed to be John Hume. Historians noted the heavy emphasis on modern figures.[18]
Fifteenth episode
Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown blamed Irish banking system regulation failures for the country's economic crisis during an interview on the show on 10 December 2010.[19]
Special editions
The season's edition of The Late Late Toy Show, broadcast on 26 November 2010, received a 72 per cent audience share and the highest number of viewers in 16 years.[20] 90 per cent of the target audience watched the show.[21]
The 2011 Eurosong Final was held on The Late Late Show on 11 February. Reported as one possible act in advance were Jedward.[22] The five acts were named on 28 January 2011 as Don Mescall, Jedward, The Vard Sisters, Nikki Kavanagh and a then yet-to-be-named mystery act.[23] The mystery act was later named as BLING.[24] Jedward were announced as the winning act with their song "Lipstick" representing Ireland at Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf.
List of episodes
- September
No. | Original air date | Interviews | Performances | |
---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 September 2010[25] | Tony Blair; Jedward; Imelda May; Donncha O'Callaghan | Jedward; Imelda May; trad musicians | Details |
|
10 September 2010[26] | The Script; Willie O'Dea; Graeme McDowell | The Script; Sharon Corr | Details |
|
17 September 2010[27] | Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh; Des Bishop; Barry Humphries | N/A | Details |
|
24 September 2010[28] | Tim Robbins; Katie Taylor; Alan Rickman and Fiona Shaw | The Rogues Gallery Band; Eliza Doolittle | Details |
- October
No. | Original air date | Interviews | Performances | |
---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 October 2010[29][30][31] | Giovanni Trapattoni; Howard Marks and Rhys Ifans; Shane Ross and Nick Webb | O Emperor; John Spillane and Juliet Turner | Details |
|
8 October 2010[32] | Una Healy and Declan Nerney;[33] PJ Gallagher | Una Healy and Declan Nerney; The High Kings; Republic of Loose[34] | Details |
|
15 October 2010[35] | Hector Ó hEochagáin; Carol Vorderman; Liam Hayes | Singin' Bernie Walsh; Chris de Burgh; The Baseballs | Details |
|
22 October 2010[36] | Nigella Lawson; Ruby Walsh; Gok Wan; Ronnie Wood | Ronnie Wood; The Wanted | Details |
|
29 October 2010[37] | Tom Jones; Michael Flatley; Andrea Corr; Paul Williams | Tom Jones | Details |
- November
No. | Original air date | Interviews | Performances | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 November 2010[38] | Michael Parkinson; Nadine Coyle; Juliette Binoche; Johnny Giles and football guests (celebrating Giles's 70th birthday) | N/A | Details | |
|
12 November 2010[39] | Dawn French; Eamon Gilmore; Alan Quinlan; Jason Byrne | Two Door Cinema Club; Cerys Matthews | Details | |
|
19 November 2010[40] | Dara Ó Briain; The Chieftains; Shayne Ward; discussion on the imminent arrival of the IMF | Shayne Ward; The Saw Doctors | Details | |
|
26 November 2010 | Various children | McFly, Joe McElderry, The Strypes | Details | |
The Late Late Toy Show; television debut of The Strypes |
- December
No. | Original air date | Interviews | Performances | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 December 2010[41] | Jack Black; D'Unbelievables; Westlife | Westlife; Katherine Jenkins; Après Match (Brian Lenihan, Fintan O'Toole, "mysterious third member from the Fianna Fáil party") | Details | |
|
10 December 2010[42] | Take That; Barry and Shane McGuigan; Gordon Brown; Daniel and Majella O'Donnell | Robbie Williams; Take That; Daniel O'Donnell | Details | |
|
17 December 2010[43][44] | Mary Byrne; Saoirse Ronan; under-23 World Cross Country Championships gold medalists | The Rubberbandits; Johnny Logan; Mary Byrne; The Script | Details | |
|
