The Greatest Toy Show
Showman Ryan’s a singing star
RYAN Tubridy said he will be performing the biggest hit of the year during tonight’s The Greatest Showman-themed Late Late Toy Show.
In an effort to push the boat out for his 10th year as host, the 45-year-old revealed he will be putting his voice centre stage for the first time while dressed in a top hat and tails. Speaking at the set tour at RTE studios yesterday, he told Irish Mirror: “This morning I woke up at 5am and I didn’t need to be up until 8am. But I was so excited it was like Christmas Eve. I woke up because the song I’m going to be singing tomorrow night is enormous. It belongs to the biggest film of the year and it’s a total departure for us.
“I was a crab last year and the year before I was a bear, so this year I am not going to be anything fictional.
“I’m going to be P T Barnum – as played by Hugh Jackman in The Greatest Showman.
“I just think that lends itself so beautifully to where we are as a show and in terms of vibe and attitude and theme.”
Speaking of the pressure that comes with tackling the mosttalked-about movie and music of the year, Tubs said: “I’m pretty nervous this time and the reason I am is because I have never sung.
“[In the past] I’ve just acted the maggot and this year they’ve asked me to sing.
“It is one thing singing in a karaoke booth after three drinks, it’s quite another singing in front of over a million people. I will be very exposed but I’ve decided it’s 10 years, all the kids put themselves out there, why don’t you.
“So that’s what I’m doing and I’m gonna give it a bit of welly.
“The adults will be appalled and going, ‘He hasn’t got a note in his head’ and the kids will be going, ‘This is the greatest show’.”
But the song isn’t the only element keeping him up at night, as the seasoned presenter also revealed he has been finding the run-up to this year’s show particularly emotional.
Tubs said: “I dunno how I am keeping it together. I seem to be really emotional about it this year, I don’t know what it is, but it has got right under my skin.
“This show is for the child that didn’t get picked for the team, who isn’t involved in the Snapchat groups and is a little left out.
“But it isn’t a sad child, this isn’t a sympathy head tilt to them children, it’s simply a recognition to say you are as important as all the other ones.”
Looking back on his decade as the frontman of the most highlyanticipated show of the year, Ryan feels there has been a shift in focus for the better over time.
He added: “When it started it was like a toy show where you could show toys. Now it is evolving into a kids-being-bonkers show. Suddenly the kids were shining and that was bringing out a bigger kid in me.”
Keeping his cards close to his chest about what is in store for tonight’s show, Tubs teased the production team are “mischievous”, and said he could be in for just as much as a surprise as the audience.
He added: “You’ll see tomorrow night. There is some gold waiting to happen tomorrow night.”
■ The Late Late Toy Show is on RTE One at 9.35pm tonight.
I decided to put myself out there. I’m going to give it a bit of welly
RYAN TUBRIDY
YESTERDAY