FANTASTIC MR TUBS!
Late Late has pulled out Dahl the stops
THE Late Late Toy Show is undoubtedly the most magical night of the year, for children and adults alike, at home and abroad.
And while the annual festive edition of the talk show is due to take place tomorrow night, host Ryan Tubridy revealed that it almost did not happen because of the pandemic.
However, he said yesterday that the determination of the team was greater than ever this year, as they were aware that people did not just want a Toy Show – ‘they needed a Toy Show’.
‘This was the Toy Show that nearly didn’t happen,’ he said.
‘And only for grit, determination, diligence and an absolute need to keep the show on the road for the Irish children, at home and abroad, we wouldn’t be here today – we’d be running a movie.
‘But we weren’t going anywhere, we weren’t having any of it.’ As a show that is always almost a year in the making, the regular changing of restrictions made it difficult for the team to make plans, and Tubs admitted that they ‘had a fight on our hands to follow compliance’.
‘We had a different theme picked, but then March happened, we had a different plan ready to go, and then lockdown two happened.
‘We have met speed bump after speed bump after speed bump, and we keep climbing over them to get to Friday night.’
However, despite the challenges, tomorrow’s show is set to go ahead, with the Wonderful World of Roald -Dahlchosen as the theme.
‘This has been a year like no other, and therefore requires an opening like no other,’ Tubridy said. ‘The Wonderful World of Roald Dahl is one that understands children in a way that no one else ever has. He knew that there could be a sadness to the world at times, but that there’s also great love and mischief and fun to be found.
‘All of those factors have been combined to bring what we hope is a joyful, beautiful and wonderful opening like no other to this year’s Late Late Toy Show.’
The show will see not one, but two show-stopping performances from the host – as well as four Christmas jumper changes.
Tubridy revealed that the show will also include a tribute to Gay Byrne, who was the original host of the Toy Show and who died late last year.
Despite Level 5 restrictions being in place, children will be allowed in studio to take part in performances and toy-testing.
To make this happen, Covid safety measures will be in place, with a team on hand to ensure the set is compliant. And with no audience at the show this year, further space will be available to allow for social distancing.
Traditionally, sick children from LauraLynn, The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, and Temple Street and Crumlin children’s hospitals would be invited to come and visit the set. However, as
Covid restrictions have put the kibosh on this, some of these children have instead been asked to take part in a special performance on the show, filmed remotely.
While the pandemic will be touched upon on tomorrow’s show, Tubridy insisted he will not dwell heavily on Covid-19 issues.
However, he added that children who contacted the show made it clear that it remains an issue of worry for them, and that they will ‘not pretend it doesn’t exist’.
‘Nearly every child who applied to be on the Toy Show acknowledged it in their applications, because they’re missing their grannies, and they’re missing their grandads and they’re missing their cousins in Australia and in England and in America, who they should be rocking around the Christmas tree within a few weeks’ time,’ he said.
‘So we won’t hide behind the Christmas tree on that one, but we won’t go heavy on it either because it’s not about that.’