24 December 2010[45] | Robbie and Claudine Keane; Dara Ó Briain; Archbishop Diarmuid Martin | Jimmy MacCarthy | Details | |
Christmas Eve |
- January
No. | Original air date | Interviews | Performances | |
---|---|---|---|---|
|
7 January 2011[46] | Brian Dennehy; Neil Jordan; Mikey Graham; Emma Hannigan; Neil Delamere | Julian Lloyd Webber | Details |
|
14 January 2011[47] | Kathryn Thomas and the five Operation Transformation leaders; Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition; Martin McGuinness; Frank McNamara and Theresa Lowe; Majella Murphy; Louis Walsh | The Coronas; Barbara Dickson | Details |
|
21 January 2011[48] | Discussion on the week's political upheaval that would later lead to the collapse of the government); Jean Butler; Jim Corr and The Right Honourable Viscount Monckton; Pauline McLynn | Clannad; Ryan Sheridan; Lighthouse Family | Details |
|
28 January 2011 | Bob Geldof; Domhnall and Brian Gleeson; Patsy Kensit; Brendan O'Carroll | Bob Geldof | Details |
- February
No. | Original air date | Interviews | Performances | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4 February 2011[49] | Maura Tierney and Ardal O'Hanlon; Fergal Keane; Alastair Campbell | Mary Coughlan; Sugarland | Details | |
|
11 February 2011 | N/A | Five musical acts | Details | |
Eurosong special[23] | |||||
|
18 February 2011 | Thelma Madine; rich businesspeople from Dragons' Den (on the effects of the recession on their businesses) | Ellie Goulding | Details | |
|
25 February 2011 | Maureen O'Hara; Colm Meaney | Wonderland | Details |
- March
No. | Original air date | Interviews | Performances | |
---|---|---|---|---|
|
4 March 2011 | Cast of The Commitments; Roddy Doyle; Colin O'Donoghue; Philip Nitschke | Elbow | Details |
|
11 March 2011 | Phil Lynott (in the year of her son's 25th anniversary); Joe Elliott; Keith Wood | Thin Lizzy | Details |
|
18 March 2011 | Rory McIlroy; Rob Kearney; Eoin Cadogan | The JD Set | Details |
|
25 March 2011 | Ireland cricket team; Robert Sheehan; Amy Huberman; Joseph O'Connor; Ronan Keating; Sir Trevor McDonald, Mary Byrne | Buddy Greco | Details |
- April
No. | Original air date | Interviews | Performances | |
---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 April 2011 | Eamonn Holmes and wife Ruth Langsford; Ciarán Hinds and Brenda Blethyn; Keith Barry | Villagers; Danú; Brian Kennedy | Details |
|
8 April 2011 | Charlie Bird; Mary McEvoy; "Ireland's greatest slimmer" (offering weight loss advice), Ali Hewson and Adi Roche (on the Chernobyl Children) | Jessie J | Details |
|
15 April 2011 | Kevin Doyle, Sheamus; "some interesting dog lovers" | Josh Groban; Finbar Furey with The High Kings | Details |
|
22 April 2011 | John Healy (The Restaurant) | Adrian Edmondson; Blue | Details |
|
29 April 2011 | Jedward; Paul Costelloe and Neil Delamere (on royal wedding fashion) | Suede | Details |
- May
No. | Original air date | Interviews | Performances | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6 May 2011 | Seán Gallagher (on why he wants to run for President), Keith and Lisa Duffy (on their work with Irish Autism Action); guest panel discuss finding love online in Ireland | Crystal Swing | Details | |
|
13 May 2011 | Christian Louboutin; Jeffrey Archer; Kate and Gerry McCann | Mary Black; Relish; David Gray | Details | |
A first Irish interview for the McCanns | |||||
|
20 May 2011 | John Bowman (on the life of Dr. Garret FitzGerald); Les Dennis; Willie Walsh | Andrea Corr | Details | |
|
27 May 2011 | Taoiseach Enda Kenny (on the visits of Queen Elizabeth II and Barack Obama); Neil Diamond; Gabriel Byrne | Il Divo and Bell X1 with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra | Details | |
Neil Diamond's first ever Irish interview |
References
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